It’s mildly strange that I am currently on the internet at a place in the middle of nowhere called Russel Tank. Granted, it took several hours and multiple people to get the satellite to work, we now have full access to the web and communication with the world.
The Grand Canyon was a blur, although my calves seem to remember every step of it. I’m glad Churro didn’t go, I’m pretty sure he would’ve stumbled right off a cliff. Sometimes I swear he has four left feet. It was amazing at Phantom Ranch. The climb out was a lot harder for me than the climb down. There were many moments when I looked up and thought I would have to live in the canyon for the rest of my life, there was no way I could hike to the top. But I did. And then I got some ice cream 
157.4 miles into the trip and it still feels like we’ve just begun, and in a way we have. We still have a very long way to go. We’re still figuring out the details. We have yet to gain any sort of true rhythm. Navigational work has been great. I really enjoy being able to sit down with all of the various maps and the GPS to scout out our upcoming travel days. I had two frustrating days of trying to find trails and roads that appeared on my map from 1980, however, no longer exist. Another frustration is dealing with roads and trails that now exist however are no where to be seen on any of our maps or even the GPS. I’ll admit, navigation can wear on me sometimes at the end of a long day when we’re trying to find camp and everyone is looking at me – and the maps are inaccurate. However, I wake up the next day ready and willing to do it all again. I’m glad that I chose an independent study that I am able to work on every single day. I’m making real progress with my map reading skills and mileage/time estimations. It’s been a great way for me to feel like I have some level of responsibility for the group and this journey and – sometimes it’s nice to have all the answers.
Churro has been Mr. Crazy-Pants lately! He consumes a large amount of grain and it’s obvious that he can feel it. He likes to play a lot and is more alert than he normally is… which usually looks sometime like a narcoleptic state. He has been testing my boundaries more and more. He was starting to figure out that he is in fact bigger than me and can do anything he wants if he chooses to – I can’t control him. It was a challenge to find a way to get respect from him without making it a battle of physical strength or ‘bigness’. More recently, something seems to have clicked with him. He’s listening to my first ask more and more, which enables me to make that ask lighter and lighter. He’s a big boy so it’s nice that I can just squeeze him lightly with my heels to ask him to go forward instead of kicking him with all my strength just to get his attention off the green deliciousness he tends to focus on. It feels like we’re really in sync right now. He’s an awesome guy, and I admire him. He’s extremely resilient and steady a.k.a. “a big dumb gelding” as Eleni calls it. He doesn’t spook easily or get caught up in herd excitement. He’s also quite affectionate. I’m having a great time with him. He’s teaching me how to take life one blade of grass at a time.
Next stop: Flagstaff. We should be there four to five days from now. We’ve been having some pleasant warm weather, I’m sure that’s about to change as we head into the mountains. Wish us warmth.
