Lordsburg

Gail called from Lordsburg. She's having a great time of course, even though the desert is "not an inviting place" and "90 degrees in the sun" is not her favorite weather. When I told her it was gray and cool here, she demanded that I go outside and enjoy the gray and cool for her. I told her no way.

She said she's seen a lot of border patrol, including a lot of helicopters. She said seeing patrol helicopters flying in canyons was like being in an episode of Airwolf (I had almost forgotten about this show and my ghastly pre-teen crush on Jan-Michael Vincent - there, now you know. In case you were wondering, I did not ever have any crush on David Hasselhoff.) Gail was filling up at a water tank when one helicopter flew right over her, so she waved so as to make it clear that she was not crossing the border illegally. The helicopter swerved right around and then came over very close. The pilot waved back. She says all the border patrol are "very cordial".

Gail has for the first time not been able to reliably hang her hammock while hiking, so she's been "cowboy camping" on the ground. She did find two junipers the right distance apart yesterday, so took a good nap at 4 pm in the hammock and enjoyed it a whole lot.

She's back in Lordsburg through Saturday. She scheduled a zero day here and is regretting it somewhat since Lordsburg is not much to write home about, although it's more hospitable than the desert. She has been trying to get a free meal out of the "India Indians" who run the hotel by telling them that she loves the good smells coming out of their home. She has a good track record with winning her way into free food, laundry and so on, so odds are good she will eating Indian food tonight. In fact, I think I could use some Indian food tonight.