Woke up relatively early to catch an amazing breakfast at the Holiday Inn. With some possible afternoon showers, Numbers and Jazzy wanted to get an early start. I had some errands to run before heading out. Left town around eleven. I saw a massive dark cloud coming directly at me. I figured I’d call Twigg and see if he wanted to take another day off. He was already a couple miles ahead of me. On the road walk out of Grant’s, I passed by a state pen. Realized that’s why I passed by a sign that said, ” Please don’t pick up hitchhikers.” By now the deathlike clouds had me surrounded. A quarter mile from me I saw a white streaks falling to the ground. I thought it was going to pummel me with rain. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Hail swept in so fast, I didn’t have rain gear on or a place to take shelter. The hail stopped after I was able to get my rain gear. The thunder and rain took its place. Finished the road walk and headed up Mount Taylor. Kept a solid pace to keep my body temp up. After a couple miles the trail leveled out and the rain went away. Caught some views looking back down at the town. Clouds started rolling on so I posted up at the next spring. Since rain was in the forecast all night, I figured I should try to fully set up my rain fly. It wasn’t hard to set up at all. For the first time in over a year and over 5,500 miles, I finally set my tent up correctly. Yet it still didn’t keep the rain out. I should of sealed the seams before hiking again this year and didn’t get to it. Mostly leaked thru my zipper, which was where my head laid. Wished my sister a Happy Birthday before passing out.
