6-21-06
Start: 8 miles out of La Mar, CO
Destination: Somewhere Between Lamar & Hasty, CO
Miles: 19.5
Weather: Mid-90's, Stormy Afternoon
We were up at 3 am, and Leon, one of the workers at the Parker Ag picked us up at 4:30 and drove us to where Jason picked us up yesterday. We then hiked the 8 miles back into Lamar. When we got there, we stopped to pick up some sunscreen, bug spray, a couple of apples, and a few other things we probably didn't absolutely need. I think mom and I are trying to get our packs to weigh as much as they possibly can!
I did pick up a squeeze tube of Carmex for the stupid cold sore I have. I never got these dumb things before, and this is my second one on this trip! I hate them. This one particularly makes my entire head throb all day - then I caught it on the edge of my energy bar wrapper - OUCH! I can't believe something so little can be so darn painful! I was having a weak and whiny and moody day.
After our Carmex and apples stop, we swung by a donut shop for coffee. I was happy because I was feeling pokey. But mom got tough on me - dragging me along and cracking the whip - "Come on, Robbie," she'd say. I'd grumble and try to catch up. I just didn't feel great, but I'm glad she pushed me on. Then I spotted a Sonic and thought, "what a great way to cheer myself up - with a milkshake!" So I got my milkshake, and that shot me forward for the next couple hours.
Then after a while, mom was getting too hot, so she spotted a shady tree spot. We do have more trees here than we did in Kansas, so that's nice. Anyway, I started to eat my apple - I took a great big bite - and forgot about the cold sore for a second - OUCH! I was so upset, and I really, really wanted to eat that huge red, juicy apple I picked out earlier. So I opened my backpack and searched for my knife so I could slice it. I couldn't find it, and that just struck something in my brain to release all kinds of crazy chemical reactions. Out of absolutley nowhere, I threw the bag I was looking in on the ground, dumped everything out in a temper tantrum, and mom started to laugh. For the record, if the shoe was on the other foot, I'd laugh, too... Anyway, I lost it! I began crying, and got so mad that I threw that apple as far as I could. It went rolling and tumbling quite a ways through the dry dirt behind us. All I wanted was to eat that apple! So when I cooled down, I checked to be sure I didn't break anything when throwing my bag down, and then found my knife. I walked over and picked up my apple and brought it back and sat down. Mom was holding back laughter - it had to be a sight. I wiped the dirt off, and dug in with the knife. After that, I was a little better. At least I got to eat the thing!
We stopped in one of the feedlots for water, and about 2 or 3 miles down the road a severe storm started to roll in - possible quarter-size hail, damaging winds... a guy driving a wheat truck stopped and offered us a ride. We accepted. We got to a campsite where they let us camp out in the laundry room, so we would stay dry through the storm. Only now, we have to walk back to where we left off and walk back here again. We are determined to make a continuous line E-W, so that's the sacrifice we make.
The storm wasn't too bad. Big, swirly clouds scared me a bit, then a little hail, some strong wind, and some sandy dust blowing all over came through. Mom and I ate beans and wieners for dinner, and now we're hittin' the hay. And I think I better stay away from apples for a few days, hey? :)
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