Updates/GPS/Texas Plans

We went about twenty miles this morning before heading off to a rest stop for the heat of the day. Forgot to turn off the SPOT GPS for stopping time, so no...I am not incredibly fast in one hundred plus degree weather. That would be awesome, but still. Rest areas are few and far between here on this part of the I-10 between Quartzsite and Tonopah, and the nearest one was quite a way down the road.

On the subject of SPOT, if you noticed I left it on from White Water to a stretch into Indio, and again from Indio to Blythe. Did so for a reason. I want a record for the run and anything that happens during said run.

What happened once we started getting into the desert towns, is lack of running routes outside of the main highway. In California, you're not legally allowed to run the highway, even when it turns into a soft shoulder. I knew this, but hoped we'd simply luck out and not be noticed. We did okay for a while, but eventually the CHP noticed me and the support vehicle, and we were officially kicked off the highway.

So, we couldn't run anymore in California. That burned a lot of miles, of which I intend to make up. More on that later.

Once in Blythe, which is five miles from the Arizona border by the Colorado River, I simply walked over and into a more runner friendly (if you can call running in the desert friendly) state. In Arizona, you can run the soft shoulder (which there is much of) as long as you have a support vehicle. We were still pulled over a couple of times the first day, but the officers were friendly and we're pretty sure they spread the word. Actually got a few waves by passing patrol cars as I picked my way through fields of lava rock and cactus. It was less running...and more gingerly hopping, as the SPOT GPS might suggest. Started this morning around six or so and finally called it a first part of the day at twelve thirty or so. It was rough out.

Also, our documentarian is parting ways with us for a little while. She has a paying job coming up here shortly, and will be gone for two weeks until we get near Lubbock. Jessica has been fantastic, understanding, patient...pretty much all-around awesome. Her ride arrives out here in the desert from Prescott Wednesday, so we're actually bedding down for the night. She's also meeting us Saturday for our arrival in Phoenix to record our first media stop.

Finally, the missed miles. I was talking to my trainer Eric, and for me personally, the miles are important overall.  We're having to skip Santa Fe to keep Bob and Lana (my drivers) on schedule to be in Lubbock for the marriage of their son, and with the two day delay in Claremont, they just wouldn't make it. Missing a media stop sucks, and also...I stinking love Santa Fe so I was bummed out regardless. It think it would be fun to run through.

That said, these missed miles have presented an opportunity to add another final media stop in my home state. From Lubbock, Austin is nine days and a wake up by foot. That's almost four hundred miles. That should close the missed miles gap, and give me a chance to run into yet another great city that I love. My mother lives there, and so do a lot of my friends. Or...I could run around Lubbock a bunch of times. I'm not sure if that would be funny, great, weird, or all of the above. Either way, I get to make up those miles in my home state, which will be tough...but it's home, you know?

I'll be updating as I get more information. Basically, the interest needs to be there in Austin to make it an effort worth undertaking. Otherwise, circles around Lubbock it is. I honestly think either one would be a neat (and exhausting) way to cap this trip off. I'd get to see family as I ran, and my run crew would get a much needed rest.

So...that's what's going on right now. Lots of stuff. Never a dull moment in this thirty one foot RV.

I appreciate the encouragement and well wishes from family and strangers alike. It means a lot, really.

Take care folks.

-Dustin