The next day we drove to Las Vegas, what an opposite scene from trail livin'! Easy had a very distinct desire for jean shorts ("JORTS"), so we popped by a Goodwill thrift store on our way into town. We ended up staying in "Paris" and had a blast eating delicious food and people watching. I went to the pool that afternoon and took selfies under the "Eiffel Tower." We both had only been to Vegas one other time and it was the perfect very different experience for both of us.

I told her about how I ask my mom to send me wishes instead of worries when she shares concerns for my safety. When I said this, her eyes lit up and she said "You are everywhere" to me. It was such an unusual and amazing compliment. She's planning a trip to Eugene, Oregon this summer despite her son's worries. I suggested she go in July instead of June because hopefully then the rainy season will be over. I told her about how beautiful the roses are in Oregon and showed her some pictures that I had taken in the Portland Rose Garden. When she saw the light purple Sterling Rose, she let out an audible squeal over how beautiful it was.

We decided to take a break from the trail for a few weeks primarily due to all the snow still in the Sierras but also because our tent poles went missing...

We used our vacation from our vacation as a time to see our families, relax, eat delicious food, and we even did some backpacking in the Gila National Forest in Southern New Mexico!

When we pulled up to the Best Western, Jim asked for our names so he could keep us in his prayers. We told him, and then Easy shook his hand. I reached my hand towards him from the backseat but he didn't shake my hand. It was very strange. I reversed my extended hand and got out of the car. I noticed a National Rifle Association lifetime member sticker on the window before we walked away. Jim gave his phone number to Easy in case we needed a ride back to the post office or trail in the next few days. As we walked away, Easy and I talked about how either his peripheral vision was no good or he wouldn't shake my hand because I'm a woman.

He also suggested some possible trail names for me, including "Butt Cheeks" (in reference to my explaining to our Swiss friends the difference between face cheeks and rear cheeks) and "Frito Farts" (I had mentioned that my sleeping bag smells like frito chips). He also summed up thru-hiking in one sentence: "Eat, drink, fart, piss, shit and then there's walkin'." I made sure to pay close attention to what he was saying so I could write it down tonight.

Cecilia had in me in tears twice on her massage table. The first time was because my calves were so tight when she was working out the kinks. I was squirming and almost whimpering at one point. It makes sense that my ankles have been hurting with such ridiculously tight calves. The second thing that made me cry was hearing about the magic that happened when she adopted her two children. She shared such a beautiful story with me. She also shared that it was her birthday about 2/3 into the massage. I was so honored that she took my appointment on her birthday and gave me such a terrific massage. I felt so grateful to have gotten to meet her.