We left Burro Mountain Homestead early.  The trail was pretty tough with lots of ups and downs – sometimes following a dirt road for a ways, then returning to trail. I saw many horny toads at an outcropping which hence forth will be known as Horny Toad City.  Oh, and these were live ones!

This is a long waterless stretch, but we found a nice creek below a cow pond in a valley after 10 miles.  I figure the ground did a good job filtering it and it tasted great.

We were getting ready to find a campsite when I felt a small drop.  We had seen the clouds developing and getting darker throughout the day.  I suggested to Pat that perhaps we should find a campsite, but he seems obsessed with making miles so we can get to the next town as quickly as possible.  I’m not sure I like this philosophy and we keep passing over possibilities looking for the perfect spot???  We then feel some more drops and I insist we find a spot now.  Just as we settle on an area on the side of Bullard Peak it starts to pour.  In my rush I fumbled my tent setup with the stakes in the wrong place. Fortunately it stopped for a few minutes and I got my tent straightened out.  Even so I had about a cup of water inside which I needed to sponge out.

It proceeded to pour with lightening hitting very close all around us.  I couldn’t even go out to pee.  I tried to do it in the vestibule but there wasn’t room and I aborted before disaster.  It’s 8:19 now and it has stopped for the moment.  I can hear the wind picking up though so I don’t think we are done.  Time for sleep I hope.