I walked down the highway through Chama to Finas Diner for breakfast.  I really like it there – good food and they are hiker friendly.  The waitress/owner recognized me as a thru hiker and asked me how much further I had to go, etc.  She left and the couple at the adjacent table started asking me questions as well.  They must have overheard us talking.  I enjoy telling people about my hike so I spent 20 minutes or so talking with them.  Eventually the guy left to go pay, and so did I.  I wan’t paying attention, and when it was my turn to pay the lady told me that the guy in front of me had already paid for my breakfast!  Woo Hoo! People can be so nice.  I thanked them profusely and went on my way.

I changed hotels to the Branding Iron (a very nice upgrade from the Y hotel) and spent the day watching TV, talking on the phone, getting supplies, and planning the last section to Ghost Ranch.  There is no laundry in the Chama hotels and I didn’t feel like walking back to the laundromat so I washed my clothes in the tub.

I asked the hotel owners where to eat and they told me Fosters Bar was the place to go.  I went there and was disappointed with the food and service, but fascinated with the gang/motorcycle dudes hanging out there. After dinner I started the mile walk back to the hotel when the coal burning train returned to the station.  It was fun to watch it chugging away.

Walking back I ran into DJ and Cowboy at the Dollar Store and talked with them for a while.  I then went in and bought a one dollar silk pie and a Magnum ice cream and it was the best thing I ate all day.  I casually ate the ice cream as I walked back to the hotel.  The weather was nice and cool and the evening was very pleasant. I was very content and happy.