Day 15: April 8, 2023
AZT mile 211.3 to 220.7
Hiked today: 14.4 miles / 23.2 km
AZT ascents today: 377m , descents: 438m
AZT hiked to date: 27.6%

It was only a short 2.3 miles down the dirt track to the small town of Oracle, so we decided to wait and have breakfast in town. As we approached the town centre, we were greeted by a small group of older folk who welcomed us to their town.

The Patio Cafe was just about to open, and we were the first customers. The breakfast menu was impressive, and the food was surprisingly good. I had smashed avocado on foccacia with pickled red onion, daikon radish sprouts, and garlic aioli with a mall bowl of fresh fruit on the side, all washed down with fresh orange juice. Rob also enjoyed his huervos rancheros and hot chocolate.

When we finished eating, it was time for the post office to open, and Gary and I headed there to collect our resupply package, which we had posted from Tucson before we started hiking. Rob was offered a lift to a dollar store to buy one or two other items and then was also given a ride back to meet us at the PO – both lifts from kind trail angels.

Without having anywhere to get clean or wash our clothes, we headed straight back onto the road, walking 2.6 miles down to rejoin the AZT. Water is sparse in this dry desert region, and we topped up from a water cache before setting off.

According to our app, there was a water source about 8 miles further on. When we reached it, we found the water to be a brown muddy cow pond. Five cows stood watching us with surprised expressions, wondering why we were drinking from their toilet water! I decided to pass on clogging up our filter and think we have just enough to get us to the next, hopefully cleaner pond. Gary, however, needed to use some of it.

The afternoon walk was quite hot, and we spotted a few more animals along the way. Gary and I each saw a small ground squirrel scurrying along the path in front of us. Rob pointed out a red cardinal and then, later on I heard and then saw a rattle snake just a half a metre off the trail, almost hidden in the long grass. We tried to get photos, but it was well camouflaged in the greyish grass and rocks.