May 18, 2025
‘Red line’ mile marker 125.6 to 146.0
Hiked today: 20.4 miles / 32.8 km
Hiked so far: 147.0 miles / 236.6 km (approx: 4.7%)

The wind had calmed down overnight, and it was again pleasantly cool as we set off. We had just over a litre of water, which we were confident would get us to the cache. The question in our minds was whether or not there would actually be any supply at the cache site. We made it there in good time and it was well stocked with water. 

We filled up our bottles and found a spot to sit down for brekkie. The next section of the trail was a pleasant path and easy to follow, but it had no water for 14 miles. That meant another heavy carry. The scenery was quite beautiful with views from the ridges we were following. Unfortunately, the atmospheric dust made it too hazy for good photos.

Around the middle of the day, the trail dropped down into a dry river bed and we followed the loose gravel of the wash for about 5 miles. Along the way we stopped in the shade for lunch and a siesta. The wind blew fiercely, tunnelling through the river gully. As we plodded along in the hot afternoon sun, we felt the radiant heat from the silvery gravel.

As we neared the place where we knew the next water to be, we found a pile of cans of soda under the shade of a tree. Supposing them to be for us, we each enjoyed a can, then stashed the crushed empty cans in our packs. Not much further on, we came to the water tank where we were able to share the water that the cows were drinking. We swept aside the algae, collected water in a water bladder, and filtered it into our bottles. Another heavy carry of 4 litres each, which must last us the rest of the way into Silver City.

Finally, the wash ended, and we moved onto the firm surface of a gravel road, which then joined into a highway.

We had dinner before starting along the highway and, after making a couple more miles with cars roaring past us, we are camped in a gully in the narrow strip between the road and the ranch land.