The Backroads group offered us breakfast but we got up early, walking to the Lodge to eat a couple of breakfasts with Edward. Our table sat at the window with the canyons and Humphreys Peak visible. It was hard to believe our eyes.

The North Rim Postmaster knew we were coming in on Sunday so she left our box at the Lodge. But nobody at the lodge could find it. We tried the registration, gift shop, and coffee shop to no avail. After much hunting Ally found the box with our maps, guides, and food. Way to go, Ally!

By the time we got a shuttle back to the trailhad it was afternoon. My feet and legs were begging for a flat forest trail. Instead, we followed a primitive road through a utility corridor that ran straight as a arrow up and down everything.

We passed a couple of snow patches and the mosquitoes were relentless. We had to hike in the heat with wind shells and pant legs on. Whew!

Our goal was to leave the National Park so we could legally camp in the forest. As soon as we crossed the boundary fence we were in a gorgeous meadow, open and green and fringed with trees. Our campsite was close by.

Bison! We saw bison twice very early this morning as we walked down the middle of a long narrow meadow. Later in the day we saw wild turkey, deer and elk. The cicadas are in this area, too, because we are hearing their constant buzz.

We met three equestrienne at the East Rim Overlook. We first met them just before Roosevelt Lake and we recognized each other (one is a current Passage Steward and another a past Passage Steward for the AZT). As the equestrienne trotted away, two mountain bikers rode up. They chatted with us for a minute. They camped with a trail crew and are riding as much of the AZT as they can in small sections.

Today we had the trail and terrain that my feet and legs wanted yesterday. Beautiful meadows mixed with spruce and aspen forest was a treat for our eyes and noses. It was absolutely stellar hiking...again.

We planned to pick up water at Crystal Lake which turned out to be neither. It was a brown shallow pond with browner plants growing or floating on the surface. Ken filtered, then dumped the coffee colored water. We headed for Jacob Lake.

The AZT is closed at Crystal Lake for 10 miles north due to the Warm Burn from two years ago. The bypass is a road walk on AZ 67. It wasn't hard walking but we still needed water from Jacob Lake Inn. Just as it was getting too dark to road walk a Highway Patrolman drove us a couple of miles to the resort.

What a zoo! The Inn was full so we put our tent up in the dark behind the resort. Sometimes I guess we just have to take the adventure as it comes and then we