Day 195

I will update the last few days when I can get to a better place to do so but I wanted to blog about today while it is still fresh on my mind….

I woke up early and knew I should get up and moving because I had a long way to go today. Mostly uphill also. I wanted to have plenty of time to get up and over the summit. I turned the TV on and started getting ready. I went to the cafe for breakfast and to tell the owner goodbye and thanks for a good stay. I said bye to a few other people I met while I was there also. 
Before I left, I did one last use of the WiFi and then I took pictures with the Welcome to Nevada sign and the Hwy 50 sign. Had to climb it of course. Then I finally got going. My phone and body were still on mountain time so it was actually earlier than my mind thought it was. 

It was a slight incline for 17 miles. Not too steep. Some parts were harder than others but none of it slowed me down. I was thankful for the long, gradual incline. I was also thankful for the weather! For once, I finally got a good day. 72ish and clear with a light breeze. And it was actually NOT blowing in my face. Unbelievable!
The scenery was phenomenal. There were moments where I just stopped dead in my tracks to take it in. I saw a coyote trying to cross the road. He saw me and then turned around and ran away. He was too swift to get a picture. That was the first time I’d ever seen a coyote in person. I’ve heard them a lot but have never seen one. 
The traffic was light but every now and then a wave of cars would come through and it would be a little hectic for a minute or two. But there were times where I would go 5 or 10 minutes without seeing anyone. It was so quiet and so peaceful. I was able to really take in my environment and enjoy the moments. 
It seemed easy when I made it the 17 miles to the summit. I stopped and turned around and when I saw the mountains and canyons that I walked through in the distance, I almost teared up. They didn’t come to surface but I had a great moment with myself of the accomplishments I’ve made. Utah was hard. Very hard. I had some rough days and things were starting to overwhelm me a little. But as I looked back at the memories from the top of Sacramento Pass, I knew right then and there that I was going to make it to the the end of my walk. This was the first time that I was absolutely certain of it. I turned back around and pointed to the west and down I went! 
I made it another 5 or 6 miles down and then the sun was going down and I wanted to start setting up camp. I found a spot too good to pass up. The views are absurd. I can’t believe I’m actually here right now. 
I put the tent up and made dinner. I used my camp stove in the street. I did that because I am camped in high grass and it’s very dry and I don’t want to accidentally start a wildfire. So I went to the road and no one came by thankfully. That would’ve been a weird one to see.
I sat around and ate while watching the constantly changing colors of the sunset. Such a good day. I’m loving hwy 50 in Nevada. So far, so good!!!