BOTTOM OF A CANYON

REACHED WARM SPRINGS, OREGON AT 3 PM.

SAM HAD IT EASY TODAY...ONLY 5 OR 6 NOTEWORTHY HILLS. I PUSHED HER ALL THE REST OF THE 23 MILES WE WALKED TODAY.

THE LAST 4 OR SO MILES WERE STEEP DOWN. DOWN HILL IS, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF OUR WALK. HOLDING SAM FROM RUNNING AWAY GIVES A REAL TEST TO FINGERS, WRIST, ELBOW, SHOULDER AND UPPER BACK. IT IS SO VERY EASY TO OVERSTRESS MUSCLES, TENDONS, AND JOINTS.

THEN TOO, FROM MY HIP DOWN TO MY TOES, THE SAME APPLIES.

"RED" BATTERY PACK DOES NOT SEEM TO BE TAKING IT'S CHARGE...AM TRYING TO FIGURE WHY...IF SHE DOES NOT CHARGE UP, I DON'T BELIEVE SAM CAN PULL THE 5 MILE 7% CLIMB OUT OF THE WARM SPRINGS CANYON WE DESCENDED TODAY..

MADRAS IS ONLY 15 MILES FROM WHERE WE ARE FOR THE NIGHT...BUT IS NEARLY STRAIGHT UP.

GONNA GO BUT A TREAT FOR ME; HUCKLEBERRY PIE...WHICH I VERY MUCH DESERVE...MAYBE WITH ICE CREAM.

MUST BUY SOME NEW PANTS WHEN WE REACH BEND...MY WAIST HAS DROPPED FROM SIZE 40 TO 36 & STILL ON IT'S WAY DOWN...HAD TO TIE MY PANTS TO MY JACKET TO KEEP 'EM UP.