Summer Road Trip

So, my planned road trip was now canceled. I was going to begin the trip after helping my friends Chris and Greg in Flagstaff, by watering some fledgling trees. No more. Just the tree watering and then back to Tucson for Cancer care. Sorry everyone.

So Sunday after Breakfast with the Boys, I headed up to Flagstaff to water trees. 

That is a vacation in itself. I slept so well every night, with the windows open to the cool night air. It was heaven to be so cool! It was Hot down there in Tucson! 

The first couple of days I was pretty tired, and just figured it was from getting up early, finishing packing the car, then 4 1/2 hours driving. S. clued me in about altitude sickness, and after reading up on it - I think that was it! I didn't need to water the day I got there, as it had been raining. 

So, the next day, I put on my shoes, and then the pull/over cleats they had for me, and began watering. The hose doesn't reach the far away trees, so gallons of water have to be carried. I picked up two, started down the hill, and same spot, same thing as last year happened. The dirt was too hard for the cleats. I think I need spikes! I think I overbalanced, then begin running to try to catch myself. Didn't work. Self didn't get caught, and this time I just chest and face-planted. Mostly chin. It knocked the breath out of me, and jarred my jaw so that is what I immediately thought - broken jaw or broken teeth. Nope. Just a skinned chin an elbows and a big chewed spot inside my lower lip. I kept spitting dirt and blood, and later flossed even more dirt out between my teeth!  (Last year (2024 BC [Before Cleats]) I sprained my ankle and had an urgent care visit.) A very nice lady just back from a walk, heard me fall (maybe even the words I may have said as I realized it was happening again) and yelled at me to not move. I couldn't for a bit, anyway, just making noise while trying to breathe. I had to turn on my side so I could breathe. She go there and helped me up, we took a less steep choice to go back up, she held my arm the entire way. Then she had to clamber back up the rip rap she had just clambered down to help me. I kept thinking - she better not fall! 

So, I called their back-up guy J. and told him I was now afraid to do the hill, and asked for help with the lower 40. He came and watered the down low trees that I couldn't get to, even 

with the hose spraying as far as I could get it. I told him they would probably never ask me again, but between the two of us - we can do it!! 

Thank you for saving me from myself, J.