Wind, Wildlife & Wonderful Encounters

Another long and beautiful day on the road. I woke up early with the morning light, grabbed my usual cold coffee, woke up the crew, and got ready for the run. My sister drove the RV back to the Utah–Idaho state line, where I finished yesterday, and I set off into another day of adventure.

The first 7 miles followed a quiet road running parallel to the interstate—flat and wide, cutting through farmland and open country. The early hours gave the land a soft glow, and I felt a deep sense of calm as I ran through the peaceful expanse.

Not long after I started, I met a local man and took the chance to ask him about some upcoming roads on my route. He confirmed my map looked good and gave me a few helpful pointers. I always appreciate when local knowledge and my route planning align—it adds a little extra confidence to each step forward.

Soon after, I turned left off the main stretch and headed deeper into the wide flatlands, framed by distant mountain ranges. The morning couldn’t have been more perfect—still, bright, and peaceful. Around mile 12, I had a surprise meeting with Steve, a retired doctor from the area. He was mowing his lawn when I passed, and the moment I told him about my project, he stopped everything, jumped into his car, and drove off to alert the local newspaper in Malad City.

Not long after, his wife Sherrie found me on the road. She pulled up, full of energy and curiosity, asking questions, filming me, and taking notes. We had a great conversation, took a few photos, and shared a beautiful moment of connection—these encounters mean so much along the way.

After that came the climb. A long, steady ascent to Holbrook Summit drained much of my energy. I walked a good portion, reached the summit tired, and tried to jog the descent, but needed walking breaks in between. Somewhere along the downhill stretch, I met Doyle—Sherrie’s brother—and we chatted for a while before I continued.

The final 10 miles into Holbrook brought strong headwinds that slowed me down and added another layer of difficulty. The heat intensified, and I felt the sun pressing down despite the slightly overcast skies. Yet, the world around me was so alive—dragonflies darting through the gusts, butterflies flashing their colors, large birds of prey soaring above, and little birds playing along the fence lines. The fields were irrigated with massive systems, and sometimes a gentle mist from the spray cooled me just enough to keep going.

Exhausted and windblown, I finally reached Holbrook, where my crew had parked at a lot right at the edge of town. We’ll eat, rest, and take some well-deserved downtime before continuing across Idaho.

It was a tough but beautiful day—full of human kindness, unexpected wildlife, and a reminder of how connected everything becomes when you move slowly through the world on foot.

Thanks for being here and following the journey. Idaho is unfolding one step at a time.