March 21, 2007
Day Three. Patagonia to Gardner Trailhead.

We drove out to the trailhead about 6.5 miles from Patagonia. A good road to that point. Diane and Ron got the mules out and headed up the road toward Mt Wrighton. I went back to Patagonia bought a few supplies at the organic store and headed toward Sonita. The wind was picking up as I got closer. The clouds were building. The paper said chance of rain the next three days. Glad Paula and Steve have said it is okay to come back to their place. I drive out to Gardner Trailhead on Forest Road 92, another good road. As I sit there a mountain biker drives up and gets his bike set up and heads toward Kentucky Camp. Shortly thereafter a Mexican Vaquero is driving some cows and calves down the road to another pasture. He stops and we talk a little spanish and a little english. About an hour later he and his dog come back. By now the rain has started but it is not hard. About 2 o'clock I head down the trail hoping to run into Diane and Ron. I go about 2 miles and go past the penstock water canel system that a mining company built to get water uphill. Interesting design and it worked. The trail was in good condition and had several historical signs regarding mining, the penstock, Greaterville. At that point I turned around and headed back to the trailhead. About an hour later Diane leading and Ron riding appeared at camp with big smiles. A long tough day on two tough mules.

Posted by Richard Wertz