Went for a walkabout in September to test out my foot and sleep on the ground after missing summer due to foot surgery. I walked from Silverton to Rico to Telluride to Silverton, sticking to trails to keep my foot happy. Rico and the surrounding hills were the highlight. And my old friend Emily owns the Mercantile now, so that was fun to see a familiar face! I got benighted walking into Telluride so I found a nice spot in the bushes near the gas station. The next morning I walked into town and got a spot at the campground. That night it rained continuously and I woke in a puddle of mud, slightly damp, and splattered with dirt. With rain all day in the forecast I decided to be an adult and get a much-too-expensive-but-not-very-nice hotel room to dry out in. Literally they stuck me in a room in the basement that was undergoing renovations, but it was dry and the shower was hot and honestly I can’t blame them, I looked like a capital “D” Dirtbag soaking wet with my dirty tent rolled on top of my pack. I picked up some clothes from the Free Box (they were cleaner than what I’d been wearing) and wandered around town just like any other tourist (except that my ‘fit was FREE) critiquing the strange town that is Telluride. The forecast looked better the following day and despite starting in a drizzle, the sky cleared as I hiked my way up into Wasatch basin and I was able to finally get back home to Silverton. A micro adventure out the back door was just what I needed…and my foot felt good (even if all the other parts are out of shape)!