Mon May 1^st :  This morning as I walked to the convenience store I passed by two older gentlemen who were packing gear on their boat.  They were headed onto the lake for a week of puttering around on the water and agreed to give me a ride across to Halls Crossing Marina.  I was thrilled because it would take me about 145 miles to walk around!  There is more shoreline on lake Powell than all along the westcoast.  It took only about 10 minutes to get across the Lake . I bought my water and some food and then set out pulling a cart with the 6 gallons of water, my pack and walking sticks in tow up the gravel road to the gas station.  I received a huge surprise when I got to the gas station and heard my name called out.  A lady whom I had met last week pulled over and asked if I needed help.  She took me all the way to the next town, 90 miles, stopping every 20 miles so I could stash water.  Then after chatting nonstop we arrived back to Halls crossing, I was invited to take a shower and then I started hiking where I had left off.  I am filled with amazement at all the times things happen that exceed my expectations.  I cannot plan for so much, yet it all works out.  I am constantly filled with wonder and awe, not only at Gods creation in nature, but the way He helps me on my journey.

 

Tue May 2^nd :  Last night it got super windy.  I had to close my eyes while putting up my tent because of all the sand.  Although I got the tent to stay up by loading it down with rocks, there was still a fine coating of powdery sand inside the tent. Today I stopped by a small airport to fill up on water.  Stayed for over an hour talking to the man inside.  Shared info about the area and about our mutual interest in plants.  Toward evening I felt a sharp pain in my foot, I hobbled abit further and then took off my shoe to investigate. My one foot has about 6 blisters while the other only has two.  Decided to stop for the day and found a place to camp. It was a good thing my blister popped when it did because I had a long downhill to go with no good place to tent for another 3 miles. 

 

Wed May 3^rd : What I enjoy so much about the desert is the solitude and lack of distractions.  The only distraction is really my own mind. I am enjoying being able to focus on prayer, what a wonderful gift prayer is!  As much as I enjoy and love life and want to get to be 100 years old, if for some reason I were to die today I would be happy, I look forward to life beyond earth.  Three vehicles stopped to see if I needed anything. I am doing well with my water drops and seem to always have more than enough food.  I do enjoy fresh food and was given carrots and an orange…luscious treats!

 

Thur May 4^th : Cactus are blooming.  More barrel cactus this eastern side of Lake Powell , western side has more prickly pear.  The past 25 miles have been covered with junipers and pinion pines.  Today my feet are really sore, lots of blisters very slowly turning to calluses.  Plan to keep doing 20 mile days.

 

Fri May 5^th : Happy Cinco de Mayo! Tonight I had permission to sleep in someones backyard at the edge of town. I didn’t realize that there was a small airport with a revolving light..I had to wear my bandanna over my eyes and stuff gauze in my ears! The people had invited me in to share stories and food. There are so many great people in the world.  I am convinced that it is a wonderful world!

 

Sat May 6^th : I ask myself this from Psalm 116.  “ What shall I return to the Lord for all His bounty to me?”  I could devote myself daily and still be unable to give enough in return for all I have receive.  I found out there is a Catholic church in the next town 21 miles away that has a 12 Noon mass. I will make it there!  I started hiking after 5 PM , I enjoy the evenings because it is not so hot.  A truck pulled over from a group who takes troubled kids into the back country, they invited me to stay at their staff house when I get into Monticello .  Slept out under the stars and saw a very large ring around the moon.

 

Sun May 7th :  Once I came into Monticello I had a couple hours till church started and was finding my way around town when I met a lady who was distressed.  She started talking to me and told me she was on her way to the hospital.  I sat down with her for over an hour trying to encourage her and help her with her problem.  After mass I spoke with the parishioners and was invited to a couples home who were visiting from Moab , when I walk thru Moab . I was given some canned goods from the church pantry.

 

Mon May 8^th :  Ate some canned soup for breakfast and two cans of tuna for lunch, lots of good protein!  I need to put out a water drop (2 gallons of water) between here and Moab before I continue hiking.  I received a ride to cache the water and the ride I received back to town happened to be the owner of a newspaper near Moab .  Excellent timing, he said he will do an article about my hike and mission.  As I put on my pack and started hiking towards Moab a car pulled over, it was a man who I had met a couple days ago with his girlfriend.  They made a delicious sandwich for me and even poured me some red wine, talk about roadside service!  While making dinner I accidentally melted some of my fuel bottle, luckily I am still able to screw the cap onto it and it doesn’t leak.

 

Tue May 9^th : Am low on fuel so I ate my oatmeal cold, I would rather save the fuel for dinner. Cold and rainy, my feet and body feel good and soul is peaceful.  Saw two snakes, one was a rattlesnake, I am uncertain what the other kind was.  An RV pulled over and was invited to share my mission while enjoying a cup of coffee.  Hiked 27 miles today, my feet are finally feeling good again.  Found a great place to sleep overlooking a canyon.

 

Wed May 10^th : I have gotten to Moab a day earlier than I expected.  A friend of a friend has invited me to stay with her in town. She didn’t come home till early in the morning, I was sleeping on the couch and woke up screaming because I was startled.  After laughing at myself we talked abit before getting more sleep.  

 

Thur May 11^th : This morning I met the couple (Jan and Bernie) from church at Monticello . WE went on a day hike with a visiting priest and got to see some neat petroglyph's.  It is so nice to see more of the area, especially while being lighter on my feet without my backpack.  Went to the library and then was invited to go to a wedding reception, played volleyball and enjoyed good food and company.  I never know what to expect each day!  I pray that I empty myself and let God work thru me and fill me each day. I like to imagine I am a vase I empty and he fills with flowers.  Am I doing all that I can with what I have?  Jan is very excited about what I am doing and is helping to spread the word about what I am doing by introducing me to people she knows.  I know it appears to be a big deal to walk across the country, but I don’t want it to be just about me, there is so much to this hike.  It really is about connecting with people and encouraging them.  It is about doing Gods will.

 

Fri May 12^th : Was not intending to stay long in Moab, but lots of great opportunities are happening, so as long as I am able to share my mission I will.  Jan and Bernie are tremendous!  They understand the impact I want to create, a ripple effect of goodness.  Had an interview with a local paper and helped Jan dig some plants for Father.  He is leaving to go back home today and is taking some plants with him.  When he came over we tried fixing his phone, it doesn’t ring at all anymore and he is unable to receive calls.  We called and got the phone updated, it is now working with a loud “Alleluia” ring to it.  You can’t help but smile broadly when the music bursts forth. J   A question to ask myself daily, “what can I do to be more Christlike?”  This evening I met with the home parish priest  and had a very nice discussion.  I asked for advice on how best to go about approaching parish priests so that I could share my mission.  I received much great advice and encouragement.  I should focus on my journey of faith and keep trusting God, I am stepping out of the boat in total trust.  I do realize how priests and nuns are limited with what they can do. 

 

Sat May 13^th : I was treated to a 3 hour guided hike in the Fiery Furnace section of Arches NP.  What a tremendous area!  In the evening went to town and walked around sampling food and looking at various artists displayed talents.

 

Sun May 14^th : Went to mass and was given the opportunity to speak afterwards to the parishioners.  Went with Bernie and put out water drops, came back and had 12 minutes to spare before I was picked up to be taken to the local radio station.  First time I have ever spoke on the radio, got to wish my mom a happy mothers day J

 

Mon May 15^th : Spoke to the rotary club.  Jan let me use her bike to ride around town so I was able to get caught up on getting my pictures and journal updated.  Helped plant some flowers with Jan, I look forward to having my own flower and veg garden some day.  I must come back to visit so many of the people I have gotten to meet and be able to take day hikes in the areas I want to delve more into.  It is so easy to love people.  We really need one another to help each other on our journeys…St.Paul says, “We belong to one another.” 

 

Tue May 16^th :  Spoke on the other local radio station.  After eating another wonderful meal at Jan and Bernie's (Bernie knows how to cook an egg perfectly over easy) I continued hiking.  Jan said she will continue the ripple effect for me in Moab by continuing efforts to raise awareness for what I am doing.  It is encouraging to me to see people take the initiative to do more, not only to help me with the library, but to have touched their hearts.  It has been hot today and I am sleepy, I only got 3 hours of sleep last night catching up on emails. 

 

Wed May 17^th : Men are working on a 4 mile section of road. People that I have met working on the roads are always fun to talk to.  It is amazing the energy I receive when I meet people who are encouraging.  Even having a honk of the horn or wave gives me extra energy.  Stopped in the afternoon for a break from the heat and sun.  Met Jerry and talked a couple hours. It is so neat how there are so many more similarities than differences among all people.  After enjoying a grapefruit, a book  and receiving some dark chocolate, I continued on to reach my water drop another 10 miles down the road. I feel like a walking library, I now have one hardback book, two soft covers and a leather bound Bible! It was dark before I reached my water, a man pulled over and gave me some water, 5 minutes later he came back and said he was concerned and wanted to make sure I found my water.  I told him I only had about another 10 feet and I was there, it is heartening to know people are concerned about others. There are so many really genuinely good hearted people.

 

Thur May 18^th : Started the day early with some stimulating trivia off the oatmeal packets. The immediate area is very barren, the sagebrush is only mid calf high.  It is amazing how it looks like nothing is out here, yet I hear the constant chatter of birds and see the spider webs glistening in the early morning sun as if a gigantic net hovers above the ground clinging from sagebrush to sagebrush.  As soon as I began walking on the road this morning Elmer, Jerry's '83 Mazda pickup, came rambling down the road.  It was nice to chat with Jerry, he wanted to be sure I had found my water.  In late morning I passed thru the town of Cisco , pop. 6.  It appeared there was noone around for miles, but then from the shadows of a porch emerged a smiling woman. She came towards me and asked if I was walking across the country. She introduced herself and said she had just read an article in the paper this morning about me. We walked together as I listened to her tell me a little about Cisco before she turned back to wait for the bus that would take her to her rafting job.  It is getting hot in the afternoons, there is very little shade so I have made shade by securing my ground cloth to the sagebrush using some ponytail holders.  It is so warm that I feel all the energy in me has  seeped out, I don't even want to read or write, just hide in the shade like an animal until that summer sun starts to sink in the sky.         

The chocolate hardens nicely once it has cooled down.  A lovely treat after I finish eating some pasta. 

 

Fri May 19^th : The cottonwoods shiny green leaves are fluttering in the breeze and I am happy and content in their shade, I am in Colorado now!  I am still in the desert but am looking forward to the cooler temps of the mountains. The spot I chose for lunch holds a delightful surprise, the cottonwoods are filled with nesting herons. I have come upon a heron rookery in the desert!  It is amazing how the nests support the squawking birds, it looks as if their pencil thin legs should poke thru. 

 

Sat May 20^th : Walked into Fruita (the town used to have a lot of orchards before the canals changed the water table) just in time for “Mike the headless chicken festival”.  It is based on a true story of a local chicken who survived for 18 months after getting its head cut off.  The family said they made more in that 18 months than during their lifetime of farming.  The timing has worked out well for me, not only do I get to revel in a fun atmosphere of music, food and games, but all the local media are here at labeled tables. How much more convenient could it be for me to be able to share my message?  I have been interviewed for the local paper, the TV and later will call into the radio station.  On Tue I will be able to attend the Rotary meeting to speak for a couple of minutes.  Besides the regular festival attractions, there is also chicken football.  I thought it was a rubber chicken, but it is a not-so-frozen chicken! There is a chicken wing eating contest as well as a peeps eating contest.  I tried the peeps eating contest but forgot to strategize and lost by one.  I was allowed to speak at the microphone to talk about my mission and received a nifty camelback pack for what I am doing.  I met a couple who graciously invited me to their home to check my email, take me out to dinner and allow me a place to sleep for the night.  I am listening to the radio as I lie down and enjoy the music so much I don't want to fall asleep!  It is neat how doing without music or sweets or mouthwatering food makes it that much sweeter when I have the opportunity to have what I have done without. 

 

Sun May 21^st : After attending mass and speaking to the parishioners I headed towards the town of  Grand Junction .  Grand Junction gets its name from the junction of the Colorado (previously called Grand) and Gunnison rivers.  The walk was mainly all businesses or homes with lots of tiny grasshoppers jumping all around me.  It is the first time since California that I have had the opportunity of getting something to eat or drink every couple of blocks. Needless to say I rested about 5 times within 10 miles, and had an ice cream bar for dinner!  In the morning I need to call into the radio show so I cannot stray too far from a phone.  I stopped near the last available pay phone before the town of Whitewater .  The area was residential so I decided that I would need to ask if I could sleep in someones backyard in order to get up and going early enough to call into the radio.  The first couple I asked said no, but the next neighbor said he had never had that request but agreed.  I went to the backyard, set up my tent and then shared lemonade and stories with the homeowners.   

 

Mon May 22^nd : This morning I was invited in for coffee, thankful that no sprinklers got me, then walked to the pay phone.  I really enjoy being able to share my message and have remained passionate even though I am repeating myself continuously.  Realizing I lost my hat I walked back to where I slept hoping to find it.  The first set of neighbors were outside and apologized to me saying that they could've let me sleep in their yard.  I told her I understood that often people are afraid of one another, but that by my hiking I must expand my comfort zone. I found my hat, walked to Whitewater and called Hollie from Fruita.  She and her husband had offered to get me so that I could attend the Rotary meeting.  Spent a lovely evening sharing our faith together.  

 

Tue May 23^rd : Spoke to Rotary and then Hollie gave me a ride back to where I left off in Whitewater.  As I walk there are lots of prairie dogs poking their heads out of their holes, standing with their arms held up in front of themselves chirping, and then darting back in their holes as I get too close. 

 

Wed May 24^th : Many of the cactus after blooming seem to shrivel up and become harder to notice.  I find myself taking a step and then quickly trying to prevent my foot from becoming a pincushion. I came across two men who were cutting prickly pear cactus and taking off the thorns to deep fry them.  I asked about upcoming water, they said there wasn't any for quite awhile.  They  generously took me to a ranch house so I could fill up on water.  Later came across a creek and delightfully soaked my feet while my rinsed clothes could dry in the sun.  Walked to the edge of town, I will camp and walk into Delta in the morning. My appetite has kicked in, I feel like eating a lot more!

 

Thur May 25^th : Woke early and came into Delta.  At the grocery store a man introduced himself as the “chicken shit king of delta county”.  His sister had named him that because he hauls chicken shit which eventually goes to California to be recycled.  Earlier as I hiked into town I watched him drive his 18 wheeler thru a field with a cloud of dust billowing behind.  As he drove by on the main road we smiled and waved to each other.  At the store he said he didn't see many people who smile and wave and asked where I was going.  I explained my mission and he gave a donation for the library.  I feel privileged to be entrusted with all that I am.  In order to be trustworthy in Gods eyes with large responsibilities, we must be trustful with little responsibilities.  I stopped in at the info center and met a very welcoming woman who gave me postcards and a note to take to the man at the Fort in town  (her husband) to receive a free tour.  On the way to the library I stopped at the local paper and was interviewed for a story.  The reporter was great to talk to because he was an outdoor enthusiast and understood my passion.  I find that there is beauty everywhere and if I had to choose my favorite place or type of land, it would be wherever I am when I am internally focused beyond my concerns and focused on God.  I have arrived at the library an hour before it opens so I have found a cool shady spot beneath a redbud to enjoy the lush green grass.  A lady had just pulled up, walked to the door and looked defeated to see that they were closed.  She approached me and asked if I would return her books for her.  I am happy to be able to have her check an errand off her list, but even more so it pleases me that she trusts my word.  It fills my heart when people believe in each other even when it is over something small!

 

Fri May 26^th : Met Ken and received a tour of the fort. It was enjoyable to walk around and imagine having lived there. I sometimes wish I could have been born 150 years ago when life was so much simpler, but then I wouldn’t want to give up the opportunity I have now.  Found out where the phrase “sleep tight” comes from.  The beds used to have ropes instead of springs and the ropes would need to be tightened once in awhile. Ken and I talked for a couple of hours, once a friend never a stranger.  Continued on hiking towards Delta. As I prepared for bed 2 antelope bounced by about 15 feet away from me.

 

Sat May 27^th : Hiked into Hotchkiss this afternoon. Found out there is a Catholic church in Paonia, I’ll get there in time for 8:30 mass tomorrow.  My eating habits are getting healthier, when I used to hike I thought it gave me a reason to eat as much and whatever I wanted when I got into town. I am now trying to discipline myself to eat what my body needs, not just calories, but fruits and veg and protein.  I feel better when I eat healthier.  Cloudy day, a break from the sun.  Have been walking past some marvelous gardens filled with flowers, and some orchards. Things are greener now that there is more water available from the canal system.

 

Sun May 28^th : Woke early to get into Paonia in time for mass.  Arrived an hour early so I knocked on Fathers door to receive permission to wash up in the bathroom in church.  I also received permission to share with the parishioners my mission. It is so refreshing to have a little soap and water on my bandanna. I changed into my “clean” shirt, rebraided my hair, brushed my teeth and am good to go. It is very touching how many people share stories with me and encourage me as well as show their support by donating for the library.

Am seeing much more wildlife, deer elk and marmot.  Now that I am out of the desert I haven’t seen any lizards or rabbits and the trees are taller than me! It is snowing …. cottonwood fluff.

 

Mon May 29^th : Camped by the river and slept in late.  I lost my sunglasses yesterday, I have gone thru 5 pairs since beginning at Pt.Reyes: either lost or broken.  I am glad it is overcast again, my eyes appreciate it.  Met 2 women walking down the road and they gave me their pair of sunglasses.  Just took them off and handed them to me! Later in the day a man, mountain man George, pulled over and we started chatting.  He owns land nearby and let me know I was welcome to stay there if I needed time to rest up.  He also gave me a contact for when I get to Crested Butte and said that if I needed anything to ask Tuck.  He described Tuck as a bald black  man with false teeth – sometimes in , sometimes out, with a tatoo on top of his head.  He said just ask and anyone will know who he is.  After hearing a warning about the bears, I was given some juice, pudding and then I continued hiking.  Threw my first snowball since being back on the trail. The area is covered with patches of quickly melting snow. Fell asleep with deer watching me.