9/22 – Flew into Reno .  When I first arrived to check in at the airport I checked my pack and carried on the road along with items I was more concerned about if got lost.  Forgot about policy: no lighters and pocketknives.  I had to hand over my knife because I didn’t have enough time to mail it on and get back in the line.  Disappointed.  On flight met a man from Galveston who was frustrated, trying to get home to help others get out – yet he was a very positive man – was not as concerned about his home and belongings as he was more concerned about his neighbors.  Brought back my perspective to what is truly important.  Also met a couple from Mississippi who told me about the damage done to their neighborhood, yet people are out working at getting things fixed, helping each other, out striving to put their lives back together & create some normalcy.  Met Mike Clafron, picked me up at Rotary & let me spend the night at his home – he & wife are both lovely people.

9/23 – Spoke @ Rotary, a member worked at library and drove me there.  Got to check email & go thru the topographic maps, make copies.  What a wonderful resource libraries are, any information you need you can find or will have someone help you get what you need.  Libraries are underrated.  Got picked up at library by Jennifer.  I had met her & her husband while hiking TR Trail in June.  They are being generous & invited me to stay until my next Rotary talk in four days.  Had a truly wonderful day talking with Jennifer about Kenya library/hike.  She has a very kind and loving spirit.  Extremely thoughtful.  She is Buddhist – I am discovering more and more how similar all religions are.  It’s a way of life generated by love for others and for a mightier being.  Christ said the most important thing we can do is to love one another – we are all so unique I can’t imagine that God could expect us to all believe the exact same thing.  Most importantly that we not just tolerate one another, but accept and love each other.  I need to listen better.  Jennifer had two of the same pocketknives and gave me one.

9/25 – Left this morning and picked up Bob and headed out to do water drops.  What a fun day, drove 300 miles & stopped every 15 miles to put out the water if there wasn’t any to be got.  It was fun to hide the water, take pictures and notes and observe the surroundings to familiarize myself with where the water would be.  On the first water drop we stopped in the middle of a basin with no vegetation.  White crusty ground. – I went to run across thinking it was dry and sunk in.  I quickly backed up but had mucky feet.  Jennifer rinsed off my feet and let me use another pair of sandals.  Returned about 11:30 p.m.   lots of driving – fun day.  Went to eat.  Bob made great suggestion – have a rest, sponsor me and I could do delivery the entire hike!  Jennifer is reserving a hat of hers to fit me.

9/26 – Met Jon Greene for lunch, Jennifer dropped me off and then went to visit her mom in the bay area.  Jon gave me some advice about the library & rotary.  He has done some work in Gambia & has been 2 years in E. Africa .  How it’s going to be difficult until I get someone to be doing the footwork that I can count on.  I told him about Pat and how he is the liaison.  Craig picked me up and I worked on my journal the rest of the day. 

9/27 – Finished my journal.  Craig dropped me off @ the rotary.  I gave a presentation, it went really well.  It was the most calm I’d ever felt while giving the talk, lots of great questions.  Ended up spending another night at Craig and Jens.  Craig told me two great stories of his firefighting days.  One was when he was checking boundaries and stepped in a trap, a rope that led to a gun.  Another when he helped CPO by climbing trees, hauling up bear and letting poachers shoot to get caught.

9/28 – Craig drove me to Carson City , met Bonnie (co-coordinator) & got on the trail. 

9/29 – Have been following the river.  Stopped in Dalton for steamed milk & was given 2 bagels.  Having to sometimes backtrack, uncertain where to follow and am sticking close to river – sometimes I find a trail, but it’s not consistent, it switches around.  It is nice out, slept well, chilly when woke.  Stopped for salad – waitresses Monda & Nadine.  Monda treated me to my salad.  My skin is so dry out here, therefore have been reapplying Chap Stick numerous times a day.

9/30 – Kelsey, Brianna – Silver Springs – Have been in hot sun, very little shade, stopped in Silver Springs @ first trees to take a breath.  Met these 2 cousins and one of their mom’s Amanda.  Was given tea, salad, & fun talk.  (Kelsey’s mom is named Debbie.  Both of us love Jesus!  After talking with my three new friends I went to the library.  I asked about any Catholic Churches, none in town.  The librarian talked to a lady who walked in.  This woman, Loretta, invited me to stay.  Awesome; cool people.  I’m staying in their camper; they are trying to live so they’re self-sufficient w/ food eventually.  Really close w/ neighbors.  Took me to eat and later had a great faith sharing conversation w/ Loretta.  Am learning to share faith more openly and not hide/be ashamed of what I feel is important/necessary to talk about & share with others.  Am going to stay another day and go to mass with Loretta on Sunday (2 days).  Have been meeting some very spiritual individuals.