Wow … seems such a long time since I made an entry on the blog. I’ve been making footprints through such beautiful country. Every time I took a moment to get the notebook out there was another duty calling or my words seemed too trite considering the experiences had … In the high country east of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range, my favorite visitor appeared with our old pickup truck to help the march haul its eco commodes for a part of the journey east. Pat picked up my spirits and these entries slid even further back on the stovetop. When life is good it seems my expressive side grows lazy. Having the old truck available has spoiled me too. After walking my daily distance to camp I venture out on a truck excursion in search of a diner that might have beef on the menu and maybe some ice cream, or pie. Never have I had such cravings for red meat and other things I shouldn’t eat much of. Truck access opened Pandora’s box, but none to soon as I had lost over 15 lbs last time I checked and that was over a month ago.

My body seems to be holding up. The hip isn’t giving me much trouble and knees are fine. I have had no blisters since Arizona and that was 900 miles back. The neck is tight and I seem to have a pinched nerve as my right arm sometimes tingles and feels a bit numb while I walk. This has led me to give up the walking poles. I think I might have put too much weight on them these past weeks in the mountains. I have also taken my daypack off and recently bought a jogging cart on craigslist to carry my gear. Pat says the biggest change by far is my lack of any sort of ass. It seems I have walked it completely off my body. Now I know there is some validity to the phrase; “that old boy worked his ass off.” This would go completely unnoticed by me if it were not for the fact that my pants are nearly impossible to keep on these days. Even with belt firmly tightened they just want to slide off. Pat says some kind of prosthetic butt might be worth looking into…

The Ravens have continued to keep me company as I walk, and wildlife of every sort shares the early morning countryside with me. I have been in the arms of the natural world and we have been intimate in a manner only possible to experience thru footsteps. Four more pilgrims from the Camino de Santiago have crossed my path while walking in Colorado. One of them “Rolly” from Colorado Springs actually wore his scallop shell into a coffee house where I sought to escape the rain. These encounters are my reminder that we are all connected and journeying on as pilgrims.

With my cart I am giving thought to pushing forward ahead of the march and attempt to walk to NewYork City for the mammoth Sept 20th 350.org climate rally. this would require increasing my daily milage to over 20 miles per day, and leave few rest days to enjoy. It also means a solitary life on the road that few will ever experience and I must admit this interests me. I have to make up my mind soon as the window for action is growing shorter each day. Our rallies in Colorado Springs, and Denver were great. Besides the rallies, we must have talked to thousands by now as we slowly walk across our country. Its amazing how small steps make such a huge impact on the folks you walk past.

leaving the Sangre de Cristo range

Forest fire damage near the headwaters of the Arkansas river

Rolly, A fellow pilgrim in Colorado Springs

Walking into Denver

Ed Fallon Watches wind turbine blades shipped by rail