Today I am reminded of the many ways that mountain living brings me closer to nature. It has been in the high 60's some days; several fruit trees have blossomed yet only a few bees have emerged to enjoy the sun. This morning the reason is clear; overnight it was 31 degrees and at sunrise I needed a cup of coffee to ignore the fact that it was still trying to break 40. At 35N 118W with an elevation of 2667 feet the moon is bright against a clear blue sky. An aimless walk promises to provide many wonderful discoveries. First of all I notice the strawberries are holding a reminder of the overnight frost. A glistening spider's web makes me pause and the volunteer sweetpeas are already a foot and a half tall. The white iris' have pushed their blooms, beans are fragrant and lovely, the fennel is lush and the snow peas are ready for tonights salad. The birds are singing as they move between the manzanita, pine and oaks. That inviting sound leads the way to wild cucumbers, owl's clover and much more. It is truly a glorious day to be out exploring and capturing a few images to share. Before I know it, two hours have disappeared. Ah...the satisfaction of la derive...an aimless walk on a lovely day.
Friday, March 28, 2008
La dérivée
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Longest Walk 2 Southern Route Sings
All Life is Sacred
Clean Up Mother Earth
Protect Sacred Sites
Walk for the Seventh Generation
Walk for peace, justice and the healing of Mother Earth
Renew your Spirit; walk in the footsteps of our Ancestors
The words above carry all Longest Walk 2 participants across the USA today. The Southern Route enters Flagstaff, Arizona this morning and begins a week of conferences, educational seminars and fundraisers. Please get informed and become involved. Visit the website for more information at: www.longestwalk.org
The Flagstaff, Arizona newsrelease can be found here:
http://longestwalk.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=22&Itemid=122
The pictures in this post show images of Southern Route singing in Bakersfield, Ca.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
March 4 Southern Route heads to last CA overnight
Walkers and runners set a higher goal for Tuesday. Their mission was to cover the distance from Joshua Tree to Needles, CA. Starting around 7am 5 teams of runners stretched out over 140 miles. At 2pm the last runner was finishing their 10 mile leg. Camp was set at the county park on River Road in Needles with the walkers arriving around 4:30pm.
March 3 desert runners head to Joshua Tree, CA
Mondays Longest Walk Southern Route covered more than 60 miles, sharing the distance between a large walking group and several teams of runners. The day started in Apple Valley and ended in Joshua Tree, CA.
Monday Morning, March 3, 2008
At 5am every morning, the Japanese Buddhist Monks lead a morning chant. The balance of the walkers pack up their gear and eat breakfast. Today the desert crossing continues from the Lone Wolf Colony in Apple Valley to Joshua Tree, CA.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Lone Wolf Colony, Sun. March 2, 2008
The Southern Route camped at Lone Wolf Colony in Apple Valley, CA. At the end of Sunday's walk/run, everyone circled up for an end of day council before dinner and laying out their bedrolls.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
The Southern Route left the Tehachapi Valley United Methodist Church at sunrise, leaving behind crisp mountain air as they faced steady winds across three counties: Kern, Los Angeles and San Bernardino. Over 100 miles were covered, approximately 23 miles by walkers and the balance by runners who tackled 5, 10 and 15 mile legs.
