Hello from Fresno, California!

I know - you guys are thinking...Fresno? But, this has been one of the best spots I have stayed so far! We are always gifted with so much generosity along the way - and last night as we were eating our meal (prepared for us by members of the Love Song Community Center) - a man came by and said that a friend of his was offering up her lodge for the women and the men to have a sweat the following day. He said that any women that wanted to come up and camp on her property were welcome to do so. Surprisingly, only myself and fellow walker, Kathleen chose to go - too bad for everyone else! When we got here, Cindy offered us beds and hot showers. We declined the beds, prefering to camp out under the red light of the lunar eclipse - and then she said, "would you girls be intrested in getting into the jacuzzi?"

What?

I have never had a better hot tub in my entire life. If you don't think you would miss a hot bath - try not having one for three weeks - we have barely had hot showers (usually once every couple of days if we are lucky...and they are not always hot) -let alone getting to soak in a big, beautiful jacuzzi..with jets. Can I just say...I don't even have words.

At about 5am we got up and helped get the fire going for the women's lodge. At around 7am a group of women from walk showed up and we went into the lodge to pray and sing and offer thanks. I have done sweat lodges in Portland - but I've never heard the songs sung in Native tongues -and we get to hear songs from many different nations as we travel. We also got to hear songs from our Japanese walkers as well as Celtic tune. Very beautiful. So many people are in gratitude to us for this Walk we are taking. I am so grateful that I get to be here to experience all of this. It's amazing. Every time we receive gifts or warm wishes - it helps me to think about those people and who I'm walking for when it gets to be mile 10-15-19...you know?
Anyway -- I'm gonna send some pictures along. I don't have much time yet on this computer...love you all!!

the Sikh Temple in Stockton

For some frustrating reason, I can't post any pictures right now. Too bad - I got a couple of cool ones from our night at the Sikh Temple. This Temple was built in 1914 and is now a California Historical Landmark. I didn't know this, but there have been Sikh people in CA since about 1865.
These folks were incredibly hospitable to our massive circus of people - they made us an incredible meal and let us lay our sleeping bags all over the floor of their (very comfortable) dining area. We were also able to set up tents within the outer walls of the property (which I did) - and they put our elders up in the many rooms they also have.
I was actually sick that night so I wasn't able to hear the talk about the Sikh religion, so I'll have to fill you in on that later, but one of the things I heard is that at this temple (and at all Sikh sites) there is a flag that is never brought down - it's called the God Flag and its a signal to people that if you need food or shelter, you can go there and be taken care of. I have a picture of it. You can't see it right now.
In the morning we were received by their High Holy Man and we were offered prayers. The Tribal Elders then offered American Indian prayers, and the Buddhist Elders offered prayers in Japanese. It's hard to forget you are on a spiritual journey when you are in circle and in prayer at least three times a day, and many times in different languages and in different settings. It's all such a gift.
Hope to get those pictures to you soon.

ALCATRAZ

I don't know how many of you have been to Alcatraz - but those of you who have can attest to the eerieness of the desolate, crumbling former prison known for its fairly brutal treatment of its prisoners. I can tell you that the creepiness factor increases tenfold when you are standing on it at 6:00 in the morning.
But I felt creeped out for just a moment - it was hard to feel anything but overwhelmed and mesmerized when you are surrounded by upwards of 600 people who are drumming, singing, hugging and laughing. A megaphone, held mostly by Dennis Banks would sound pretty regularly, trying to get things going and stay on schedule - the first thing was to get a fire going. ("Hey...let's get that fire going!") Suddenly a couple of guys were talking to park rangers about getting wood - I overheard the rangers talking to one another over their mics ("did somebody remember to get the wood?") - You know - the fact that we were even there was pretty cool - I don't know hardly ANY of the history between AIM and Alcatraz except for that back in the 70's several members swam up to the island and occupied it for about 19 months. So..somewhere along the way some negotiations must have taken place for ceremonies to occur with such cooperation (which is frustrating when you consider that Alcatraz Island was a ceremonial place for probably thousands of years - that they should even have to negotiate their way to ceremony is offensive).

In fact, I've learned that until 1976 - most Native American traditional ceremonies were illegal. Deeply sacred traditional dances such as the Sundance were outlawed. The American Indian Movement fought to get their traditional ceremonies out of the hands of the government. Imagine if someone came into church one Sunday and said - "you can no longer perform the sacrament. You can no longer light the menorrah" -- that's what was done to the hundreds of nations here.
The Sundance and other ceremonies are back in practice today - but I don't know how many more still need legal guidance.
To me, learning this makes the singing and drumming that I'm listening to so much more powerful; and I am so grateful to be a part of all this. That's all on that. Except to say that this is the kind of stuff I was never taught in grade school.

hello everyone!!

We have a rest day today and are in Merced, CA -- while the BBQ is being prepared a few of us skedaddled to find some Internet access - I won't be here too long, but I wanted to post some pictures for you and give you a little heads up about a couple of things.

The first is: I wanted to let you guys know that even though I have my phone with me, it isn't always easy to find a charger. Sometimes we camp where there is electricity and sometimes not. And even if their is power, we have to give firsts to the cooks, the organizers and support vehicles and if the walkers (about 100 of us) can fit an hour in to suck some juice, then that's how it goes. So...needless to say I don't do a lot of chatting on the phone and pretty much keep it off during the day. Also...I'm usually in bed by 8:00-9:00 -- our days just got pushed up a little, we eat at 6:00am and need to be packed up and ready to go by 7:00 at the latest..so I'm generally up around 4:30. So my window for actually talking on the phone is a little small! So, if I'm not calling you back right away..please know I love you! Leaving a message is ALWAYS appreciated as I like to listen to them before I go to bed!!!

Two: It looks like general delivery is the way to go to get stuff to me. The best way to do that is to go to the website www.longestwalk.org and look at our route itinerary to see where we have rest days (make sure they happen during the week, and not on a Sunday if you are going to do General Delivery!) - also, look to see if we are in certain towns for a couple of days. Sometimes, this isn't always posted - but I know we will be in Bakersfield for four nights at the same place and getting shuttled each day to walk sites - when I hear about stuff like this, I'll let you all know.

Okay -- I'm gonna send you some pictures now!

as fine a day as there ever was

It felt like spring in San Francisco today - unseasonably warm. And despite how odd that is here in early February, it sure felt nice to stroll around and enjoy the sights in the comfort of a t-shirt and rolled up pants. Look at this view from Pier 39 on the Wharf.


I took that picture later in the day. In the morning I met up with my brother Shane for breakfast and a walk on Ocean Beach (that's the Cliff House in the background). He is holding his new puppy - Nicki Belle (yes, I gave him shit about the name). The pup is sporting a cast from a hairline fracture - she'll be fine, but we sure got a lot of attention regarding the "awww" factor of such a cute puppy with such a sad little injury.



Shane dropped me off downtown so I could deal with my iPOD at the MAC store (no luck, long story). From there I walked over to Chinatown, thru North Beach and up and over Telegraph Hill where I caught site of the famous parrots flying overhead. They moved too fast for me to photograph and I couldn't find them roosting anywhere so you'll just have to take my word for it.
These guys however were quite easy to capture.
I can't remember offhand the complete story, but my memory dictates that after the '89 earthquake - the sea lions just decided to move onto these mooring docks at Pier 39. Much debate ensued between biologists and the boaters who were docking here. The biologists and conservationists won, so the boats had to move out and these guys have been here ever since. They are now a pretty steady tourist attraction and very fun to watch. No, seriously.


Afterwards I headed down the street to Boudin's bakery to grab a 1/2 pound sourdough round. This picture is for Gwen. She finds the way I eat sourdough amusing. It's really the only way to eat it. Boudin has been using the same sourdough starter since 1849 - the story goes that in the midst of the 1906 earthquake a family member made sure to save the starter before the bakery burned down in the ensuing fires. Lucky for us. Mmmmm, sourdough.


Finished my festival of food with Crab Cippiono at Fisherman's Grotto #9 - My father and Liz graciously came up from the Easy Bay to treat me to my "last" meal - and what a meal! This is finger food. Crab, shrimp and mussels - served in the shell - in a thick tomato sauce. You have to use your hands, hence the bib. We all had the same dish and our server commented on how little mess we actually made. Pros, we are.


Finished the night accompanying Danny and Susi out to dinner (I ate hardly anything..I couldn't manage much after all that) and now I am getting ready to retire. Jake is coming by around 8am to pick me up and take me up to DQ University where my journey officially begins. Don't know what my internet access will be like, so I may not be able to blog as often as we are all used to. I'll do my best.
Glad to know you're all there - we'll talk soon!

welcoming dinner at intertribal friendship house

I don't know what's going on these last couple of days - but guys, I can't stop eating. Maybe it's that I'm not smoking, maybe I've got all this nervous energy..maybe, like a hibernating bear I'm storing up for lean times ahead..I don't know - but I feel like quite the porketta.

And on that note, let me tell you about the welcoming dinner I attended tonight over in Oakland. There was quite the spread and I sampled a goodly portion of all offerings.

But, in non-food news. I got there a little early and met a few of my fellow walkers. There was definitely an array of folks.. I met Wade first - he seems great - he's been on the road for awhile, a self-described 'hermit' type who is nonetheless very outgoing and eager to be of service to his new clan. Seemingly laid back I think he'll be one of those "it's all good" people, without being flaky or insincere in that belief. I liked him immediately.
I also met one of the other bloggers, she came from Florida and is eager to get underway. She's been picking up bits and pieces of info from the organizers. She found out that we will be starting our days at 5:00am with a ceremony and then beginning our walk at 5:30. It's a good thing I'm an early riser.
Antonio flew in this afternoon and showed up (that's him with his registration form) just after I did. Antonio's awesome, he's always got a smile and is a pretty easy going guy.

The dinner opened up with drums, chanting and blessings for the walkers. When I got home tonight Susi said I smelled like a campfire - it was all the sage that was being smudged everywhere - what a great scent to be covered in - and I'm sure it will help mask the myriad of odors we walkers will be generating after about 3 days on the road!

I helped out a little in the kitchen and met 3 women from Japan and 1 woman from Australia. They'll be walking for 90 days (the limit on their Visas). So I feel like in a short span of time I've already met some very cool folk.
There were at least a couple hundred people at this dinner..many were locals who were there in support..I couldn't tell how many walkers had shown up. I'll be going up to DQ University near Davis on Sunday and will get a better idea of how many walkers we'll be starting out with. There were a few people I met tonight who are just walking for a couple/three days at the outset and then will be leaving the group. It seems a truer number will settle in after about a week.

Anyway -- hey, a couple of people recognized me from my "Voices" intro (thanks Sam, for commenting BTW) -- which was a little odd. I really hope we can get some more people up there - it's weird being the sole rep for "voices" at this point.

In other news: Still haven't smoked (but wanted to BADLY at that dinner, what with all the social awkwardness - thanks for listening Joan!) and I got the official word from Curve Magazine that I can use their name to solicit stories on the road..so that's very cool. And I'll be getting right on that.
I'm pretty tired - but happy that I'm close to starting this whole thing. Tomorrow is my last day in town. I think food will be involved.

Love ya!

gung hay fat choy!!

Year of the Rat people - Year of the Rat!!

It was a lovely morning here in San Franciso. I started out with a little journaling on Susi's back porch - it was actually warm and sunny enough for just a t-shirt - then I heard splashing noises and there were these little finches bathing - I couldn't quite capture the splashing, but if you look closely you can see water droplets.



I hooked up with Jake in the afternoon and headed to Chinatown for a taste of Chinese New Year. The streets were buzzing and everything smelled like incense and gunpowder - doorways were littered with the debris of exploded firecrackers. Jake hadn't spent a lot of time in this part of town so we had a good time checking out the herbal shops and the markets. The butcher shops and the bakeries were packed, many with lines heading out into the street. All around us people were bustling with their pink plastic bags of New Year purchases - in pretty much every bag you could see the oranges people will place on their altars.

I know I've talked about this before, but...I do love this City - I do - it's so fun. I'm sure I'm having these heartfelt moments because I don't have to live here 24/7 - but boy do I enjoy spending time in the middle of it on these visits.
I mean, I was walking through this nice quiet neighborhood by Susi's house this morning and I smelled this lovely incense and I look over and there was an elderly Chinese couple creating a beautiful altar in their garage. That's how I clued in to the New Year thing and kind of focused my day from having Mission Burritos to hitting Chinatown - and I loved that I had such vibrant choices from which to spend my day.

So, Jake and I were standing on the street corner, listening to this old man playing the Erhu and heard drumming coming from down the street. We followed the rhythm to a small kung-fu studio where a posse of brightly costumed young men were jumping around practicing their moves for their Dragon Lion presentation later that afternoon. They let us watch them and one of the guys came out and asked if we wanted to see the Lion head and wear the costume. "Yes!" we both said.
So, here's me with the Lion head - he got into the costume as well and showed us how to move the mouth around- Yay for San Francisco!



So, we had a lovely afternoon - and now I'm hanging with Sus - and BTW - I've gone 48 hours at this point without smoking. It's uncomfortable. Not horrible. It's okay.