We had a good night's sleep... even though we were camped in a rest area just off the I-40 Interstate. For most of us... we are just not used to the sound of the big engines of the 18 -wheelers that move in and out of the rest area near our camp. So we talked about that. The truckers... they have a unique way of life. Their own language.. culture... within a mainstream culture. They can't just park those big rigs anywhere. They don't fit in most service station parking lots.. or fast food places either. Guess what !!! Neither do we. There are several vehicles that haul the Walkers ... their luggage... sleeping bags... tents... and the food truck with all the cook stoves and that beloved coffee pot. We have to plan our stops carefully.We map our routes according to the safest roads for the walkers and the drivers. And just like the truckers... we've developed our own 'language' on the walkie talkies that we use to keep track of one another and the walkers. They have become an invaluable tool for planning impromptu rest-breaks... or for a quick change in lunch plans if a shade tree on a side road is too hard to resist for the food truck to set up under. We have renewed appreciation for shade trees ... we don't take shade and a cool breeze for granted anymore.

We have a logistics meeting immediately following the morning talking circles. And the email notes from 'home' are handed out to the walkers or drivers who received one. The emails that we received that are addressed "To the Journey of the Sacred Hoop"... or "To all the Walkers and Staff".... those are taped to a tree or posted near the coffee pot for everyone to enjoy. It's a good reminder to those who are 'at camp'. Especially the ones who have been on this Journey from the beginning. They have not seen TV or listened to the Radio... they don't get newspapers.. and except for the interaction with community members and the few minutes they are able to find a pay phone to 'call home'.. they are 'out of contact' with the rest of the world. We are all living this walk and this purpose every day of our lives now. If we are not walking... we are preparing camp.. or in a Talking Circle... or at an event in a local Community. So... those emails and notes that I receive... that are shared with the walkers... they mean a lot to them.. to all of us. It reminds us that people are out there praying for us... supporting this message... and they help to keep us strong and focused. And we don't feel so alone. So... thank you.

There have been many opportunities to learn and grow for this Core Team of Walkers. One of them is adjusting to what is provided... by Mother Nature.. and by the circumstances of life. It is not these circumstances, issues, and adversities that make us strong or weak.... it is HOW we react and learn from these experiences that will determine the character of our personalities and spirits.

What was our 'opportunity' for today? Well... we arrived at the Rest Area on the side of the Interstate as planned. But our luggage .. some of the tents... and the ravioli did not. The van that had this equipment in it was late in arriving at the final destination for this evening. In this stretch of the interstate... you don't just 'run to the store'. It was a 60 mile round trip back to Santa Rosa to buy chicken to grill. But as the Great Mystery would have it... even this was actually an opportunity. We had a new person who wanted to join us. Henderlen Notah Wilson - a Navajo And guess where we needed to go to pick him up? Back to Santa Rosa!!! So that worked out wonderful .. because the chicken was delicious and Henderlen had really long legs and takes long strides... what a Walker!!!

Once we had the fine meal... there was yet another opportunity for us. The crew that does the maintenance for the Rest Areas advised us that there was no water for the rest rooms. So they were locking them up for the night. Not only did they lock up the rest rooms... they turned off all the street lights. Sometimes... all you have left to do is to laugh. We got out our lanterns... called a Talking Circle.. and the general consensus was that it was a beautiful clear New Mexico night.. and the blanket of stars above us was even more dazzling without the artifical light from the Rest Area street lights. Besides... it was bed-time anyway. Tomorrow is another day.