...i met up with nate, a young guy from maine who was heading west~driving and moving across the country for the first time.  he picked me up in new york, at a farm house where sarah had kindly let me stay for ten days awaiting nate's arrival.  bidding farewell to the cats and chickens and gardens of sarah's, we embarked on our ride westward..we took back roads, stopping at farm stands when we were hungry, sinking our teeth into corn so sweet and fresh it covered my face with sweet corn sugar.  25 cents if you buy it from the farmer.  we rolled through small towns, sampling coffee~nate's big withdrawal from home was tha lack of a decent cup of coffee for several states~and enjoyed the local flavors..

i've done this trip a few times before, but not in many years, and never this much fun.  the changing of the landscape was measured by the terrain in which i peed~from new york farmlands to midwest prairies to rolling hills, and then onto the sage and other desert plants you squat over with care..the tall grasses of the ohio-region were my top pick.

in colorado my ride changed from nate to dave, but the pace was similar, except that dave takes loads of photos, so progress was slower, and elevation was higher, so camping got colder.  we stopped in many mountain and desert towns and along open stretches of road between boulder and burning man, and i met some great people.  we picked up yael at the reno airport and rode on to burning man~a festival in nevada.  not my festival, so i won't waste time talking about it.

we said good bye to yael in reno, and rosa, josh, and i carried on to san francisco..many funny tales in our days in the bay area, from jacuzzi-side spliffs at jc's to the nebulous womb of brian's lair..from rosa's misfortune when she backed over a new motorcycle to the polystyrine crow on josh's shoulder and days on hippie hill acting as catalyst for young americans looking to change things up..these friends from around the world, meeting here in the land of my origin..deepening our relations, solidifying our friendships...i'll be heading to josh's stomping ground for farming season.

onwards to earthdance, which is my kind of festival.  it happens simultaneously in 150 locations around the world.  the reason is the same:  world peace.  michael franti, zap mama, kirtan chanting, a trance dome, organic, delicious food, amazing, loving people and amazing, heart-warming connections, and a ride to boulder with a dynamic pair of sisters~aylah and alona, who paint any rainbow they come upon.  one rainbow we painted was in ely, nevada, a great little town on the lonesome highway through nevada, highway 50.  we visited my new friend jackson, a kindred spirit born and raised in ely, who sings the same heartsong as me.  we all had a night of karaoke, margaritas, laughter, and great conversation~aylah, alona, billy, jackson's dad, the forest service, and a smattering of other ely locals....

now i'm in boulder, visiting, experiencing, reorganising the way i think about this place i once called home.  my home base here is jenna's.  jenna and mike, farrah is three, ryder is 2 months, and kush the dog..in their house at 8200 feet, overlooking the valley, surrounded by aspens fluttering in the autumn wind.  they are family to me, i've known it since jenna and i met four years ago.  she is my sister.  i'm visiting ashley for a couple of days, and last night's laughter reminded me of this great friend who began as my roommate...i will also spend time with judy, of course, who i admire so much in this world of colorful, interesting people, and leland, the kindest heart around..and others~if i can reach them!!  looking for phone numbers, trying to make connections, trying to visit before i move on...which is just a few weeks away, and may get hastened if this cold weather keeps up!  we had ice at jenna's the other night, and woke to a dusting of snow yesterday...

mexico, here i come.

i've learned alot in this time in the u.s., in this journey home, and much of it i won't recognise until i've had time to sit back and reflect...i came here with intentions, things i wanted to learn, wanted to untangle, wanted to understand.  this visit has provided me that, with amazing memories, unmatchable connections, unexpected experiences, laughter, tears, abundance, hardships, love, frustrations, and chocolate chip cookies wherever i go.

what more is there?