Rise Above

Not many miles on the sneakers or hiking boots this past week but over 2000 on the tire tread. This journey did start with a quick flight one way, adding up a few frequent flyer miles as well. So it begins! Finding myself in an airplane on the anniversary of 9/11. Nineteen years ago the day America was attacked by terrorist. They may have taken down the twin towers and we lost many lives, but, the strength, courage and unity of the heart of Americans rose above.

The west coast is under attack right now from California, Oregon and Washington. Not attack from people, but wild fires. I guess you can say essentially it is terrorist attack since many were started by man. Why does it take a disaster for people to pull together and shine? Flying over Mt Rainier, the smoke filled air hides the beautiful terrain of the Pacific North West from the plane, but Mt Rainier peaks its top out above the smoke filled skies. The trees can burn but it can not destroy the mountain. The world is filled with destruction right now. Traveling across America, a reminder, be like the mountain and don't let people around destroy your heart or take you down. They can peel off layers of the trees from you, but stand tall and strong like the mountain. We can't always be in hiking boots climbing mountains, bet we can still learn from them, rise above!

Down to San Antonio, headed on the road again with the start of a beautiful sunrise. The most I can say about Texas......it is big! Big skies with beautiful cloud formations and lots of road time to travel across. Of course, it has nothing on Alaska, never the less, 715 miles of road to get to a new state.

What does one do for 715 miles in a vehicle alone traveling across part of the country? Enjoy the scenery, saw my first armadillo! Lots of open miles mostly from cattle ranches, dairy farms, corn fields, oil rigs and wind farms. Wild horses in New Mexico and a bear in Idaho. Some areas combined the farms to utilize the land best possible. The heart of America, the farmers, a hard working industry to support the American people.

“America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” President Harry S. Truman

Areas of the open range reminded of the "Wild West". I could picture Butch and Sundance riding across the plains, just about that time, pops up a marker for William Bonney's grave sight. He was also well known as "Billy the Kid". I am traveling through the real "West".

Through Texas, New Mexico, a corner of Colorado, into Utah and final destination, Idaho. Crossing the Continental Divide, Colorado River, The Snake River down valleys, through canyons of red rock and loving to get back to forest and trees.

A lot of smoke filled skies, arriving home smoke or not, the heart is warmed to be back on Bear Creek. America is beautiful and so much diverse land out there. The true majority does love America and it shows with Old Glory flying high everywhere I went, from the plane wing tip, across farm lands and small towns. The heart of the American people will rise above and come together.

Advice from a Mountain "Dear friend,

Reach new heights

Savor life's peak experiences

There is beauty as far as the eye can see

Stand in the strength of Your True Nature

Be uplifting

Follow the trails of the Wise Ones

Protect and preserve timeless beauty, silence, solitude, serenity, flowing rivers, ancient trees

Rise above it all

Make solid decisions

Climb beyond your limitations

Leave no stone unturned

Never take life for granite

Get to the point

Patience, patience, patience

Life has its ups and downs

Let your troubles vanish into thin air

To summit all up It's the journey step by step

Rock on!" - Ilan Shamir