Women's circle

Eating pie while enjoying our fellow women marchers. Pie was mediocre, but fun was had by all!

Heading toward border

Stayed in Presbyterian church to escape yet another bad wind and hail storm.

US congressional candidate

Vic Meyers found us at morning break and will march with us today. He's a strong climate candidate and nice guy.

Storm after storm

We are 3 days from Nebraska. Tomorrow is a stat day in Wrey, CO, which we really need. But we had to take shelter in a nearby church again tonight while yet another big fierce thunderstorm with wind and ha passed through. It's still raining, but I waded through about 10" of swirling water in the street to get back to my tent. Thankfully, it is dry onside. Still lots of lightening. We have had big storms every night for a week! Not so much fun I'm a tent. Hail piled up outside.

Alas, rain predicted for tomorrow, too. Glad we have each other.


Sent from my iPhone

Hail damage

These big evening thunderstorms often produce lots of hail. This corn, about 15" high, was absolutely shredded by the hail. Hundreds of acres. Don't think it can recover.

Holing up from storm

Big storm cells passing through every night - some with hail and big wind a deluges, others with tornado watches. This was taken of Mary and birdie ( our cute dog mascot ) during a camp meeting while a big storm raged outside. This was in Brush, CO, in community building. Dont sleep as well indoors as in my tent, tho. Mary and Birdie were asleep while meeting went on around them.

Mayor & Mayor

Damon Gale, mayor of Otis,CO visiting our camp at the local park before we went across the street to hang out at the Presbyterian Church while another big storm passed through . Very hospitable folks.

Camping in a lake

Set up camp in Ft. Morgan municipal  park, and went for a delicious swim in the city pool nearby. Just finishing nice supper when huge storm hit. Scrambled to put away gear, dishes, etc that were. Blowing all over. Climbed in my tent while rain and hail  pelted my little tent. Then I noticed that the bottom of the tent was like a water bed, and moved everything into big plastic bags I carry for such occasions. Next thing I knew, 4 marchers were trying to pick up my tent and move it under the picnic shelter, not realizing I was still in it. 

What a circus!  Now the storm has passed and folks have gotten settled for the night. Mostly kinda dry. Sorta. 19.5 mi to wK tomorrow, so have to get up at 4:45 to prep breakfast. What an experience. Wouldn't be anywhere else. 

Love to all, Miriam 

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: Liz Lafferty <lizzilaff@gmail.com>
Date: June 22, 2014 at 8:09:45 PM MDT
To: Miriam Kashia <mkashia43@yahoo.com>
Subject: Camping in a lake

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
                        Martin Luther King Jr

Leaving mountains, entering plains

Lots going on...

Too much to share, but here are some highlights. I know I haven't written for quite a while - we walked through mountains - gorgeous, but no phone service. Up to almost 10,000 ft. Spectacular views which my phone camera just can't capture.

Jimmy Batts, program director, got stranded in a town 45 miles from where we were camped. He decided to walk through Sand Dunes Nat'l Park overnight to catch up with us and got caught in flooded river crossings. Then he felt the hairs on his neck raise up and turned around to spot 2 cat-eyes behind him on the left and two more on the right. He was being stalked by 2 cougars! Per Jimmy, he has never been more terrified. He picked up a large stick nearby and turned toward them running and screaming. Apparently they were no match for him, because they took off. He arrived at camp at 7am exhausted and, thankfully, alive with quite a story to tell.

Our rally on the steps of the Capitol in Denver went very well. Maybe 200+ attended, and marched with us afterward down a Main Street pedestrian area to the EPA office where the director met with us and heard our gratitude for their recent ruling to reduce carbon emissions from existing coal plants, and our demand that they do more NOW!

I stayed with Phyllis, a good friend for 40 years, and had a lovely dinner with niece, Carmin, Steve, and their daughter Cate. What a treat!! The food and the visit.

Last night we camped in the sports field behind a high school in Prairie View (I think). The last mile of walking there was in a big thunder storm and heavy rain. When it died down a bit, we put up our tents only to have another big storm pass through with lots of hail and strong wind. My little tent is pretty waterproof (thank you Judy and Tom for helping me replace my lost tent fly and weather-proofing it for me!) so I hunkered down and hoped there was no tornado in the offing. About 8:30 the storm passed and I put my head to the pillow after a long day walking 17+ miles. Suddenly the sprinkling system came on and our tents were deluged with strong spray from oscillating sprinklers that went on for about a half hour. What a ruckus as some Marchers moved their tents out of the area. It was actually pretty funny for me - high and dry as I was - to have the strong stream of water circle around about every 40 seconds and pelt my little tent.

We are now out of Denver area and headed for Nebraska. Will take about 10 days. At the border we'll be half way to DC. Plans to participate in protest activities re: KXL pipeline when we get to that part of the state.

I'm well, strong, and feet are doing ok. Biggest concern is that I've lost about 25 lbs and need to stop losing. Trying to eat more. I think there is lots of ice cream in my future along with mixed nuts and homemade granola from Carmin.

Dear friend, Judy Todd, from Portland went home from Denver. I miss her a lot. Good news is Deb James from Silver City is coming back in a week. Our village keeps evolving and shifting, but we continue on schedule. My role as Spirit Walker is in tact, but it means I don't get a break from any of the miles we accumulate. I believe I've walked about
1400 now from LA. Send energy, courage, and determination my way!

Time to sleep as I'm still on morning food prep and get up at 5am.

Warm greetings to all. Stay tuned.

Sent from my iPhone

Setting up for rally on Capitol steps

Carrying Earth flag into Denver

Denver electric car rental station

Denver bike rental lot

Helpful, friendly police officer

At Suncor refinery

Huge place. Lots of dirty oil, toxic air, and huge amounts of water consumed. Elementary school nearby.

Sign for our non-violent demonstration

Demonstration at refinery

We performed a skit in front of this frack-oil refinery two days ago on our way out of Denver. The security people were not happy, but couldn't force us off sidewalk. We all wore pollution masks, and Berenice (age 18) pretended she was choking and dying from the toxic air. We carried her to a cemetery across the street, put her on the ground by a gravestone, put flowers on her chest and someone said an elegy. It was all filmed and will be on U-tube.

Full moon setting

This greeted me as I got up for. Breakfast prep. It's so amazing to live outdoors.

Our motley crew

Heading up the high road toward Denver

Marching up Broadway to the Capitol

En route to Denver rally

Climate Nustice Gypsy Band

Denver rally - our own band!

Coming into Denver

On the high road marching
Into Denver. Rallies Tues on steps of Capitol and at EPA building. Lots going on. Momentum building.

Manifesto

Third try

Ben @ Ethan

Evening at camp is rather casual. Ben on his long johns and Ethan (our strong man who is a pussycat and will help with anything) being goofy for the camera. Fun Times.

Beautiful Zuni pottery

Just found some Px and messages on a box that said "outbox" that I didn't realize hadn't been sent, so they are out of order. Should have access tonight, so will write an actual blog.

Ethan (our he-man) receives blessing

My Manifesto for a Livable Future

I hope this works so you can see what we are distributing along our path. The front of the 1/3 cut flyer tells who we are and what we are doing, and the back is the Manifesto I wrote. Please feel free to use!

YAY water

Finally seeing running water in SW CO after months in desert drought. The young folks took advantage of Muddy Creek and a lunch break for some skinny dipping fun. We oldsters watched and enjoyed their free spirits!

Glorious Colorado

Proof I'm still happy, healthy and marching!