Sisters, Oregon

Wednesday, June 23

I have just returned from breakfast to my motel in Sisters, Oregon. I am at the moment mustering courage to dress into my outfit and then push my cart down the main street to a community park. I suppose that I do not need to take my cart along but it is always good as a discussion starter when people see that I'm on a cross-country journey. Already the day is growing warm and I am sure I will be warmer still in my woolens. Today I wish to talk to random citizens, ask questions, and to share my love for history. I have copies of the Bill of Rights to distribute, as well as three different editions of the Declaration of Independence. This should be an interesting day as I have not yet stopped long enough to do this. During breakfast I talked to a gentleman who had no reservations telling me what was wrong with this country. In these exchanges I try to listen and to not lead people into answers - I already know my own opinion, but I do not know theirs. Whether I agree or disagree isn’t the issue - I want to hear from them. We’ll see how this goes.

Yesterday, June 22, I set a personal record for distance walked in a day. My best guess is that I went over 32 miles. I had no plan on doing this but as Sisters represented a warm shower and cool sheets I put out the extra effort and made it. I started walking at 6:15 in the morning and arrived around 7:30 last night. I could hardly move and I think I learned a lesson! I hit my room and immediately hit the bed. But this morning I feel fine. I must add that yesterday the climb from Clear Lake to the top of the pass at Hoodo Ski area was quite the climb! I simply went into a “head space” and put one foot in front of the other eventually getting to the top. While sitting in the shade having lunch, a couple of friends on their way to Cleveland stopped to wish me well. Watching them drive away, I felt a bit like the tortoise in “The Tortoise and the Hare,” and was all the glad for it.