From Bend I headed to Olympia, Washington. The biggest challenge was the traffic in Portland, Oregon. There was really no way to avoid it. But if I could have, I would have chosen another way. Lots and lots of cars, all headed for the Washington coast and Olympic peninsula. That is what I was told anyway. I managed to get through the tangled knot of traffic, but near Chehalis, just south of Olympia, Apple Maps asked if I wanted to save 9 minutes, so I said yes. Don’t ever do that if it asks you. Because not only did I get that message, but so did all of the other people on Apple Maps.  The traffic jam was no longer only on the highway. It surrounded me through all of the small town roads we were all sent out on. Not only did it not save me 9 minutes, it added about 10 minutes onto the trip! 

Still, I finally arrived at my friend Keziah and her partner Maureen’s house. Some of you will recognize Keziah from our Saturday morning meditations. They live in a lovely retirement village. I parked Silver Star in the driveway in between their flower beds. They have  nurtured an amazing garden of flowers, all planted around the perimeter of the house. It was so lovely to sit on their back patio amidst the abundance of life force emanating from the blooms and multitude of colors. And our talks were rich with that same depth of spirit. Thank you both. 

Keziah with her flowers.

And finally, Keziah took me down a trail where she and a friend had made numerous treks in their wheelchairs, completing an amazing journey in stages from Olympia to Yelm, 22 miles from her house.  What a spirit!