Stuck in Salt Lake

Actually I think Jonathan pretty much covered everything. I just really wanted to write a blog post with this title because that's what it felt like. Images of the Tom Hanks film The Terminal kept flashing into my mind yesterday as it looked as if the three of us would be living in the airport for several days, Lauren thousands of miles away with nothing to do but babysit our packs. I didn't even have a book to read and if you've ever been in an airport bookstore you know it's just not worth it. It was maddening.

But at last, here we are safe and sound. I can't wait to get to the coast and see the ocean again, and Mark was telling us last night that once we get out into eastern Oregon, the sky will be so black we'll be able to really see the stars. I am so excited to finally be able to really see the stars.

We have about a four of five day walk until we come back through Eugene from Florence. We're taking those first five days a bit slower and more methodical since it will give us a chance to really get a feel for how our walk will go; how often we'll need to stop, how we're going to carry food and water, what our filming will be like out in the open, and so on. Once we come back through Eugene we know we have a place to stay again (with a hot tub and a pool, no less!) and we'll be able to reconfigure our approach to some things if we have to.

The other thing I wanted to mention is how far I believe the four of us has come as a group in the past week. I think that without the added stress of school and classes, and the feeling that if we don't start listening and working together our dream will fall apart, we've been much better about putting the needs of the group before our individual needs. We've all had to make sacrifices, and some haven't been very easy for any of us, but in the end, we've been doing what we can to make this happen.

And, hey, look at us: it's happening!