Before hitting the road this morning on day six of seven, I got to see both the gorgeous full moon setting (from the parking lot) AND my baby granddaughter, Belle (on Facetime). Lucky me!
in terms of scenery, this penultimate day of my Westbound journey is perhaps the most dramatic. New Mexico and Arizona showcase tall painted cliffs and wide open vistas, expanding the heart. But heed the signs:
Zero visibility is possible.
Gusty winds may exist.
(Not to mention very long trains.)
Some trains out here can pull hundreds of container cars. I saw one extended lineup requiring four engines up front. It takes a lot of power to move a heavy load.
Think about it. 
About halfway through today’s drive, I stopped at a trading post to look at Navajo rugs. That particular place, which I popped into last year, too, has a small locked room lined on three sides with racks of rugs, all woven in peaceful colors of black, white, gray, brown, and deep red. So beautiful, so soft, and, as I learned, so very expensive. So I did not purchase one… but it was a pleasure to look and feel.
The Native woman who let me into the locked room wasn’t too chatty (I may have interrupted her lunch) but she did tell me the wool comes from sheep raised on the res. When I asked if I could take a photo of the display, she said “no photographs allowed on the reservation”— none at all. I was surprised to hear that, and will investigate further. (If she had been inviting, I would’ve loved to ask her more, but we need to meet people where they are.)
Anyway, sorry I can’t show you pictures of the beautiful rugs. But here’s another shot of that spectacular full moon, from this morning in Edgewood.
By the time she rose again, I was in Flagstaff, walking around (and around!) the block with my dear old friend, Celia, who lives here. Such a treat to see her twice a year on this journey! She’s like my semicolon—a lingering pause, enjoyed near the closing bracket of each trip’s beginning or end, depending on the season.
In this case, it is Autumn and we are almost complete! Just one more day of traveling, illuminated by fullness…
OBC 🌕🦉🌵
One Bold Crone 