On our way from Grand Junction to Colorado we had to make a pit stop in Aspen to do an interview on Grassroots Television and meet our new organizer Yva-Marie.  She has taken up the torch from our longtime friend and organizer Dennis.  He has organized tours for us since our first tour in 1989 but has moved on now to live in Boulder. Still he came back to help find funding and space for a mandala and help Yva-Marie get her feet wet.  We are so fortunate to have so many kind people working so hard on our behalf – truly a blessing.

So all went well at the TV station and then we had a wonderful lunch at Yva-Marie’s.  It was then that I got the news – in order to get to Colorado Springs in time, we needed to drive over Independence Pass. That’s right – 12,095 feet high with parts of the road only big enough for one vehicle to get through.  By the way, I am driving a one ton van full of monks and pulling a cargo trailer. Dennis says “no problem, I will lead the way”  and off we went. As we did I saw a sign stating no vehicles longer then 35 feet are allowed. Quickly evaluating the overall length of my van with the trailer as I am trying to keep up with Dennis, I concluded it couldn’t be longer than 34 feet, 10 inches and breathed a sigh of relief while trying to recall a mantra that will help us make it to the top (maybe I will actually measure it one day).

As the pictures indicate below, we did make it!  So we had to take a few photos and enjoy the amazing view.  While taking pictures (at 12,095 feet, high atop the Rockies) we turn to see someone taking pictures of us – our good friends, benefactors, webhosts, and film makers, Ri and Renee. They have come out to film some of our events as they are making a documentary of the tour.  However, they had no idea we would be there (neither did I for that matter) and yet we were all gathered together at this spectacular location.  Karma is an interesting thing my friends!  Because they were there, you will get to see some of the wonderful pictures they took posted below =).

[View with PicLens]