Walk to Rivendell report

Made it to Bree! 135 miles! Here's my postcard:

This afternoon, in my neighborhood

I live in a lovely neighborhood here in South Minneapolis, just a few blocks from a couple of pretty little lakes. The houses are tidy and modest and well-cared for. Lots of children. Lovingly tended gardens. Property values are rising quite nicely. Friendly neighbors, with active block watch groups. When you walk around on a sunny day like the one we had this afternoon, you can smell lilacs in the air.

A little over a block away from our home, a woman was shot to death today in her own home. The other person in the house, a man, who had apparently shot himself but was still alive, was taken to the hospital. The television station reported that they "knew each other" but offered no other details.

A bill to make permits to carry handguns in public available to more people gained final legislative approval this month and was signed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

It is to go into effect in 30 days. Eventually, according to an official legislative estimate, it could increase the number of people licensed to tote guns on Minnesota streets from fewer than 12,000 now to about 90,000.

You figure it out.

Angel of death, pass by.