“You see things; and you say ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were; and I say ‘Why not?” ~ George Bernard Shaw

 

Soon, new roads will unravel ahead of us. They do now, but not distant enough, they are too familiar and yet I know they change daily, one of my other inner battles for Adventure. No, as I read from others, we are not going to Terra Del Fuego or riding Siberia or Africa. We will be in our own giant and spacious backyard, and for most here, also “your backyard”. It is the one in search of discoveries, the one most of us can get to without jumping through hoops or going totally broke. I am at war with myself because my Friends notice and write to me when I am “lighter”… “happy”… as, so hard for me to think and say, “I should be”. Guilt, the “guilt”, always, door after door I go through and that word slams me shut. Sometimes however a bit of daylight comes through. Yes, the simple fact of having guilt for being alive because of my Son not being. It is really as simple as that. These past days while at “The Chinati Hot Springs” I mentally rebelled against it all. I love my Son, I miss him every moment I am here, but I strongly revolted against myself. Yes, always bonding with Mother Nature and yet, seemingly a shadow has always been a veil thrown on various moments. I know I tried before, six years later this becomes old news I write to myself as I also “tell” myself “you have to try harder”. And I will.

 

The plush carpets of the multicolor fibers of the coming moments are always here present, I see their vivaciousness, I feel their vibrancy blending in with mine. They are always currant regardless of the season even if at times harsh to conquer upon their surfaces. Suddenly these three weeks or so remaining here seem to me such a short time even though we arrived months ago and still a few things remain to be done before we again heading on North, or will it be West? Wherever the moments appeal will be. For some reason we cannot go East yet. Maybe too many years spend within those regions as even though it’s spark is lit in me, I think we will reserve that path for the following year.

 

We have some strong winds again in the forecast for the coming days. I have not unpacked yet and today I am taking advantage of some cool weather to move the fire and cooking wood we have into the “Big Green”. The eye sore! At least it is green and says Evergreen I keep telling myself. Someday as someone gave me the idea, if I ever find some earth tone and a bit of green paint on sale I will start painting it to blend in the surroundings. Or does it really matter? I finally used “Old Faithful” and the little green wagon to move the wood, we went as fast as 15 miles per hour. And yes, that was fun I have to admit.

 

I keep looking at the weather forecast as right now through an early thick fog the sun rose and all is dead calm. It is humid, I smell the moisture, the ground is wet and pungent, and all is dead calm. Slowly the winds will pick up and will last unleashed for a few days they say. It is however not cold and it will not get under my skin as previously happened. I have much to do indoor right now, mainly going over the corrections of the final Script for “The Oasis of my Soul”. It is as another Chapter has entered our Life on the road. I am so in tune with it and yet so detached as to it’s outcome will be in the sense as for lack of better term “riding the wave”.

   

Over three years into two hours or so. The steps taken one by one till the present on this endless staircase here and now in continuous harmony, the inner battles never won but always signed away with their own Peace Treaties, the roads ridden, the new Friends met, the landscapes from stills to moving reels, this vehicle I call “Old Faithful” rolling away mile after mile, my buddy Spirit never ever taking a step backwards every mile of the way teaching me how one can live for the “now” and shedding the many layers a past Life had adorned me. The “hope” many can have as the ones wearing the same shoes with lost relatives leaving us too early on their own Journey away from these moments we still thread on. Other travelers inspiring me as we all have our own “reason” for being on the road, their own battle with the elements, their inner minds never quitting the path laid in front of them, a path the same but for each of us so different.

 

More photos from our stay at “The Chinati Hot Springs”

Yes, it feels good I have to say to maybe someday see the title of this Journal on the big screen, to see the big letters “Dedicated to Lance Gureghian” pass by and hang there for a few seconds, let the World know about my young man’s own Life and his creation through me of the days past, present and future. I will be getting a kick out of seeing Spirit wearing his goggles and helmet riding down the roads, the paved ones and the dirt ones we have taken! There is just so much as I can understand now what has been the attraction from Paul and Ludwig, the talented Movie makers, to pull together as they always do and grind into this project of ours as “we are” all in this together.

I cooked this one night in the kitchen of the Hot Springs. Sautéed some boneless and skinless cut up chicken in olive oil with garlic till nicely browned. Added one cup of “cracked wheat”. Us “Armenians” call it also “Bulgur” [boulghour]. Added one cup of water, the eternal can of Rotel non drained, the one with lime and cilantro, the juice of one lemon and more chopped up cilantro. Stir, cover and simmer till done. One can also use a cup or rice, add more spices, vegetables… the kitchen sink!

 

A couple nights ago, the Sunset was just one of those incredible one that took my breath and more away. I try not to take Sunsets photos anymore, I concluded that I must have at least over a couple thousands of them, maybe more. The colors I know for a fact where quite different then past nights because of the smoke due to the fires even if over a hundred miles away. Yet, the delicate clouds as each framed by the blues skies dimming where hanging as within this giant gallery I claim to have a front row seat. I cannot help posting a few…

 

I have called this one “half and half”

   

Same Sunset, all minutes apart, each frame in the sky a different Masterpiece.

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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I can’t say, over the miles, that I had learned what I had wanted to know because I hadn’t known what I wanted to know. But I did learn what I didn’t know I wanted to know ~ William Least Heat-Moon [ Blue Highways ]

 

Random thoughts, not in that order.

Chinati Hot Springs. I’ll say it now and be done with it, it is an amazing and incredible Space and destination which included David’s and Jemima’s warm welcome. The Journey here was in itself perplexing considering after of course a not so quick lunch at the Food Shark, nothing to do with the preparation of the food but Spirit’s chatting, Pinto Canyon Rd being truly of a challenging one this time. So much so that I will not take it again till repaired, specially fully loaded as we were. We scrapped often, stalled a couple times, it is a hack, it is a different animal when it comes to rough roads, even downhill. They were a few close calls but no photos. I have been using a Go Pro HD Wide video camera, mounted on the nose of the sidecar, courtesy of Motorcycle Riders Discount, tonight I realize it always works better with it’s memory card inserted. Footage lost for sure. Such is Life as they say. We are not coming down that road again. I have been told the county will be starting it’s much needed maintenance Monday and the locals themselves have stopped using it. I should have asked.

   

We made it and have not suffered any damage. We have the place to ourselves. That might change Friday night, in the meantime the kitchen is all mine. A strange concept I have to admit as all is here to be used including spices and condiments (dated) left by past visitors.

   

The tent is up, we are back to the smaller one of all three, she has always served us well. The cot is here. “ The wanderer’s danger is to find comfort”. Almost left it behind considering it being a little on the heavy side. But, it is opulence and much storage underneath. The awning that attaches to the tent is also here, used rarely, nice to have it when camping in one spot more than a couple nights, a great weather shelter.

   

I always thought of “The Oasis” being quiet. It is here quieter. Or is it maybe I am noisier back there. My ears are ringing, I think Spirit’s are also. It’s time to fix dinner now. I am sure something will magically appears all cooked and ready to be eaten. Besides it all, my thoughts are empty, we are just here enjoying the moment. This one. The power went out. No cooking unless I unpack my stove. I have some grilled chicken from the night before, that will do with some chocolate chip cookies and water, my headlamp and a good book, "Blue Highways" again.

   

My coffee is good this morning as the power is back. It was a great night of sleep, we were both beat up by the past road filled with rock shelves, loose ones almost the size of boulders and craters leaning sideways, all as a giant puzzle laid out ahead of us. Spirit again has a new girl friend. They played last night like there was no end to it. Jemima. This morning as he is still in the tent while coffee lubricates these old gears of mine, she is patiently waiting for him to rise for the day. What a lucky guy! She finally decides to come up and sit by me imploring with those sad eyes to let Spirit out of the tent.

We are not even going to start Old Faithful today. The power is on and off again. I managed to bring some eggs without breaking a single one. It was the first item I unpacked. I will cook breakfast soon, hike a little through the near by Canyons, take a nap, photos and mainly soak in the Hot Springs. There is a big tub with it’s temperature right around 95 which is just my speed. Will reminisce on Life as I so often escape unwillingly from my present back into the past recent years of our Journey thinking of the words written and faces met.

   

I just realized what is so different here this morning. There is a symphony playing of the multi instruments the birds have taken on. There has to be a dozen different sounds all in always harmony surrounding me from this front row seat. Some are even coming to see me as making sure I am listening and not just hearing this live concert so sweet to 
my ears. It is my morning welcome to this Space laid out with arms open as the sound fluttering of the wings at times as on queue are flying by. It is magic.

   

There is no Internet here, the cell phones do not work and right now that is the beauty of it all. Today is my Mother’s Birthday, she is 83. They loaned me a phone to wish her a Happy Birthday. 83! Hard to believe. What happened? At almost 62 myself I feel young in comparison, I feel as maybe some hope is here to climb more steps of Life which maybe will give me that much seeked opportunity, the yet unknown one. She lives in Munich and has had a rough winter. I so much would like her to move here but she will not hear me. She thinks it will be a "home" as she is so adamant about taking care of herself. Explaining and more explaining about how a non health care residence works, calling it a sort of hotel even has led to nowhere. The outcome weighs heavily, leaving Spirit behind for a while has it’s difficult logistics, but soon will need to fly over. One can only wish, speak their mind and await for the outcome of a wise decision.

   

Discoveries such as being here, even if not our first time, is what keeps me going. Setting up this tent on this loaned for the moment piece of land allowing to seek shelter a bit and explore an area is as a fantasy so needed to the senses not allowing them to go on stale for too long. It is as the reel of the images should never stop, it is food, energy, even health never ceasing to come forward as if it ever stopped seemingly in unison the dark clouds will reappear unwelcomed throughout these present times. I have no choice and the choice is good.

   

The Hot Springs are also of magic, surreal as my body and head under water I am back in my womb emerged from years ago. It’s warmth and lightness I know is what was a common space with Lance. Years apart maybe, but we both have heard the sounds of our own heartbeat as I do now. Everything is a miracle surrounding me. Every leaf, every growth, this water perpetually running, Spirit laying here his eyes filled themselves with contemplation, my Friends sending their kinds words, all truly, as I wonder when Life within this Space ends, does it really end. Would that be it? No more? And if so how can anyone be keeping their own Lives cluttered with senseless mental and physical artifacts without shedding them to join the core of Life itself. The sound of the water drooling upon me does not stop, as myself will not stop seeking a certain path of realism into this passage surrounding me with chaos and noise and greed and such adversity of Life it makes me only want to hide from it all waiting to again hug the one and only I miss so much in such times as now striped from any possible and imaginable layers most seem to be wearing in colors of dim glitter.

   

How strange to finally be able to be here and be filled with those interminable thoughts. As at The Oasis, as at Valley of the Gods and a few other Spaces that have opened up their arms to us, here also is as such. Maybe I was not ready as we did try in the past. We were here through a ride one afternoon, the next time was fully booked to a 
group (I learned to call since), I forgot my tent poles the next time, and yesterday seeing a powerful forced fire on the Mexican side which had actually jumped the Rio Grande to Ruidoso almost did us in again if it was not for the winds blowing it all away from us. The weather cooperating will see us more on the road than throughout this winter a bit uncooperative to say the least.

   

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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“A traveler who leaves the Journey open to the roads finds unforeseen things come to shape it. ‘The fecundity of the unexpected’” ~ William Least Heat-Moon ~

 

There is euphoria in the air, no doubt. More “Dreamland” is paving the way for the Soul and the wheels and all. It was two days past of heavy winds, I think a not so distant neighbor even went to seek mental refuge in an Alpine Motel. It does create beautiful imagery, but what a price to pay. Rain, snow, all is well if it has to, but wind can truly get under one’s skin when on for too long. I was talking about our “weather” preparedness with a Friend of mine this afternoon, as lately I have been caught without much warning, a fact that never happened in years past. I realized the truth of the matter. Depending on the Internet too much, depending on the days to go on one after another with the sunny frame of mind I “expect”. My complete gear is back on the bike, one bag has it all, rain or shine or wind or snow, it is now again ready as I feel having given in to a bit too much comfort.

All the riding gear hot and cold in one bag. The kitchen sink on the right.

Clothing in right saddlebag, computer “stuff” in left “foam padded” saddlebag.

I think tonight I am done packing, or re-packing for the gazillion’th time and strange enough the kitchen sink does not feel very full. Maybe finally I have learned my favorite path called “simplicity”. There will always be that open door to learn more and more about travelling. It never cease. One of my Sponsor “Overland Journal”,  truly a beautiful magazine printed on some exquisite paper and articles which makes me dream even more, calls it “Overlanding”, as I quote their description “Overlanding is about exploration, rather than conquering obstacles. While the roads and trails we travel might be rough or technically challenging, they are the means to an end, not the goal itself. The goal is to see and learn about our World, whether on a weekend trip 100 miles from home or a 10,000-mile expedition across another Continent. The vehicle and equipment can be simple or extravagant – they, too, are simply means to an end. History, wildlife, culture, scenery, self-sufficiency – these are the rewards of Overlanding.”

Left tank pannier for 1st Aid Kit, sidecar cover, 140W Inverter. Right pannier for battery charger, air compressor, thermos, bear spray…

5G water jug with room left for soft cooler. Pelican foam padded camera case.

It is that time to go on, winter has made it’s mark, the gray days will be erased and let the blues proclaim victory for the coming months. One of our first stop in April, 16th through the 18th, will actually be spend at the “Overland Expo” in Amado, Arizona, where Spirit and I will also be part of a panel as a Special Guest in company of names such as Ted Simon, Lois Pryce, Austin Vince, Lorraine Chittock, and more. The list is long, the classes are of many and I am honestly excited about it all as also many Friends will be attending. I actually do not think 3 days are going to be enough to experience it all! And in case anyone wants to know, Spirit has his VIP tag waiting for him. It will be a Dog and Children and why not, probably Cats also, Friendly experience. The way it should be.

 

Slow forward. A few years ago, when I lived on a sailboat, a few slips away, this other man lived on a small trawler. I think it was maybe at the most a 30 footer with a custom deck and cabin. He did not speak much, barely nodded his head adorned with gray hair and an odd looking beard, odd to me at the time. While walking by we always tried to pick through the porthole into his cabin to see what he was doing. Marinas do not have much privacy with the boats parked only few feet away from each other. Simple was his cabin, very simple. Small basic galley, a desk I remember, a bench cushioned and that was it. No thrills, hues of beige, he sat there reading with a note pad and a pencil next to him. It was not nice to glance in but I did. I never knew till now, years have past, 15 or 20, why those images always stuck with me so vividly. We kind of made fun of him too, not in a fallacious way but we did, and I feel so bad about it as I see myself today sitting alone in what I now, for the fun of it, call my office, office hours depending on the weather, very generous today. I don’t know if anyone would make fun of me, it really does not matter. Spirit laying by my feet is not, if nothing else he seems to be enjoying these now invisible walls.

EXPED waterproof bags in panniers all around. Main tank bag for personal belongings and SPOT

And how did all these thoughts came about? The simplicity of Life of this man I really never met, my own today realizing that it is "IT" as for the moment now, present, and who knows for more to come this will be. Throughout these past years many have strongly insinuated great ideas such as putting together a Coffee Table Book, a Recipe Book for on the road cooking, even a coloring Book, the advices have always been there. I myself cannot do it. It does not fit within my path of simplicity as it would rock this boat into an uncomfortable position. It is the time spend and the lack of knowledge. It all seems so simple but never is. I always thought how nice it would be for someone else to do it for us. Someone knowledgeable unlike me in those matters. That idea always failed… Talk is cheap, actions prevail, funny to me how so many turned around and walked away initially so interested from what could also be a great experience. They did not however have the Passion needed.

MSR oil bottles. “Hella” ‘Angel Eyes” rear lights surrounded by separate LED’s drawing only .4amp for night time emergency lights.

It has been a battle within me wanting to offer this and that, till last night. A reputable and recommended Friend with whom we had agreed after some e mails to seriously talk never called. Let it again go I thought, you are dealing with the real World, the one I exited a while back. Then I thought maybe something happened to her. Then I happen to see a post of hers on Facebook and I started smiling , even laughing at how today’s technology could show colors of another. And this morning, as the Office opened up, as I am sipping my coffee, some really good Australian Mountain Top Estate, Bundja, Extra Fancy, freshly roasted a couple days ago, the sun is basting my back already warming up, looking up at the few clouds passing by so serene and peaceful, I felt as being slapped by the lack of respect last night was only a lesson well earned. School had yet to close it’s doors as I think that man alone in his boat knew this, I know now he did as he was never rude, I know he just wanted to breathe within his own Space as the years had also gone by for him, and most likely had that last craving for that taste so few of us can have, only mostly cherish. It reaffirmed how solid my foundation had become as we live in our own Space unspoiled by… I am at a loss for words. 

 

Mounting a grill to prevent more holes on the engine cover. Easily removable for an oil change.

This Friend called this morning, and today was another page turned already. Yesterday was water under the bridge. Lets turn it all into a positive path I said, the keys of that door of that School, the Universal one, well, there really were never any keys as there are not ever locks on them either. We had a great conversation, she was not a stranger to our Journal, and it was so great to have the ability to overcome the senseless petty aspects a Life can throw at us moment after moment and instead turn them into positive facets filled with smiles, as even if we were not born with one, smiles should be the imprints and signatures of our presence toward each other. My moral? I am glad this person forgot to call last night, it made us both stronger and heightened our awareness toward it all. “It’s all good”. That is also the way it should be as that old man in that boat alone probably knew it all and saw us as young a bit disrespectful sailors. We thought at the time…

This is an easy camping and home one pan recipe which goes well over plain white rice. I breaded the chicken and sautéed on a medium high flame with a mixture of butter and oil. It does not have to be breaded, it is only my personal preference. I only wet the chicken with water and breaded as such skipping any kind of egg wash or milk. Then on some chopped garlic, green onions and cilantro. To taste. Remove the chicken when done and in the same pan add the chopped prep. Sautéed well, add 3 to 4 tablespoons of pineapple preserve and the juice of one or two limes. 2 is better. Stir a bit and that is about it all. Would look nice with some julienne red peppers on top, but… I could not find any amongst the cactuses around here. Enjoy

There will be more on our camping gear, tent, sleeping bag and pad, stove, more…

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

If you find yourself perusing this site extensively, please, consider purchasing Prints, Merchandise or making a contribution above to help us with Internet costs.

“Please do not e mail us with attachments. No forwards. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? Please use links only from a Photo Gallery”

 

 

There is something to be learned from a rainstorm. When meeting with a sudden shower, you try not to get wet and run quickly along the road. But doing such things as passing under the eaves of houses, you still get wet.
When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you still get the same soaking.
This understanding extends to everything.
~ Yamamoto Tsunetomo ~

 

The hug came back empty this morning. A beautiful one, the morning. Sunrise is as being itself lifted by the multicolor layers of clouds. I was reading a message so personal, my hug came back empty again. I look around me, it is so beautiful that I wonder how can I be touched all at the same time with such beauty and melancholy. That is how some mornings greet me. It is acceptance. The tears are good, I want to feel Lance in any way I can. I am "resolved" now, I understand, the "soaking" will always be the same and yes, this "understanding" does extend to everything. It includes the elegance that surrounds us, as it does the mourning’s roots deep inside, all in the same package wrapped sometimes not as neatly as one would like it to be as the inner conflicts never cease to churn the waves rolling on. 

   

I had in mind to leave early today, but it is only 30 degrees outside. "The Oasis" is always cold at sunrise. Our neighbors came to visit us, they are not as cold, horses do not go as fast a motorcycles! A blanket of this cold air drops to the ground while the hot air is lifted and today a bit of those clouds will hold back the heating process. The region is filled with other riders, dirt bikes like giant mosquitoes are buzzing back and forth from their rides, dual sports, bigger two wheelers have room to shop and carry from the couple little stores we have, the more giant ones with even trailers are sometimes quietly, sometimes not, running up and down the black top. Big Bend has become a destination, everyone wants to experience this end of the line.

   

We are going back to the Park, Rio Grande Village, to meet some Friends camping. I am so ready for it as I also know it will be tonight a full moon or close to it and all will be lit almost as daytime with this atmosphere lingering of mystery kept in the shadows beyond the shoulders of the roads. Tomorrow has to be a gear and motorcycle maintenance day. At least that is what I am thinking. Including changing one more tire. I have had many requests as to what we carry and will document it all for the first time. Might even help me lighten up our load and leave hopefully the kitchen sink behind.

 

So now the day has almost gone by, it is that day and I am still not outside getting my gear in order. Time has a tendency to get away while on the road, if not today then maybe tomorrow, and if not tomorrow, well, when it gets done. And yesterday as predicted was of a fine one, the ride going in with such a perfect weather, meeting new Friends, Spirit experiencing new buddies and a filled campground thinking he had to protect his space not being used to such a crowd, having dinner when not expecting it with nothing brought over myself to contribute. I am already realizing that I am forgetting their names, having to go back to their Forum and reading their “handle”. I think I need to carry a notepad with me and write them down. It has become now not acceptable anymore and curiously stupid to have such a lack of memory. “Motomac”, “Colleen” aka “Black and Blue”, “Ernie” aka “Big Mac”, “George” aka“G Wizz” and his wife “Deb”, Spirit’s new buddies “Audrey”, “Kirby”, more…

Two more hacks to look over all afternoon, two more riders also with their dogs. One couple and their two dogs as their own traveling scenario. They sure have it together with their packing able to carry twice as much as we do. Of course Audrey cannot be more than 20lbs, Kirby makes up for the difference, this totally undernourished dog tilting the scale at 120lbs, maybe 115 today as they thing the poor dog has lost 5lbs on this trip! It amazes me for as long as we have been packing to find out again and again new ways to do so. I think it becomes more of a game than anything else. Always learning. A folding cooler that could fit under Spirit’s pad, a new style of rack, even umbrellas alongside the sidecar strapped securely. They are the few that understand what it is to travel with a dog in a sidecar. From the responsibility to dealing with people at every stop, to tailgaters and drivers passing flashing their cameras, such moments are endless as I look for desolate areas to stop as much as I can.

   

The ride back, just around a bit past sunset, a bit past a plate of Peach Cobbler baked in a Dutch Oven I did not need, but with no twist of an arm wanted, was in company of a Moon almost full as it will be tonight. The silhouettes of the Chisos against the fiery red skies, one just need to experience it, be there, feel it as no photos and no words will fully express it all. The perception of night riding as such is immense, it is also indescribable, it is a unique to me experience. Cooler air wrapping around us, the ability to almost see the road without headlights, and yet, over the shoulders, the darkness makes it’s way hiding what Sun had exposed just not too long ago. It includes the wildlife. Half a dozen Javelinas and one Deer we avoided, or they avoided us, that was all which is below normal on the hundred miles or so ride back.

     

I discover a pond I never knew existed. Dinner was great. I try so hard not to be the Chef within myself toward food. I have only started using cans these past years. I learned yesterday how to make a pizza with tortillas, instant rice versus the long version and the famous cobbler which I will make the first chance I get. A cherry cobbler with a chocolate dough this time. I really need it! Wonderful it has been, great people, “good people” as I like to call them. This Internet that allows us to meet each other, as much as I call it a “double edge sword”, well, this was the very positive edge for us.

   

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

If you find yourself perusing this site extensively, please, consider purchasing Prints, Merchandise or making a contribution above to help us with Internet costs.

“Please do not e mail us with attachments. No forwards. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? Please use links only from a Photo Gallery”

 

“Keep Love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring.”
~ Oscar Wilde ~

 

It’s 24 degrees this morning in Alpine. It wears it’s name well, and as we are on our way to the Dentist, in Valentine this time, there is about 3 inches of snow. We managed to make it to Mc Donald’s, it is for breakfast the last refuge, and the snow has stopped falling. There is a car in the parking lot, it is running, the fumes are amplified like a crater from the cold, no one is in it, obviously the owner wants to keep it warm, where else could this happen? I like Alpine, it is a “cool” town. No punt intended. A few tables away an elderly couple is also having breakfast. They must be in their late 70’s and certainly have been together for at least 50 years. They are all bundled up, he is just eating his pancakes, his stare is far but he is close to her. She is on her cell phone catching up with their family on this cold early morning. She is a little women with a burgundy wool hat, there is a radiance to her. Round face and glasses slipping down her nose are just so perfect in harmony with her vivacious conversation everyone can hear. Her eyes are rolling, they are small and blue, the sparks make up for their size, her smile is of sunshine. She is not here, she is there. They are so comfortable with each other, it is so obvious they are street smart, they are not from here, they have been doing this for a while and joined at the hip as so much in unison they form one. I am enjoying watching them. They are what I am not.

 

I saw a very thin crystal string the other day. Almost invisible, right in front of my eyes, slanted only inches away. It glistened a bit by the sunlight. It held everything together so strongly by nature and yet so delicate and so could be shuttered if only twisted and pulled and bumped a bit here or there. I saw more of them, they formed a web, it surrounded me. The above couple’s web seemed so strong, so solid, as mine only myself alone feels still yet so brittle. They knew they way around as much as my own becomes often so tentative. These past days disclosing the Movie’s ongoing so totally mentally drained me out so ready for a step backwards when all should only be going forward. Nothing though shattered, the scales maybe tilted a bit, swaying right and left as today all seem again well balanced and the web took a step backward leaving me ahead a bit away from it’s possession.

 

We made it to the Dentist. I wonder how late we will be here as the thoughts of the roads freezing on our way back, specially the one uphill passed Alpine is on my mind. I guess it would not matter to mention it, would it really matter in a Dr’s Office? So I did mention it. It won’t be long she said from behind the safety of a double glass window. I wonder why Dr’s always run late? They could never be Chefs for sure as I can see them running about two hours behind on each course. So I sat back after checking on Spirit again. There is a mother sitting next to me and her toddler is screaming laying on her shoulder. She is on the phone all at the same time without a care for her neighbors. Her cheek is holding the phone precariously against her other shoulder, her hands are patting with no true meaning the tiny child unhappy from the inattention he is subjected to.  How can she even hear her own conversation? The father is sitting ten  feet away, he has dark sunglasses on and is smiling. His own stare must be beyond these walls the dark lenses giving him the much needed protection of his indifference. I know it will be  another hour past my given appointment time over a month ago. We need a pay back program where the patient can also charge their time for the waste of waiting. After all, it is the Doctor driving the "chrome hummers”, not us… ( not that I would care to!).

 

I don’t do very well within the real world anymore. Everything seems more and more disrespectful. Other’s time used and abused has no more meaning I notice every time I am off my trail. I will give it one hour, then I will leave. All the fuel wasted along 240 miles. It is a matter of principle. Maybe if the weather was good it would be different, but it is not and Spirit is waiting outside. I just spoke with others waiting and I am trying to do the math. It is 3pm, I am the 2:30pm, however the 2pm has not yet been seen. It only means one thing… Very very late… Frozen roads…

   

We are now back. And so I was wrong. It was not long till I myself was laying on the chair inside under the good care given. I think the weather had supplied me with enough lee way to imagine it all. I like being wrong, I use to dislike it, we are programmed to like being right. Being wrong is always a new chapter in this book called the “learning curve”. A little bit of grinding with what seemed a powerful Dremel tool, some impressions with some not so good tasting quick hardening rubber such consistency “stuff” and now I am free till March the 12th to roam around if the weather ever lifts it’s temperatures a bit.

 

As I close this page the power so Sunshine has again filled me up. There is noting like it. The crystal web I do not see wondering if crystal would let?

Another day on the road, on the this sinuous Journey. “It’s all good”

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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It is a beautiful day here, inside out the moments have been smiling at us, the company of our Friends Louise and Sean has been overwhelming, the sharing of this Space with such wonderful Souls. We cooked, meaning “I cooked”, as I love doing so for others, we drank strong coffee, breakfast was what I now call “Mc Oasis”… a couple fresh fried eggs cooked with cheese in a toasted whole wheat Pita bread, a quick ride into Terlingua as they followed me on their little “go everywhere” scooters, we even had Opal pose with Spirit in the sidecar. We watched an incredible sunset without a camera on hand as the images that particular evening where all ours to remember, to share, as also will be remembered our conversations. We did not solve the World’s problems, not even ours, we did instead shed much light lighting up the path we all have been on these past years as also with their magnificent bus “Odyssey” they themselves have been on the road for a while.

 

Louise and Sean have been a bit of my confidents these past months. A few other close Friends also have been. They know, as many do, why I write. The “why’s” have become a mixture of a personal therapy dealing with the loss of my Son Lance, showing off at the same time the beauty of this country where many can actually go and enjoy it’s Spaces, even if time is short, as truly how many will be able to take that trip to Africa or Malaysia or… It is the “people” we meet on the shoulders off the roads, it is the little towns we go through, and I feel often it is above it all how I personally have tried to shed my past layers worn a bit too heavily and have sight again of who I really am including what Life really is today with the recent past cards dealt, with a simplicity I try to achieve as well as possible. That alone will take more than a Lifetime, but as long as I keep climbing those steps, even if falling backwards at times, with strength and perseverance, the momentum I like to call it “forward”.

 

There has been a facet throughout these past months I have not been able to write about, the reasons are truly above me, it’s importance is now here, has been as I have thought it very deeply, still think about it, always will as a Legacy and a Dedication to Lance. A little less than two years ago I received this e mail…
Hi Ara, Hope this finds you well. I just wanted to ask if you would be interested in turning your story (so far) into a film? I read your story and have fallen in love with it. I am a film director, and I co-direct with my brother. We are known as The Shammasian Brothers… The date was of May 5th 2008.

 

I was not totally stunned because this was already the third time such offer was made. The first two I felt, I heard in the words thrown at me, such undesirable aspects. I was not going to sell my Soul, the mighty Dollar did not have any weight on my decision, and truthfully even as we struggle daily, still does not. But now, two Armenian Brothers with my own origin and an admirable track record? It was worth checking into it, cautiously opening a preface of a path that could change much as only changes of my own doings have been always validated. A reproduction of my chapters laid out here moving on to the big screen? My thoughts? My story? Slices of the slides Mother Nature has always presented us? From Terlingua to Montana and all in between? Yes, there was much to think about as finally on a path as I was on, as I am on, any aberration is not welcomed.

   

I watched over and over Paul’s and Ludwig’s latest Movie, a short Movie not yet available to the Public as it will be soon, and even if the content, the story itself is of a painful and not easy to watch subject, it is a breath taking true Life story reproduced in an amazing fashion, including the photography, the music, all the components never missing a beat. I read their biography as I felt they progressed step by step as myself have tried these past few years. We met in Valley of Fire last year, I really could not write who they were for the same reasons as above. (Truly a coincidence that also photos of the Odyssey are in the same entry). Here in their words…

The Shammasian Brothers are Ludwig & Paul Shammasian – a directing partnership reinforced by a shared creative vision and their bond as true film-making Brothers. Their first commercial won them the prestigious Festival de Cannes Young Director Award. They followed this with the critically acclaimed short film, "The Carriageway". Their next film, "Romans 12:20”, based on a true story, went on to win numerous international awards and subsequently earned them representation at the world famous William Morris Endeavor Entertainment in the USA and United Agents in the UK. The brothers are now working on 3 feature film projects.This includes writing and directing the US road movie based on the true life story of Ara Gureghian and his Dog “Spirit” titled "The Oasis Of My Soul".

Winner Festival de Cannes Young Director Award
Winner of Long Form Category, Rushes Soho Shorts Festival 2009
Winner of Grand Prize Discovery Award , Rhode Island International Film Festival 2008
Winner of Best International Short Film, New York International Film Festival 2008
Winner of Best Shot Film, 11th Annual ARPA International Film Festival, LA, 2008
Winner “Best of Fest” Beverly Hills HI~DEF Film Festival
Winner IVCA Gold, Best Documentary
Honorable Mention Pomegranate Film Festival 

Director’s Comments

The overall reason we became attracted to the project is best summarized in the following quote:

"We are all explorers of our own lives, whatever path we take. There is nothing rational about what I have done. Skiing to the Poles, sailing the Oceans and climbing Everest. These are absurd undertakings, which do not contribute to improving the environment or World Peace. However, every summiting of Everest is a positive contribution because it reminds people of the grandeur of nature and is a genuine invitation to everybody to find their own Everest within."
- Erling Kagge – World-Renowned Adventurer.

“For us, Ara’s story is one that emotionally grips and leaves a feeling of inspiration and beauty. We have always believed in the power of Mother Nature and its ability to affect our heart and give hope when it’s most needed.
Combine this simple premise with the vision of a man riding amidst the wilderness with a Pit Bull fully clad with helmet and goggles, and you have something exquisitely unique and innocently charming.
It’s a project we thoroughly enjoyed writing and are genuinely looking forward to putting it onto the screen.”

 

The big questions arise… Where do I now stand? How do I deal with all of this? When? How? I have been asked. And truly no question has an answer. That is my comfort. Answers are not needed. It is that simple as the moments present, second by second, they plow the path ahead of us. It is trust in Paul and Ludwig who mutually have had the outmost respect for this Journal and it’s content with a very high level of communication between us, it is more with my Entertainment Attorney Dave, standing out as a pillar since day one, but most important I feel is my own mind set being as I call it “just riding the wave” and in no manner living my present Life as this Movie being the carrot in sight. I will not hide that my emotions do fluster thinking that one day, and that is with a “maybe” always, in this dark big room, on this large giant screen, I will read “Dedicated to Lance Gureghian”. It is really that simple. It is because I trust him, I trust he has put me on the right path as everyone present has been one link after another fitting so well on this Journey. It will be for me the best few seconds of the Movie.

 

The “when” is when it will happen. The script is written, in unison we are going over it as it will then be offered. The messages are plentiful. Growth, awareness, the love of a Pit Bull and vice versa, sensibility toward a simple Life made possible by a prosperity of inner thoughts, the beauty of this Country, the incredible people we have met on their own Journeys that have impacted ours, my personal dealings with the grief of a loss as my own and only Child, so much more… The steps forward toward this project has not changed a thing, my anchor will never reach the bottom of the searched level, but always close stirring up the mud at times only for at other times finding myself again in calmer waters. The “Big Screen” can only be a mirror of all those reflections, in a positive way touching many more, but never less. Is Spirit ready for it?

 

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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“The Dream. 
Every soul has one. 
Not every soul dares live it.” ~ Voni ~

   

I don’t ask many questions, I try to find the answers on my own, sometimes a painful process. Might be stubbornness running through this gypsy blood of mine, might be just trying to collide with the often present reality even if it is going to hurt as I know the lesson will then be well learned. I do get upset, I pound the ground, I do use at times words of maybe not so kind contents, but they are directed to me more than anything else. And then I smile, I smile because in the big scheme of things if a path taken has been flooded, well, it will just eventually dry as the lesson was to learn how to mop it.

 

The older I get, the less I know. I find my answers in books, in quotes, I find my answers and much uplifting through my close Friends. I trust myself as everyone I feel should also know there is nothing quite like it, nothing like what I call “good people” surrounding each of us. They are so often present in words, at times physically also. Is it the weather suddenly turning a brighter page? the days rolling on toward a near spring and summer and fall I am sure everyone by now can taste? whatever the reasons are, we are lately suddenly surrounded by Friends. It is as times have finally blossomed and everyone is coming out of their buds in their most brilliant and vivacious colors.

 

We had a great day. Our yearly visiting neighbors have been here, Pam, Justin, Speck, Flair, Biscuit Miester, Titan and more I forgot their names, my other Dear Friends Paul and Voni from up the road, and yes, we all include the dogs and even the donkey who Spirit thought was just another big dog. So we are all sitting here in the middle of this vast Desert, surrounded by views spanning 360 degrees as there is not a bad seat in the house. The fire is going and crackling, many little to medium to big Dutch Ovens are going. I made some bread again, this time an olive oil and herb bread, we had venison, potatoes, green beans and a cobbler which I did not need seconds but did, and the conversations where flying into our attentive ears with smiles from ear to ear.

 

The dogs like clowns in the middle ring of a Circus, including Biscuit, were the entertainment and the dust makers. Dog lovers, animal lovers we all are, who needs anything else. We ate, we walked, we checked out the cactuses I have already forgotten their names, but above all, we all felt good on these few square acres the path of Life had decided for us to get together on. It is right here, it is not far, how did we ourselves manage such a feat in Life? It always amazes me, the path does, as smiling “Karma” has been kind, very kind.

 

Morning has come again today, we made it through another night, a warmer one as I stood outside, late, again looking at the Stars, wondering much about this Life of ours and everyone else’s. It use to at one time paralyze me, create this vacuum in my guts knowing the concept of above is so totally unlike ours on Earth, infinite to no end.  Today it all reassures me, it is a reality that I can confront without being much shaken by it’s vastness truly often so incomprehensible. Daylight has brought a smile to the skies. Today we have more Friends coming by. They are short bursts of visits as when we part we feel as we could have still spend so much more time together and yet, we reserve that right for the next time leaving those moments spend closely filled with the greater memories than longer longings of time. How could I be so fortunate?

   

Words, yes, this language of ours we all use, words are having lately such a big impact on me. I think they always did, I am only realizing it now in increasing importance. They are just not anymore passing through from one ear to the other but seemingly parking themselves as with always needed moments within this Soul of mine that truly deciphers their true meaning. They have become my notes of my own music through my time, they seem to be always tuned so properly and playing a melody that soothes me to no end. They are the reflections of the so many others staying in touch with us and gifting us with their own tunes, sharing them from Heart to Heart. Is it all part of “IT” I always adventure myself on? I think it is.

 

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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“You never feel better than when you start feeling good after you’ve been feeling bad” ~ William Least Heat-Moon ~ “blue highways”

 

Today the skies, the mercury bar, all pointed in the up direction. We jump always on the occasion to get that wind blowing on our faces and these past hours were no exception. We went on to Terlingua, visiting our Friend Ring and his birds from “Many Stones”, conversating with another Friend,  Blair Pittman (I hope I can call him “my Friend”) as always being interesting conversations, today about his immense knowledge on the Texas Caves and more. Both of his Books “Tales from The Terlingua Porch” and “More Tales from The Terlingua Porch” are truly a must and such a pleasure to read. We actually did go on to the Porch ourselves for a short while, stepped into the local Church which always takes me away into calmer and meditative waters, a bit of shopping and back we are now. Those are the photos. The rest of the words, well, sometimes my thoughts get away from me early morning…

   

How strange it is when others write “You must be living your Dream”. Maybe the reflection of this Journal shows the aspect previously stated most everyone thinks, but “Bitter~Sweet” is always the word that comes to mind. I am not tired being on the road, I am actually tired of not being on the road as much lately. It is the season. I wonder if I am fooling myself as my desire to move and move on some more has never diminished, if nothing else has increased, as also the logistics of the Journey become easier, almost second nature, at the same time a financial burden which I so often have to ignore. As I wake up every morning, the realization of “moving” increases it’s certitude of it’s definition “Food for the Soul”. Paradise is here at “The Oasis”, there is no doubt about it, the photos from a few days ago I go back to and myself look at, shows the splendor of it all. And yet, if we could leave right now, at this very minute, I would start the engines and roll down the roads awaiting for us. Both, “Old Faithfull’s” and mine. Spirit is always ready.

   

And why don’t I? I ask myself that question almost daily. I am not handling bad weather as well as I use to. The cold, the rains, well, I am waiting for them to pass on. Winter “stuff” I call also holds me back. Medical Doctors, Dentists as even those rounds are not over yet. My own Spirituality betrays me often. My living for “now” opens it’s door to questions marks not so maybe distinct but as shadows on the horizon, question marks I want to suddenly for them to be instead focused. I can now only always move on forward as it is too late to turn around. The Lifestyle has itself taken roots within me and whatever struggle can be present with it’s logistics has to be confronted as I do gladly.

   

I have to go back often to my initial decision to have left behind a nice rented house at the foothills of the Georgia Mountains, a profession I excelled at after 40 years of practice in too many kitchens to even remember them all, everything that went away throughout the garage sales and gifts to Friends. It was as a cleansing, a new book was about ready to start as I truly never looked back, only exploring the roots of that mediation with that then present Life. I have to look at my present being, who I have become, how things have changed these past over 3 years now. Is it a long time? Is is a short time? It is just time I feel, time which has brought on much transformation. The habitat has always been here, not much of the surroundings have changed in the past centuries, the remodeling has been within me and yet it’s dust has a long way to go before it settles down, that is if ever that day will happen.

   

I would not be here if Lance would have still himself been present. This is not my way to erase the profound pain attached to my “here and now”. It is only my way to create a precarious balance throughout the nights and days rolling on. I can sit by that rock, I can lay in the middle of that field of blossoming flowers, I can ride the less traveled roads or hike the narrow passages throughout the canyons and I can peacefully think about him now. Even when my guts are torn and knotted, even when my tears soak up this weathered face, it is the privacy of my surroundings that allows me to go on, it is in contrast the beauty of such laid out roads, canyons, mountain tops or creeks by the valleys. It is the silence surrounding me that allows me to hear him, to read his words, to listen to his thoughts, all is as if he was not only present within my Soul but also standing in front of me as the young man he always was.

   

“The young man he always was”… There is a silhouette always present in my own presence, it is of a young man, sparkling eyes, soft spoken, green sparkling eyes I should say, I know exactly their hues. Years have past, I will never know what shape the silhouette so cherished would have become. I will never know if when a light shined on that face if those hues would have changed or not. And maybe it is better to leave it as such, like an image so present never changing as also my own memory can remain with the past “present”. Yes, we go on, the roads await for us, Mother Nature’s own faces offers a diversity so needed to carry me through the passages of this Life always present, they are never closed, there are no screens of confession between us, all is wide open.  

 

“I live the Dream”, yes. If the reasons of being here would have been different it is I am sure everyone’s Dream to keep on traveling as we do.

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert Einstein ~

   

These past days have been interesting, maybe not in the better sense of the words, more likely in just a passive way. Deeper and deeper I am falling into such a dislike for the crowded unpleasant cities with however not having much of a choice yesterday. A Friend of mine was kind enough to show up so we (meaning… “I”) can drive her car to Midland and back in one day, even squeezing in some, as previous, errands at La Mecca Walmart. The giant field where my ability to remain Human lasts on record no more than 22 minutes. To make the matters worse, instead of calling my Prescriptions into “that store”, I had inadvertently called them to the Houston store. Lucky me, a good Friend will pick them up and mail them to me.

   

478 miles round trip and a warning from the Texas Highway Patrol. I did not even think about taking the classic photo, the one with the rear view mirror and the Christmas lights flashing. Stubborn enough to not use the cruise control as I despise driving, wanting a bit of the excitement of that gas pedal, I stopped ASAP before the Gentleman even played his Christmas Carol. He was nice, a bit confused about my Florida Drivers License and the Texas plates. I cannot be a passenger. We are talking major medical unforeseen conditions if so. All is behind now, might have to go back in about 5 weeks, right before we take off for Overland Expo in Arizona which will be a quick stop before our yearly pilgrimage to Valley of the Gods, specially when during the one weekend when the balloonists will all be present soaring the skies with now that familiar sound of the burning gasses. Truly exhausted from the day trip and gum poking, it was today a must to change a tire, reinforce my saddlebags which had not been addressed in I think the past seven years and add a third layer of JB Weld to my “hole in the front engine cover”. It does not seem as that “stuff” is holding as well as metal when the rocks are flying right into it. I am thinking about devising a grill type of protection next.

   

The noises, the distractions, the pollution mental and otherwise of the cities makes me always realize how detached one could become from their own inner personal path versus while deep into the womb of Mother Nature, as nothing else really counts while staying on her path throughout this Journey. I almost feel as I then become another person. I don’t know quite know how to express it, maybe as I have to then wear an armor and my steps become more what they need to be versus what they are in this “let it all go” environment. I met someone the other day that is also a traveler with her dogs, has “rushed” to come south, fallen in love with the area and actually very quickly bought a parcel of land a few miles from here. I felt her energy from her Life slurping from the fast track and I was smiling within myself wondering if she was going to find a bit of the light that would spark on the path of her own search as I knew she was exploring another avenue she now knows exists.

   

Fast forward to another day, or actually “slow forward”. They are being again a gift as the blue skies have come back and the temperatures just perfect. The harder days have made me totally appreciate these “now moments” so inviting to move on, ride on with the wind, stop on the shoulders when the senses are caught by the scenery, attractive, awakening my curiosity and my camera.

   

We took off for Ft Davis to see my good Friends Jerry and Nelda at their Bookstore and Coffee Shop which soon will be called “Nelda’s Cafe”. Good food, simple but so gratifying, comfort food, and above all the atmosphere as in being “home”. We always have much to catch up as these two rarely get to go out. They love working 7 days a week, but they do not call it work, they are having their own fun through their own Lives together. With the knowledge that the days are getting longer as we now have an extra hour of daylight, meaning an extra hour of warmth, our destination was Balmorhea, the State Park.

   

It was again one of those great rides, sinuous curves, no traffic except for the here and there Rancher truck with the usual wave as everyone waves here, the scenery changing, trees, yes trees a bit unknown around this particular area south of there. The Park, only barely 45 acres is actually the San Salomon Spring. It is an amazing pool, 77,000 square feet with a flow of water just so astonishing, 22 to 28 millions gallons flowing per day! Wishing we had some of that water here. The pool itself  has a capacity of more than 3 1/2 million gallons!

   

We had been there before but never seen the scuba divers busy with lessons toward their certification. We chatted a bit, I discovered what a dry suit was versus a wet suit and thought how nice it would be while riding through the rain with Old Faithful. A bit pricey however and know also I cannot develop a new hobby. Spirit diving? I doubt it very much! We are now back, still plagued by some lights not working on Old Faithful, she is aging but remains strong as this summer will be a good test for her. My thoughts are always “going in deeper”, meaning riding the further away isolated roads, the less traveled ones, also meaning the less maintained ones. Those are the ones where the so often untouched beauty of Mother Nature lies.

 

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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“It’s not enough. It’s never enough. But sometimes it’s all we can do” ~ My Friend and Winter neighbor “Voni”

 

“A very wise person once said to me that we all help in the way that moves us the most” ~ My Friend “Louise” ~

   

So I have calm down from the previous days. Often the window opens up and words come in, as magic they can shift it all in the proper gear, and even if the sprocket is a bit old, still remaining with a grind, well, those simple few words appeased me, they made more sense to me than the tumultuous flooding of thoughts running through my mind lately. My Friend’s words are priceless. This is Life, how will it all change some day? Most likely we will never know in our own Lifetime, but there is I know also progress. It is an upcoming gift for all of us and the ones that will follow in our footsteps. I hear from others as a “crusade”, for lack of better words,  fueled by awareness toward each other, toward this soil that supports us daily, this air we breath, toward it “all” really. And that is a good sign. A happy one. Maybe the plague of build up “greed” from Centuries past will flip it’s coin and show us “generosity” and “care” and mainly “unselfishness” on a greater scale than today.

   

And our day end up being the reflection of those sunny thoughts as also the weather was. I love Big Bend Park, it is just that the feeling of being watched at all time (webcams) and with the inability to have Spirit taking many steps in either direction quite too often, I find myself more comfortable outside the Park, around the corner often wandering and applauding. “The Oasis” and it’s surroundings are too far for the common rider lured by Terlingua to adventure themselves around here, even if only 30 miles away. Being all private land the choice often is in reality not theirs, between 700 and 1400 miles of unpaved roads, depending on who is giving out the numbers. Traffic is inexistent for us here, and as “they” keep saying “tomorrow… tomorrow” about the incoming bad weather, but today, give me a few clouds any time and a sun playing hide and seek, and suddenly this inner mind of mine just wants to go out there and search the beauty surrounding us to photograph.

 

It was a day with no ripples, just a non planned anything day, as most of them truly are for us. I always feel as have never seen every square inch of this land surrounding us, and it is true, I have not and will not as it’s vastness will not allow it fully. I enjoy at times to take a ride with Spirit for the only purpose of taking photos. To search those few images that maybe have escaped me previously or where never there. I call it “getting into the zone”. Discover the physical changes Mother Nature has laid out when every thing constantly changes, from the color of the rocks, to the path of the mud, it is always as a new stage never knowing what to expect. Just to be out there for that single purpose to discover an odd dead plant, a live one that has changed direction, a rock out of place even if they really never are, anything that always glistens specially after the serious rains we have had. It is really that simple. A deep breath with every step within this total silence that surrounds. Not the big expedition with hours of preparation. It is just grab the boots, Spirit, the cameras, a bit of water and go. The preparations took place years ago, we are now on a “onward” mode, have been for a while.

     

The roads were clear, a bit muddy here and there, puddles of clear water in pools reflecting the newly washed rocky bottoms. I stopped often, it is as being suddenly transported on another planet a bit. Spirit has here and there the freedom to run, he is really good one on one, never listens when other dogs present. I walked often ahead at times feeling the road till finally the drop into the last creek was of that good mud that will build up in no time and fill one’s vehicle fenders. “Concrete mud” is what I call it. It comes in many colors but only in one consistency, the kind I truly avoid after being stuck on the way out from Toroweap I think it was last year. And if ever that mud dries out, it then turns into a hard rock consistency, I have had a tire grooved that way!

   

I still feel it as a strange entity able to call it all around us “my backyard” as what a “backyard” it is! The endless formations remains of an Ocean floor today able to ride it, walk it, is always such a unique feeling. I often think about it, the thought that at one time maybe as much as a thousand feet of water or more where above us and today Mother Nature having given us the priviledge to step on such a floor in the company of the fossils, reminders of a past reality. We are so fortunate being here, I sometimes feel guilty failing to remember such actuality, the reminder always present when as soon as we are away.   

 

Today the stage has changed. It has been a gray ceiling, have not seen the sun, it’s rays and felt it’s warmth. Tomorrow morning a quick round trip to Midland and back, plunge in just a while in “that” different world.  This should be only a tease of bad weather, that reminder to open up our arms greatly and always embrace our “now” moments. As well as we can…

 

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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"We are, each of us angels with only one wing; and we can only fly by embracing one another." ~ Luciano de Crescenzo ~

 

It is here, it is there, it is what I seek for. I don’t know if others do. I don’t know what they call it, how they go about it. I only know about my own stage and slowly about, yes, a few others also, my close Friends that dare opening up to me and vice versa. I call it "IT" because of this book that I finished not long ago, and one of the characters is what he called it. It is so huge I cannot have a simple definition for "IT". I have only tasted morsels of it, in links it has not made a continuous presence in my Life, yet, and I don’t know if it ever will, but oh! so much worth seeking for. This is just my own take, the thoughts are not blurred, but the puzzle has yet to have all the pieces present. Will it ever while in my Lifetime or is it the Prize unknown in it’s form, shape, mind and soul that awaits for me.

   

This stage is so much as a rainbow I am traversing contemplating, experiencing, thirsty of all it’s colors sometimes present and sometimes not It is not seeking nirvana, it is not physical, not only mental, it is truly "all", it is "IT". It is when the senses are being reflected on a constant amazement of the incessant beauty surrounding us. It is the joining of the hearts when near a good Friend. They are the skies so filled with stars glaring at me in the middle of the night. It is the warmth of the sunrise slowly bathing my body throughout and the sunset to remind of some rest needed for the night. It is the open road, it is good weather, bad weather, good music and conversations, beautiful to the beholder photos unlocking the past memories or unraveling what yet we have not seen. The list is so long as it slowly fills that space inside me as exchanging an aura taking place.

 

It is living with the ups and downs absorbing them all as equal moments of Life as to not feel tight or loose but always on an equal keel. Just thinking about thinking to look for “IT” in itself can be comforting, as it’s notion I can only compare it floating through Life with such a greater positive attitude and all it’s ramifications so incredibly sustaining to one’s well being. 

 

I am so confused however as reading lately the so much despair that also surrounds us. Daily, the thousands of dogs of all breeds abused and in need of rescue, more of every kind of other animals close to us. I read an e mail forwarded to me by a Friend of a Friend, a young Lady Nurse volunteering in Haiti. It is a true letter, it is not made up. I cannot even post her words or forward them to Friends as the horror of the conditions are so indescribable, and yet she does. I was in tears reading, I just cannot understand once more Life’s faith toward us Humans. How can I be looking for "IT" when… How can anyone? This is the total obscure part of it all. This is when it all becomes cluttered and so non understandable.

 

Everyone today will go one about their own path, as I will myself. We will smile, many will laugh, another day in the Life of millions. But not too far from here thousands of children and adults will not even have a clean clothe to cover their stumps while infected lacking the much needed antibiotics and screaming with their lack of pain medication. I read of others as to why we even help while we are not helping our own children in our own country dying of hunger. How can anyone even have those thoughts, all is so unbalanced, so true. I am not political, but I am so perturbed. Help has been on the way and yet, how come it is not reaching it’s destination? How come those children and all are not resting peacefully with at least no human pain.

 

I have not found an answer within myself. Someone even told me not think about it. How can I not? How can anyone not. How can we be so advanced and yet so behind, how can anyone on Earth still suffers so much. Do we each remain in our little box and stare at our little walls to not let any “bad images” penetrate our mind? I have no answer, not even to myself as so often I feel as such a hypocrite forgetting only for an instant others despairs. Such was the case yesterday going for a ride, an excursion. At first I wanted to go camping at the Chinati Hot Springs. Decided then to only go on for the day. Reaching Marfa, one of my tires did not look so good to handle the sharp rocks on Pinto Canyon and that idea also went on the wayside.

 

I decided to take it easy and take the paved road to Presidio, we would come back through River Road to Terlingua and then on up here, a big loop. Stop at the Ghost Town of Shafter (music in link) where we had not been in a couple years and see if anything had changed. I was bugged down all day by the above thoughts. Just could not let it go. If I only had an answer. Could it be “we are all doing what we can?”. Just does not seem enough… does it?

   

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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“Of necessity I slowed my pace. I was often still. I scrutinized instead of scanning. When others hurried I waited. When others rushed, I moved with deliberation. I learned to differentiate between purposeful movement and mere motion, between action and mere activity. When others impatient saw a Village, I saw it’s People. Where others saw People I saw Persons.” ~ AZTEC ~ “Gary Jennings”

 

Where else on Earth would so suddenly the skies thundering and crying, their tears flooding our grounds, would suddenly open up and lift their curtain in such contemplation of amazing and jaw dropping beauty. There is no doubt it probably happens elsewhere, but today, this is  now, this is where we are, this is where it is happening.  The gates ahead of us that would allow a  ride just did not open seemingly locked in a mind set of forever, but I know better. All  things must pass they say, and this also did. We both ran outside like two kids with their rewards awaiting to smell the fresher air, the wet ground, to be in stupor of the peaks surrounding us still covered by the low flying clouds playing hide and seek within  now this stage so clear one can see for miles. We splashed into the muddy waters, such simple pleasures they have become almost alarming!

 

The access was late into the day. We have not been able to go anywhere again but that break was just too inspiring to dwell on the moments past unfortunately closed in. The colors came and quickly left. It just did not last long enough and as usual as soon as over the horizon the sun set, the portal of the cold winds opened up I would say with an unexpected fury. Yes, it is spring in my mind, my Soul rejoices at the idea of it, but sometimes the reality of it all kicks me hard and have to bite my time for planned rides toward other Spaces. It has been in my mind to thank everyone contributing to this ongoing Journal, this Journey with it’s turns and twists with no end in sight, with every step shedding a light unseen before, new experiences… bad weather and good weather all included!

 

When all gets to be too much, “Sotol Look Out” seems to be "the" get away destination. I call it "going and getting some good oxygen". We were able to get out today, my secret passage and a turn and another one avoiding the real deep muddy parts which will take days to dry. It feels good, it is the icing on the cake when being at The Oasis is just not enough. The clouds are still of many, hot and cold incessantly while sitting here. There is no care in the World amongst it all, yet so raw toward our own seemingly well done Life. It is incredibly magnificent here, therapeutic, speechless it leaves me time after time. There is no one here today besides a car or a truck that has come by, rolled down their window, took the photo and went on. Some came all the way from Alberta to not get out of their vehicle.

 

Suddenly including “you”, there are so many to say “Thank You” as even those two words have not enough significance toward my feelings of gratitude. I am really not doing anything I always say. I just write my thoughts, it is always my therapy, I love photography for what it is worth “as it is” (one should see the photos of my Pro Friends!). The list amazingly has kept growing and I feel only right to express as I always do these incoming thoughts. The “main” person of it all through thick and thin has been my Friend Brian. I don’t know if I like to call him my “webmaster”, it for some reason just does not fit because of the Friendship we have, that word takes away it’s reality. I can only say regarding this Journal that it has only been possible for it to be here because of him. I can post, I can insert images, I can even change the rotating photos into the top banner, but, that is about where my knowledge and ability stops. He does as he has so generously donated his time “everything else” for all these past years with never a failure or a hitch.. He is the shepherd and I am the flock as he writes to me when needed much help so often. Both Spirit and I are still waiting for him to show up some day soon I hope on our “steps”.

 

And without an order of importance as they all are, our Sponsors. “Joe” at “Rapid City Tires” with a knowledge and unparallel service as we roll on using so many tires, “Smugmug”, the most incredible Photo Gallery supporting any size of photos stored and videos, no limits with a “help” crew that is just unbelievable. Our faithful “SPOT” which lets everyone know where we are (sometimes when turned on!), but also providing such an inner assurance that help will always be so near at the push of a button. “Riders Discount”, anything and more than needed for riding, from helmets to gear. I love my new Arai XD helmet, the old one, seven years old finally had come apart. “U Ship” is a motorcycle shipping company that will actually allow many movers to bid on the transport needed, actually not only motorcycles, but everything else. Friends have used it with great service.

 

“Desert Rock Festival” happening Memorial Day weekend where I will be for a few days doing the photography and some videos. I don’t do crowds very well, but last year being present I never had such a good time amongst such good people, everyone with a big welcome on their faces with open arms. It is in Moab, near by, maybe we can see some of you there.  “Overland Journal”, the magazine one can turn its pages and dream of such expeditions being displayed, the “Overland Expo” mid April in Southern Arizona, Amado, where we will also be after taking part of an off-road expedition with 8 other vehicles is truly an event not to miss with more and more many on motorcycles adventurers being present. A dog friendly affair, finally. “Montana Canvas”, our main shelter, owners and sales people that will bent backwards to please you. They have just send me a heavier tent to put up as the “Reelite” material for long term was a bit too thin.

 

“Motorcycle Helmet” on the great path of helmet awareness while riding. How much is your head worth? “Racer Parts Wholesale” which helps us out with our “Red Line” oil used in the engine, transmission and also final drive. With 222,000 miles and climbing I have not heard Old Faithful complain yet. Thank you “Jack”. They also carry so many other products. Roger at “Lens Rentals”. He is the reason why those photos are so sharp, and if not it is only operator error. I always wondered why “Lens Rentals” as they also rent cameras. Great event for a weekend or a vacation coming up, so much less expensive to rent than buying the best. We have great support from them. “Animoto” is my source for the photo~videos, they have a great referral program as they do not handle full sponsorship. A flawless still growing Company. And last but not least, my Friend Nicole, owner of “Rugged Rider” “Pay it forward” they say, I say, and experience it every day. I am helping her out letting everyone know of her products which will be of many soon. She has just started. Her Blog is very funny with great riding pointers.

 

I did not realize so many have been helping us, fully supporting us. The have found us… their reason? They like Spirit. It is as plain and simple, right? I am not a commercial entity, however, these are all good people. I would never have a Logo on this Journal otherwise as I have stayed away from Google ads and others like, even if their presence I know would have made this Journey financially much easier. It is a personal and esthetic choice.

 

How can also one “thank” neighbors such as Voni and Paul which also have always been there for us in so many more ways than I can elaborate. With a “chat”, getting us over the humps of Life, by being my mentor pointing me to much needed maintenance on “Old Faithful”, always lending a hand I feel as always so much I go on thinking “I owe… I owe…”.

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

If you find yourself perusing this site extensively, please, consider purchasing Prints, Merchandise or making a contribution above to help us with Internet costs.

“PLEASE do not e mail us with attachments. No forwards. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? PLEASE use links only from a Photo Gallery.

 

“The Philosopher is in Love with truth, that is, not with the changing world of sensation, which is the object of opinion, but with the unchanging of reality which is the object of knowledge” ~ Plato ~

 

The skies are again fiery red, the evening clouds and their cast of grays have made their way to the horizon, and the cold once more is settling in quickly, too quickly without much of a break in the transition from the warm day now past. I am already yawning this evening, the days end are still finding me a bit more tired than usual, the earlier energy has still not found it’s way back. No one ever tells the truth ahead of time when undergoing a surgical procedure. All I ever hear is “it will not be too bad… you will be fine..”. And “how would you care to pay for this?”. I wonder how long more these little anethesiological aliens will continue making their domicile in my body. I think for that reason, when I try to compact as much as I can into the “feeling good” hours, I am finding myself missing a mental layer or two much needed, a lack of composure toward a tolerance directed at others I would normally have with a smile, missing now a bit, but should not be. Or is it something else? Ah! My dear Friends… sometimes you have to put up with me!

   

Furthermore, I am finding myself nailed to this wheel on this rail on the avenue of simplicity. The straightest point from A to point B. For sure not in our adventures when they take place, or the roads taken, but only in my own personal Life. I now have an inner smile when I think dealing today with a task asked to a Friend, something so simple and yet being the object and more than a willingness, an insistence I would say, on my Friend’s part to change it all into a real elaborate situation. I thought and thought about an analogy to be able to explain. The only one I came up with was “how about if you really, meaning ‘really’ wanted a simple good tasty juicy ‘cheeseburger’ with nothing on it and I insisted over and over to instead prepare you this 9 course meal including this gargantuan size T Bone included”. This went on all day… The more I pleaded, the more this juicy steak was trying to make it’s way into my Life.

   

And yet, that is the difference between the unencumbered Life I know now present cherishing it’s label, and maybe the true today’s Life surrounding beyond my boundaries? Let it be. Maybe I am not any more planted within the fields of today’s everyone’s Space. Maybe I have found my own little plot away from it all with it’s paths leading in and out but my own where the tranquility of it all remains at the peak of this pyramid that makes up my Life. But if I let it be, it just would not fit into the design it was meant for, I would have to ask then a stranger to follow through what I really needed and could not do myself. The round peg will not fit in the square hole, that childish so simple little design, this past toy that kept us all so busy which to me dignifies the true essence of Life’s continuity, “the round peg into the square hole”, it cannot be… And I did… Why? Only because of not loosing a Friendship as in the big scheme of things, all “that” was so unimportant.

   

Simplicity, I am truly starting to nurture it all, so little we really need and if not so little, maybe simpler, stronger, efficient, but uncomplicated to the mind, to everyone’s lesser time taken. Lesser time to allow us spending on the real quality time it takes for all of us to accentuate that inner beam of sunshine we could enjoy so much more getting to the personal point B without having to unravel the miles and miles of detours so useless, so often. I am afraid sometimes that all of this only makes sense to me. I even loudly laugh, if one can call it a laugh, maybe better it could be labeled as a loud smile, because I still don’t know what makes me think of all of the above, not only makes me think but makes me live it finding the Peace I around the clock seek with no relief from my desire to live so in this Space I now know, different than most. Is it only my own perception?

   

It is not only my own Space showing a label of difference. As many personalities roam this Earth there are as so many circles I call personal Spaces surrounding each of us. I can see them, I can feel them, I respect them and as this past afternoon we went to Terlingua and by mere chance walked in on a BBQ at the Park, enjoy them as maybe with a sense of a care toward other’s Lives that has never left me. Everyone’s Life is as the threshold of the same door that leads to the same School none of us have never stopped attending, sometimes only thinking wrongly we have graduated to no avail.

 

And the times were good. Good food, good Music, as I call it, “good everything”. Familiar faces made me ponder a bit. It has been a few winters now passing by and I saw the faces had changed as I thought also, if I had a mirror I would most likely see my own changes, inward and outward. I met up with a Friend also there present and I never knew, not that I have ever known her that well, how unhappy she was. A foreigner, also just passing by throughout the winters, her concerns where as no one was the same as years past. Her concerns of happiness were more fueled by the ability of others serving her that happiness rather than herself making it a growth within her. I was interested. I wanted to know why she was here? Was it the people or was it Mother Nature. A little bit of both and as much as the expectancy was on the surrounding, her inner expectancy was also on others almost as them having an obligation to keep her happy. And we came back to the simplicity of it all mixed with one’s perception.

 

Maybe some are having a bad year, maybe some are having personal dilemmas, who knows, but how can one redirect heir own happiness toward others which do not have an obligation but seemingly have been tagged has having one. A space 10,000 miles away has not much in common as this space we were in called ‘Terlingua”, and if the simplicity of one inner Life has it’s foundations on others good times incessantly uninterrupted, well… Too much roots on the other side of the World, I had to walk away, Spirit was waiting for me anyhow ready for our ride back from this great outing, stomach and mind full of it all.

   

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

If you find yourself perusing this site extensively, please, consider purchasing Prints, Merchandise or making a contribution above to help us with Internet costs.

“PLEASE do not e mail us with attachments. No forwards. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? PLEASE use links only from a Photo Gallery.

“They had come down from the back Mountains and higher places to hold forth their hands for something they thought civilization could offer, and they never dreamed the sadness and the poor broken delusion of it” ~ Jack Kerouac “On the Road” ~

 

It is barely at freezing temperatures this morning, it feels comfortable. The body feels as it is cleansing of the chemicals remaining beyond last week’s surgery. The Sun is out in full force, for right now, I feel Peace and a renewed energy has come upon me. It is not the first time as it will not be the last on this rollercoaster I have been given a Lifelong pass. Lance is Home again, he is himself going on with his daily chores. I also have mine today as “Old Faithful” was hurt by a rock in the short time I needed to go to town. There is now a hole in the front engine cover and I need to catch a ride back to purchase some metal cleaner and some “quick” JB Weld. Many rocky stretches here, there is a double bash plate underneath it all, but, just riding too fast and the impact of a flying rock off the front wheel must have been a bit too much.

 

It is so strange as up to yesterday the colors daily darkened to gain their most somber momentum last evening. The mind dug deep and deeper into the moments past, but today all is suddenly bright again, not only to the vision, but also to all the senses and an energy so much needed to go on with this Journey has again sparked. Our Journey which I always feel has only began, because every day is a new day, a new moment on this path chosen. It’s shape and composure keeps unraveling it’s character and personality. So many kind words from Friends have made their way here, each with such an impact in my moments as I also read we have also made an encounter within their own space. The unforeseen rewards have come forward, they have been tying this circle of Life we are all part of it. All has moved me to no end as even sitting here, us, Spirit and I alone in this vast Desert, I never felt truly isolated experiencing the souls of the so many that keep touching us. So much to discover yet. The unknown roads, the unknown strangers we will meet, the desolate and yet rich spaces that will talk to us, the many inner discoveries which never cease to amaze me. It is all here and there, now, the next minute, this afternoon, tonight, tomorrow, it is a ribbon unwinding to no end in sight.

 

Spring, (it is… isn’t?) is as almost failing us these past days. The first layer of JB Weld went on yesterday at mid day. I was planning to add a second layer in the evening for the purpose of us being able to ride today, but the storms showed up. The weld had at least already set as I cannot move her anywhere right now. So there she sat under the elements, as she has been all her Life, taking it all in while healing. Another couple degrees this morning and we will go on covering her with that second layer.

I now forgot why I had to go to town to begin with. I think some nuts and bolts, and so we had to again go back to get the necessary “stuff” to heal Old Faithful. She has not moved now for a couple of days! Resting. I had only lost one quart of oil, yes, it was and is everywhere, it could have been much worse. Being in Terlingua was an incredible treat while visiting my Friend Ring at his store “Many Stones”. I also buy my eggs from him and already thinking what am I going to do when we move on soon! I know, they are just eggs, but they are as my freshly roasted coffee and home made bread one of my simple pleasures. I find it mesmerizing to be moved by such simple thrills these days when I can think back remembering the thousands of eggs I have used as a Chef never giving them a second thought. “Simple pleasures”, all part of this Journey. A couple other Friends showed up while sitting under the big carport filled everywhere with all shapes and sizes of cactuses and rocks ready to be sliced and cut to expose their treasures, Blair Pittman and Clyde Replogle.

   

Yes, we have known each other for a while, we spend much time “that incredible” weekend in their company with the many other Photojournalists present. We small talked often, here and there, at “The Porch”, but we never really “talked”, I never had the opportunity to “listen” to these two men which together have spanned almost one hundred years of Photojournalism traveling the Globe. It was that time, it was as magic as themselves transported into past stories of their lives, of their experiences, personal and professional. I forgot myself where I was as being carried away on their path they so graciously shared with me. Much fame, maybe fortune, all along with the narrow winded corridors of corporate politics they had to endure. The Lifestyle so many reach for, hunger and strive for. And yet, and yet, here we were, in Terlingua.

   

Their eyes were sparkling, they were looking at me, they were looking past me to their times ago with a voice one could hear the proudest tones of their achievements, none however could as they exclaimed themselves also so proudly, could take place of the Life they are now living. A space where no one knows your last name, where no one cares what you drive or the size of your dwelling or bank account. Of what you wear… Only your first name, often even instead a nickname and who you “really are” within this community chosen.  They made me realize later on who a bit I also have been in my own previous chapters as theirs we had shared. A well known Chef, booked years in advance, fame, all was there and today, as “them”, more is here, the other side of the coin, the one that truly counts in Life, the Wealth of your Soul.

   

I was smiling coming back as we all had to part by the end of the afternoon and the evening nearing by. I was smiling because I was thinking… how much well worth it was to have damaged this engine cover! The conversations from that day, the experience would have not happened otherwise. That is the extraordinary path our Karma carries us on. Truly amazing. Every reason has a reason to be. I was also smiling and still do because of Blair’s generous and from the Heart gifts. Two autographed copies of his “Tales from the Terlingua Porch”, Part I and Part II, a must read. The stories are fascinating, funny and a gift to all of us. Tonight, we rode… Spirit and I had a smile from ear to ear… to ear! This prescription always works.

Till next time, you all be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

 

If you find yourself perusing this site extensively, please, consider purchasing Prints, Merchandise or making a contribution above to help us with Internet costs.

“PLEASE do not e mail us with attachments. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? PLEASE use links only from a Photo Gallery. AT&T has permanently and indefinitely removed all my roaming services, voice and data from too much usage.”

 

 

“Dust rose to the Stars together with every sad Music on Earth” ~ Jack Kerouac~

 

This ride has been ours. Lance and I did not share today’s Mother Nature’s offerings. There are no photos, the images have been all ours. Peaceful and serene on this land, it has been undisturbed. 10:30pm… 10:30pm… Every year has the same date, the same confusing time, no winners, no losers, the big hand is up, the small hand is down, or is it the other way around, it is all the same, stamped is the day, no refund, no ifs and buts, nothing has ever been more predictable. It is the longest ride of the year. I bounce back endlessly between then and now. The moment “now” slips away, and when “here”, I hear myself… “Lance, where are you?” I hear no reply but I know you are here. I know the finish line is close by. I do not sleep, my time machine takes me back with it’s full ability to recreate the darkness of a past day with a depth so uncalled for, not only for me, but as I think now for everyone else that has lost a Loved one departed always too early.

Six Years ago today. All has gone by. Quickly, slowly, time has vanished. This day is a brighter one than back in January 26th 2004, the sun is shining as it was then a foggy and drizzly evening I remember as the skies, as myself and as so many teared your departure Lance. Nothing is left I have not said, no words have been spared and not written. My eyes should be dry by now with no tears humanly possible left for, but I have not yet run out of those of either. So much confusion sets in, I want to be strong as I feel weak, it is all so often just a ball of fire burning it all on it’s passage through this Life of ours.

I thought it was going to be easier today, not that I mind the turmoil and difficulty I constantly face, and I am used to it, and yet, nothing compared to what you have gone through as we both the last hours passed together already missed each other’s embrace, foreseeing this lack of future together, mind and soul and body. The certitude of the incertitude as to when I will see you again has so much deepened this pounding and lack of breath I myself experience when my hugs returns empty.

It is quiet today Lance, tears running don’t make a sound but the reel on it’s eternal loop of past images has it’s gears not well oiled at this moment. I just wait as I have been, I wait reliving the past precious minutes we had together on this day, six long years ago. I often feel as the ostrich burying it’s head in the sand while I continuously move on, only now resting a bit, catching up on I don’t know truly what, maybe to keep it together so again soon we move on to more distant spaces showing you the way through my eyes to this beautiful land of ours

I have kept my promise to go on Lance. So close to breaking it sometimes, but I fight hard to always keep the upper hand on this chosen path, my Journey within the Big Journey. You have many Friends today and always you know. They write to me but they are really writing to you as if today I am indeed a slightly better man than I was, you are  responsible for it. Such words show up, uplifting me as I they do, as I can also see that slightly perceptible smile of yours… They are for you Lance, I can only “live” through you…

“heard about you and Spirit and at a low (lowest) point in my life your story has given me hope… thank you so much… you will never know how much.” [quote]

“Just a few words to say I’ve been thinking of you on this reflective day.
It’s strange to think we would not have known each other if it were not for Lance. In many ways, we owe our friendship and this story to him and his courage.
I am sure if he could see what you’ve achieved with your journey and the Oasis, he would be a very proud son. You’ve touched the lives of others and given hope to many, and that is the rarest of things.
Sending you my warmest wishes and prayers, stay well and healthy.” [quote]

The years have also been creeping up on this body of mine. Sometimes, well often, I don’t reach 100mph, I am satisfied when reaching 50. What I did in a day often now takes place over two days. This gives me much more time to think about you, to maybe know that you are keeping good Company with Friends that have also left me behind.

It is still so hard to accept your favorite quote, saying, which I still constantly hear with your so distinct voice "it’s all good".  I know it is, I know. The other path is never to be considered. I feel as I still hide often within my safe heaven amongst the thorns of the Deserts and the tall silver trees of the Mountains and within all in between. I try step by step to emerge into a society I knew, I thought I knew so well just not so long ago. I feel as your presence however is always required, you had an easier eye than me. I so often do not like what I see and feel. Spirit and I take one good look at each other and instead run back amidst this silence and space undisturbed to have you all to myself.

You never met Spirit here. But I know you have, as he also knows you. I so often see you both together playing and giving your Hearts to each other as you and and I have, still do. What fine time I would have witnessed, seeing the two of you together. It makes me smile, standing on the sidelines watching you both and being filled with the such incredible joy of my two loved ones. Both in one.

So we cannot have it all, can we? We tried, didn’t we? We did not fail at the end, did we?

Ara, your very proud Father.

 

 

 

“Now just dig them in front. They have worries, they’re counting the miles, they’re thinking about where to sleep tonight, how much money for gas, the weather, how they will get there – and all the time they’ll get there – they’ll get there anyway, you see. But they need to worry and betray time with urgencies false and otherwise, purely anxious and whiny, theirs souls really won’t be at Peace unless they can latch on to an established and proven worry and having once found it they assume facial expression to fit and go with it, which is, you see, unhappiness, and all the time it all flies by them and they know it and that too worries them to no end” ~ the character is “Dean” in “On the Road” by “Jack Kerouac” ~

   

A while back while heading to “The Oasis”, crossing the Stateline, a Friend for the ride exclaimed “Is this Texas? How ugly…”. I was not born in this State, I was not even born in this Country, but my feelings instantly and deeply felt a hurt making me realize how much I Love this State. It took a lot not to put the brakes on and as a gentleman would, come around, open the door to let here out, and yet, also as a gentleman, I did not. It was so true at that instance to think again as often I do and wrote only previously “we don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are”. The oil rigs were of many, the smell in the air was of it’s flagrance undoubtedly, the grass was of yellow, the dwellings most of all dilapidated, once thriving as today not as opulent. The roofs were caved in and the cars and the old trucks all rusted out along the roads as a reminder of the past golden times.

 

We traveled again these past days the similar routes taking us to Midland, and what some might see as “ugliness”, I again saw it as the beauty of the land mixed in with the human labor we could not do without, we could not run our vehicles whichever they are. We have seen the “extraordinaire” formations of Mother Nature’s work, constantly doing and undoing the colors and the textures and the shapes of her canvas, but this attraction is a bit of a different beauty, it is the heart of it all that allows us to keep moving as we did these past few days to Midland and back.

 

We left a day early and arrived late as I was suppose to take medications 24 hrs ahead of the surgery. We are here, in Midland, and that’s alright because I know we are not staying. I had this vision when we passed some apartments for rent. I saw us renting a one bedroom and sitting there wondering what to wonder. Would the walls stay white or would they darken with time. How did we manage to leap so far ahead, maybe too far? The roads we can do, the Cities we cannot anymore. And yet here at the Hospital people are nice. They have been nice everywhere, including at Walmart. They have not lost it all and it is comforting. I smile at them, maybe they feel a bit of the Desert I brought with us, maybe a bit of the blue skies and the sunsets and sunrises here present were still visible within me toward them. I am floating soulfully a bit above all the layers because I know tomorrow morning will be the surgery and the going to sleep artificially which I feel is worse than the surgery itself. So my earplugs are pushed in a bit further than where they would normally be, there honestly is a bit of anxiety. But the travel was of a fine one.

 

The advances of Modern Medicine. Did not feel a thing. I was in the midst of putting my ear buds in, silly me to listen to my music, I was still in the midst of putting my ear buds in when I heard my name mentioned as we were done. Very strange. 3 hours had passed by, the element of surprise. But the price to pay is afterwards, not as much as the pain, but the tilt of the complete body trying to reject the chemicals induced to allow such procedure to be without pain. I wonder often, as this not being the first time, which route would be better. The true pain, or this lethargic aftermath as almost, is, being in someone else’s body. Mind and all.

 

We are back, a bit of a crazy time as we should have stayed an extra night, but the fact that Spirit had been so patient had me moved to bring him back to his land where he could run and be his better self. He took good care me as irrational as it may sound. What patience. Not a word, only this look when I came back out, this look with his ears down, these eyes wide open asking me if I was alright as he knew I was not, but also knew I was strong enough not to let him down as never I have. So slowly we made it, even managing to get lost only once and take some photos which I thought would look better this time around in black and white.

 

I have above an excerpt of “On the Road” by Jack Kerouac because it has to be one of the craziest book I have ever read. Travels in the 40’s, much reality, a bit demented, harsh and poetic all at the same time. The common denominator being the thirst of adventure across these vast lands we live on. Chapters of fantasy when youth takes over their desires, sad and happy, cries and laughter, it is all there, amazingly. “as the cabby drove us up the infinitely dark Alameda Boulevard along which I had waked many and many a lost night the previous months of the summer, singing and moaning and eating the stars and dropping the juices of my heart drop by drop on the hot tar…” I think if the book had photos, some here might be it.

Till next time, you all be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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“PLEASE do not e mail us with attachments. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? PLEASE use links only from a Photo Gallery. AT&T has permanently and indefinitely removed all my roaming services, voice and data from too much usage.”

We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are. ~ Anais Nin ~

As always a  ride off road brings up a certain sense of complexity. Few understand my distrust toward information I receive regarding the roads. We are not a four wheel drive, we are not on two wheels, “Old Faithful” is a totally different animal when “off road”. We are “high clearance” and that is about all we have in common with any other vehicles. We have good traction only because of the “Freedom” wheel mounted with a “VW” tire, it is also cost effective and with low pressure even this one wheel drive will climb some muddy and sandy steep hills and crawl with much ease amongst the rocks.

   

What it does not do well are the very uneven roads when suddenly Spirit and I are eye to eye. It has happened, I then love that look on his face. The complexity of an unknown road that has been publicly tagged as “difficult” brings up all at the same time some joyful excitement, keeping much attention ahead as to not get into a situation where we cannot turn around if we had to, since I do not have reverse, and a sense of welcomed adventure. I have to say that River Road East sometimes made me feel as I was on a well maintained paved highway, it’s degree of difficulty was really null. I wanted more, there was none.

 

The dry bed creeks crossings where a bit more fun, they had been maintained I could tell not too long ago as the banks of their slopes where more gentle than left in their past raw stage. Of course this will change with the first heavy rains as every non paved road changes here from rain to rain. There has been many instances, not that day, where I parked and walked around a bend to check out the situation. “That day” was incredible I must say for so many reasons, the main one being the prescribed medicine for cabin fever, for having to hibernate as we did even if it had been for a short time. Not only we were out, both of us nose up and breathing heavier than we both should, but the space we were in was and felt as being beyond the present civilization.

   

Raw, untouched, colorful, gentle and brutal all at the same time demanding due respect. The welcome signs were everywhere, but also do not abuse words glittered as silent messages. I felt the past presences of Natives and their Villages near by, we tip toed when parked and off the road a bit stepping on that crust gently as to not disturb what took millions of years to create. Quite often only glancing without a step forward. I did not wonder why we had never been here. Those questions do not matter, they are then, we were now. The important part was that our path had finally taken us on these roads I am sure for a reason not there in past tense.

   

The sun was descending fairly fast when suddenly facing east the dwellings of the Mines were visible. How strange and formidable it was, in the middle of this vast space, far from it all, the Mine itself and smaller dwellings which sheltered the workers at their hard work. It was as it did not belong there, it was maybe just a vision of those buildings suddenly on the slopes of a hill. It was only a few more miles. The road became very rocky bouncing us a bit, I was happy to have new tires as also trying to avoid the single rocks on the surface as if they had been planted by a hand to puncture us. They are a reminder to pay attention. There is much information on the Internet about the Mariscal Mines. It was started in 1900 and short lived only until 1943. Cinnabar, mercury, there was the need, they built the Mine.

 

I realized very quickly the dwellings being in the shadow as facing east. There would be no time to adventure ourselves in the buildings, not even knowing if we could. I now know that we should not. Enjoy the moment I thought. We shall return and camp near by soon, be there when the sunrise happens and all is filled with the new sunrays of another new day sometime soon. We did take a quick hike to the very impressive buildings as also I realized I needed to read about them to know each of their purpose. Hiked back, we both had a late lunch, meaning Spirit ate the bread and I ate the pasta. I am not cruel, Spirit gets very sick on human food besides bread or very plain ingredients. Drank our water and again we were back on the road to return, excited about catching the sunset hour while riding back.

 

My latest”smiling” observation. I don’t think many read anymore… A Friend that “saw” my latest entry e mailed me, she took the time to do so, to ask me “Where was that Farmer’s Market.” I only replied “read the Journal”. She is a close Friend. Another Friend I had written about the fact that I was glad a package of mine was being held by the sender till I return from surgery next week wrote “I am glad your package arrived… that was fast”. I love when I read “ Your photography is really great, so where have you been and where are you now?”.  And it’s alright. It is quite alright…  I might be doing the same sometimes most likely, skim. Many Friends provides me with such much entertainment and smiles and head scratching. What I am thinking however is where all is this going? I think there is more being written today than the population will ever have time to read. I wonder if all millions of entries in fonts and images will ever be saved and for future generations will be the words read to figure out a bit how we use to live. There will be much head scratching also then, I believe.

 

Till next time, you all be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

If you find yourself perusing this site extensively, please, consider purchasing Prints, Merchandise or making a contribution above to help us with Internet costs.

“PLEASE do not e mail us with attachments. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? PLEASE use links only from a Photo Gallery. AT&T has permanently and indefinitely removed all my roaming services, voice and data from too much usage.”

Environmental essayist Edward Abbey once wrote of Big Bend National Park, "I’d rather be broke down and lost in the wilds of Big Bend, any day, than wake up some morning in a penthouse suite high above the megalomania of Dallas or Houston."

 

Yesterday was one of those. A dark day both inside out, one that will shed another layer or two away from the core of this wandering Soul, the price to pay to emerge with a better clarity of the mind. Mind, Soul, Awareness, Conscience, Friendships, Love… all inward, all within, and all “here”. If we let it. There is no shine on the outer besides the rays of a sun when making it’s at times daily appearances, there is no glitter here besides the quartz reflections when caught upon the right angle, silences are the notes prevailing at all time. So I made some noise.  I talked to a couple Friends last night, we enjoyed each other’s voices, exchanges of thoughts and most important, being here for each other. I cannot deny that my Life has gained a sensitivity accrued by the shedding of the so many layers a previous Life had adorned me with. Such sensitivity and awareness is often the cause and roots of hurts at times a bit deeper than what use to be, but I would not trade it all for anything else. It is the gift that Lance has given me. It is himself erasing his presence from this Life that has channeled me on this path, each and every single traits as above having totally nothing to do with any aspect of an ability of being purchased, only the result of a growth over these past years.

 

I can be down at times. I will also, as myself, put down again the words that will empty me from the casted shadows of those times, and then, only then I will again go on facing my own reality, “that one”. The one with only those occupants that have been such good Friends and good neighbors for the many past years. “My” and “Self”. What a ride it is some days, no wheels even needed, just running on empty till this tank again can be filled. There is no beginning and there is no end. This morning as I step outside, still in the dark, up the skies as my eyes become one with the obscurity, the stars are out, a thick blanket as a silver lining everywhere I turn. It is going to be a great day, the sun will be shining sending it’s energy a bit dwindled from these past couple days. Might be a bit of a late start, but we will be out there, Spirit and I in full force.

 

We now are back and have crossed finally what was in my mind, this winter hurtle. The best  ride we have had in a long time as the roads, unpaved and sometimes rough and tough took us into the bowels of Big Bend Park to the Mariscal Mines. I was a foot taller all day, I could touch the skies when we returned late at night with no cold felt but only that overjoyed and over abundant energy that had overfilled me all day, still flowing, still moving me with such more ease for the present. Oh! how much I wish I could have shared this day with all my Friends. I shall remember “it” for a long time all along with my decision that winter is over, Spring is here, “here”..

   

We left early, the usual moving in the hack. Cameras, food, water, music which I now enjoy more and more on those long straightaway stretches, and Spirit of course who quite often only needs a look for him to jump into his own time machine. He is always ready, his head up, cleverly, so I can put on his goggles and helmet as he has not stopped amazing me as so often, specially when riding the rough roads and bouncing all over the place, I wonder what is he really thinking? He is in his car a different dog suddenly, moody when some try to take a picture of him when calling him or making those foolish mouth sounds to get his attention as he only will then ignore them even more. I would to by the end of a day. Or totally excited rolling down those rocky roads we did, right and left, up and down and over leaning goes his head an body taking it all in. He still looks at me every few seconds, maybe he is making sure I am still in control of this machine, this three wheel “thing” that comes rolling down those uneven roads with much ease.

 

We left early but we arrived at the Mines very late. It was the day of the Farmer’s Market at the Ghost Town in Terlingua and I should have known better if we were going to make any kind of time that day. But of course, chat, chat, chat… The local pastime, well received I must say with sweets and Pizza I did not really need. I did not see much locally grown produce, I just think it is a great social event instead. The sun was hot, the moods were elevated, I think it was everyone’s best prescription that day for an ill past “cabin fever”. Almost ready to leave when I saw the stacked up Dutch Ovens, meaning the Pizza was not too far off. A bit longer and a bit longer I think it was finally past noon when we left for the Park.

 

I was always warned about “River Road”, the unpaved one, maybe it is “West River Road” which has much more difficulty. But starting with the information I received at the gate  it definitely was a “go” for us. I did stop also at the Visitor Center to write down their phone number just in case, a back up of my SPOT as they are open till 6pm. I also always carry a SAT phone. Asked again about the road condition, but the Lady behind the counter had no clue and honestly was not interested in such clues, only pointed on the map a road I already know existed. The ride off road started with some excitement as also another rider on a Triumph Tiger, the older dual sport model however with street tires, was ahead of me. I lost him very quickly even wondering maybe he knew of a side road and had taken it. Only till coming around a curve and there is the bike laying on the ground. He was up, torn jeans, no protective clothing whatsoever, limping a bit. He did not want me to take a photo… Broken rear brake lever, fuel all over the place, he could not get the bike up till another car showed up as we then all helped him out. Never took his helmet off, and rode away as he again was going to wipe out. All I could do is shake my head.

 

Great ride it was, the road is of a fine one, high clearance and rocky at times, smooth as black top at other times. More to the Mines next time.

Till next time, you all be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

 

If you find yourself perusing this site extensively, please, consider purchasing Prints, Merchandise or making a contribution above to help us with Internet costs.

“PLEASE do not e mail us with attachments. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? PLEASE use links only from a Photo Gallery. AT&T has permanently and indefinitely removed all my roaming services, voice and data from too much usage.”

“Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear” ~ Mohandas Gandhi ~

   

This Journal is my truth, it is my own personal one. Has no tentacles trying to pull anyone else in. It just is, it is only my stage as I have to remind myself of such fact often when I witness the foreign ones creeping up surrounding me sometimes with not much of a joy. Sometimes I feel like Captain Kirk aboard his Star Trek Spaceship. Logging in with my little tablet as even it’s sound reminds me of the one and only show I use to watch. The cooking is primitive though, the daily Life all in between, there are no ready meals to eat or blue concoction to drink, the tent is of past design, but it’s frame is of airplane hardened aluminum material. There is wi fi right along a compost toilet. I think I am only lost between many eras but mentally present for this one, borrowing a bit of the ancient logistics. I sometimes however feel as I could take roots on this land, turn into an old grumbling man, trailing his feet and mumbling to no end, his long beard and his cane pointed up to the skies, with his dog only at times raising his head to make sure I was still standing and feeding him. But that is not quite me! I think that was an old movie I must have seen a while back. Not yet anyhow. It is only the grays of winter talking and forming these sometimes images I smile at, often laugh at.

   

Besides my Friends visiting, we have not seen anyone for a few days now. Not rolled anywhere but only walked back and forth and up and down the roads and the trails here. Spirit is happy, I hear no complains as I don’t either from myself. It has not been 4 degrees again, only low teens right before sun up. So warm in past comparison. I was thinking about what my Friend wrote the other day, "feeling guilty" within this space standing still pretty much of the time. "Guilt" was not the right word, "antsy" is. The road always call, there is nothing more exciting and fulfilling than just being on the road moving, whether 10 miles for that day, or 300 or more.

 

We are gone now, today, it happened. It has warmed up a bit. I needed to go to town and while there took advantage as right now sitting (with my tablet!) on Paint Gap Rd in the Park. The ride was liberating, the hike hot. Spirit is in great shape, I am not and have much again to catch up with. The yearly cycle of gaining weight throughout the winter seems to be eternal. The road is designed for high clearance vehicles, but overall a good road as Old Faithful had no problem negotiating. A bit of crawling here and there. It is quiet. Quieter than "The Oasis" where at times the wind will drift in vehicle noises from the road a couple miles away. There is no wildlife we can see or hear besides a few birds flying away, putting on a distance between us. The sun feels just too good, perfectly mixed in at times by yet a cold wind as we are up at about 4000 feet.

 

We are hibernating, I like that expression. It calms me down. I don’t feel defeated anymore by the weather, but instead letting my mind travel if our bodies cannot. Not much fuel required, just some heat till April when we will be northbound again. I am feeling as every year is going by faster and faster. I know there cannot be the big hand slowing it all down, but even as living the moment, the desire is often on it’s surface. I have no clue as how this happened, but it seems we will be occupied till June. We are being invited to the “Overland Expo” in Amado, near by Tucson, on April 16th through the 18th. Many Friends will be there hoping more will join us for this great event. It will be then on to “The Valley of the Gods” for specially the last weekend of the month when the balloonists arrive. We have become good Friends with them, cannot miss it! We will camp out at Muley Point also for a while, Muley Point up from Mokey Dugway which I call “The Top of the World” as one can see Monument Valley, the Gooseneck, Mexican Hat and of course again Valley of the Gods. Then on to Moab as being the Photographer for “Desert Rocks” Music Festival. We will spend over a week on the premises from the built up to the take down. Hope to see many Friends also within that Space and time. Later on in July I would like for us to attend the BMW National Rally in Oregon. We have not been in years and being in the midst of thousands of other riders will set up a different pace for us.

 

Yesterday was a fine day, every day is of a fine one, but when the weather extends a personal invitation to visit Mother Nature’s canvas, well, as they say, it is always the icing on the cake. Back indoor now, struggling with the download of the Beta version of 2010 office, once installed only wanting to go around and around reinstalling itself every time I open it! My Smugmug Galleries are now in total disarray with only the touch of one little window! So bad that even their team cannot help me and now the task is to reorganize them again by States, close to 369 Galleries… Why does everything has to be so complicated. How did I ever reach this point is often a big question mark with no answer, maybe one I am not too keen on. But the photos are still there, they have not vanished.

 

It seems as the wildlife is here more than ever if not seen in the Park. On our way out yesterday a big Hawk was perched right off the road. I rode close and shut the engine, I knew there would be no sense trying to get the camera. A giant Hawk, it was not a red tail. We stood there for the longest time till finally he took off soaring south. I got off the bike and just waived with my arm straight up in the air and he came back circling us for more minutes I could count. This morning a coyote woke me up, 30 feet away, howling to no end till he finally went on away nonchalant as they always are. I have not let Spirit loose today as I heard them almost surrounding us, so unusual for these daylight hours. It is still cold but there isn’t a cloud in the sky, a bit of warmth we could accentuate with a little fire today. Probably.

   

Nature is so alive. She upset me tremendously when seeing the images of the Earthquake in Haiti. She has been the Beauty Queen all along, she has failed however to stand up without a capricious mood as shown. She has been alike in her temperament this winter, we can only shelter ourselves here unlike however the too many just a bit south of us still trapped by it all.. Yes, my page still opens on Yahoo, and all day today adding to all, I was also disturbed how desensitized this World has become. Bluntly said, as also headlines or equal size sideline, who cares about Paris Hilton wearing size eleven shoes.

 

This morning all together a bleak reality hits me. I read a message that a Friend of a Friend has been taken away by his Cancer. I was following him since day one. It happened so fast, too fast. I have never met him, but I know him, he has been here, he still is, he still is here amongst us, only not as us. I wish him Peace, I cry for him. I read a report from the BBC on the aftermath of the earthquake. The images are so vivid and as I sit here I am at the same time transported amongst humans such as them, some live, some barely enduring so much pain, and some amongst them all having given up their lives. I cry more this morning, it is uncontrollable, nothing else suddenly matters but only this dark shadow which has descended upon so many. Suddenly another image of Life’s so panoramic path is developing right under my eyes, my senses, all.. How can there be such misery? How? For the first time I feel the need of a Friend that I can talk to, all is so bottled up in me. But everyone is so busy or feelings are not shared as I know this Space and little world of mine is too much filled with sensitivity and abstract thoughts off the mainstream most navigate on. And I respect that, it is as I have distanced myself by shedding the layers of Life non existent for most, not as their fault, only because that is just how Life is.

 

Could this be below the same one and only Mother Nature on this night painting her canvas so delicately, with so much taste and balance?

 

Till next time, you all be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

If you find yourself perusing this site extensively, please, consider purchasing Prints, Merchandise or making a contribution above to help us with Internet costs.

“PLEASE do not e mail us with attachments. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? PLEASE use links only from a Photo Gallery. AT&T has permanently and indefinitely removed all my roaming services, voice and data from too much usage. Same has already happened with Hughes. Net.”

 

“It appears you too have reached the point in your learning/seeing/spiritual process that you recognize when you’re being sucked back into areas of thought that you already have figured out don’t make a hill of beans worth of difference when looking at the big picture. Take good care” ~ Jeff ~

I loved this comment today! Yes, the big picture is not going to change much if any. But “I will”, and keep doing so, I have no doubt, I know it happens everyday. This comment might have much to do with my “Phone~Internet connection” problems, obstacles as I like to call them instead. I am over that also. I will have a connection as long as we are here. Roaming either voice or data through a phone is now cut off, in remote areas is in the “air”. Funny. My decision right now? None… I like to let the thoughts settle. There are new phones coming up, too many actually and the right solution I am confident will appear when least expected. There will never be the one “best solution”, traveling is the cause of it all, I gladly accept the compromise, the technology just does not work flawlessly throughout every space we adventure ourselves in. It is as simple as that.

 

The miracle of my Companion this morning. It is 4 degrees. The skies are the most beautiful blues and those sun rays which have taken so long to travel and baste me feel as such a gift this present time. I forget! I forgot. I take it for granted day in and day out, sun comes up, sun goes down, mild and tolerable temperatures have been. I go on with  the day, I forget what million’s experiences are truly a natural phenomenon most do not even acknowledge, a miracle is instead. I cannot remember the last time I was surrounded by 4 degrees as I went outside to feel it’s cool embrace. I even stopped and listened if maybe the sound of silence would strike a different chord. It did not. It was just cold but did not feel colder than any other numbers. I only asked for no winds. To please let my water thaw out throughout this exceptional day, maybe a day to remind me to get back on my path of the present, mentally, physically, a kick hard enough to again ground me in my steps that might have been a bit too fast slipping and spinning to only still remain within this non foreign anymore present.

The temperature has gone up by 21 degrees already this past hour! My back to the Sun is hot and Spirit is already panting from running and clowning around. It is time to eat and I was thinking how fortunate I am for these certain ingredients I have managed to incorporate in my daily Life. Freshly twice a week roasted coffee, ground every morning, they are organic fair trade beans from all over the World, not sprayed with those good chemicals, fresh crusty bread baked in the Dutch Oven from coals of pecan wood, fresh organic eggs from my Friend Ring in Terlingua. Big eggs and so sweet tasting. I know all so much easier to go and pick up off the shelves with the multitude excuses of no time for one’s self, including these I have seen, coffee makers with the pods containing the year old left over roasted coffee preserved only by again only more potent chemicals, and who knows what else since all so well hidden and sawn into those little thin paper pouches made from those past live trees which gave us at times past an extra breath of fresh air. No more! My little luxuries on this Journey, my prejudices for only wanting to be one with my surroundings.

 

I look at those eggs, perfect shaped, nice hard shells and a taste unparalleled with their resemblances from the hormone filled chicken factories one can smell from miles away while riding into the winds if right, (or wrong in this matter). I see these two legged creatures designed to daily drop these miracles sustaining us. Quite amazing when one really thinks about it, as quite amazing also everything surrounding us, everything here for the taking with no pollution, no annoying sounds, only the path of Mother Nature on her way to herself survive the heavy footsteps mankind has not yet ceased leaving behind with no remorse or apology.

 

And now the sun is already half way down it’s course. I don’t know what happened today. Either the Sun moved on a bit faster or maybe just me frozen in time as I yet have to take a step forward, not having accomplished a thing. I see that it is now 68! 64 degrees of difference in these few past hours. Maybe the worse is over, maybe we can even go riding early tomorrow morning, see if anything has changed. Maybe that will make me stop rambling a bit. Too many “maybes”, that is what winter brings.

 

Next day. We are going to have visitors! Their timing is good as I am making some bread in the Dutch Oven, that is if it rises unlike the frisbee I end up with the other day. Donna and Stu. They travel in style with their Freightliner Truck and a 100’ camper slash toy hauler weighing 90 tons. I am of course exaggerating. I won’t see their camper as they are parked in Marathon, it is too cold for them to ride their bikes, so they will drive their truck here. I am sure they have a name for “it”. Can’t wait to see it and I will be nice, I will not ask to drive it as I would probably break it. A norm for me toward other’s stuff…

The skies opened up for their presence, it warmed up a bit as sitting around the Fire. Donna and I caught up on old times and Stu and I made our acquaintance. They each were lone Rangers also living on the road, they met, courted and now are married as I was so happy for them to be together on their own path crisscrossing the Country. They were kind enough to bring some chicken, vegetables and all went on the grill painted often with a mixture of olive oil, garlic and various seasonings, including “Cajun” which I have available in those little glass jars for lack of fresh non available. Glass jars… who knows really what is inside. All was good, the bread baking cooperated, the dining room sheltered us from sudden clouds arriving, it was a great afternoon. And “no”… my “humanure” does not smell! As odd it can look out of place. I appreciated the 200 mile detour they took to see us as also now Spirit has new Friends, both of them being Dog Lovers, specially Stu who Spirit took after like an old buddy of his.

I am trying hard for this weather to not bury me under a blanket of lethargic moments from the lack of long days of riding beyond “here”. I look around as there is much to do but none is too appealing. “Old Faithful” has been parked in the giant green container which is probably as cold as an ice box. I know she is also waiting, surprised I do not hear her wheels spinning on her own. The doors are closed, I do trust her she will wait.

 

Till next time, you all be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

If you find yourself perusing this site extensively, please, consider purchasing Prints, Merchandise or making a contribution above to help us with Internet costs.

“PLEASE do not e mail us with attachments. No photos. No funny cartoons. Text only. Photos? PLEASE use links only from a Photo Gallery. AT&T has permanently and indefinitely removed all my roaming services, voice and data from too much usage. Same has already happened with Hughes. Net.”