Up to El Paso. TX
We left a bit early from the heat getting to us. I think spring is bypassing Big Bend and decided to get right into the summer 100's on a daily basis. We have by now also gone through El Paso and sitting for a couple days at the “Silverado Ranch” in between Douglas and Bisbee. Spend one more night in Alpine, last minute errands and on for the ride that should last months. Besides a fearful head wind which seemed to turn around with us every which way we went, the road was magnificent, specially once off highway 10, taking 80 southbound toward Douglas. Old stumping grounds... For some reason the traffic and the noise and the races on going where not a shock this time to my system. I had no vision for anything else but that. The masses are traveling east and west on this southerly a bit warmer route, Freeways are never my choice, but I think we are off of them for a long time now. Trying to find a good route to Lake Powell as I know that will also be difficult specially if we want to avoid the paved roads. Will try.
One last look at Alpine... it already seems a distant memory.
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
On to Bisbee on a “yellow” Highway. AZ
I cannot recommend enough to get on Highway 80 from Lordsburg to Douglas via Rodeo off of 10 in New Mexico, even with a detour to Portal. I know the “other side” of the Mountain with names such as Benson and Tombstone is a decision clincher, but... there will never be a regret on 80. Parking was a bit rough as the shoulders are very narrow and the adjacent dirt road is used by the Border Patrol, and yet we managed as we always do to stop here and there. I would have preferred to walk it honestly. A new space to hang our helmets for a couple of days, “Silverado Ranch” with enough animals running around for me to qualify it as a Zoo! Because of the Overland Expo commitment, for the first time I feel a bit under a schedule, also meeting the “Carbon Neutral Expedition” in a couple of days on the North Shores of Lake Powell, we can then go on to Valley of the Gods and resume our snail speed like travels. All I can add is that it feels good, busy or not, it is a different pace then what winter was as I am just realizing that fact, the huge difference between camping at “The Oasis” and on “The Road”. Enjoy 80... we did.
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit
Overland Expo days. AZ
There has been no shortage of excitement for the past week, there has been a shortage of time. I was even stumbling when opening up my laptop last night for the first time in days, it seemed foreign to me, a concept left behind but quickly re-emerging throughout our time resting in Phoenix in, I feel, a well deserved Motel room. It was first joining the Carbon Neutral Expedition toward an incredible off road destination: the South Rim of the Grand Canyon through Navajo Reservation. The next day on to some BLM land that felt and looked as we were in the heart of the African Serengeti, and finally arriving at Overland Expo in Amado, Arizona. There, it was busy busy! Classes, off road vehicles and trailers, camping gear, gadgets and the main ingredient: people. Surprised as to many have known about our own Journey most of the time was spend chatting and Spirit posing for photos... (not me!). Sunday night ended with the icing on the cake in a form of an incredible buffet dinner where my diet totally and well worth it went out of the window. Overall, I am looking forward to the next year's event and quickly realized that the compromise of changing our traveling ways for a few days was so much worth meeting the so many incredible others present. A few photos made their way on our Journal...
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit
More of Overland Expo. From Page. AZ
An overload of good memories is an understatement and yet even "good" has taken us a few days to balance out again our nights and days on the road. Sifting through the cards received, the photos taken, putting faces again behind names, one more look at all the vehicles, the vendors booths and thinking deeply about the ones met themselves never slowing down from a forward motion supporting more than worthwhile causes. Overland Expo is indeed not to be missed. It is all about the people, their knowledge shared through the many classes, it is about the vehicles, but the emphasis remains on the souls present, the ones for us that extended their hands and conversations as them being old Friends of our Journal meeting us for the first time, as ourselves for the first time going through such an experience. Some mild hiking around Lake Powell with Spirit off his leash brought us back to our partnership throughout this Journey, his tail was wagging all day loosing this look he has had these past days in consternation of a crowd surrounding him. It's all good and more. Getting ready to head out tomorrow morning for a short ride and sit for a while at Valley of the Gods. More photos on the Journal I hope you will enjoy.
Be well... always.
Ara & Spirit
From Lake Powell to Valley of the Gods. Utah
The real Utah is our stage again. I told myself that we will skip this State on our upcoming adventures for a couple years, it is now for that reason holding a special space in my heart. From a rough winter we have fallen into such complete perfect weather. The winds howling often are keeping the 80's nearing 90's tolerable, the red so familiar dust is again in our faces and being dragged around with each step taken. We spend a couple days around Lake Powell upon returning from Overland Expo. The forecast gave way for some nice shots of the Lake under different cloud formations, always more attractive than a clear blue sky. Just living out here in the Desert. Riding, cooking and also realizing that I never took care of my phone situation. Tomorrow we will ride to Farmington, and visit a Verizon store to get back on track as I should have never joined AT&T who has kicked me out from total roaming, meaning no cell service for the past few days. Some photos, my thoughts on our sense of freedom and a link of an interview video from Overland Expo.
You be well... always.
Ara & Spirit
Crazy weather! Valley of the Gods. UT
The day they flew the balloons, Sunday, was the last nice day I can remember. It has been winds with 70mph bursts, this morning snow and tonight down to the 20's. We have moved to Bluff to take shelter and let it all pass, that is if it ever does! I am not loosing hope, just feeling as being in this strange tunnel where Mother Nature reigns and upset for the time being, real upset. It was however great to see the familiar faces surrounding the Balloons, exchanging our Life thoughts from the past year that has gone by. It was like a marker, a small circle of time that had closed and opening up another one. The visits were brief. Many live far and I don't think they were very happy to be there for three days and only able to fly at the most a couple hours once. Maybe we left Texas too early I was thinking looking up at the forecast. A dash west maybe, but that is too far far now as we need to be back in Moab around mid May. Next week looks promising, Spirit and I will just rest up for the time being and enjoy this Life on the road we have embraced as we always have, dark or blue skies, either way. There is no schedule. I added another “one pan” cooking recipe to the Journal with a bit better explanation of the logistics of the scenario.
Enjoy and be well...
Ara & Spirit
“Hovenweep”. Utah
Amazing how much the “weather” can uplift the moral or send someone spiraling down after days of inactivity due to freezing cold and winds unable to confront. Reading some painful words written by my Friend Bill accentuated the spirits into a not so cheerful frame of mind these past couple days. Maybe this was the last page of it for a while as we are now back to more than perfect conditions, so doable to go riding again and explore the so many back roads I keep discovering in Utah even if we have been previously here numerous times. Such was the case onto “Hovenweep” where actually as a pleasant surprise for a National Park, Dogs are allowed on the 2 mile trail on a leash. The skies were so perfect with bursts of cotton like clouds, a nice cool breeze and the sight of the ancient ruins build right on the cliffs of the canyon, well, that was pretty unbelievable. Spirit is happy again to find his way around the bushes and be my shadow while hiking, stopping patiently for every picture taken when the camera rises, he is just so perfect of a companion, a nice person always. The locals are giving me some tips of more roads than we will probably have time to ride before heading up to Moab, they keep telling me they are “secrets”, probably tomorrow will get onto some of them to discover more what I call “inland” spaces.
Enjoy “Hovenweep”...
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
Muley Point, Moky Dugway... Utah
The escapes, mental and physical, are here, right in this region where one does not even need to think or choose right or left, they only need to go where their Spirits take them. We do it just about every day discovering new roads, paved ones, unpaved ones of all shapes, sizes and conditions. It is a smorgasbord of avenues, an endless one as only needing to let Mother Time behind and acquire a pace to allow the senses to take it all in. I know again since we are moving on to Moab on Monday that we will leave behind some unridden roads. As usual, nothing new with that concept as it really does not matter. What matters are the moments spend on the ones we have experienced as some day, one day, I know we will come back and all again will be brand new as a never ending circle on this Journey we are on. Muley Point, Moky Dugway and all surrounding areas are like magic to me. The green and lush Mesa as suddenly as with a giant scoop all drops down into a real Desert. That is when looking at the big picture, an incredible one.
Hoping you can relate and visit these spaces if you have not yet.
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit
The “Goodness” of People. Utah
Sorry, no photos of cheeseburgers or beer flowing or gas stations today. :-). In reality my thoughts did not have any photos. Only this unseen but oh! so much felt feeling emanating from others we have met I call “goodness”. The Journey, the Adventure, they have never only provided a physical enjoyment as truly believing in “mind over matter”, as the moments, without a rest have been, by choice I must say, a never ending uphill climb as I seem to see and discern a bit more with each step of it's summit standing clear and free ahead of me. The spaces we have landed on, they all have had their rewards in more ways than one and so often I am always reminded of the positive exchanges I have with others when only being true with respect and understanding as maybe they themselves do not have as myself this freedom of thought and time I have chosen. It has been day after day while a bit at a stand still having to take care of some logistics, some good moments with others, strangers truly we will probably never see again but remember because of their kindness. This all have reminded me of sometimes hearing stories from others returning from their own Journey with enormous amounts of “complains”, specially when coming back from a Foreign Country. I listen, or read, often with a smile as I know invariably the problem “is” the traveler's lack of respect or the belief that they are still in their own Hometown and all should go according to the daily life they are so used to. It just does not work that way. A couple stories...
Be well... Always.
Ara & Spirit
Road trip... Moab. Ut
Whirlwind... that is the only word that right now comes to mind. The weather? Well... we might have seen a few minutes of sunshine, heavy rains right now, photos are with an “all gray” and “dull” feeling. So we have “hang out” as in the old days. Hang out in town and had the best Pizza within I would like to say a couple thousands of miles from a street vendor. We have met travelers riding the country, riding the world. We had dinner with Friends I had not seen in too many years back from my days in the Georgia Mountains. Spirit had a nice visit for his last yearly shot, we are all set now for Canada and Mexico when they present themselves. In other words we have been busy doing seemingly nothing! I forget the chatting part, the socializing which is never ending as in waves new faces appear and all ends up being a good time. Tau, Adam, Rodolfo, Irene and I forget already a few. We have been able however to get up to the land where the Desert Rocks Music Festival will take place in about 10 days. It is at the clearing stage. Will be camping permanently there for a couple of weeks starting Monday most likely, weather permitting. It can only get better from here...
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit
The Arches, again, and a video from Bisbee. UT
We are now camping out about 10 miles south of Moab, mid way up the Mountains and I myself have to look at the photos of the past couple of days to be reassured that once again this deluge of rain and winds will eventually stop as it has before. Maybe I should be a spotter for the Weather site as I sure have my share of keeping up with it. The two beautiful days past were however glorious and energizing. I could not help going back into the Arches National Park, well filled this time with traffic, trying to dodge the four wheelers on their way seemingly to the finish line of the day's NASCAR race. Honestly.
The masterpieces stood there as they have been for centuries, their hues in constant change from a sky garnished with cotton ball clouds, all and all a setting so magical it never cease to amaze me, as often as we have been present. All is quiet here for now, the stages for the Festival are being set up, everyone is part of a Friendly Community we have been accepted in, specially Spirit who has some new cousins with whom he just does not stop to play with. Sometimes I so much wish we were three instead of two, but then the logistics totally change and the need of a bigger sidecar!!!
Enjoy the Arches...
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit
The Music is landing in Moab, Utah
So busy lately as already camped out at the site of The Desert Rocks Music Festival. Devoting my time taking photographs of the set up as it is quite an undertaking from this group of welcoming volunteers. There is going to be some incredible Live Music for four nights, many here are Artists in many genres with their display of lights, musical montages all powered by roughly 8000 watts of solar panels. In the meantime we have not stopped hanging out in Moab (eating Pizza...) and taking advantage also of the good weather for some local rides. Even trying to render a video of us climbing Shaffer trail, this year not such a good road as all the dirt has washed away leaving rocks protruding and scraping “Old Faithful”. The next leg of the Journey has already made it's mark in my mind. California Lost Coast with the Sierras in between, Oregon, Washington and who knows, might push ourselves into Canada. Will try for the obscure roads, the ones less traveled were pitching a tent is free and hidden...
Suggestions are very welcome...
Not much else is going on, we are almost considered locals now!
Enjoy...
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit
Busy week... Moab.UT
This week is all about the Desert Rocks Music Festival. The many volunteers working almost around the clock, there is much courtersy and kindness in the air mixed in with personal artifacts, free minded spirits making a home here for the few remaining days.
Busy photographing the complete event, a different experience with the camera from the usual landscape seen. Yet we took an afternoon ride toward Potash Rd where after a short hike up a hill, we found a plateau overlooking the Colorado River where Spirit and I quietly laid down taking it all in. We even took in an incredible sunset and the nights here right now with almost a full moon are a nightly gift for these present times. Utah is such an incredible State and as usual will be hard to leave next week when we head out toward Wyoming, California Coast and all in between. I managed to upload the video taken while going up Shaffer Trail, it is to this day my favorite one including the Music. Short and sweet (!!!) today, have to get some sleep...
Enjoy and be well. It is after all your choice.
Ara & Spirit
www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Journey under the Stars…
www.theoasisofmysoul.com/zenphoto/ Our new Photo Gallery…
A Friendly foreign Space “Desert Rocks Music Festival”. Utah
No sense denying it, we are exhausted. In a good way however after hours of Music, chatting with new Friends and much Photography as I cannot even begin to figure out how I am going to go through all the photos, only now downloaded on my laptop. We actually moved back to Moab a couple days ago as I could not take camping on site anymore. We went up to the Festival every day and returned to a quieter space. The land had turned into a Village with Music going on till in the morning hours and restarting at noon or so. It became tight as more people than expected showed up, no doubt all has been a success as it will probably move on next year on a larger piece of land. So we are ahead of the wave leaving the premises and today is going to be a lingering resting day as the coming ones will see us on to Wyoming and then on West as I have this fantasy and vision of us sitting on the beach of the “California Lost Coast” as we did 3 years ago. We have not seen an Ocean in years, it will be the perfect setting as also going through the giant redwoods is always spectacular, specially in the early morning hours while the ground is steaming and the sun rays are trying to make their way in through the dense vegetation. I remember.
Have a great day and eventually all the Festival Photos will be in multiple Galleries.
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit
More Photos of the “Desert Rocks Music Festival”. Moab. Utah
A few days have gone by, the scales seems to be balancing out themselves, almost done going through all the photos as there will be a third round. Just cannot leave the good ones out. Ready to head out to Lander, WY, in the morning, a route we already have done. We will probably get there in a couple of days as heading west from there has me really excited. I feel as we have not traveled lately and come to think of it, we really have not. From Texas it was Overland Expo, now the Festival and the coast is clear till early September when I will be flying to Munich, Germany, for an overdue visit to my Mother. For the first time Spirit will stay behind at my Friend's house, Friends I trust with my Life as the thought of a kennel just truly horrifies me. Mid 90's have made their way here in Moab, it is time to go on and find some cooler temperatures and cooler adventures! Oil has been changed, one more tire (again!) to change and hopefully as she has reached 227K, Old Faithful will takes us around with no hick ups. It is dinner time, our last night in Moab. I think these will be the best times of the year.
Be well... always.
Ara & Spirit
