For the first time in months I feel tired! The winds have put me on edge and this morning it was time to vacate "The Valley of the Gods" after spending 8 nights rocking and rolling for most of the time. I am not one to stay at idle too long but I think these coming days we will be in neutral! As we got off the dirt road I almost made a right toward Monument Valley, another wide open space, but remembering the forecast calling for 35mph winds, well, we made a left instead and are back exactly at the same spot we were a while ago, Sand Island Campground (BLM) about 4 miles west of Bluff. I did not even have to find the Lat and Long to set up my Dish, I keep a record of where we have been for this exact scenario. The Dish is down right now, we got here just in time to set it up and take the transmitter off…  on and off… and being in a Canyon things are not quite as bad… there is a certain sense of security. I apologize for not responding to many e mails or comments, transmission has been more down than up!

We took a nice walk after sunrise, we have had readers ask us how we camp, where we set up. That little white dot is us… what a view to endure! I found a Blog that I wrote June 21st 2007, that was the time I went to Michigan to pick up my Birthday present… I call it the "Land Yacht"! It is a love/hate relationship still… sometimes a "white elephant" as I am still in the mind set of using a tent and setting up camp wherever suddenly a good spot appears in the evening. And as the weather settles down that is what we will do, leave all in storage and take off a few days at the time in places otherwise not able to camp. However that Dish is what keeps us in touch! Amazing…

The trailer I have to admit has been a big help. An extra 10G of regular fuel, also 10G of super for Old Faithful, about an extra 20G of water, a couple sun showers and the camping gear we always had! We can be self sufficient for two weeks. Tools, and "stuff" I yet have to use since we have left… smile… like a torch to make "creme brulee"!!! That has not happened yet… We are waiting for you!The RV came with a 4KW Onan generator with barely 140 hrs on it which I only run half an hour a month… because they said so! I use a Honda 2KW most of time when power is needed to recharge my batteries or a 600amp power pack that I use a lot.

Our sunset last night… and sunrise this morning…

Not an easy task to leave, I know that we will return soon, I am being told that the fall is the best time to be there. We did manage to go up Moky Dugway one more time and create a traffic jam on this gravel road with a 10% grade… I just don’t know anymore, there has to be a future for Spirit, maybe some commercials or a movie or something! I had the presence of mind to also quickly take a few pictures… cars where parked everywhere coming to a stop while going up and down. One of those uncomfortable moments when Spirit himself looks at me wondering what is going on… if we are being attacked!

They all seem pretty happy! Don’t they? Anyhow… Life goes on. We also took a little ride into Johns Canyon, which is where I would love to go and tent camp. It is the dirt road than can be seen from Muley Point as it reminded me of Potash Rd when you look up and see Dead Horse Point.

An easy road, not a soul, just a bit sandy till we arrived to this narrower part…

So yes, I am playing it safe, and I like it! No sense getting stressed out over the road having never been there with no cell reception or another soul around. I am actually enjoying the rides much more as now a U turn is always lately a better compromise. Beautiful area, the Gooseneck also being near by, many square miles of empty spaces.

I know that Spirit is also tired, I can tell just by looking at this picture as he is totally ignoring me and his back is arched! Will probably get some rest here for a couple days as I am still wanting to spend some time in Monument Valley.

Spring is here, the flowers blooming are extra welcome stops for us and it won’t be long before we will have to put up with the heat! Well, we have to get cleaned up now, everything we own is red… as in the pictures. I always wonder what is going to happen when we arrive in places where red is no more, it is always as last year kind of a shock to suddenly see browns and greens instead everywhere.

You be well and stay well…   Ara & Spirit

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Ara Gureghian   853 Vanderbilt Beach Rd #245   Naples, Fl 34108