Archive for September, 2008

660′ x 660′ = 10 acres = "The Oasis", Texas…

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

to land f

The shifter knob has moved these past couple days, Life is revving, the RPM’s are high and thanks to my Friends here, Kathy and Rob, the wheels are spinning with no rest… We have been already to "The Oasis" here, there since we are still spending our nights in Alpine. It is everything I thought, imagine and more and will be more. It has not sank in yet, has not been absorbed by my mind that yes, this piece of land is for us to rest our bones a bit. Maybe I am making a big deal out of it, maybe so many not only have land but also a house, but its meaning to me is much, I know even more than if it had a house on it which I have no use for.

Pit 2  
Pit 1 Pit 3

But who are those dogs? A strange event happened on the road to here. A couple readers, Julie and Jimmy, from Houston, have been traveling to California to pick up a car and tow it back. They were on their way back just about the same time we had left Kingman and through an email and a few phone calls they managed to pull right behind us when we stopped for fuel! They have been traveling with their four Pits… I missed the photo opportunity of the fourth one and I am so sorry I forgot their names! I do know that one could be Spirit’s cousin! And look at those eyes… They were so sweet and took after me in a heartbeat… those "mean" dogs! right?

to land o  

to land e

And again, what would we do without Friends as Kathy reminded me today… she reminded me of it because every time we have had an incident, we have a had a Friend near by. Another bolt broke on the rig, seems like it had been broken for a while, not an important one but yet one that had a function, and here was this morning Rob doing some welding to fix it all up! Another strange event also happened this morning while on the telephone with my Friend David which has fabricated our "freedom" wheel, not yet here, but will allow me 30,000 miles or more without changing the rear tire. I was in conversation explaining about the broken bolt as he has the same rig as us, while talking he went into his garage to understand its location and… his was also broken. As a joke I told him that I was calling him to say that his bolt was in two pieces! It was strange…

to land b  
to land a  

Finding this beautiful land is also due to Kathy. Working as a surveyor in the past she still has her strong Real Estate connections and guided me into its realistic aspects of being livable and accessible from the all weather roads leading to it. There are only a couple landmarks to remember. A right turn on 118 at the American Legion building and a left at the bumper laying on the ground. Cannot miss it.

to land h  
to land j  

It sits about one mile inland off the main road, and a ridge separating it from 118 makes it very secluded. Only one house a couple miles away… here I thought we were going to be real isolated!

tree a 

Fast forward. It is morning now, dark but ready to go with Rob and a tractor and "cut" a road or as they say "push a road". The land is flat and so fortunate, it has many clearings where will will pick one and "push" a nice curvy path that will lead to it. After all, we don’t want to be to close to the road and be subjected to all the traffic going by!

spirit c  
spirit d  

10 acres is huge! We walked the four corners yesterday, marked by ribbons and Spirit included there was this sense of surprise to its size. Spirit has been off the leash while there, normally his span of attention when free to roam is about 10 minutes as smells and curiosity takes him slowly further and further. These times amazingly he would not leave my sight! Trying to find a bit of shade while I stopped often while a bit of still warm weather prevailed. He would jump up immediately and follow me when I moved on… I decided he will be off the leash while there but only when in sight. Wildlife is of many and his familiarity with them could be of play and joy instead of seeking shelter.

flower a  
flower b  

The start of a path is already there, Terlingua Ranch is the caretaker of all these roads. We will start at this entrance already marked for us and the big bonus? There will be 1400 miles of dirt road to ride on… Hard to believe on its web like mapping on each side of the main road as almost contributing to a non need to go into the Park as the views are so magnificent. It won’t be long till we move in or on (?) and start witnessing the colors of sunsets and sunrises listening to the silence prevailing  at "The Oasis".

spirit b

to land i  

We are short on time today… we have work to do… till next time…

Two years of Photography is finally in order on SmugMug… In "Your Favorites", organized also in "States", some labeled "first year" and second year". Feel free to browse, you can even use the slide show mode and have fun. Merchandise is also available through SmugMug.

Help us keep the site alive. Please contribute…

Be well, always. Ara & Spirit