“My  Personal Daily Therapy, published Weekly or so…”

“I surveyed my past and saw only blind striving; I played out my future and saw an abyss and I jumped. This is were I landed.” ~ Philip Connors ~ [Fire Season]

One more of my morning background music.

[audio:http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com/wp-content/audio/T3.mp3]

 

 

Hot is is, the solar fan is only blowing hotter air, my two gallon sun shower has been up for a while now, hanging, and all at the same time on the hour I burn my freshly shaved head from a water too hot and freezes it as the wind blowing has then that effect. I am starting to think if my head is swelling up and then shrinking and what could be the result? I am laughing inside, silliness, as I know it is the heat throwing in a curve of rhetorical questions not quite making much sense. This is how it goes while in the Desert heat. Everything else is taking shape here. I even split some wood with my sharpened hatchet without hurting myself. For what reasons I yet have to figure out. Maybe soon the ban on fires will be lifted and I can start practicing smoking some chicken or a pork loin maybe. Resume making my bread in the Dutch Oven. Grilling.

"Old Faithful" is parked and tucked into "Green Giant" today, the 40 foot long bowling alley lane where I always think something, someone, is hiding in it. A bird was the other day. I call him "bird". He is the only one around and comes to see us every day. I have been as close to him as ten feet maybe, whistling and talking, I don’t know if he can become a Friend. I keep hoping. I think it is again the heat. Those thoughts. Nothing wrong with "Old Faithful". No worries I have. And yes, we are taking "Sherpa". I feel strange about it all, a bit like a traitor and yet I am thinking "Old Faithful" deserves a break, she can rest in the shade. I kind of like "Sherpa" with the ECamper also though. She has not gone anywhere around here yet per say. It is easy. A couple big and tough Tupperware boxes and everything goes in it. We even have a cooler which I only use as a food box. I will not and cannot deal with ice. No helmet, no gloves, no boots either, we will just sit in it and go. What a concept!

We are now set up, but not where I wanted to go. The road to Mariscal Mine was alright for a while only because Sherpa is all wheel drive when needed and high clearance, but when the sight of half a road appeared, that was that. I am sure someone with more experience could have and would have gone through. To make the matters worse, a third of the remaining road was slanted by the drop. I think, feel like it anyhow, that I have driven all day as we end up on the other side of the Park, at "Terlingua Trabaja". This is after going back to "Panther Junction" to change our campsite designation. Primitive campsites here are assigned very precisely ahead of time and they are good for 14 days, 28 days throughout a calendar year. Without this ancient tarp that I have kept from over ten years ago, called the "Stingray 14" by Mountain Hardware, of course discontinued, we would have not been able to stay. It is HOT, yet bearable in the shade with a wet bandana, and a good book and some food. The Solar system from GoalZero is working well, not much need for it actually this time around, but as I recharge my lantern and phone to write on, it is a handy concept.

I am drained totally from this week’s emotions. I am or more feel empty, I needed a change of scenery even if it is a bit warmer here. Just a couple nights, they are predicting 100 in a few days. I take cover now next to Spirit in the shade of the car. Of course it is cooler. He is smarter. Once in a while a breeze comes through. Once in a while. I am thinking Colorado! The moment escapes me from this harsh Desert. With no shade and no water survival is not very certain. Tomorrow we will go to Santa Helena Canyon for the Sunrise, we have never been there for it. Maybe the day will be cooler.

I will have the recipes up soon in a new section… we are working on it! November First?

I am also thinking about The Oasis. The tent area is now cleaned up. Our only Base Camp in this whole country.Yet Mother Nature dictates our stay and so does my need to not stay there as now and go on. Only missing it so quickly. Not much makes sense, I wonder. I am confused these days. A winter nest, could not be any better. I stop trying to understand myself. Only go with the flow, a flow which has been so fortunate and generous, I have to admit it, inside out.

Using Sherpa is too easy. The sleeping bag is always ready, so is the chair and the tripod. Everything is including the stove. The camper opens in less than one minute, closes in about the same amount of time. Nice screens for some cool air throughout the night. Spirit has to sleep down below, that is the only part I don’t like. If he was lighter I would lift him but at 60lbs it is a bit too much for me. Sherpa did well though the washes that have been repaired but yet have a foot and a half to two feet drops. Amazing how the all wheel drive kicks in when needed. I am not a very good driver just needing remembering to remember where the wheels are!

The morning was magical. So much "magic" in our Life. I was alone with Spirit. No one showed up. I guess no one was interested in a Sunrise at Santa Elena Canyon. We witnessed the Moon getting away behind the cliffs, a Moon which seemed as bright as the Sun, turning around to watch the light slowly emerging from the darkness and then the glorious Sun taking it’s time to emerge. The coolness of the early morning did not last long. I broke camp upon our return. We were not going to endure this heat again, we were not either going to spend the day driving around with Sherpa and the air on. We are back at "The Oasis". No regrets, that morning will always be imprinted in my memory. Slightly cooling off… I think winter is going to drop on us like a brick.

Till next time.

"I have been juggling my Book, my “one-pan recipes”, “Spirit” and myself and also Smugmug is starting too look good if I may say so myself with now 6 Galleries. There will be more, adding daily as I go through these past years photos…”

Take a look. “Smugmug” stands for quality. Thank you”

Be well, always.

Ara & Spirit