“Some Daily thoughts, a bit of mental therapy, published weekly or so…”

"For a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder." 
~ F. Scott Fitzgerald ~

And some Music… Such a Classic, “Love will keep us Alive” by “The Eagles”. I sure hope it does.

[audio:http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com/wp-content/audio/02_love_will_keep.mp3]

Meeting my wonderful Friends and Neighbors Paul and Voni Glaves is always a treat. Of course, who gets the attention?

Regrouping I am finding is kind of fun. It is as floating in between the present reality and the future one knowing very well it will not quite exactly happen as planned! Of course not.

We are closing on 6 years being wanderers throughout this Country. Have I learned a lot? Yes.
Has it changed me mentally and physically? Yes.
Have I come to terms loosing my only Child and Best Friend "Lance"? No.
"Some", as I use that term loosely, consider since eight years have passed, that I should be over it. Those "some", please keep those opinions for yourselves. You are anyhow cowardly always using fake e mail addresses! There is no worse aspect to be preached by "some" who have never been in contemplation of such situation. And please, leave my Mother out of it! That is below the belt. I feel sorry for your mind. What are you doing here reading this anyhow? Please get some help. Mental help.
Have I learned to live with it? I have learned that writing and taking my Son with me on a Tour of "Our Own Backyard" has been the best therapy ever. Yes. 

 

We are in Terlingua after all!

Would or could this be the end of the road for us? No. I feel as we have just began. It truly feels as such. Specially when here at "The Oasis" trying to regroup for these winter months awaiting parts and some needed items. When I do a Presentation, the sub title is always "Your own Backyard…". I would have loved going back to Europe with the hack and Spirit, push on to China, India, Mongolia and come back years later after closing the physical gap and shout real loud "We have been around the World". It was always a thought and who knows, maybe some day in our non planned Life it might happen. Not right now.

A simple dinner. Basmati rice with sautéed vegetables, grilled chicken topped with Cheddar cheese and sprinkled with Cilantro. There is not even the need for a recipe here.  

As yes, we live in such an incredible Country, so huge and vast and diverse that a Lifetime will not be enough to conquer it’s visual and spiritual aspects. Another reality is the fact that how many have truly the time off and the funds to go around the World, a World today which has changed so much, a boiling pot within those Countries I frequented so innocently in my youth while hitchhiking or other modes of transportation. Those days I am afraid are a bit over. Looking over my shoulder does not provide me with any joy and is not a path I care to take for us. 

I have a tendency to not write much about the spaces we take on roots for a while, only too often maybe just posting the photos while there. I myself never want to know too much about an area beforehand. I like the surprise element. While there, exploring, feeling, reading about it, it’s past as also it’s present. Stopping with the locals to find some gems never advertised as was the case with "Recaptured Pocket" in Utah. As I feel now a new beginning, another page turning, maybe the path of this Journal might change a bit as I know so many would like to know more about "their own backyard". The drivers, the riders, the ones with limited funds and limited time. India or China or Russia, none are on their routes. Our Path is.

Primus Titanium Ti5 Stove with Slat Grill all fitting in one bag.

Slat Grill used with wood or stove! 

He is patiently waiting.

Camping gear has also changed much throughout these past years, much of it geared toward being minimalist and more competent toward a certain comfort and toughness enabling to withstand Mother Nature’s capricious moods. Items are made smaller and lighter. My own kitchen has shrank by I would say 300%! So much we truly do not need while on the road. I would like to take the path sharing those items we use a bit more in the sense of helping others and at the same time get into more details about our own whereabouts. 

The quarter gives an idea of this shower, bucket and night light which does provide a slight heat. From “Sea to Summit”. Unfolded below.

Ever needed an all purpose mat? Strong foam on one side and fast drying ripstop nylon on the other side? No shoes allowed!

This sleeping pad is the SIM  Comfort 10 with a –54F [R 9.5] value, 10cm of height. It also doubles as a chair, from Exped, just as the pad. The ultimate warmth, comfort and convenience.

The first chair in over twenty years more comfortable than my Kermit chair, and adjustable!

My Kitchen has shrank…

Only what is really needed and still having the ability for the “One~Pan” recipes.

This will give us 6G of water including a similar one in the nose of the sidecar.[Fuel 7.5G]

An Ortlieb Bag, 100% waterproof as all our bags are to store our winter heated gear and rain gear, all easily accessible with it’s wide opening mouth.

This little bag is a sleeping bag liner and will add another 25 degrees of warmth to our existing –10 degree sleeping bag!

We cannot end without a Sunset… can we? Magic always here at “The Oasis”. Dedicated to all our kind Sponsors that enable us to go on with such great products.

In my effort to stay on the road “we” now have a T Shirt and Merchandise store. I think you will like it: “Spirited Oasis”
“Smugmug” for Photos and Digital downloads.
The recipes are on the “One~Pan Recipe” section. You asked for them. They are templates. 25 of them can make hundreds of different dishes.
Needing a great Webmaster? Follow the link. Justin is truly the one that allows you to enjoy this Journal and it’s peripheral pages.
We both appreciate your support and hoping we are giving something back.

Stay well… Always.

Ara and Spirit