“On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders and you stumble,may the clay dance to balance you.
And when your eyes freeze behind the grey window and the ghost of loss gets in to you,
may a flock of colours, indigo, red, green, and azure blue come to awaken in you a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays in the currach of thought and a stain of ocean blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters a path of yellow moonlight to bring you safely home.

May the nourishment of the earth be yours, may the clarity of light be yours, may the fluency of the ocean be yours, may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life.”

"Beannacht" from ANAM CARA, © 1997 John O’Donohue.

Very powerful, much meaning and a deeper understanding of this Journey of ours are tonight some of the thoughts going through my mind while spending this last evening here at Overland Expo in Amado, AZ. Such an incredible array of Friends present, faces now matched to names read in the past and new ones which will not be forgotten. Adventure, Overlanding, vehicles of all sizes shapes and colors capable of escaping the black top, camping gear, gadgets and so much more. All was here. And yet regardless of it all, my own path lays ahead of us within a more mental aspect than ever. I now today have no doubts it is of a somehow unique one in it’s content and projection, inner and outer.

I have been giving it all much thoughts as now for the first time witnessing others Journeys. From point A to point B seems to be the common aspect of so many as when even part of a discussion panel when the question "has your Journey brought any answers to any questions about Life?", one reply was… "if you think too much, answers will only lead to more questions". I was honestly taken back. The reply came from a certain gentleman called Ted Simon who has made his mark years ago by riding around the World as a Pioneer in his genre and since the sale of his books maybe has made him forgotten the true core of the path, or maybe wrongly so on my part, it was only of a physical 
Journey as he expressed to my dismay. So odd afterwards as many attendees came to me with similar opinions toward a man considered “a big seller”. It is only an assessment I said, just as the many flavors of ice cream. 

Is it maybe because I myself always see more in a ride, a moving along, spaces daily presenting themselves, never only the physical aspect of it all and get to live about it and consequently write about it, as still present in my days as a form of therapy for this Life of ours. We are not machines as the ones we ride or drive, it is that difference maybe that uniquely I like to express and maybe some like to forget. Not everyone, only some as myself wishing everybody would look beyond the metal and rubber and plastic that physically moves us through this beautiful land of ours. The “touch” however was there. So many otherwise deeply rooted from the bottom of our hearts conversations seeking to understand what the meaning of their own Journey had given birth to, as I was also so touched and moved hearing over and over as to how by nature we ourselves have touched many others Lives as truthfully they have touched ours.

We are however exhausted and as we left this morning, Monday, we only made it to Phoenix into a Motel room as, even depressing I find them to be, a real bed, showers and just rest from a deep exhaustion, both mental and physical will put us back in the shape needed to continue on north. This includes Spirit who his passed out. Our relationship was different these past days him being on a leash 24/7, and for the first time, or is it maybe I had not noticed before, separation anxiety attacks if left behind only for a few minutes. So yes, he was as usual the center of attention. I think everyone has now a photo of him, no doubt. He is a ham posing always for the cameras, he is a good person when meeting others, all is such a constant always reminder how fortunate we are having each others company.

Out of our usual space it has been some memorable days. The sight of the vehicles capable to let anyone off the black top surpassed by the souls met capable themselves to take the minds off the beaten thoughts. We will be back next year as I will also be giving this time classes on how to cook “one pan” meals, healthy, fresh from local sources and quick on time hoping they will also create a good time amongst campers. The skies unfortunately did not cooperate too well throughout the event itself for photography and I think if I remember well, the one day with a blue ceiling was spend chatting too much thinking there will be more time later on. It truly is an event not to miss as I publicly lift my hat to Roseann Hanson and her crew for the display present these past days and her kindness toward us. I yet have many more photos to go through when time will allow it real soon.

Enjoy and be well, always.

Ara & Spirit

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 at 6:46 am and is filed under travel, spirituality, pit bull, sidecar, motorcycle, cooking, photography, riding, homeless. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.