“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert Einstein ~

These past days have been interesting, maybe not in the better sense of the words, more likely in just a passive way. Deeper and deeper I am falling into such a dislike for the crowded unpleasant cities with however not having much of a choice yesterday. A Friend of mine was kind enough to show up so we (meaning… “I”) can drive her car to Midland and back in one day, even squeezing in some, as previous, errands at La Mecca Walmart. The giant field where my ability to remain Human lasts on record no more than 22 minutes. To make the matters worse, instead of calling my Prescriptions into “that store”, I had inadvertently called them to the Houston store. Lucky me, a good Friend will pick them up and mail them to me.

478 miles round trip and a warning from the Texas Highway Patrol. I did not even think about taking the classic photo, the one with the rear view mirror and the Christmas lights flashing. Stubborn enough to not use the cruise control as I despise driving, wanting a bit of the excitement of that gas pedal, I stopped ASAP before the Gentleman even played his Christmas Carol. He was nice, a bit confused about my Florida Drivers License and the Texas plates. I cannot be a passenger. We are talking major medical unforeseen conditions if so. All is behind now, might have to go back in about 5 weeks, right before we take off for Overland Expo in Arizona which will be a quick stop before our yearly pilgrimage to Valley of the Gods, specially when during the one weekend when the balloonists will all be present soaring the skies with now that familiar sound of the burning gasses. Truly exhausted from the day trip and gum poking, it was today a must to change a tire, reinforce my saddlebags which had not been addressed in I think the past seven years and add a third layer of JB Weld to my “hole in the front engine cover”. It does not seem as that “stuff” is holding as well as metal when the rocks are flying right into it. I am thinking about devising a grill type of protection next.

The noises, the distractions, the pollution mental and otherwise of the cities makes me always realize how detached one could become from their own inner personal path versus while deep into the womb of Mother Nature, as nothing else really counts while staying on her path throughout this Journey. I almost feel as I then become another person. I don’t know quite know how to express it, maybe as I have to then wear an armor and my steps become more what they need to be versus what they are in this “let it all go” environment. I met someone the other day that is also a traveler with her dogs, has “rushed” to come south, fallen in love with the area and actually very quickly bought a parcel of land a few miles from here. I felt her energy from her Life slurping from the fast track and I was smiling within myself wondering if she was going to find a bit of the light that would spark on the path of her own search as I knew she was exploring another avenue she now knows exists.

Fast forward to another day, or actually “slow forward”. They are being again a gift as the blue skies have come back and the temperatures just perfect. The harder days have made me totally appreciate these “now moments” so inviting to move on, ride on with the wind, stop on the shoulders when the senses are caught by the scenery, attractive, awakening my curiosity and my camera.

We took off for Ft Davis to see my good Friends Jerry and Nelda at their Bookstore and Coffee Shop which soon will be called “Nelda’s Cafe”. Good food, simple but so gratifying, comfort food, and above all the atmosphere as in being “home”. We always have much to catch up as these two rarely get to go out. They love working 7 days a week, but they do not call it work, they are having their own fun through their own Lives together. With the knowledge that the days are getting longer as we now have an extra hour of daylight, meaning an extra hour of warmth, our destination was Balmorhea, the State Park.

It was again one of those great rides, sinuous curves, no traffic except for the here and there Rancher truck with the usual wave as everyone waves here, the scenery changing, trees, yes trees a bit unknown around this particular area south of there. The Park, only barely 45 acres is actually the San Salomon Spring. It is an amazing pool, 77,000 square feet with a flow of water just so astonishing, 22 to 28 millions gallons flowing per day! Wishing we had some of that water here. The pool itself  has a capacity of more than 3 1/2 million gallons!

We had been there before but never seen the scuba divers busy with lessons toward their certification. We chatted a bit, I discovered what a dry suit was versus a wet suit and thought how nice it would be while riding through the rain with Old Faithful. A bit pricey however and know also I cannot develop a new hobby. Spirit diving? I doubt it very much! We are now back, still plagued by some lights not working on Old Faithful, she is aging but remains strong as this summer will be a good test for her. My thoughts are always “going in deeper”, meaning riding the further away isolated roads, the less traveled ones, also meaning the less maintained ones. Those are the ones where the so often untouched beauty of Mother Nature lies.

Till next time, you be well, always, it is our best choice.

Ara & Spirit

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This entry was posted on Sunday, February 14th, 2010 at 9:16 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.