“Nature is a living example of how communities live in harmony. If you go into the forest or mountain and sit still and watch, ask yourself, what lessons are being taught? Then watch how the animals conduct themselves. The trees could represent diversity. The flowers could represent people. Notice how everything in nature assists one another. See how balance works. See how conflict is handled. Can you see acts of forgiveness? Can you spot respect? Nature is full of wisdom if we will only consider her to be our teacher.” [quote]

As usual, what was thought a quick trip to Terlingua would end up being a whole day affair, pure entertainment of the mind and more. Of course with temperatures reaching 100, (134 was clocked here this summer and 103 at this very moment), it’s feel was as being in one of those Western Movies, the spaghetti kind, where the hot wind blows, the sun is as bright as the flash Grand Pa used and shade could bring in much rental dollars per hour if ever found. Dust of course, a rolling tumbleweed here and there, all the storefronts closed for siesta including the local Bank, all of this minus that whistling and guitar music. We felt a bit “I don’t know what” when I realized we had been the only vehicle moving on through town. We had to, errands. One needs to have a certain attitude and love for the space provided if you want to live here. Period. I lift my hat to “La Pettite” for jumping right into the motions, shedding the city scales and embracing the moments with such fervor, moments I myself have become accustom to, however knowing we are far off somewhere from the word “common”.

We did find some shade in town and took advantage of it taking photos of the murals at the local Study Butte Store, something I been wanting to do now for the past 3 years!

We have this year been loaned a 325 gallon water tank! Outmost luxury even if considering that the average American uses 225 gallons a day. We are excited. Water is not too near by however and dedicating one day, half a day more like it, to get some is going to be the norm. The tank should last us about 3 weeks… yes, with showers! The adventure began yesterday morning when driving “White Elephant” to the “Cowboy Mine” with tank in tow, 7 miles away, 4 paved and 3 unpaved, where water (non potable) is sold for this time .8 cents a gallon. $26 to fill the tank! We are just a few weeks late as it was .4 cents. Having had to redo their well at the cost of $25,000, water price now has doubled. “Lucky us” as they say…

Not as easy as turning the faucet and “voila”, but definitely more fun is our situation than the said “faucet”. First the trailer unhooked when I felt as we were plowing the dirt road instead of smoothly going forward. Next the straps holding the empty tank came apart. Water to the brim, I then realized that the tires where very low in air as “hello, wake up call” I said to myself… knowing it was going to be a slow ride back. Finally one strap also broke but 2500 lbs of water did not go anywhere or could for that matter. The also loaned pump was wired, nothing blew up even after inadvertently letting the positive and negative wires touch for only a split second causing some non needed warmth to my fingers, and the shower finally by the end of the day never felt so good! All in a day’s work…

We are not going hi tech, definitely not. This is not and will not be a testing field! It will not be a Lab, but only the basic necessities for now a population that as someone wrote recently to us, has increased by 50%… which is a sizable increase! We see much further I believe then most, we see and feel our Mother Nature as she opens the doors with her golden keys to so much one could never be able to physically acquire. Our Lab, our testing field has been created, has been in existence and built and put together millions of years ago. Our own desires are only to learn from her when so many want for Her to learn from them and throw too often the Human sticks in her spinning spokes.

All is so tentative right now here at The Oasis and surroundings. Firmly timid with the logistics of it all and yet all is flowing as it should be. We do not ever go against the grain. Too abrasive Life would get if so. Helping out a Friend in need as many have helped us has been the focus within me, a gesture that would have not even been remotely possible not so long ago. Tentative also has been how to get around and Spirit himself has contributed so much out of his heart making room in his sidecar. This below was not too long after being in Terlingua, coming across three other riders, probably also lost in time as we were. I had to take a photo of them taking a photo of us!

Being part of Terlingua Ranch gives us access to 1400 miles of unpaved roads. I often forget that the beauty of this area is much outside the Park, as surrounded with mountains of many names and small canyons, every mile gives me the feeling as almost being on another planet. My Friend Ryan has moved not too far from here, 10 miles more or less, Mr Mc Gyver himself who last year graciously fixed my solar system and discovered the area. It was cooling off last night and we took a quick ride to check out his own land, a space unlike here, a bit harder to reach, a bit further off the main road, in all reality a small well hidden Paradise.

It was then dinner time, being on the very warm side we have not been cooking much and this light fare sat with us just perfectly. Just another variation of grilled chicken and garbanzo beans in a form of a salad.

For two…
2    Grilled Breasts of Chicken, cubed
1    Can drained Garbanzo Beans
4    Slices of crisp cooked Bacon chopped
1    Cup crumbled Feta Cheese
1    Can Diced Tomatoes drained
1    Bunch Cilantro chopped
1    Lemon juiced
1    Lime juiced
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
Optional salt/pepper
Mix the Beans, Tomatoes and Cilantro together. Mix Lime~Lemon juice and Olive Oil also together. Add to Bean mixture and arrange on plate. Add Chicken, Feta, Bacon, enjoy…

Till next time…

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Thank you and be well…

Ara & Spirit

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at 1:43 pm 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.