How about a blank page! Texas

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

These might be the last words from “The Oasis” for a while. I am giving myself an extra day, tomorrow, to get it all together and get back on the road. It kind of feels as I have not, even though we have. The stop has been long, maybe too long for me, maybe this will not happen next winter. I tried something unusual for us, it is all good, but “newness” has been calling ever so strongly. I keep thinking how we have managed to have such comfort, a comfort however many would not exchange their own for. It is all relative I imagine as my own well being has been mental more than anything else.

NC rd p

As much as I live for the moment, it is right now as my wheels are already rolling. It is as my eyes and senses have honed themselves, prepared for the new experiences. I kind of feel like an old timer now and yet at the same as a teenager going out on their first date. The perplexities of being on the road have vanished a bit, I can recognize the signs that will lead us to spaces we like to adventure ourselves on. My energy is more now on ourselves rather than the so many question marks being on a path no too sure as where to step on next. There is definitely a higher level of an all around gratification.

sign  

NC rd h

I found time last evening for a final ride a bit before sunset, North County Rd, just a few miles south of us, off #118. The road actually connects to South County Rd and is a shortcut to Terlingua. I have never been able to ride it because of a dry bed creek crossing with its banks a bit too step for the sidecar nose. The weather was intense, as I stopped often for photos, the jacket came off and the words “perfection” and “thank you” were at the tip of my tongue. The roads crosses a large Ranch and as we stopped the caretaker actually chased us down to implement the law of anyone not stepping on their private property.

NC rd g

flower  

Their had been a couple Magazine Articles about the road lately, a public road, where “fossils” could be found and he had initiated a few chases off the land. Oh! well… much respect I said, no worries, as he finally recognized us and offered back some freedom of roaming. I guess Spirit is not as popular as I thought! The nice part about big Ranches is the isolation of the roads with their constant geological changing structures. Peaceful it was. I expected to turn around when reaching the dry creek bed, but to my surprise it had been totally graded. Great I thought, and yet my time limitation to get back to more chores made it’s point.

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NC rd i  

It does not make much sense really to have a time limitation when one has no schedule. It is just the fact that we want to leave and still so much needs to be organized, put away, making sure everything is in good working order, ourselves and Old Faithful included.

NC rd k

NC rd l  
NC rd b NC rd c

So we turned around anyhow, will leave the complete route for the next time, something new to look forward to. We also spend a complete day in Alpine running around for more errands I cannot even remember unless I looked at my past list. I am always under the assumption that we will not go through a town for a long time, and of course this does not happen when I have a destination in mind, this time being Valley of the Gods and everything around it. I just feels better being prepared, not having to look for stores, just go!

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I always feel at Home in Alpine! Everyone is Friendly, one can find just about anything needed, it has been a good space for us when spending the day, most of it as usual chatting always ending up with a late ride back to The Oasis for us. They have provided us with a Satellite phone which we will carry. The Big Bend Phone Company has been one of the most admirable Company I have ever dealt with, providing a phone line and high speed DSL right here… right out of the ground as strange as that could be in the middle of nowhere. A few good and inexpensive places to eat, what more can one ask for.

Rasta Co

Talgar's  
Table Chairs
Peppers Mural

I cannot see nothing wrong these past times spend here. Nothing at all. The land will be here, always welcoming us back as I know we will be back a bit older and maybe even a bit wiser? Who knows as I keep thinking at a quote from Albert Schweitzer – Ethics cannot be based upon our obligations toward people, but they are complete and natural only when we feel this Reverence for Life and the desire to have compassion for and to help all creatures insofar as it is in our power. I think that this ethic will become more and more recognized because of its great naturalness and because it is the foundation of a true humanism toward which we must strive if our culture is to become truly ethical.-

Door

I can only hope that the doors of the path we are taking are not “Cerrado”, they have been wide open in the past as ours have also been and will be for anyone finding us through our SPOT!

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Twenty nine months of Photography is finally in order on SmugMug… In “Your Favorites”, in “States”, some labeled “first year” and second year”, now also “Texas the third year”. Feel free to browse, you can even use the slide show mode and have fun. Merchandise is also available through SmugMug. If you like to order prints, all sizes are available as I store the originals myself considering the huge bandwidth needed to upload them on the Galleries.

Maybe your reading the Blog is worth $1 a month…

Be well…

Ara & Spirit

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6 Responses to “How about a blank page! Texas”

  1. Zelda Says:

    Dear Ara and Spirit,
    Reading your musings, I can feel the peace you have found in nature and friends at your Oasis and on your explorations. Now as you set out on your spring travels may the same peace be with you and Spirit. We will be with you too, following your Spot.
    Always take gentle care of yourself and Spirit,
    Pam & Randy

  2. MsBelinda Says:

    Ara and Spirit,

    Will miss your posts from my favorite part of the country but will gladly follow your journey wherever it may take you. Have a safe trip.

  3. texascindy Says:

    Looking forward to travelling on with you and Spirit! May you always find whatever you’re looking for…

    Safe travels,
    Cindy

  4. Gail Says:

    Glad to see that you have not grown tired of the road. Hope your journey continues to offer you peace.

  5. Colorado Kid Says:

    Greetings from the Sierras! Hope your journey to Valley of the Gods is a great one!

  6. Artful RV Adventurer Says:

    odd that we are exchanging places… you, hitting the open road again… and Bobbie and I, coming off the road, again. I will share in your adventures from “home,” anticipating our next journey. Here’s to paths that cross again, Godspeed…
    mark and “the quiet one”

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