“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a Family.  Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.”  ~Jane Howard ~

It is the morning after, always a good thing, the page has turned, same chapter, yet a new stage, the company of some good Friends. “Sandy”, “Terry” and almost 10 “Jack”. "The Adventure Trio". Tight squeeze of carry on for them even on two bikes when on the road for 4 weeks as their planned expedition is. Not the first, will not be the last one either. I knew they would be low on water, food, what a pleasurable thought it was when in Jackson yesterday shopping for all of us and filling up my 6 gallons of water. Drinking water that is as the Snake River here never stopping it’s melody supplies us with all the gray water we need. We met at Overland Expo just a few months ago, I felt an instant bond, how can one not when one meets father and mother and child travelling on two motorcycles with the constant outgoing message "it can be done". Don’t stay home, just do it. Lucky Jack.

A great dinner filled with conversations of our doings, a couple dinner flowing as a well tuned ballet, the stories were flowing. They also keep a Journal, a message for all to hear. “Don’t ask why, ask why not?”. In their barely early forties their path is laid out for the years to come. With Jack moving right along, Jack fishing or playing his guitar, they all have so much. It is an acquired taste of course, a step above the Television or Video Games.

They would like to be on the road full time, dues however have not yet been paid, they are aware of it all, they savor one moment at the time, the free time generously presented to them as the years have been going by.

Everyone is still asleep. The thought of fresh brewed coffee woke me up as I sensed through the double walled of our tent Mother Nature this morning was putting on a special show. She was. Cold, the night’s moisture covering everything surrounding us, the clouds drawn in shades of crimson and grays and all in between welcomed my early rise. I almost woke everyone wanting to share this sudden painting laid out, this show of colors and free form shapes setting up the spirits so generously for our day to come. But I did not. Even Spirit has not moved. Spirit….

Yesterday Mr. Spirit turned into a grumpy old man barking at everyone and showing some discontentment. It took me a while to realize we had never camped with anyone per say. Mr. Unfriendly surfaced, Mr. Territorial. I honestly have not been very happy about it, it took a while and much back rubbing from everyone to warm him up toward the idea we would be sharing our campsite. I sure hope he does better today.

It is breakfast time. Will see what we can rummage out of the Bear box. We have not seen one yet hoping it stays as such. I think we will head out toward Cody tomorrow and stay a couple days at some Friends campground. A shower is imminent! A need. A must. It has been a couple evenings, one day of riding toward the Tetons, finding a dirt road away from it all, we all think alike, we all savor the peacefulness of Nature becoming harder and harder to find, savor the spaces where Spirit can be off the leash and also as us feel free.

The parting was hard, their own parting from these 4 weeks on the road I know will be even harder soon and their future present moments however will always be filled with the memories the miles have laid out, memories no one can take away, all mixed in with future plans to do it all over again. Who knows? maybe they will even take up my invitation to come and see us at “The Oasis” in Texas where time always stand still once going through this imaginary gate never for such as us closed. Spread the word, Do it, you can. And yes, I miss my kid. Badly.

"I have had a great deal of interest in my photography over the years, for which I am grateful. Their sales are of much importance funding this Journal. Yes, please feel free to purchase one or two… or a few. I have been adding some photos lately, there will be more as I sift through about 100,000 of them.

Take a look. “Smugmug” stands for quality. Thank you”

Be well, always.

Ara & Spirit

This entry was posted on Monday, July 11th, 2011 at 8:05 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.