A Few Notes on Nothing

Got to hand it to the guy who is at dead horse camping with the family. He has approximately three highly strung teenaged daughters and oddly odd wife who is not as loud as her girls and maybe a family friend, or extra wife along, not sure.

The girls scream and cultivate hysteria over everything. You would have thought a bear was attacking them. I think it turned out to be a lizard or bug, not sure. They constantly go to the car turn on the headlights, open and close doors, generally fidget and fuss. They seemed to be having fun from the sound of it. Sound was my main source of observation because I was under and behind trees in my little tent. No escaping it.

I noticed the next morning as I was packing up and pulling out that they had a little tent city going. Three or four pink tents and one larger blue tent. I'm guessing the girls all have identical pink tents. Nice ones, too. The things parents go through trying to provide for their offspring. In a way I envy the guy. In a way I don't. I do like the fact that they were out as a family and their kids were having fun, like cats, imagining great drama where none exists. It must take a patient man to oversee such madness. Never did I hear him raise his voice. No indication of discord. I think it is a mistake that family life is not glorified in more effective ways. Maybe it is the dissolution of gender identity and individual sense of purpose that has done this. Who knows.

I wonder if the fact that people in such settings are less friendly toward strangers is related to the family thing or otherwise significant. I have noticed that fewer people will return a hello or a nod than in the past. Region has something to do with it but not everything. The gradual refusal to respectfully acknowledge the existence of others in certain real life situations is not healthy. More than likely these same people would lol all over the place on their smart phones and computers with complete strangers they'll never see in person.

I hope I never become so insecure that I can't look at a person and at least give a nod of acknowledgement that they exist.

Off the subject. I think I am hooked on the western USA, especially the parts not overly populated. Aside from the wide open largeness and magnificent landscape, there is so much potential to organize and build in ways that haven't been done. It is important not to do it as it has been done because it is obvious that those methods lack foresight. Traffic alone should prove that point. And I do not think the plans to reduce mobility and freedom, and herd people here and there is a reasonable alternative. Parameters should always include maximum individual freedom and choice, then you work the design from there paying attention to consequences on all fronts which you can identify. Ignoring the side effects is the flaw that screws things up. Imagining that humans have no right to be here and use resources is also a recipe for disaster.
the end

Forgot What to Say In Tremonton Utah

That's where I am now. I'm headed up through southern Idaho and on up toward Seattle. People I ought to see. N2 and his cool girlfriend, S, and I don't know.

Anyway, at first I planned to see the land features I really love-the big beautiful mountains in Colorado, but then I realized I need to see the people who put up with me or share my blood, or both. This has resulted in taking roads I've never travelled and seing sights from another angle, or seeing things I've never seen. Like the mountains around Salt Lake and Provo.

I was going to go to the Salt Lake itself, but there was too much traffic and crowd. The season is on, and the fourth of July hooplah has already begun. That means hordes of people hell bent on getting away from it all with all the other people of like mind. It looks stressful. They'll have to rest and sleep when they get back home and go to work. That's what jobs are for in many cases; a good place to sleep while pretending to be busy.

If you do drop by Tremonton, JC's diner is off the highway maybe half a mile or so but it is your best bet for a cheap good meal, and people with a good diner attitude. Lots of locals there.

Thanks to a tailwind, the tour mobile achieved 32 mpg over the last 450 miles. I think it is doing its best to make me realize that it is as good as the first tour mobile which met an untimely and unfortunate demise due to Over the Hill Trucking's (out of Sacramento) negligent and dangerous conduct and subsequent dishonesty and lying which backfired, hahaha). I realized that I have never put this many miles on any vehicle I ever owned. I've owned a few longer, maybe, but never have I put that many miles on them. I guess it comes to over 30k per year, easily. This trip alone has been somewhere between 6 and 8 thousand.

I'm not sure because I zeroed out the A trip odometer by mistake. I zero B at every fill up so I can exercise my brain and do the math in my head to figure milage. I can't believe the mpg I get, considering I have to run a/c so much. One reason I don't rough it in that way is so my computer won't get too hot.

When I get home it will be close to time for a new timing belt and brakes. Even in the terrain outside Taos and some passes in Utah, I didn't use brakes much. It is an automatic but I drop it down into D3 or even 2. Where I live, I do the same thing. No need to go through brakes in a hurry. If there had been a 5 speed that met the conditions I needed at purchase, I'd have bought it. I don't think current automatics are really any drawback. It is nice to have control and and all that but I can deal with either one. And I'd be fretting over burning out the clutch if I had one so maybe this is best.

This town is not as touristy as some, and it seems like a good place. Two coin laundries, what more could you want?

None of that is what I thought about to say. I wonder what I originally had in mind?

I kind of lost focus and didn't know where to go there for awhile, but then I settled on a plan. All I knew this morning was I'd decide by the time I hit Salt Lake City. One plan was to go left on 80 and then something. Another was to go right toward Colorado, and the final one is to head up 84 and wind up in Seattle. I feel better now that I have a clue and some reason.

There are times when I like to wander aimlessly and times I prefer to wander aimfully.

Travel Tips and Thoughts for Aimless Gypsies:part N of N+X

First thing you should know: avoid driving up I-15 past Provo and Salt Lake City Utah.
The road appears to be perpetually under construction, blocked lanes are poorly marked, it is bumpy, and the traffic is heavy.

OK, that sounds normal for much of America. Here's the catch; the people driving on that road are mostly totally nuts. Perhaps it is a Utah thing, or just that area, I don't know. You have anywhere from 3 to 5 or 6 lanes going your way. Number of lanes is a bit vague at times. The speed limit is 55 in that zone which goes on forever; from below Provo to north of Salt Lake.

So, what do the people do? First, they speed up so that everyone is going 65 or 70 even though cops do pull people over. It is safer to go with the flow and try to put yourself out of the path of the many wildcats who pass at 90 mph even though they can see that everyone in all lanes a tenth of a mile ahead has suddenly slowed to 50. They like to pass on the right then swing to the left a foot in front of the car the just passed, then hit they brakes so as not to collide with the group ahead. If you foolishly adhere to standard rules of the road and pass on the left, you better watch out when you get back over to the right because the rocket jock driving the pickup may collide with you if you aren't aware. He certainly won't be watching for you.

I have a theory. Yes, S, I know I already shared this with you.

Some miles before the highway madness zone begins there is a billboard that reads, "Holding Out Hope For Polygamy". I think that is in an 80 mph zone. I did not catch the website at the bottom but they have one.

I'm thinking, it's like holding out hope for legal pot--yea, there is that hope but in the mean time people just go ahead and do it. In the case of polygamy this means a few guys who have the inside track on such things are scooping up more than their share of women. This leaves all the other young males in a bit of a quandary, especially if they are part of this belief system. It is like radical Islam--too many young males with very serious sexual issues and frustration, so they go crazy and act out in inappropriate ways.

The result is that the unsuspecting gypsy is taking his life in his hands on that road. Apparently some of the mac daddies are spread a little thin, so it results in peculiar frustration for some of the wimmins too. These people are nuts, whether my theory explains it or not. Just a word to the wise. And I lived in Miami for quite some time. If you've driven there in the last 30 years you know that me saying this stretch of highway is possibly crazier than that is saying a lot.

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Another tip: the long meandering road trip causes nose and ear hair to grow faster than normal. Toe nails, too. If I was into government grants I'd see if they'd pay me to conduct a study on this phenomenon.

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Not so much a tip as a WTF?
If you are a male between 50 and 60, about 75 pounds or more overweight, completely gray, I honestly think a tattoo of Frankenstein's head covering the entire side of your ample calf, plainly visible because of course you wear gym shorts and sandals, is not a fashion statement you need to make for any reason I can imagine. Your swagger and habit of standing at the convenient mart counter legs apart, swaying side to side and to and fro also does little to win friends and influence people. You're already taking up more space than your proper allotment. Again, perhaps a good subject for study on government grant. I won't bother with the rest of the "look", My mind went into overload at Frankenstein.

The good looking chick with a partly visible full portrait of a woman covering her back complete with some kind of background was another puzzle. That one probably has a story. I have a feeling the guy just thought, "hmm, tattoos are cool now. Frankenstein is awesome, dude. Put Frankenstein on my leg and I'll be cool too."

To each his own, but I can wonder and puzzle as is my right. I chalk him up to the Utah thing.

I should note that inn keepers and diner personnel here are rather personable and nice. Almost Southern, in the good sense.

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another Tip; if you detect a merchant in a high tourist area has the attitude that all travelers are beneath him or her, don't buy there. Those who make their living off of travelers and visitors fall into two groups: those who know which side their bread is buttered on, and those who don't. I haven't spent much but my hostile-to-outsiders meter has cost people some money. It has made money for the souls who generate a feeling of gratitude and respect.

If you work in the take money from tourists business and you hate travelers, then get out of that line of work. We'll all be happier for it.
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Almost forgot--if you can get where you are going on highway 89 or 89A, and you have the time, that is the road to take. Much more interesting than the big interstate highways. Many cool and interesting places on that road. After all, that is the road to Jerome, AZ, and it runs up here in Utah too.

Cool

My little G niece with the shades I gave her. Her parents also have their shades on in the bigger picture, but I did not want to get in trouble in case they don't want the fame posting their likeness might bring. The baby won't complain.

The glasses strap on so they don't fall off, or the ear piece poke the baby in the eye.

Can't Get There From Here

These pics were not shot by me, but they combine to give the feel of the area where now I am.

There is more traffic and around the bend, a little more to the town. It is a tastefully arranged tourist trap, and not a bad place. Several lodging options of all kinds, and many eateries and bike paths and whatnot. This pic is misleading.


Soon, I will again consult a map. My goal is to get to the ocean some way which involves as little desert as possible. I'm in some of the red rock mesa canyon, wild country now. Kanab, Utah. The locals try to run over you, unless you are doing business of some kind with them. In that case they are friendly, competent, and accommodating.

The countryside is pretty spectacular. This is not too far from the north rim of the Grand Canyon, or from Zion national, whatever it is called. I've been both places. Three years ago I camped at the north rim in a fairly primitive campground

That was the place where a bus pulled in at midnight. Keep in mind this is not a place with lights or anything. Off marched the Harvard Glee Club, who immediately broke into a world class rendition of "In the Still of the Night". They definitely rocked. Then amid giggles and who knows what they arranged themselves on blankets and in sleeping bags all around the bus. They were toward the end of the place.

It was then that I accepted the fact that my life moves, often, in a dimension which seems slightly askew from the one you normally see. Either I died and this is the after life, or I dwell somewhere else much of the time. It is OK either way. That Glee Club thing kind of shook me, under the circumstances. I figure it is better to embrace the twilight zone, should you wind up there, rather than fear it.

So, I am not wanting to repeat the same experiences this time so much. I'm following whim, gut, intuition, and orders from unseen beings.

Right now I am going to pul up a map and see what looks the best course to take. Soon, I must go home. I do not believe anyone will pay me to do this forever, and I like my east county San Diego place. I hope they don't sell it for awhile.

Holy smoke!! I've wandered myself into a pickle. There is no good way to go unless I go way up high, then come down, and in that case I cannot imagine spending much time on the coastal highway. Deserts and salt flats.

Woe is me. I may go up toward Salt Lake City and up through Idaho.
The other option is to bite the bullet and do the desert at night. Tis may be the wisest choice even though I'd like to mae it u to Seattle. Maybe I can just fly there later.

Yep. I will take the quick way out. It is close to time that I want to be home. Mostly I want to get out of 4th of July canyon tourist crowds. It is already starting.

Some Gypsies Use Maps Sparingly

Today I realized that I am quite competent when it comes to reading maps, but I seem to see less need for them than one might expect. It is a lifelong habit. When I drove to NC for the first time to go to school there, I traveled according to a friend's directions; take 95 until you get to 52 and go left, then when you get to 49 go left and you'll see it.

52 goes a long way before you get there. In any case, I made it. All 800 miles or however far it is from Miami.

What puzzles me is why I decided to hit Jerome now and not later. I was up closer to CO and all that when I was down by the river up above Taos. I guess I thought I'd get it out of the way. I formulated two goals today; the one long standing goal of not wanting to die in Memphis, and the new goal of returning to San Diego without driving through a bunch of desert. The latter requires a northly path. If I can swing it--time and money--I'll come down the coastal highway.

Jerome is still pretty unique. I almost tried to see if I could sit in with a group playing in a tavern there. The music begged for it, although they were not at al bad, and the crowd liked them. The doorway smelled like beer, or more precisely like a drunk smells who got drunk on beer. Between that and the probability that the group was doing well with the crowd, and may wisely subscribe to the theory, "if it ain't broke don't fix it", I did not try to see if I could play.

I was disappointed that the store where I bought my moccasins is not the same place any more. I think shops close and open and change regularly, although many are just as they were.

This place is called Dead Horse Ranch State Park. My tent is in one of the shady spots. It was 99 today but breezy. It should drop to the 50's but after dark the wind died completely. I'm hoping for breeze but it may take awhile before it comes.

One thing I'll say for Dead Horse, they have clean showers and such. And they don't charge much. They shouldn't for just a tent. Near Ballistic Mountain in California I checked a state campground and it was something like thirty bucks just to pitch a tent. What's the point? I'm mostly trying to keep costs down, and I do like getting out in the middle of nowhere some. The fairest rate was on the Hondo river. You crazy enough to camp here--have at it. Gratis. I wonder if the converted school bus that was at another pull of there was housing homeless people or real deal nomad gypsies. With that set up, you could live pretty cheaply.

Well, I thought I'd write because I could, and to kill time waiting for a little breezy coolness. I pitched the small tent this time because it is only one night and it goes up quick. I'm not sure the other one would have fit as well under the low limbs of my shade tree.

Who would ever have thought I'd be friggin camping, and be carrying two tents? I did have three but the other one had issues so I got rid of it at the outer banks. It worked well enough in Mississippi. Mostly, since it was up, I made do.

The peculiar part of this trip is that I could just wander indefinitely and not feel like stopping for good. More accurately I guess that is the peculiar part of being me. I envy those who put down roots have giant families and people always around, yet I could be a nomad. Maybe it is like second best and since first best is just not there, I work with what I got.

The above best is relative to me and may not apply to anyone else.

For a long time on this journey I spotted no other CA plates. Once I returned to this side of the Mississippi that changed, but I still only started seeing them once I got to New Mexico. They are usually like me, a little arrogant, although I'm more polite than most. I think we look at each other and wonder wy we decided to drive away from all that and into an oven. In my case it is due to things on another plane in another dimension--what Sedona wishes it could do.

What a country!!! We are really lucky. And I know I am quite fortunate to have the chance and good enough health to be doing this. I cannot explain the reason, but it feels like there is a profound purpose as regards things in my life that may need tweaking.

Quick Arizona Trivia

Arizona does not do Daylight Savings time, because they have no need to save daylight. The sun actually never sets in Arizona until it has baked and blinded everyone on the highway. If traffic is slack, the sun never sets at all, it just dances around like a boxer waiting to take a shot at your eyes.

Sometimes you can trick the Arizona sun by wearing sun glasses on top of your head facing backwards, as well as a pair worn the normal way. But if it gets just a glimpse of your eyes, it will go for them. Beware!!!

Town Review: Gallup, AZ

So, decided to head toward Jerome, AZ, then decide whether to hit some of CO or what. I did not research it or consult the map. Why not just let the GPS lady in a box do the work? She is kind of boss, but I like her and she rarely disagrees with anything I say.

Anyhow, I thought, "Why not spend the night in Gallup?". After that I could decide whether to take very back, back roads or follow GPS lady's suggestions.

Some miles before arriving there was a sign which read, "Gallup, New Mexico's adventure capital!". There are various types of adventure. You can pretty much file any of them one of two ways; good adventure or bad adventure. I believe there is good reason that the sign did not specify.

I'm assuming there is some sort of historical value having to do with Rte 66. Motels abound. Pure garbage abounds. Worst of all, they think they are such a hot tourist trap that even good name chain motels play bait and switch with their signs.

The competition is great enough that many of them post the rate on one of those moving light signs. So, I saw one I liked, and since it also claimed discounts for being old, or AAA, figured I'd get them locked into the ad rate, then ask how senior is senior. Usually the look and say you have to be over 55, or 50. It is flattering. But then they try to mouse out of it.

This place, however, said, "oh, I'm sorry, the only rooms we have left are ($10) more than the advertised rate. I'm not one to argue about it. When I don't like the way they do business, I do not do business with them. I also happen to know that this chains rooms are all the same. Maybe they sometimes have a king instead of two smaller beds, but they've never charged me a different rate for that.

I looked at some other places then said "hell with it, this place is named Gallup for a reason". I'm guessing that in the old days, if it was as unappealing as today, a sensible cowpoke would gallup away as fast as he could upon seeing the hell hole he'd happened upon. Of course today they even have lower speed limits around the town on the interstate and everywhere just to test your discipline.

I toured the town and am now maybe 50 or 70 miles west, near Chambers, at the Chieftan Inn. Sounds like a condom name.
At any rate, they charge a fair price, don't BS you, and I like the ambiance of this dive. Where Chambers is, is anyone's guess.

All I see is this motel complex and a spiffy gas station, and little convenience store. And it beats the hell out of Gallup, AZ!!!!

In A Tent; DOWN BY THE RIVER!!

It would be a good place for a homeless person who had a car and a tent. It is secluded but close to a road, right by a rapidly moving very shallow, clear cool refreshing river. I did not try it, however I could see the river serving many purposes, including nature's bidet!

There are a handful of places between Arroyo Seco and Taos ski valley ski area where you can pull off onto a sort of dirt road in the trees and camp right by the river. On the other side of it the peak rises very steeply. It is hard to believe the trees can grow on such vertical terrain, but it is heavily wooded almost to the top, then it is stone, waay up there. On the opposite side of the road it just rises up to another ridge, but not as steep.

I thought I'd get the eary weekend crowd but I did not. The place where I pulled in ony had room at each end so the other people were about 100 yards downstream, with some large, and small, trees between us. I couldn't hear them for the rush of the river and all the rapids.

It is shallow enough to walk in without geting swept away, and, of course, it has all those cool, smooth river rocks. In a couple of places there were even little islands of river rock, just barely above or at river level. I stepped in where it was mostly ankle deep and never up to my knees. Very cold, but it felt great.

No cell signals were to be had there so it was a good place to clear my head and pay attention to casting out the stupid worries I carry, and all that sort of stuff. I saw no UFOs, and BigFoot never dropped by even though I telepathically invited Mr/and/or/Mrs/and/orMiss/and/orMs BigFoot to come have some Cuban coffee. I heard the are quite intuitive and all that. Could be a language barrier, even telepathically.

I've thought of man things to mention but I forget most of them if I don't make a note. I made some notes earlier in the trip, but I am not sure where the note pad is.

Here's a pic down by the river

Temporarily Off In Another Dimension

Made it to Taos.
May hang in the vicinity a day or more.
Other than that, nothing to say, and that's about it.

Lot of traffic in Taos proper. Some great streams and camp locales up in the hills.