"The Oasis of my Soul"... a Lifelong Journey on the road...

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Thanks for the offer!

I was even thinking of heading out to SE Utah this Spring!

You need to find a nice canyon to settle into during these very windy days...........and let the winds blow over the top of you!:camping:

I don't normally like to camp in canyons. I prefer spots like Muley with forever Scenic views. But I don't like the wind either.




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[kcowyo]

According to friends from Missoula, MT down to Santa Fe, NM the winds are howling down the spine of the Rocky Mountains. The big winter melting off is creating strong winds all over the region. They will be tough to escape.

You're in a great spot Ara. There is magic out there. I would love to be spending the week in VOG. I'm sure the winds make it difficult. Hang in there and hang on to something heavy.


"To achieve the incredible, you have to attempt the impossible."
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[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Send you an e mail KC... hope to see you this weekend...

Back in Bluff, Utah…

That view, that serene… and windy (!!!) space is no more as we have moved back to Bluff trying to get some tranquility with the weather. There is no rest when it blows in the Desert, and so strange as there is really not much of a danger, must be a mind thing!
Just hanging out here, will be dealing with some tires that should arrive shortly. Seems that the nearest shop that could mount them is a Norton Dealer in Dolores. I have send them an e mail to find out if they could also balance them.
It is time to clean up a bit, everything we own is red, dusty and beat! Not a forgiving environment…
More roads to explore around here, trying to figure out where we are going next besides again Monument Valley where none of my pictures turned out!
More on the Blog…Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[Saline]

Great photos! I feel your pain on the wind. We have had 6 cold fronts come through Utah & Western Colorado in the past 2 weeks, causing hellacious winds every time! The good news...we should be done for a while!
Be safe!

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

yes?... when?... I keep checking the weather sites... and none match!!!
Great name... I have two step sisters, one named Taline, and the other Sarine!

KC... where are you?... you stood me up!!!... and then again... I never plan any more!!!

People we meet and a bit of Monument Valley, Utah

At this time of the year, a ride is a gamble trying to see the sights… always the wind which can change within even 10 miles from one place to another. We tried Monument Valley twice and got lucky once, but we will not camp there as we will be headed a bit north again, probably camp at the Needles, the southern part of Canyonland. Eventually back to Moab for a bit… and then… who knows!
We meet some interesting people on the road, they are out there, just have to bump into them or make a U turn and chat!
That is mostly what is on the Blog today, specially Joff, I lift my hat to him… you need to check out his website.
You be well… see you on the road… everyone seems to be going somewhere.
Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Thanks for visiting KC and Mia... awesome time... I will forgive you since you end up camping in heaven!!! I would have done the same...
Good shot in the Blog!!!

Around and around in Circles, Utah

We had the good fortune to meet a big group of balloonists the other day going through Mexican Hat and end up spending a great morning with them, learning about the intricacies of the sport… It seems like a sport after all with more people on the ground helping than in the air. A great bunch of people and some shots which turned out not too bad after all.
We will be most likely writing from Needles next time, the southern entrance of Canyonland. Many friends are suppose to show up in Moab also but… will see how that goes.
We are doing good here, things have relaxed since being better sheltered, amazing what some nasty weather can do while living on the road…
Enjoy… the balloons!
Be well… always…
Ara & Spirit

 

[Ursidae69]

The balloon pictures are awesome Ara, nice work. Glad KC found you and Spirit too. :friday:

 

[kcowyo]

Ara, it was a real pleasure to get to spend some time visiting with you.

We really appreciated you letting us horn in on your Sunday afternoon. We loved the White Elephant and seeing you and Spirit going down the road together. I will always remember spending a wonderful afternoon talking in the shade of a Cottonwood tree, while Spirit rolled around like a big puppy at our feet.

Thank you so much for sharing your time, photos, home and thoughts with us. And I don't mean just myself and Mia, I mean with everyone here on the Portal. I believe you are on a very special journey with a wide open ending. But for now, I just want to read the next chapter.

I hope the "move" today went well. We'll see you down the road -

 

[Saline]

I guess I spoke too soon. It snowed today in Grand Junction/Fruita. Travel safe!

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Hope we get to do it again... and, well... the move was not too smooth... sandstorms... but will try Needles again tomorrow!!! (we had to come to Moab!)
Glad that you all made it back... Seemed that it is snowing everywhere about 2 feet north!!!

Great day!


We will not fight against the weather anymore! Utah

Always trying to get somewhere! Just not taking “NO” for an answer… We had to yesterday, amongst more sandstorms in Needles. And I look at the forecast as we pushed north now, at Ken’s Lake right before Moab, and none of it looks much more conductive. So we will wait… eventually this will change also… Maybe we should have stayed in Bluff, well sheltered and warm.
But the road to Needles is something to see! Just so incredibly beautiful. Soon!
We are warm inside, we have food and good health… what else do we need really!… All things must pass as they say and this will too… Soon it will be over 100 degrees most likely… that thought feels already good…
Today is like an “opening” day as our project hanging pictures in a Gallery is done! You will see it on the Blog…
Till next time, always wishing you well…
Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Towards Needles, Utah

It was a beautiful day, one of those you know, A Gift from Mother Nature! Headed toward the southern entrance of Canyonland, leisurely, just relaxed with no fighting of the elements and stopping too often to take a picture and even hike a bit amongst the blooming cactuses… and sometimes chat with the tourists!
We are actually going back today to look for another campsite for next week sometime. BLM has much free camping, fenced and gated, but I checked and it will be like having our own piece of land for a while!
Interesting Petroglyphs also… all on the Blog! After all this time I still don’t know… “in” or “on” the Blog! Does it matter?
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[hrjaw]

Hi Ara! hope all is well. give Spirit a hug for me. :elkgrin:

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul..

All is well... Thanks! He appreciates it!!!...

Needles and back, Utah…

I started wondering if we will ever leave Utah!!! Tomorrow we are actually moving to the Needles area. Some friends have a great site and are moving… we are going to replace them! Maybe spend one night side by side… company will be nice.
The sights are endless, every step of the way is a rock, a formation so different from each other and I love rocks! I keep imagining how their shapes over those billions of years have changed to the present. It makes me feel so minuscule!
The scenery itself is changing. We rode the Colorado River yesterday and it was like a new ride… all has become green and actually we are going back today as the sun sets to take some pictures of the glistening waters…
The weather? THIS is the time to come and visit… T Shirt and Gear Jacket… that is all!
Today’s Blog is the rest of Needles first visit and some odd Artifacts from “The Hole in the Wall”…
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

La Sal Mountain loop, Utah…

I am writing this from Lockhart Pass, Needles area (Lat 38 10 / Long 109 40)… just in case you are in the neighborhood! Away from the campground, not too far from the road where I have already seen a few two wheelers go on probably to do the loop toward Hurray Pass…
But couple days ago we did the “La Sal Mountain loop” and one should not miss the incredible scenery, the fresh air and the nice curvy roads with still a bit of snow on the shoulders, enough to make a snowman for Spirit… or maybe it was a snowwoman?
Met up wit many riders coming through Moab including a group of old Indians from Holland! What a Hub it is…
Will be here a while… off the grid.
Enjoy the Blog… come and visit, plenty of room here!
Be well, Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Near Needles, Utah that is…

Great campsite and always much to see and experience! Today we are going to a Festival! Just found out from a reader a couple minutes ago… The Blue Hollow Festival near Monticello… have to talk to Spirit about it!
We have been here a couple days I think and doing not much… great sunsets… a cold snap… some good wind filled with sand to clean my teeth… just mellowing out and taking it all in.
Spend one night on the same site with some friends, a good dinner, some good laughs… I have to say that the company was great… A little ride into Needles… it has been all good.
I am starting to read about others coming to this area… I have the feeling we will meet more friends very soon… It “IS” that time of the year…
Check it all out on the Blog…
Be well, always… Ara & Spirit