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

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

The Ghost Town of Shafter, Tx
A beautiful day, 300 miles of blue ribbon roads, a Ghost Town to wander with camera and senses in hand, Spirit in a jovial mood… what else can one wish for winter times?
I like Ghost Towns, they make me think a lot as they also make me imagine the past lives living on the same very same steps I take. Shafter also has a great Memorial Historical building always open with many photos hanging, stories as one could spend hours feeling part of it all.
We are taking off tomorrow morning for a couple weeks to the Hill Country. It is that time, cold or not, they called us… Del Rio first and then on north to some spaces we have been told to not miss. Have to be back by the 3rd for a Doctor’s appointment and then it will be on to Death Valley for February. They say it is good month for it. I am sure I will find Internet connections as we go along, but activating RSS feed is always the sure way to keep up with the Blog which I voice tape while traveling and eventually type with some strange results sometimes. We also have been loaned a SPOT for “help”, “emergencies” and also the tracking feature has been enabled. The link is on the Blog.
Be well… give us a wave! Ara & Spirit

 

[Tucson T4R]

I always enjoy your photos and thoughts. Thanks for sharing your travels.

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

To the Texas Hill Country, Tx

Being here now, in Leaky, after a not so good first 24hrs through Del Rio, how can one not fall in love with the area! We had never been here before and now I want to know all the back roads, the dirt roads, every single little town with it’s history, geology, you name it. I understand why everyone comes riding here, they are also perfect roads for a little bit of fun with the sidecar as the curves not being as tight as in Georgia, North Carolina or adjacent States. They are perfect. Many streams, rivers, photo opportunities, with clear waters in transparency with their bottom painted in their multitude colors of sand and erosion.
The people are the nicest they can be, we are having a great experience at the “Camp Live Oak” a couple miles north where they let us camp, use their power and WI FI, even feeding me these both nights! And yet, we are traveling I feel at fast speeds as we will head east tomorrow a bit to meet some Friends for a few days. The taste of the Hills has now been acquired! We shall return again soon.
Be well… always. Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

Houston, Tx

And why not? I received an e mail yesterday from a reader totally amazed to the fact that we could even be near by Houston. Picking our days we actually spend most of Saturday and Sunday downtown with my Friend Kristi playing the landscape, the skyscraper lines, the moving targets, all with our cameras in front of a dreary background as the weather has turned cold and gray.
Surrounded by her Family when back in her lively home, it has been time to do much cooking, conversations, a taste of an urban Life that both Spirit and I have been bypassing for a long time now. We will start heading back west soon, more Hill Country as we have barely skimmed the surface. Life on the road, a multi direction voyage never ceasing to surprise myself on a daily basis.
The sidecar rig has been in the garage, Old Faithful is resting for these couple days as she is nearing her 200,000 mile mark.
Enjoy the photos, they are of the Hills in the Blog.
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

Riding back to “The Oasis”…

Cold snap, night time ice, a couple more days in the Hills. Seems to have to order tires every time I turn around, hopefully they will meet us soon to enable us to take off for Death Valley within ten days at the most. We had much fun downtown Houston, I will have to remember that any Big City can be fun on the weekend when the streets are fairly deserted. The gray skies those two days have added another dimension to all these man made masses of cement, metal and glass standing in front of us. There is an Artistry to it, nothing in my eyes however comparable to Nature itself.
We should be back most likely Friday, I can taste the space awaiting us, same as I will be able to again taste the roads once out of “The Oasis”. It is always the same story! When here, want to be there… when there, want to be here. Trying to keep the balance of it all.
Today we rode “Old Tunnel Rd”, “Grapetown Rd” and “Willow City loop. Endless incredible roads, not much for photography however, but discovered other roads for future photos! Of course. Enjoy downtown Houston…Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[Ursidae69]

The Makings of a Friend, Tx
Be well… Ara & Spirit

Love this photo.

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

The short way back… Tx
More roads in the Hill Country discovered and put aside for the next round when not under a time restrain. The variety is intense. Some great for riding and some incredible for both riding and photography. Will try to make it back when the wild flowers are blooming making the shoulders and waterfalls of the rivers flowing through some, I am sure, incredible backdrops.
The ride back yesterday was pleasant with a tail wind that moved us smoothly here to “The Oasis” which always welcomes us with open arms.
We are again surrounded by the serenity and silence of the Big Bend Valley.
We rode and stopped in Fredericksburg to look at the old buildings and weathered old doors and stones, we photographed “Stonehenge” and ate the best BBQ I have ever had at “Cooper’s” in Llano. Trying not to look at the photos I took while eating, what a shame it is not next door specially that Spirit also totally agreed with my taste buds.
More photos on the Blog…

Be well, Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

Before Death Valley…

Incessant questions arises always within down time as we have been back to “The Oasis” after experiencing a few pages of the “urban” chapter of this Journey. This “is” the space to think truly, amazingly a fact I had not expected when deciding to base camp here for most of the winter. It is all good…
This might be our last day before leaving tomorrow for Death Valley. Something new… we will take the Freeway all the way! Not an attraction for sure but I just want to get there as back roads will take us over a month knowing very well how distracted I can be! 300 miles or so per day, about 140 miles the last day, we should arrive in 4 days. Never planned a route as I have this time, feels a bit strange, will see how it works out. We will probably stay a month or so, plenty of time to get familiar with the area, listen to I am sure some great tips as to where to go and not. Stovewell Campground at first till we discover better primitive camping areas. Our SPOT will be turned on, not too exciting however the first days!
Some more photos of our last adventures are on the Blog.
Be well…. Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

Freeways to Death Valley…

Texas to New Mexico was great as after arriving in Van Horn we were able to stay on the back roads all the way to El Paso which we bypassed. And then… now in Casa Grande we had to bite the bullet and ride the Freeway. Of course Murphy’s Law gave us a heavy nose wind dropping us down to 60mph at times and a great upper body work out! It lightened up, started over for some reason every time I read the “dust storm might form” big yellow sign! So it is par for the course. 470 miles from Death Valley right now tomorrow will put us close only if we stop… stopping so often! Old Faithful is doing well, she just turned 200,000 miles today, amazing machine with a unique soul she has been.
Calling for some storms tomorrow maybe while going through Las Vegas, we are well protected, 100% waterproof, except for gloves…
Off the Freeway photos on the Blog…
Till next time, from Death Valley, be well…
Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

Elevation “Zero”… Death Valley, Ca

Isolation makes it hard to post anything on the Internet, but somehow always manage to do so for my Blog. Slow, very slow connection is making it almost impossible for Forums. RSS feed (bottom of Blog opening page) and yet still checking the Blog every two to three days will be the only way throughout these times for anyone to stay with us!
One of the worse storm they have ever experienced has come through here a couple days ago. Most the non paved roads are closed, our stay might be a bit shorter as even when opening the grounds will be too soft and muddy for us to ride on.
Mother Nature sure has painted some beautiful images surrounding us throughout this vast and past Ocean bottom. A full Moon rising makes it all even better with temperatures a bit on the chilly side but tolerable.
The Dunes and other spaces photographed are on the Blog and recent past archives.
Be well, always.

Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

Mother Nature’s arms, Death Valley, Ca

Couple Blogs later I now have down time to post here a bit more while on our way back to “The Oasis”. It has been rough, cold, windy… I have to use the word “miserable”!!! Luckily with good Friends here in Kingman trying to regroup for the last 900 miles that will take us back I hope to some warmer and calmer weather. What was I thinking traveling in this fashion in the middle of winter? A miracle maybe! Overseeing what was within us in Texas to reach some spaces the wrong time of the year. I think I will kiss the grounds when we get back. We did manage to check out Dante’s peak, the outside only of Scotty’s Castle as coyotes in the parking lot would not cohabitate too well with Spirit while I took a tour. National Parks are so tough for us that we will have to avoid them in the future. There is still besides them many sights awaiting us where dogs are welcome and not frowned upon. More on the Blog…
Be well, always. Ara & my buddy Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

A slight detour and some Bloody Mary mix, Tx

Back at the Oasis, finally catching up with all the good stuff one has to in front of this screen that keeps staring at me. We end up taking a detour through the Texas Hills as again cold weather came upon us the last night camping at Garner State Park. My Friend Kristi and her daughter invited us for a couple days, as always excellent company and much photography. 23 degrees the last night spend… the handicap heated shower stall was a great idea… to sleep in. Just in case someone else comes across this peculiar situation. Till morning anyhow when the toilets started flushing!
Always great roads to ride, great food at BJ’s and Lost Maple Cafe, priced cheaper than home cooking. Much photography due to low waters and the many rocks and tree trunks dispersed within the creeks.
It feels good to be warm again here, high of 82 the temp said, short sleeve T shirt and no wool cap is more my speed and Spirit’s also since shedding his winter coat due to defending our campsite from Mr. Skunk.
More on the Blog, actually a couple posted Blogs.
Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul... Life Under the Stars...

Resting the old bones in Big Bend! Tx

With the temp hitting 100 yesterday, finally the bones are starting to thaw out from the frost that had penetrated them the past couple weeks. 100 felt pretty decent I must admit to my surprise, “hey sun”… bring it on I kept thinking, one more refill please and I will take yet another one today.
I am all ears from my readers toward unknown destinations when Spring comes. We are done with “tourist traps” even as magnificent some marvels of Nature can be. We are done with “National Parks” having Spirit frowned upon, only maybe riding through them for a few photos. Every corner of this country has a story and so do people we meet. I feel as on a new venture trying to put it all in perspective, blending both into one big basket of thoughts, photos and stories. An old building, an old bridge, old cars abandoned rusting away, a hill and a valley, a canyon or flat land, every square inch and its inhabitants have witnessed times past worth discovering. Exciting times ahead as is also the present now back at “The Oasis”.
You be well always… Ara & Spirit

 

[kcowyo]

Ara, I'm so sorry to see that Death Valley didn't work out. I had such high hopes for your trip and the countless images you would capture and share. That may have been a little selfish on my part...

My first thought when reading the above entry? Go back to Utah, Ara! Probably also selfish on my part. Then I read the blog and saw your comments, which made me chuckle. Either way, wherever the wind moves you, I'll be watching & reading, and as always cheering you on.

Last Fall, driving somewhere south of Page, AZ I saw a roadsign and it immediately made me think of you. It read - "Let Peace be the Journey"


Indeed.... Onward, with Spirit, your camera and peace.


:campfire:
.

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

Thank you for your kind words... That is exactly what I think... Spirit does too. Hope we see you on the road...

Back in the Saddle, Texas

Ah! Texas… cook outs, “tis” the season of them all. Socializing in these desolate vast areas in a busier fashion as even before. We have not even gone spend much time yet in Terlingua as time is spend around here cooking and eating and of course chatting with neighbors. Neighbors seemingly inexistent, but, that is only imagination as they are around and like wild fire the words spreads fast when a cook out will be happening. Everyone has their own kit! It seems as I should now have my own as I have been bailed out a couple times already! Silverware, napkins and cooler ready for the ice and beverages of choice. Water has always been ours… Spirit and I drink out of the same source, a simplicity that follows us.
Plans are unmade, for some reason that will always remain unknown, the destinations near by are pushed away for the next day or so, a funny thing while camping you here.
Cooking outdoor is an art I am learning, witnessing bread made out of Dutch Ovens and for that matter anything else going on those plates.
More of it on the Blog…Be well, always.
Ara & Spirit