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

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul..

I think Crested Butte in the summer and Terlingua in the winter...
Yes, rain... every day... every moment... can you do something about it???
Thanks... Oh! the Balloons... we want to come and see the Balloons... any thought?

Flaming Gorge. Ut

We just don’t seem to be able to leave Utah! Flaming Gorge is everything I had heard of and more. Only still wishing the weather would cooperate a bit, thunderstorms, 40’s, strong winds, the windows of opportunity have become rare these days.
Yet we had a chance to ride to Manilla with a detour taking the Geological Tour road which is one not to miss, we have stopped at the sights of the Red Canyon and today, if we can, we are going to ride the northern part which is in Wyoming.
Fishing is the huge industry here, I might be the only one that does not fish, something I would like to do but always too pricey when seeking for a license being from “out of state”.
The geology is incredible, so much work has been done for us to finally experience the displays ahead of us.
I am definitely regrouping these days, it is that time of the year, maybe that time happens more than once a year! I am looking at map… weather forecast… we want to go where it is “hot”!!! Enough of this…
Be well…
Ara & Spirit

 

[Saline]

Great photos!
It seems that we have been getting an early dose of the Monsoon season here in Colorado. We have had T storms every day for about 3 weeks now. Beautiful skies and awesome temps though! I know the high country has been getting slammed every afternoon.

 

[DaJudge]

Ara,

The Ballon Fiesta is Oct. 3-11 this year. You should definitely come down! Maybe it will be a good stop over on your way back to texas.

Glen

 

[beemerchef]

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

Lander. Wy.

Beautiful country here. The rolling hills mixed with passes with cool temperatures, green everywhere, the roads just as perfectly laid out ribbons enticing for a pull over every few miles, new spaces so inviting. Today surprisingly the skies this morning are blue with barely a few puffs of clouds, could the weather really be changing? There was an opening yesterday morning that enabled us to head up to “Sinks State Park”, it did not last too long ending up through the day with some furious thunderstorms and I would think some flash floods in many areas. We are lingering in Lander, catching up on the Internet as preparing to leave Tuesday as also know my connections will not be presented as often. Writing the Blog is an easy task being done off line, keeping up with this thread will be a bit harder, RSS feed has always been for me the main solution for myself to read other’s words. It does work for “The Oasis of my Soul” also.
New tires, repacking, looking at maps while visiting my good Friends KC and Mia in this quaint little town, that is what has kept us busy… Much to discover in this part of the country, it is laid out on the Blog.
Be well… till next time,
Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Riding West…

Finally all packed in Lander, short good byes as we will be back after a bit of Nevada. Weather unlike today was perfect, the winds mild and the spirits finally up there nearing a 10. A bit of detours on dirt roads was not possible, the mud still being too soft from such much past rain. Spirit is in his full element at the helm as he never ceases to amaze me going with the flow. Never seen a dog that adapts himself so well to the environment, day in and day out. As long as I am around we are fine. Walking away and leaving him behind for a few minutes? Forget it… unless in his car where he feels nice and secure as he knows I will be back.
Highway 89 joining Bear Lake to Logan, Utah, will remain in my mind and memories as the one to ride again. Seemingly the Mecca for riders as even being a weekday I caught many glimpses of two wheelers definitely not holding back in the handling department.
A couple more stop between here and Valley of Fire and eventually returning to Wyoming as I am told the best months are ahead.
Be well… always.
Ara & Spirit

 

[Larry]

Ara,

I have been following your thread here as well as your Blog for over a year and really envy you and Spirit’s adventures. Great photography and journaling! That dog is quite the sport!

If you roll down to Colorado on I-25 into Pueblo while you're in the WY area drop me a PM. I would love to meet you and Spirit. I have a well set up home shop if you need a place to maintain the bike.

BTW…..SPOT should pay you royalties! After following your shared SPOT page for the last month or so I went out and bought one for myself for an upcoming trip to Toroweep. Again, your Toroweep blog was the encouragement for me to want to get there.

Thank you for documenting your adventures.

Be safe out there!

 

[kletzenklueffer]

Ara- I've enjoyed the read and photos, quite an emotional voyage you're on. Your tory has a particular fondness to me for a couple reason, not the least of which is Spirit. I had a very similar Pit with honey and black brindle (just a shade lighter than Spirit). She had a touch of white on her belly and neck, and had her tail chopped before I got her. She was a dog pound rescue and was mine (or I was hers) before we even left. She passed on a year and a half ago at the age of 14. she was a sweet spirit and never aggressive towards people, but she liked a good scrap with other dogs every now and then. I always said she got along fine with other dogs as long as they accepted that she was boss. If they didn't, she would make an effort to persuade and usually came out as boss in the end. Her two best friends were an 85% Tundra wolf hybrid and a tea cup poodle. Just like spirit, she loved to ride.

Take care and take it as it comes!

 

[beemerchef]

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

Back in Lander, WY.

Do not attempt Valley of Fire this time of the year. We were actually the last ones to leave as they closed the campground for lack of visitors. Heat and more heat accentuated even more by the red walls of the surrounding landscape. Even shade was starting to take it’s toll as today I feel as recuperating from extreme exhaustion. I feel a bit old for the first time as I know years ago this tiredness would not be quite as prevailing. But “oh! well…” as they say. It was a bit too much in too much of a short time riding the 2100 miles round trip. The original plan was to be south for much longer… sometimes I don’t think! July… hello!
We are getting ready to find this little free camping spot on the Snake River between the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. We will probably leave Sunday, so ready to find that passageway back into our space which seemingly turned into a fast and furious pace, for us that is.
Today the rain is back here, I was told not to bring it with us, I think it is Spirit’s doing! No complain… after those few days in the smoldering heat, rain, cold and even snow are more than welcome.
Some more photos of Valley of Fire are on the Blog…Be well.
Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

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

Ara- I've enjoyed the read and photos, quite an emotional voyage you're on. Your tory has a particular fondness to me for a couple reason, not the least of which is Spirit. I had a very similar Pit with honey and black brindle (just a shade lighter than Spirit). She had a touch of white on her belly and neck, and had her tail chopped before I got her. She was a dog pound rescue and was mine (or I was hers) before we even left. She passed on a year and a half ago at the age of 14. she was a sweet spirit and never aggressive towards people, but she liked a good scrap with other dogs every now and then. I always said she got along fine with other dogs as long as they accepted that she was boss. If they didn't, she would make an effort to persuade and usually came out as boss in the end. Her two best friends were an 85% Tundra wolf hybrid and a tea cup poodle. Just like spirit, she loved to ride.

Take care and take it as it comes!

Hi Larry... thanks for writing... We might be going that route on the way back to Texas smetime in September. Thanks for the offer and let me know if you need help with SPOT. Their help service actually is very good...

Kletzenklueffer, I hope you get another buddy. as you know, they rule the world... right?

Red Canyon, Wyoming.

I wonder how many ride or drive by Red Canyon only to take a glance and go on at gazillion miles per hour. It is a fine road for any vehicle except when it rains, only 9 miles south of Lander or 21, depending which entrance of the loop one decides to enter from. The land is a protected Natural Habitat, it’s green carpets yesterday were lined with flowers from all colors and shapes. Much to ponder while there finally within a space I am so familiar with. A space quiet, serene and peaceful that has shut the doors to the every day Life seemingly what I feel I have experienced the previous days on the path of a fast pace… too fast for us.
Tomorrow we are pushing a bit more North, camping right in between Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. I have been warned about mosquitoes, I am only hoping that they are not too bad as the location is perfect to explore the many areas present.
We both "Thank You" for the "Happy Birthday Wishes".
Enjoy Red Canyon and take the loop next time if and when in the area, well worth it.
Be well…
Ara & Spirit

 

[GlobalMonkey]

B-day

Hello my dear friend,
Marianne and I would like to wish you the best to your b-day, be safe on the road and keep on feeding us with your beautiful photography...Tomas:victory:

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

Hello my dear friend,
Marianne and I would like to wish you the best to your b-day, be safe on the road and keep on feeding us with your beautiful photography...Tomas:victory:

Thanks you two... I'll take it as a compliment coming from you...
Sorry we did not hook up, you know how that goes! Maybe on the way back south soon... well, not that soon!

Yellowstone, near Cody. WY

Grand Titon National Park was a blur a couple days ago while checking out the beautiful free camping on Grassy Lake Rd. Mosquitoes by the thousands, Spirit was instantly not a happy camper and neither was I. And on we went, not even able to take a single photo of the picture perfect setting, not able to remove my helmet. I was warned… it did not come much as a surprise. Plan B? try the campgrounds, with not much luck as they were filled to the brim. Same in Yellowstone and by late afternoon not much of a choice but get near Cody were we will stay till Monday. It will be then on to Montana on a Friend’s Ranch where we can taste maybe then the lack of crowds. Such is always the situation within spaces as these, a destination for many specially during this Holiday coming up.
Plan C… pack real lightly, nothing compared to our round trip to Valley of Fire and go on to some overnighters back here and Grand Titon. Being an over packer I am already this time making a list of what to carry. Cooking will only be coffee as I will be making sandwiches. Tent, sleeping pad and pad with no cot, change of clothe, tools and that is it… Small tent. Old Faithful rides so much better without the kitchen sink!
Be well… always.
Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

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

More of Yellowstone. WY

Every campsite, every corner even through the Park is filled with tents as mushrooms sprouting in the middle of nowhere. Riding has turned into traffic jams in most places helped with unconsidered drivers that will stop in the middle of the road to take a photo of some creature that can only be seen with a pair of powerful binoculars. Most are even afraid to drive as their speed drops to 25 miles per hours followed by a procession of drivers that only try to pass them creating even more havoc. That is the scene within the Park! Not a pretty one and on this Fourth of July weekend I am wondering if sitting still would not be a better solution than trying to ride the complete loop through Chief Joseph Highway and Bear’s Tooth Pass. Hard to stand still however as even though the temperatures have dropped the skies do not look as menacing as yesterday when we rode 200 miles through rain, hail and sleet… in July! Will we get caught in heavy traffic going through Cody also? Wish I had been smarter and picked a location away from it all, some camping at the end of a trail to nowhere.
Right now my boots are still soaked from yesterday, they have proven not to be waterproof as the gloves as was wearing. Will have to wait till they dry anyhow. Spirit is resting, he was quite a trooper yesterday going with the punches as usual. He is the smart one… no doubt.
Enjoy the photos… it is a beautiful space.
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[beemerchef]

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

A great loop, Mt/Wy

Defying all Mother Nature’s obstacles, Chief Joseph Highway and Bear Tooth Pass is present more inviting than ever for the rides and drives of many. The roads are open with still much snow, cold temperatures, unfortunately the day of our ride some much darker skies following us. We made it to Red Lodge untouched and actually also back to Cody with just a few drops on the camera lens while taking photos of what was ahead of us, some real dark skies which decided to open up for our passage. Kind of love it when that happens, almost an eerie feeling, a mystery of Mother Nature parting the horizons on demand.
Right now we are in Montana and finally realize why they call it here the big skies… as they are big and finally this magic that I wear through this Journey is back. This is “the” space I have been seeking as we are camped out on some Friend’s property near Columbus, that is Columbus, Montana.
The land is huge, the silence is deep, we have not experienced the roads yet as there are many for the taking, this is as my Friend calls it “The Northern Oasis”.
Enjoy and be well… we feel good here! Very good…
Ara & Spirit

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Looking good....Ara and Spirit.

Awesome pic!


Be safe!




.

 

[beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Looking good....Ara and Spirit.

Awesome pic!


Be safe!

How have you been? San Diego still there??? :bike_rider:

The Big Skies of Montana

Even Spirit is doing so well here, his body language is of happiness as mine here is of Peace and Serenity. I wonder who said we will ever run out of land! The roads are to seemingly nowhere, the skies are huge and one can hear themselves think. We will be here for a bit, will have to move here and there, but this is mainly where we will stay till we make our way south again before winter. The eternal cycle, over and over…
The mosquitoes here are almost non existent, the bears I have not seen one yet, the birds are of many and the deer grazes around with no fear.
We did have to go into Bozeman yesterday, another visit to another Dentist as I lost one more tooth. At this rate I just might have to buy a pack of straws and change my diet forever.
It could have been worse, amazing how much pain can cost!
We are going to adventure ourselves into areas off the Parks, the hidden gems where maybe so few go and visit. The crowds did not suit us at all, why even go there if the feeling toward Mother Nature is robbed by the careless drivers, loud exhausts and the too many rules, specially toward Dogs, that National parks have.
“Point Reed” just a few miles from here is a gem of a town… enjoy the photos.
Be well… Ara & Spirit