beemerchef
Explorer
The fear of the fear will keep you back. Let it go and just take the first step. You can always return...
Thanks for writing.
Stay well. Ara and Spirit
"The Oasis of my Soul"... a Lifelong Journey on the road...
- Thread starter beemerchef
- Start date
The fear of the fear will keep you back. Let it go and just take the first step. You can always return...
Thanks for writing.
Stay well. Ara and Spirit
beemerchef
Explorer
"Dogs and Spiritual Materialism"
This would be the first time in over seven years while keeping a journal, posting an entry a friend, "Damun Gracenin", wrote. Obviously about dogs... "Dogs" with a capital "D".
It was just too good to not share as myself and Spirit while together 24/7 see and understand the reality of the meaning and words of it all.
Besides, the nights and days here are filled with the past pages of the book which is now entering its fourth edit. I must say, while driving my editor "crazy", for lack of a better word.
The experience is fulfilling. Some days are good, some not so good as the road does not cease calling our names. Yet, there is nowhere else we should be while here under good weather, silence and neighbors miles away. Another month? At the most I would say.
Our previous journal entry has a couple videos. One where I changed the angle of the camera facing Spirit and the other, again of Spirit, this time in the evening wearing his "new" Halo Belt collars. The company has a great future no doubt.They are optic fiber LED belts which also can be worn over the shoulder when riding and the same LED's as collars. Besides hearing Spirit's Bear bell, I can now also see where he is. Pretty amazing.
So till next time while I start on some chores here throughout this break. Maybe start packing!!!
Till next time.
Stay well.
Ara and Spirit
8th Year, the Stars, living under them…
beemerchef
Explorer
We have to go to FL in a couple months, so we will come through... and eat also your greatest food!
Captain of our Souls, TX
Life can be an amazing feat sometimes in charge of our path and at times not. Often we fall right in between hoping the cracks are not too deep.
The realization of an addiction came upon me last Sunday when after days on end, non stop pounding the keyboard throughout a fifth edit of the book [or is the sixth?] I shut it all down and on we went for a 400 mile ride. Life on the road is "addicting", so is riding. I can only very poorly express it, one has to experience it. Chatting always goes along on those road with the few we always bump into. Spirit is invariably most of the times the culprit.
While here, could be in Terlingua, the Park, Marathon or Alpine as it happened that day, the choices of destinations are many. The truth is, no destination is needed. We just go. No clock in sight, just a glance as to where the sun is and the wandering takes place.
I didn't think we would have to sit this long throughout winter, yet all is so close to a finish line. I had to give myself and others a deadline, we are are on the home stretch. March 10th is when the manuscript will be applied for Copyrights and on immediatly will start the many publishing steps in all the electronic formats and soft cover.
That day ride was a fine one. The best we have had in weeks. We could not get enough of it and returned past sunset watching the nightly show from a different vantage point than here at The Oasis. And now, to my surprise, another week has almost gone by. I think tomorrow will be time again to let it all out and implement that addiction of ours.
There are more thoughts on the Journal. Riding and thinking goes hand in hand. As I wrote, sometimes serious, often silly.
Till next time.
Stay well.
Ara and Spirit
8th Year, the Stars, living under them…
beemerchef
Explorer
Reconciliation with Life. TX
Five months later, the last punctuation has been typed, the manuscript of "Freedom on Both Ends of the Leash" has moved on to the publishers. It is time to pack up and move on rolling on our familiar path of unfamiliar roads. The present has seen a bit of a void and much free time surfacing back into our days. An odd feeling mixed in with a sense of accomplishment. It will be a couple more months before publication, I must have patience.
I am trying to decipher a route to Florida as far as Cedar Key, then back up to Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, those familiar neighborhoods we left years ago. All this hoping to be back to Southern Utah early May to enjoy some coolness in their deserts before having to escape more north.
Oil changes, new tires, clean up a starter, making a list, following that list, all will be part of the coming up ten days before we leave. It is all part of regrouping, a familiar scene always I must say exciting while knowing we belong to the road and nowhere else.
Spring is right around the corner for us! New destinations, looking forward to much photography and many new videos. That is about the whole content of our lives, Spirit and I.
Till next time.
Stay well.
Ara and Spirit
8th Year, the Stars, living under them…
Jim K in PA
Adventurer
Safe Travels, Ara.
You should consider a season on the east side of the Mississippi. Head north as the warm, humid air builds in the Carolinas, and escape to the Adirondacks, and the 1000 Lakes region. Head for Gaspe?
There is a place for you to rest and Spirit to run and sniff new smells here in the Pocono Mountains, if you come through.
You should consider a season on the east side of the Mississippi. Head north as the warm, humid air builds in the Carolinas, and escape to the Adirondacks, and the 1000 Lakes region. Head for Gaspe?
There is a place for you to rest and Spirit to run and sniff new smells here in the Pocono Mountains, if you come through.
beemerchef
Explorer
Thank You, very kind. Headed East in a few days!
The road calls...
It is that time. Time to head East which will include Florida and Georgia [meaning "Two Wheels of Suches" on Friday April 11th for a few nights!] and back to Southern Utah before the summer heat takes over Valley of the Gods. I am so much looking forward seeing friends we have left behind years ago. Some nice campfires as I know the stories will fly.
The contents of our book is being handled by a very knowledgeable trustworthy Publisher. The cover is taking shape, it is not the final version but close to it. It will be a few more weeks before being available in soft cover and all lectronic formats.
There is excitement in the air while thinking a bit ahead of the new upcoming days, each morning being a curtain rise for a new experiences, adventures, people met, photos taken and videos made. How could I ever turn my back on such a Lifestyle. I think it is too late to do so.
Three days left and suddenly on this Monday I cannot lose a single hour packing it all in. We have done this so many times, yet it always feels brand new. It is all pretty amazing I must say, we are on the road for a "permanent picnic!".
Mother Nature is gifting us these last days spend at The Oasis with some incredible Sunsets,, a Sunrise while the Moon at the same time is setting, colors unimaginable while riding the many miles of dirt roads to nowhere and now again, much more time for cooking.
All in the Journal...
Till next time.
Stay well.
Ara and Spirit
8th Year, the Stars, living under them…
beemerchef
Explorer
Thank You.
A day at the Dragon Boat Festival in New Iberia, LA
We are covering a lot of territory as today only 150 miles south of Atlanta. It feels odd, strange, at the same time as we just took a long ride and back to refuel before heading West one more time... for a few more years. Has been 89 months, roughly 2700 days, we have barely crossed the starting line.
While spending a few days in New Iberia with a very Dear Friend of ours, we attended the Dragon Boats races. This is as close as we will get to a Mardi Gras. I think.
The weather? We have been watched over. Open skies while getting to Vidor to visit more Friends, the same while en route for Louisiana and throughout our stay. As soon as we left bad storms took on New Iberia. Dark skies but calm while renewing my Driver's License in Pensacola and arriving in Georgia through Alabama right behind the creeks flooding yet receding for us. What can I say?
Enjoy the photos. We sure had a good time and much food those days. Mainly shrimp and crawfish. Two items I have been dreaming about while sitting and writing our book those few months in the Big Bend Desert at The Oasis. It will be published in a few more weeks after more proofing.
Till next time.
Stay well.
Ara and Spirit
8th Year, the Stars, living under them…
www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
beemerchef
Explorer
I will announce it when it is available. Good things take time they keep telling me!!! It is looking real nice I must say.
Thank You.
Ara and Spirit
beemerchef
Explorer
Tasting Valley of the Gods, Utah.
All I can say is "WOW! we made it...". East Coast and back, we are good for a few more years.
Trying to stay ahead of summer and so far so good in and around Valley of the Gods, I must say, one of my all time favorite space to be in and dig our roots a bit deeper than usual. We have been all alone this time around with easy access, I have not seen anyone else camp out on this beautiful 17 mile loop. A couple visitors, some good friends, nothing planned, but they showed up! That is the way we like it as planning never works out.
The weather suddenly is not very promising for the yearly outing of balloonist which get together every last weekend of April. They don't get along so well with rains, winds and storms. The surprise element is definitly present.
The marathon from these past weeks is over, the calendar and clock are once again put away, the internet connections are weaker than ever, lucky [or unlucky!] if any, there is a sense of regained freedom and tackle our journey as we use to.
The publication of our book is moving right along. More details in our journal with photos and a video shot in the Georgia Mountains on Highway 60 to "Two Wheels of Suches" I called "Sitting, Riding and... Leaning".
Enjoy
Till next time.
Stay well.
Ara and Spirit
8th Year, the Stars, living under them…
beemerchef
Explorer
Around Moab... Utah
Sometimes the weather will just not quit telling us to move on as it happened while in Valley of the Gods and nearby Mokey Dugway, Gooseneck, Monument Valley. We took refuge, seemingly as it had happened in years past, in Bluff. Then came time to move on again while needing a real Internet connection, you guessed it maybe, for one more proofing of our book! It seems it is never going to end even if the finish line is getting very close.
This area of course is one of our favorite spaces with too many choices every day of roads and amazing sights. A bit crowded at times, but we get around it.The weather is our friend for now, nice and cool and even so snow projected at higher elevations. A bit of maintenance on Old Faithful including a new rear tire and we are again ready to explore what we have seen before, yet, always being as the first time.
While sheltered I was reading an interesting French book and for some reason decided to translate its first few pages having to do with the mystery of the beginning of times along with some photos taken in Arches National Park. That is what our new entry is all about. Much mystery and unanswered questions.
Enjoy
Till next time.
Stay well.
Ara and Spirit
8th Year, the Stars, living under them…
unkamonkey
Explorer
Moki Dugway and Valley of the Gods are good places to spend a few hours, even if you are just sitting and thinking.
Up on top of the mesa, there are some good canyons to hike in and some nice Anasazi corn cribs, buildings and such.
Another good area is Indian Creek, East of the Needles District on the Lockhart Basin road. The person that I met at the local parts store did much of the archeology in the area, he wouldn't tell me where things are. We found 4 of the 5 sites he said were there and I've already told you too much.
There are some things around Elephant Hill that we found that the rangers didn't know about, or at least didn't admit to knowing about, and again, I'm not going to tell you where they are, you need to find them yourself as we did.
Up on top of the mesa, there are some good canyons to hike in and some nice Anasazi corn cribs, buildings and such.
Another good area is Indian Creek, East of the Needles District on the Lockhart Basin road. The person that I met at the local parts store did much of the archeology in the area, he wouldn't tell me where things are. We found 4 of the 5 sites he said were there and I've already told you too much.
There are some things around Elephant Hill that we found that the rangers didn't know about, or at least didn't admit to knowing about, and again, I'm not going to tell you where they are, you need to find them yourself as we did.