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"The Oasis of my Soul"... a Lifelong Journey...

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A cloudy day at the Catalina State Park. AZ.

Not the most cheerful entry written these past days as my long time and close Friend Bill has been checked into the Hospice. An avid motorcycle rider, a Dog Lover, a great Husband and a prankster as I have never experienced. He is the one that has seen me through thick and thin in years past, the one that has never let me get down on my own luck. How can we ever come to terms when such circle breaks off at such an early age? I read about ÔÇ£beautyÔÇØ being within this World of ours, that door we only have to open as I have these past years and yet, his own page is flying away as it's chapter has yet to be finished. I know we will again live with the memories of a Dear one, sometimes none of this makes any sense. I canceled our outing to Death Valley and from Tucson, after a short hike into Catalina State Park on a cloudy day we are now in Patagonia, AZ. It is a beautiful area, different than what we have seen and experienced before, but the mood is just not there. The mind is 1300 miles away with my Friend who is no more seeing the clear blue skies, the trees, the multicolor rocks, all has now been dimmed in his own World. Not much else to say really.

Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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Toward ÔÇ£Overland Expo 11ÔÇØ. Amado. AZ

This time we have not just been invited to this great event but also been asked to give a class. It is actually two subjects combined, the first one being ÔÇ£one pan cookingÔÇØ and the second one ÔÇ£traveling without refrigerationÔÇØ, they do go hand in hand as long as you do not care to eat meat, maybe only on days you will see a butcher while riding down the road, not much of a chance while crossing the Sahara. All this has reminded me a bit of the old days when as a Personal Chef to the rich and not so famous, food shopping was a daily ritual besides boxes coming in overnight through mail orders. All is now prepped, 2 meals per 50 minute class, there will not be much time for dicing and chopping, I needed to get a head start. It will be again old Friends we have not seen for a year now, new ones with show up and those off road toys will be the temptation for everyone. ÔÇ£Eye CandyÔÇØ... Maybe we will see some of you there? Hoping to do so.


Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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The big picture, ÔÇ£Overland Expo 11ÔÇØ. AZ

A couple days back from Amado now, rested as I think we are including Spirit who took in quite a bit of heat even if so protected by a hydration coat soaked in water just about on the hour. As usual when within such a crowd, it will take time to sort it all out, sort out the faces and the names and the stories heard, the stories from ÔÇ£on the roadÔÇØ. The such ÔÇ£road feverÔÇØ is bad this am, we have to stay here a few more days awaiting some mail and a couple other logistical aspects. Hoping to get back on the road this coming Sunday and trying out again toward Death Valley where the weather forecast promises pleasant times.
My three daily classes kept me busy throughout Overland Expo, kept me busy rehearsing it all ahead of time to keep them within a 50 minute presentation. The classes end up being standing room only, luckily their starting time was 11am which meant the lunch hour free for all was also mine for the tasting of the cooked goods and some chatting ensuing.
More photos on the Journal...
Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
The big picture, ÔÇ£Overland Expo 11ÔÇØ. AZ

Will try this again! My Journal was being migrated with GoDaddy never telling me it would be down for a few days...
A couple days back from Amado now, rested as I think we are including Spirit who took in quite a bit of heat even if so protected by a hydration coat soaked in water just about on the hour. As usual when within such a crowd, it will take time to sort it all out, sort out the faces and the names and the stories heard, the stories from ÔÇ£on the roadÔÇØ. The such ÔÇ£road feverÔÇØ is bad this am, we have to stay here a few more days awaiting some mail and a couple other logistical aspects. Hoping to get back on the road this coming Sunday and trying out again toward Death Valley where the weather forecast promises pleasant times.
My three daily classes kept me busy throughout Overland Expo, kept me busy rehearsing it all ahead of time to keep them within a 50 minute presentation. The classes end up being standing room only, luckily their starting time was 11am which meant the lunch hour free for all was also mine for the tasting of the cooked goods and some chatting ensuing.
More photos on the Journal...

Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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The sound of a distant Drummer. NV

The road, those blue ribbons, at times liked in browns and rocky or sandy, they have deeply penetrated into my own well being. I am asked often if all is ÔÇ£getting oldÔÇØ or better ÔÇ£am I ready to quit?ÔÇØ... ÔÇ£am I getting tired of it all?ÔÇØ as we are closing in on 5 years of wandering. Amazingly everyday only increases this what I call now ÔÇ£addictionÔÇØ toward the unknown, the next bend, the next silhouettes so often delicately drawn into the skies always ahead of us. ÔÇ£Death ValleyÔÇØ has in the past always been of a bad timing mainly with snow and much cold. All is now clear as the passage from here to there in itself is filled with the promises of good weather for those 3.3 million acres awaiting for us. The pace is a bit faster than desired only because we are meeting my Friend Brian for a couple of days, we can then fall back into our own timeless search. I often think how well Spirit has adapted to this road, how often his floor is not of wood or tiles or even carpets, but dirt under his own pad. How often he has in seconds felt ÔÇ£at homeÔÇØ on the few square feet we quickly take over to make it our overnight home. There are no schedules, no time frames, as of this moment again I myself have no clue where we will soon be besides in ÔÇ£Death ValleyÔÇØ. ÔÇ£The RoadÔÇØ photos on the Journal...Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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A Treasure found: ÔÇ£Gold PointÔÇØ. NV

I can only hope that for if it was only this time, I have enough credibility to entice you to come to ÔÇ£Gold PointÔÇØ, Nevada. We have been there already for a few days, returning today as I had to come to town for some errands and Internet usage. ÔÇ£Gold PointÔÇØ? A live Ghost Town thanks to Herb Robbins for the past 32 years him present conserving it all. The weather has been perfect, it is that time of the year to be in this area as it's elevation is just above 5000 feet. I started thinking the other day with a big smile while making a make shift table as my campsite is widening ÔÇ£I would make a good Homeless...ÔÇØ and realized... we are! But ÔÇ£Gold PointÔÇØ feels as Home, I feel as belonging to that space so quiet and yet as I am told in the company of 17 Ghosts. The rides into Death Valley, the empty spaces of BLM which are in the millions of acres are plentiful and most are good roads, even freshly graded. We have water, even hot water and sometimes Herb cooks some of those great meals one can only dream of in this vast Desert!
More photos on the Journal...

Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
Another delightful story, Ara. I decided that I'll just have to visit Gold Point on my travels through the US next year. I'll be in the area and it seems a very nice place to chill out and soak up the atmosphere.

Let's see if my RT-Adventure takes me there...
 
Another delightful story, Ara. I decided that I'll just have to visit Gold Point on my travels through the US next year. I'll be in the area and it seems a very nice place to chill out and soak up the atmosphere.

Let's see if my RT-Adventure takes me there...

It sure is! don't miss it...

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ÔÇ£Gold PointÔÇØ, NV. We have not moved on yet...

It can happen when one finds this space throughout more Deserted acres one can imagine and suddenly it feels as ÔÇ£we belong hereÔÇØ. The days have been lingering on and on with not much desire to leave the area. I already know we will not ride ÔÇ£all the roadsÔÇØ this time around, maybe not even next time around as we will be back if and when we ever leave. There are too many of those roads. They are amazingly well maintained, graded regularly, it makes it for some more than pleasant outgoings. The views are of postcards embedded in the mind forever, mine shafts at every turn, abandoned cabins, some maintained by travelers free for the night with furniture, needed shelter from the weather and a guest book. They have been however windy and cold days, I have to be ready for the windows of opportunity, it is that time of the year between the past harsh winter and the monsoon season which soon will start. Always at the mercy of Mother Nature. The nearest store is far, over 60 miles away, if and when you ever adventure yourself within this gem of an area, do not forget anything and be prepared for everything. More on the Journal...Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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On our way South, for now. NV.

These times have been almost as ÔÇ£where are we now?ÔÇØ. My Journal entries are still stuck in Gold Point and Hard Luck Castle, even though we actually are spending another night in Kingman before heading back to Tucson for Robin's Birthday which will be followed by a Concert of the B52's. I miss Gold Point, the quiet and serene times, the roads barely traveled by anyone but us, the little Ghost Town itself of 7 with Herb and Sandy being at the forefront of it all, including a dinner we had Saturday night. A great dinner! Unfortunately we had to leave. A couple days in Las Vegas at my Friends Christine and Jason needing some front brake repair as ÔÇ£Motorcycle Tire CenterÔÇØ promptly and with a big smile took care of ÔÇ£Old FaithfulÔÇØ. Then on a couple days to re-visit ÔÇ£Valley of FireÔÇØ where camping is only allowed in a couple campgrounds and now as mentioned on our way south as we will then turn around and follow the weather for the summer. North that is as the South is starting to heat up.
More photos on the Journal...
Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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Then and Now. Life. Tucson, AZ.

Steve Azar, yes, as we are now entering the ÔÇ£Country MusicÔÇØ charts (a bit of humor here...) has made this great video of us depicting in less than 3 minutes what it has taken us these past years, a video with his song ÔÇ£Hard RoadÔÇØ. As we sit here in Tucson right now for a couple more days for my Friend's Birthday, watching such images and listening to such words brings on, I cannot help it, so many of recent past remembrances of us on this road we have embraced. All is only hard as much as we want to make it even if at times one cannot see it any other way. Hope and Faith in this Life of ours has become a must, a daily ÔÇ£headlineÔÇØ. I have realized not long ago all is about ÔÇ£acceptanceÔÇØ as the choices are not of many. Sitting amongst four walls was never an option, one then while on the road can only be subjected to it's surroundings, the physical ones such as 'Mother Nature'sÔÇØ moods and their own ÔÇ£mental onesÔÇØ as dealing with cards overturned in recent past. It all turns out to be a package deal sometimes stumbling and at others sailing through as when all the Stars seem so perfectly aligned as they have been these past days. In a few we will again take off, probably within some cooler evening hours and head up toward the higher elevations of Utah... in a few.
Enjoy the video.
Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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ÔÇ£Show LowÔÇØ with a smile. AZ

Tucson is behind us, hundreds, thousands of miles lay ahead of us, summer and fall do too, what an incredible scenario. Yet, we have not made further than a couple hundred miles as when being in Globe I remembered in ÔÇ£Show LowÔÇØ my Friends Dean and Pam had taken residence building this compound since 2006. I conjunction with not so good weather passing by, snow this morning (!!!), well, we are still here enjoying the ÔÇ£BarnÔÇØ, some serious cooking, Friendships and much chatting. It does not get ant better than this. One night turned into two, as we will leave tomorrow morning it will be three. How time passes by! Spirit has a couple new Friends, ÔÇ£EinsteinÔÇØ and ÔÇ£BuddyÔÇØ and ÔÇ£EinsteinÔÇØ and him have been playing like I had never seen Spirit before. It is going to be sad to pull them apart when we leave as much as I am sure we will be back. How can we not! Discovering new roads from Tucson such as 77 to Globe and 60 bringing us here, ÔÇ£Tonto National ForestÔÇØ and all it's well maintained service roads, all has been a plus and will see us again.
Enjoy the photos and some recent thoughts...

Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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I am touched ÔÇ£Thank YouÔÇØ, Show Low. AZ

The ride? Well, it turned out to be a U-Turn about 100 miles into it from Show Low. The skies were falling on us ahead only a few miles, unlike felt gusts of wind and rain did catch up with us, it was a race back to Holbrook, Arizona, taking cover in a depressing Motel room. They truly always are. So we never made it to ÔÇ£Valley of the GodsÔÇØ, ÔÇ£BoulderÔÇØ, ÔÇ£EscalanteÔÇØ and on. We live on the road, there is no rush, no hurry, only some common sense to move on with the weather which lately has not cooperated too well. The upside are photos which I enjoy taking while the clouds, cotton balls turning into menacing vessels in the skies pass by, I will always stop regardless. We are back in Show Low sheltered by the incredible hospitality of Dean and Pam, we are getting to know each other well within this ÔÇ£OasisÔÇØ of theirs. It is always a matter of regrouping before taking on the awaiting miles again, hopefully this time a smoother ride.
Arizona Highways... then came the rain!
Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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Motorcyclist Cafe Barn & Bunkhouse, Show Low, AZ

How about that! We are still under the hospitable wings of Dean and Pam at their ÔÇ£Motorcycle Cafe Barn & BunkhouseÔÇØ in Show Low, Arizona. Turning my back on a few blood tests lately has only left me with the decision to have a biopsy. This past Friday Dean drove the 440 mile round trip to Tucson and now it is for a couple weeks just a matter of keeping my fingers crossed and awaiting for the results. I have to keep the Faith of Life going as a few different scenarios are awaiting, obscure and unknown at the present. We are longing for the road and yet, being here has been relaxing, enriching as the company at times chatting, at other times cooking and sharing a meal has been a highlight of our Journey. How can one ÔÇ£thankÔÇØ enough for such gesture? The World sure is filled with such good people as we have always crossed path with them these past years. They seem to be not advertised! Seemingly only the bad news escape and make up the headlines so often read. One does need to believe that the ÔÇ£goodnessÔÇØ of many roams freely amongst us. They are here and there, they are indeed everywhere. I took some photos of what here we call ÔÇ£the barnÔÇØ... it will give everyone an idea what one can do for other. Enjoy.

Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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Mind Games ÔÇ£The Incertitude of LifeÔÇØ. Bluff, Utah

Rollercoaster it has been as yet we are comfortably camping in Bluff, Utah. Just mind games one goes through when outcomes of personal Health is yet to be announced. The scenarios? If the Nurse calls all is well... if the Dr calls, well, more scenarios on the forefront. I woke up this morning after the best night sleep ever as I always do in our tent, I woke up from a dream that sounded so real. I was on the phone with the Nurse and all was well. Message? I can only believe in it, there is no harm, there is much to gain. I am avoiding ÔÇ£primitive campingÔÇØ for now only to have the ability to be reached when needed and this ÔÇ£Cadillac ParkÔÇØ is truly one of the most beautiful one we have been in. It feels as ÔÇ£homeÔÇØ to us, shaded site till late afternoon, quiet as only listening to the birds, the frogs and bullfrogs sounding like a heard of cows calling each other. The rides are of many, we have only been to the Gooseneck and Mexican Hat, we are taking it easy, Valley of the Gods will be next and an area filled with Hoodoos only locals know about. We have been here before, this is landscape and a space I never get tired of.
Till next time...


Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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The Silhouettes... ÔÇ£Valley of the GodsÔÇØ, Utah

Again, so fitting. ÔÇ£Valley of the GodsÔÇØ. So near by when the sweet nurse's voice announced as I almost dropped the phone ÔÇ£no cancerÔÇØ. Life came back rushing in with the strength of a hurricane force, my heart missed a couple beats, ÔÇ£are you sure....ÔÇØ I kept asking. With such high PSA numbers I can only see this as a miracle or as otherwise the Medical Field trying to continuously scare us ÔÇ£menÔÇØ of a certain age. The ride, the always magical loop on this 17 mile dirt road was then of the best I have ever experienced. Priorities suddenly changed, ÔÇ£livingÔÇØ again and again came at the forefront of my soul, just living, nothing else truly now matters. We are still near by, we now have a mechanical problem with ÔÇ£Old FaithfulÔÇØ which I guess decided ÔÇ£well, if you are OK it is now my turn...ÔÇØ. I have no clue yet, could be throughout the transmission or the final drive, we might have to backtrack into the heat of Tucson for some repair. Seems this summer all has been delayed for our northern arrival... but then again, who cares! I am alive, Spirit will have to put up with me a bit longer, that is all that matters. Thank you for all that have send me your prayers and your incredible well wishes. Enjoy the Video and more photos on the Journal.Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
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Help needed in Tucson, down for some major repairs. AZ

A difficult entry, thoughts traversing right and left, the fear of not being able to cover the repairs. As it stands right now, we cannot. It is the big one. We only have a few days ahead while staying at a Friend's house, the heat is intense here in Tucson and no transportation. I swallowed my pride in this new entry and in the Journal asking for help comparing these 658 chapters written these past almost 5 years, thousands of photos, maps, a few recipes, as the physical entity of a few Coffee Table Books, a subscription for a magazine? We are cornered. A couple days ago, only 50 miles into our ride the rear wheel locked, foreign loud noises of metal coming to pieces, I knew it was going to be it for a while. Our Dear Friend ÔÇ£DeanÔÇØ drove 780 miles these past two days to get us to Tucson at the ÔÇ£Iron HorseÔÇØ BMW Motorcycle Dealer. Amazing how Life has it's valleys and peaks... It was not long ago awaiting for biopsy results on myself, today it is awaiting for a different kind of mechanical illness to be taken care off. I am hoping to have this ability to appeal to our readers, I know at this point the future path depends on you, it truly does. It was an interesting concept how ÔÇ£Old FaithfulÔÇØ was put on the trailer and taken off. Many have already been involved through this process of getting her here hoping for many more to get her out of here and get us going again.

Be safe and well.
Peace, Love and Courage.

Ara & Spirit
 
I also sent an e-mail off to BMW. Customer service was the only readily available but will poke some more. I asked them to look at the blog and see if they could help as it would be a tremendous gesture and PR opportunity.
 
Good times - bad times... Great to hear you're allright. In the end, your health is so much more important than a bike. But I can see that the bike has become more to you than a mode of transportation and I would feel terrible too when it would break down on a 'lifelong yourney' like the one you're on.
I hope it'll come together one way or the other so that Spirit and yourself can keep on making us smile with your delightful road reports.
 
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