There is an ad for something on TV these days portraying children asking the the question that probably was first heard on the Mayflower, and has been voiced by every child (and many adults) on every trip since.
Being the gifted philosopher/linguist (English only) that I am, I can answer the question: No. Not only are we not "there yet," we will never be "there." Ever. You see, where ever we are, is "here." When the destination is reached, the leader of the expedition (driver, father, whoever) gleefully announces "We're here!"
"There" is someplace else. "Here" is where we are.
The paradox, of course, is that of perspective. I am here. But, you, are there. You think of yourself as here. And you think of me as there. We are both (all) correct.
And you thought time travel presented problems. (It does, or did, or will.)
On another topic, I have started to read J.K. Rowling's first adult targeted novel, "The Casual Vacancy." She says it was a story she felt the need to tell. That's how the wealthiest author in history explains why she is still motivated to "work." So far, this is a story that I might soon give up on, except that it is written by Rowling, so I will "muggle" through and try to finish it. Maybe.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Arizona has this place...
...called the Grand Canyon.
Margie's husband, Dave, along with his sister and brother took a hike into this place on Monday. They were due out at noon on Thursday. Five miles from where they went in. So, they knew that when they got out, they would be too tired, hot, blistered, worn out, to hike five miles back where they left their van. So I went with Margie to ferry the van to the take out point. For both of us, it was just an excuse to go to the Grand Canyon. You see, even thought we live in Arizona, it is a BIG state, and we don't just drop in on the Canyon as often as one might think.
We arrived right on time. We were to allow three hours beyond the due time in case they were more tired, hot, blistered, worn out than expected, and took longer. After all, it is all uphill from the Colorado River to anywhere on the rim. Margie and I enjoyed the absolutely gorgeous day finding various vantage points to sit and look at the Canyon. The Creator of the Canyon did a fine job of selecting a wide range of complementary colors with which to decorate the walls. He even allowed them to mix in random ways to create even more colors, then threw in some plants to soften the whole effect with shades of green that were somehow not present in the rocks, themselves. Turkey vultures, ravens, and hawks played on the updrafts for our further entertainment.
When the hikers finally emerged, more than four hours late, tired, hot, blistered, worn out, we found a Mexican food restaurant, had dinner, and drove home in the dark. But first, we were treated to an up close viewing of elk who wanted to cross our road.
Any day out is a success when you combine great views with wildlife.
The hikers were at the bottom of this canyon in the foreground, but we couldn't see them.
Margie took these photos with her phone. If I had known, I would have sucked in my gut and smiled.
Margie's husband, Dave, along with his sister and brother took a hike into this place on Monday. They were due out at noon on Thursday. Five miles from where they went in. So, they knew that when they got out, they would be too tired, hot, blistered, worn out, to hike five miles back where they left their van. So I went with Margie to ferry the van to the take out point. For both of us, it was just an excuse to go to the Grand Canyon. You see, even thought we live in Arizona, it is a BIG state, and we don't just drop in on the Canyon as often as one might think.
We arrived right on time. We were to allow three hours beyond the due time in case they were more tired, hot, blistered, worn out than expected, and took longer. After all, it is all uphill from the Colorado River to anywhere on the rim. Margie and I enjoyed the absolutely gorgeous day finding various vantage points to sit and look at the Canyon. The Creator of the Canyon did a fine job of selecting a wide range of complementary colors with which to decorate the walls. He even allowed them to mix in random ways to create even more colors, then threw in some plants to soften the whole effect with shades of green that were somehow not present in the rocks, themselves. Turkey vultures, ravens, and hawks played on the updrafts for our further entertainment.
When the hikers finally emerged, more than four hours late, tired, hot, blistered, worn out, we found a Mexican food restaurant, had dinner, and drove home in the dark. But first, we were treated to an up close viewing of elk who wanted to cross our road.
Any day out is a success when you combine great views with wildlife.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
The drive home
Going home the long way was worth every extra minute.
If you haven't driven The Coronado Trail, aka US 191, from Alpine to Morenci lately, you should.
Right now there are wildflowers in more profusion than one can imagine. Virtually every open space created by the Wallow Fire, highway cuts, or natural are filled with yellow. Daisies, sage, sun flowers, brittlebush, etc. Also, Indian paintbrush, bluebells, penstemon, and lots I don't know. But, one surprise I know well: fireweed! I did not know fireweed grew here, having never seen it before. It is smaller than the Giant Fireweed in Yukon, and larger than Dwarf Fireweed in Alaska, so, is it Regular Fireweed? It is later in the year than fireweed season in Yukon. By now all those have gone to cotton and the leaves are showing red-orange. Here, in Arizona's high country they are in full magenta bloom.
Aside from that, we saw a pretty little doe with extremely cute fawns. The two fawns appear to be way too young for this time of year. We saw several hawks soaring on the thermals or perched in trees. And we got a truly SPECTACULAR view from Blue Vista. This is probably the best-located view point on any highway, anywhere.You can see forever in a 300degree sweep. And nowhere can you see the imprint of man. Mountains and canyons one after another until the farthest literally fade into the sky. Thunderheads rising 30,000 feet from the bases above the mountain tops.
The living forest is as beautiful as ever, the fire ravaged forest is hauntingly beautiful in its own right, the flowers are breathtaking, the mountains and canyons beyond description. Even the open-pit Morenci mine exposes more colors in the rock than could otherwise be seen. After several hours of driving on the nearly deserted highway, encountering the mine and the town of Morenci is like entering an ant hill. Vehicles moving helter skelter but in a carefully choreographed dance with purpose in every turn.
I should point out that we were driving south. Of the times we have driven this road, we could only remember having gone south once before. We always go north. South is the better way. North is good. It will take your breath away. But south is exponentially better. You can forget about breathing. Except you have to take a breath periodically so you can keep saying "Oh My God!!"
If you haven't driven The Coronado Trail, aka US 191, from Alpine to Morenci lately, you should.
Right now there are wildflowers in more profusion than one can imagine. Virtually every open space created by the Wallow Fire, highway cuts, or natural are filled with yellow. Daisies, sage, sun flowers, brittlebush, etc. Also, Indian paintbrush, bluebells, penstemon, and lots I don't know. But, one surprise I know well: fireweed! I did not know fireweed grew here, having never seen it before. It is smaller than the Giant Fireweed in Yukon, and larger than Dwarf Fireweed in Alaska, so, is it Regular Fireweed? It is later in the year than fireweed season in Yukon. By now all those have gone to cotton and the leaves are showing red-orange. Here, in Arizona's high country they are in full magenta bloom.
Aside from that, we saw a pretty little doe with extremely cute fawns. The two fawns appear to be way too young for this time of year. We saw several hawks soaring on the thermals or perched in trees. And we got a truly SPECTACULAR view from Blue Vista. This is probably the best-located view point on any highway, anywhere.You can see forever in a 300degree sweep. And nowhere can you see the imprint of man. Mountains and canyons one after another until the farthest literally fade into the sky. Thunderheads rising 30,000 feet from the bases above the mountain tops.
The living forest is as beautiful as ever, the fire ravaged forest is hauntingly beautiful in its own right, the flowers are breathtaking, the mountains and canyons beyond description. Even the open-pit Morenci mine exposes more colors in the rock than could otherwise be seen. After several hours of driving on the nearly deserted highway, encountering the mine and the town of Morenci is like entering an ant hill. Vehicles moving helter skelter but in a carefully choreographed dance with purpose in every turn.
I should point out that we were driving south. Of the times we have driven this road, we could only remember having gone south once before. We always go north. South is the better way. North is good. It will take your breath away. But south is exponentially better. You can forget about breathing. Except you have to take a breath periodically so you can keep saying "Oh My God!!"
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Caught up
Tuesday, Sept 11, 2012
Last evening, as I was preparing to grill meat for dinner, Peggie asked me to go to the truck and check the temperature. When I walked over there, I happened to look across the meadow to the east. The tree line of aspens there is about 3/4 of a mile away across the grass and slightly uphill. In the time we have been parked here, I have looked that way a lot. There was something different. I checked through binoculars and saw a bull elk with two cows and two calves. We had previously heard keening from that direction after dark, but had not seen elk until now. We have walked over there twice and driven once. The forest behind the aspens is impenetrable due to dead fall. But apparently the elk don't find it to be.
All evening until bedtime, we heard keening from at least four bulls off to the east and south both near and far. We also heard the coyotes again, and thought the wolves howled at least once.
It was a nice way to end our adventures in these mountains this summer.
There are now several posts with today's date. They were written while we were in the woods with no web access. So we are now caught up.
We are headed back to Tucson tomorrow. We intend to take the scenic route down US 191 to I-10.
We are leaving the trailer here in Eagar until we decide we need it again. We may get a chance to come up here when fall colors are blazing.
Last evening, as I was preparing to grill meat for dinner, Peggie asked me to go to the truck and check the temperature. When I walked over there, I happened to look across the meadow to the east. The tree line of aspens there is about 3/4 of a mile away across the grass and slightly uphill. In the time we have been parked here, I have looked that way a lot. There was something different. I checked through binoculars and saw a bull elk with two cows and two calves. We had previously heard keening from that direction after dark, but had not seen elk until now. We have walked over there twice and driven once. The forest behind the aspens is impenetrable due to dead fall. But apparently the elk don't find it to be.
All evening until bedtime, we heard keening from at least four bulls off to the east and south both near and far. We also heard the coyotes again, and thought the wolves howled at least once.
It was a nice way to end our adventures in these mountains this summer.
There are now several posts with today's date. They were written while we were in the woods with no web access. So we are now caught up.
We are headed back to Tucson tomorrow. We intend to take the scenic route down US 191 to I-10.
We are leaving the trailer here in Eagar until we decide we need it again. We may get a chance to come up here when fall colors are blazing.
Glow in the dark
Mon. Sept. 10, 2012
We heard the elk keening again after dark last night. The sound was coming from the meadow to our south. So we got in the truck and drove that way trying to see them in our headlights. No luck. They must have been farther away.
But we discovered that the blue needles on blue spruce glow in the headlights like a white shirt in black light.
Who knew?
We heard the elk keening again after dark last night. The sound was coming from the meadow to our south. So we got in the truck and drove that way trying to see them in our headlights. No luck. They must have been farther away.
But we discovered that the blue needles on blue spruce glow in the headlights like a white shirt in black light.
Who knew?
Popcorn rain tm
I hereby officially coin the term "popcorn rain."
You all know what I mean. The rain starts with a DROP then another DROP. Then two DROP...DROP............DROP.......DROP DROP DROP........DROPDROP. ..DROPDROPDROPDROPOPOPDROPOPOPOPOPPPPPPPPP. Maybe you get some hail, then the whole thing is gone with everything in reverse order like it is time to dump the popper pan.
We didn't have that today. Oh, it started like that, but it went on and on and on until water couldn't get off the road fast enough. We were on a drive on some of the almost roads that run through the forest all around us. We had just gone through our third gate when Peggie said to look at the clouds. She predicted we were in for a downpour. She was right. Luckily, during the height of it, when we could barely see far enough to continue driving, the next fence we came to had a cattle guard instead of a gate.
The drive took two hours, and we covered exactly ten miles. That's what I mean by almost roads.
You all know what I mean. The rain starts with a DROP then another DROP. Then two DROP...DROP............DROP.......DROP DROP DROP........DROPDROP. ..DROPDROPDROPDROPOPOPDROPOPOPOPOPPPPPPPPP. Maybe you get some hail, then the whole thing is gone with everything in reverse order like it is time to dump the popper pan.
We didn't have that today. Oh, it started like that, but it went on and on and on until water couldn't get off the road fast enough. We were on a drive on some of the almost roads that run through the forest all around us. We had just gone through our third gate when Peggie said to look at the clouds. She predicted we were in for a downpour. She was right. Luckily, during the height of it, when we could barely see far enough to continue driving, the next fence we came to had a cattle guard instead of a gate.
The drive took two hours, and we covered exactly ten miles. That's what I mean by almost roads.
You turkeys!
Sat. Sept. 8, 2012
Last night I had to once again crawl out of my nice warm bed, get dressed and go into the cold, dark night. This time it was to tighten the awning that was being snapped by the wind. Now, understand that we heard coyotes yipping nearby when we were going to bed, and those re-introduced wolves are around somewhere, but I didn't mind. I am so brave!
This morning when it was actually time to get up, the rain and wind had stopped, but it was still overcast. When I stepped outside with my hands full of breakfast fixin's (we find it is less messy if we fry bacon outside) I spotted a flock of turkeys in what we call our front yard. They saw me, or heard me, and began heading for the tree line. By the time Peggie responded to my call, they were well on their way and disappeared pretty quickly. We estimated twenty or so, with about a third of them juveniles.
So here's a big THANK YOU to all you from-the-cities noise makers who have left our woods so we can enjoy the natural wildlife.
Last night I had to once again crawl out of my nice warm bed, get dressed and go into the cold, dark night. This time it was to tighten the awning that was being snapped by the wind. Now, understand that we heard coyotes yipping nearby when we were going to bed, and those re-introduced wolves are around somewhere, but I didn't mind. I am so brave!
This morning when it was actually time to get up, the rain and wind had stopped, but it was still overcast. When I stepped outside with my hands full of breakfast fixin's (we find it is less messy if we fry bacon outside) I spotted a flock of turkeys in what we call our front yard. They saw me, or heard me, and began heading for the tree line. By the time Peggie responded to my call, they were well on their way and disappeared pretty quickly. We estimated twenty or so, with about a third of them juveniles.
So here's a big THANK YOU to all you from-the-cities noise makers who have left our woods so we can enjoy the natural wildlife.
A heck of a hike
Friday, Sept. 7, 2012
In the interest of sighting our elk herd again this morning, we decided to take a walk along last evening's trail. We saw the tracks of the herd. Then we decided to continue around the woods to a "road" that appeared to go to the top of the hill from the west side. It is a 4x4 trail that goes steeply to the top. At more than 9000' elevation we had to take frequent breathing breaks on our way up. The trail continues down the east side from the peak, but it is not well used. We soon discovered why when we came to the point where the trail ended in just a little ways. So we started bushwhacking back to our camp at the eastern base of the hill. We could see the tracks of the lone bull elk from time to time. But the big excitement was a pile of bear scat that still appeared fresh. Maybe, the bear is what had the elk spooked before we saw them. Even though black bears seldom attack full grown elk or people, I would certainly be spooked by one when I was on foot in the woods.
So now we are excited. With fewer people around, we have elk and bear on the hill behind our camp. We saw deer in this woods when we were camped on the far side last month. We still hear the wolves howling some nights. This is why we camp in the woods.
In the interest of sighting our elk herd again this morning, we decided to take a walk along last evening's trail. We saw the tracks of the herd. Then we decided to continue around the woods to a "road" that appeared to go to the top of the hill from the west side. It is a 4x4 trail that goes steeply to the top. At more than 9000' elevation we had to take frequent breathing breaks on our way up. The trail continues down the east side from the peak, but it is not well used. We soon discovered why when we came to the point where the trail ended in just a little ways. So we started bushwhacking back to our camp at the eastern base of the hill. We could see the tracks of the lone bull elk from time to time. But the big excitement was a pile of bear scat that still appeared fresh. Maybe, the bear is what had the elk spooked before we saw them. Even though black bears seldom attack full grown elk or people, I would certainly be spooked by one when I was on foot in the woods.
So now we are excited. With fewer people around, we have elk and bear on the hill behind our camp. We saw deer in this woods when we were camped on the far side last month. We still hear the wolves howling some nights. This is why we camp in the woods.
A little excitement!
Friday, Sept 7, 2012
We returned to our campsite yesterday at lunchtime. We noticed on the way out that most other campsites are empty. Some trailers are still there, but nobody is around. As near as we can tell, there isn't another occupied camp within a mile of us. That's good. No barking dogs, no revving unmuffled ATV's, no chain saws, no shooting. Maybe we will be able to see some natural wildlife. We didn't see any cattle on the way out either; they must must have been relocated again.
We were a little bummed that some miscreant took our hummingbird feeder from the tree where we left it for the 24 hours we were gone.
Last night while we were preparing dinner, I heard some cows lowing in the distance. Then I heard the keening of a bull elk. Close by. I grabbed my binoculars and began to scan. The forest has some pretty clear spaces allowing more than 50 yards of visibility. Whoosh! I saw a tan hide flash through a gap. The elk was flying!
We couldn't interrupt dinner prep, so we decided to sneak into the woods after we ate. And we did.
Casey will know the way we walked because it is the way she drove out to avoid all the mud and rocks from the other road. As I sit here the next morning writing this, the pachinko squirrels are at it again. But last evening as we walked into the woods, we discovered that elk running through the trees sound just like the invisible elephants. We barely got a glimpse of the lone elk I had seen before, when we heard the elephants behind us. We turned and there was a herd running through the trees fifty feet away. They moved fast and we estimated a dozen or more. They stopped briefly in an open area but the bull saw us right away and led his harem up the hill into the denser woods. We could hear them crashing for a while. Then we could hear the two bulls keening for a long time afterwards. It is too bad they were moving so fast. It is the closest encounter we've had with elk.
This morning dawned cloudy and we awoke to sprinkles. We want it to dry out so we can go looking for the elk herd. From the sounds it appears they are still in the vicinity.
Of course, I will probably sprain my neck snapping at every dropped cone.
Today, only invisible elephants.
We returned to our campsite yesterday at lunchtime. We noticed on the way out that most other campsites are empty. Some trailers are still there, but nobody is around. As near as we can tell, there isn't another occupied camp within a mile of us. That's good. No barking dogs, no revving unmuffled ATV's, no chain saws, no shooting. Maybe we will be able to see some natural wildlife. We didn't see any cattle on the way out either; they must must have been relocated again.
We were a little bummed that some miscreant took our hummingbird feeder from the tree where we left it for the 24 hours we were gone.
Last night while we were preparing dinner, I heard some cows lowing in the distance. Then I heard the keening of a bull elk. Close by. I grabbed my binoculars and began to scan. The forest has some pretty clear spaces allowing more than 50 yards of visibility. Whoosh! I saw a tan hide flash through a gap. The elk was flying!
We couldn't interrupt dinner prep, so we decided to sneak into the woods after we ate. And we did.
Casey will know the way we walked because it is the way she drove out to avoid all the mud and rocks from the other road. As I sit here the next morning writing this, the pachinko squirrels are at it again. But last evening as we walked into the woods, we discovered that elk running through the trees sound just like the invisible elephants. We barely got a glimpse of the lone elk I had seen before, when we heard the elephants behind us. We turned and there was a herd running through the trees fifty feet away. They moved fast and we estimated a dozen or more. They stopped briefly in an open area but the bull saw us right away and led his harem up the hill into the denser woods. We could hear them crashing for a while. Then we could hear the two bulls keening for a long time afterwards. It is too bad they were moving so fast. It is the closest encounter we've had with elk.
This morning dawned cloudy and we awoke to sprinkles. We want it to dry out so we can go looking for the elk herd. From the sounds it appears they are still in the vicinity.
Of course, I will probably sprain my neck snapping at every dropped cone.
Today, only invisible elephants.
One of the (many) reasons Peggie keeps me around
Tues. Sept. 4, 2012
Last night after we went to bed, Peggie's C-PAP started misbehaving the way it does when our batteries are getting low. So I crawled out of the nice warm bed, got dressed, went out into the cold, dark night and plugged the umbilical cord into the truck. Then I turned on the heater, found a soothing classical station on SiriusXM and sat up for an hour and a half until I thought the batteries had recharged enough. The biggest problem I had, was that when I dozed off, my foot depressed the accelerator and the racing engine woke me up. When I finally returned to bed I knew my sacrifice had worked; Peggie was sound asleep and the C-PAP was behaving normally.
Well, I am a real sweetheart and all, but in order to avoid a repeat, I hooked the trailer up this afternoon and let the batteries charge again.
Tomorrow we will head for Eagar for the weekly refill.
Last night after we went to bed, Peggie's C-PAP started misbehaving the way it does when our batteries are getting low. So I crawled out of the nice warm bed, got dressed, went out into the cold, dark night and plugged the umbilical cord into the truck. Then I turned on the heater, found a soothing classical station on SiriusXM and sat up for an hour and a half until I thought the batteries had recharged enough. The biggest problem I had, was that when I dozed off, my foot depressed the accelerator and the racing engine woke me up. When I finally returned to bed I knew my sacrifice had worked; Peggie was sound asleep and the C-PAP was behaving normally.
Well, I am a real sweetheart and all, but in order to avoid a repeat, I hooked the trailer up this afternoon and let the batteries charge again.
Tomorrow we will head for Eagar for the weekly refill.
Labor Day
Monday, Sept. 3, 2012
We just had a different kind of weekend. Casey drove up Saturday morning to join us for the holiday. Her holiday, not ours. We don't need holidays. Anyway, it was the first dirt roads for her two (three?)-year-old Honda Fit. Two miles of graded dirt, and half a mile of muddy two-track. I walked out to the graded road to guide her in past the puddles and rocks. Her car only bottomed out once and she got a scratch (arizona pin striping) on the passenger side. We're hoping it will buff out with wax.
On Sunday we drove around a bit to show her some of the damage from last year's Wallow Fire. Then we headed to the nearest Indian casino at Hon-Dah. We all dropped our $20 limit pretty quickly, but Peggie got hers to last for a while.
We stayed up late playing Uno and laughing. Casey and Peggie take great pleasure in beating me at games. As you all know I am a gracious loser. I am never having so much fun as when my "loved ones" are laughing at me.
It would have been nice if Casey had had longer than a three-day weekend, but we are glad that all the other yahoos who run their obnoxiously loud ATV's up and down the trails had to go home.
We just had a different kind of weekend. Casey drove up Saturday morning to join us for the holiday. Her holiday, not ours. We don't need holidays. Anyway, it was the first dirt roads for her two (three?)-year-old Honda Fit. Two miles of graded dirt, and half a mile of muddy two-track. I walked out to the graded road to guide her in past the puddles and rocks. Her car only bottomed out once and she got a scratch (arizona pin striping) on the passenger side. We're hoping it will buff out with wax.
On Sunday we drove around a bit to show her some of the damage from last year's Wallow Fire. Then we headed to the nearest Indian casino at Hon-Dah. We all dropped our $20 limit pretty quickly, but Peggie got hers to last for a while.
We stayed up late playing Uno and laughing. Casey and Peggie take great pleasure in beating me at games. As you all know I am a gracious loser. I am never having so much fun as when my "loved ones" are laughing at me.
It would have been nice if Casey had had longer than a three-day weekend, but we are glad that all the other yahoos who run their obnoxiously loud ATV's up and down the trails had to go home.
Squirrels playing pachinko and invisible elephants
Sat. Sept 1, 2012
The quiet forest is often invaded by the sound of elephants crashing through the trees. When we go in search of these behemoths, they are nowhere in sight. Invisible. Instead, if you stand still and observe, you see pine cones (generic term, they are actually spruce cones) landing all around. The squirrels are high in the trees harvesting the cones. They do this by pulling a cone loose and dropping it. The cone strikes a branch, bounces randomly, strikes another branch etc. until it thumps into the detritus on the ground. The sounds are "conk" "thunk" "bonk" "crack" "thump." Most of the nearby squirrels are thus engaged at the same time. That's why it sounds like elephants coming through. They all cease at about the same time and sit up in the trees chattering. I think they are saying, "Hey, I just dropped a bunch of cones on the ground and the rest of you better not try to pick any of them up!" On the ground they sometimes immediately attack the cones like a kid at the state fair in July with a corn cob on a stick. Or they grab a cone and run off to their secret hiding place.
This activity is repeated numerous times throughout the day.
The quiet forest is often invaded by the sound of elephants crashing through the trees. When we go in search of these behemoths, they are nowhere in sight. Invisible. Instead, if you stand still and observe, you see pine cones (generic term, they are actually spruce cones) landing all around. The squirrels are high in the trees harvesting the cones. They do this by pulling a cone loose and dropping it. The cone strikes a branch, bounces randomly, strikes another branch etc. until it thumps into the detritus on the ground. The sounds are "conk" "thunk" "bonk" "crack" "thump." Most of the nearby squirrels are thus engaged at the same time. That's why it sounds like elephants coming through. They all cease at about the same time and sit up in the trees chattering. I think they are saying, "Hey, I just dropped a bunch of cones on the ground and the rest of you better not try to pick any of them up!" On the ground they sometimes immediately attack the cones like a kid at the state fair in July with a corn cob on a stick. Or they grab a cone and run off to their secret hiding place.
This activity is repeated numerous times throughout the day.
We're here
Friday, Aug. 31, 2012
White Mountains, Arizona
Two miles from AZ Hwy 260, .5 miles from FR 117 on the edge of an enormous meadow. Spruce, blue spruce, fir, aspen, and ponderosa pines marking the forest edge. Our trailer is oriented East/West putting our patio on the south for maximum sun exposure. The nearest trees are 10 yards west and over 100 yards east and 10 yards north and 1/2 mile south. We wanted early morning sun and afternoon shade. The shadows begin edging into the patio at 3:30 and sunset is at 6:30. We find ourselves moving our chairs out to find sun during those three hours because the shade is just a little too chilly.
We set up at about noon. At around 4:30 I was enjoying the warmth of the sun and a good book. I looked up into the wooded area to the west. Now, I can't say I have been under any particular stresses or pressures lately, but at that moment, when I looked into the forest, I heard whatever stress I had fall to the ground beside my chair. The message made by the falling stress hit my consciousness as "We're here."
After that I became aware of the squirrels, birds, flowers, trees, sunlight and shadow. We're here.
The plan is to stay three weeks this time. Then those pesky appointments and commitments require a return to Tucson.
White Mountains, Arizona
Two miles from AZ Hwy 260, .5 miles from FR 117 on the edge of an enormous meadow. Spruce, blue spruce, fir, aspen, and ponderosa pines marking the forest edge. Our trailer is oriented East/West putting our patio on the south for maximum sun exposure. The nearest trees are 10 yards west and over 100 yards east and 10 yards north and 1/2 mile south. We wanted early morning sun and afternoon shade. The shadows begin edging into the patio at 3:30 and sunset is at 6:30. We find ourselves moving our chairs out to find sun during those three hours because the shade is just a little too chilly.
We set up at about noon. At around 4:30 I was enjoying the warmth of the sun and a good book. I looked up into the wooded area to the west. Now, I can't say I have been under any particular stresses or pressures lately, but at that moment, when I looked into the forest, I heard whatever stress I had fall to the ground beside my chair. The message made by the falling stress hit my consciousness as "We're here."
After that I became aware of the squirrels, birds, flowers, trees, sunlight and shadow. We're here.
The plan is to stay three weeks this time. Then those pesky appointments and commitments require a return to Tucson.
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