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

Rightly so, I am sure, as I am myself learning about bandwidth, will try to keep this one thread going instead of starting a new one for each episode of my Blog ...

It does not get much better than this... I still have not made it to Texas... changes... why not... no schedule... I am now allowed to do so, or not to do so! I am in New Iberia, Louisiana. Seems like I am never going to leave this State... at least I know that I will never go hungry... It is morning as I am posting this... a great ride and experience from yesterday... but my mind is already on lunch!... The weather has been cooperative, the rig is running good, I feel healthy and.. overweight. I have decided to spend 5 more days here, visiting friends and everything that surrounds me... including cooking a couple dinners for them. Can't loose my touch in the kitchen... My Blogging format is still not finalized... my own website is still under construction... and somehow I feel Christmas right around the corner... with no plans what so ever... Oh! well... might be a quiet one in some woods celebrating with Mother Nature this year...

My stories are always on my Blog ... hope you enjoy...

Be well... Ara and Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

I'm enjoying your writing, Chef! Keep it coming...

Steve

Today was a great day... it always is when nothing breaks down, the ride is good and the food even better... no rain always helps!

A nice loop, the Tabasco factory, a great late lunch... what more can a homeless person and his dog asks for?

It is all posted in today’s Blog with a lot of pictures... love that SmuMug!

Hope you enjoy... Ara and Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

So glad I got to do the rides I had planned early on the week as today is a rainy day... of course rain has never stopped me... Spirit even has his raincoat, but I have to get ready for my departure from here Friday or Saturday toward East Texas... It is time for some serious camping, maybe even a bit of cold weather again, some adventures and some new scenery... try out all this cooking gear that I have been carrying with me all this time.

Yesterday was a great ride by the levee... I will not say on the levee even though a few miles did see me riding it...

Hope that you enjoy the report in my Blog ...

You be well... Ara and Spirit.

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Forward West...

It is almost December, just a few minutes away as I am writing, my first December since graduating from Culinary School not spend working... I keep thinking sometimes... what am I doing? How ironic after all these years, finally on top of my profession, with not many mysteries left and some solid knowledge to be successful... to stop working! It just does not make sense sometimes... but I cannot go back as much as I miss the kitchen, this is one chance of a lifetime to extend a Journey over 6 months. I know that I have been on the road only a bit over a month, but I have never thought about turning back!... and I could have.. I never wrote about 2 new contracts that have been offered to me since I have left! As much as my passion remains for my profession... going back always seems like a dark tunnel with no daylight.

Today was, what I call a catch up day. A multitude of “things” to do that accumulates... laundry, organizing, downloading the GPS with new maps, that sort of things as my time here remains at one day.

I will be pushing West... toward the vast lands. I had thought about staying East for a while, but my plans have been rearranged and the need is not there anymore... I am so drawn to the vast open spaces, it will not be the first time and not the last. The ability to actually live in one place for a few days or a few weeks suddenly is so appealing. It is the first time that I adventure myself in this fashion. The past has always seen me on the go... ride, ride, ride... only seeing the peripheral attractions which stood up in travelers brochures and magazines... I want to taste and experience the unadvertised paths which need to be discovered!

I want to unpack everything I have... cook... ride... discover the back roads daily, suddenly the knowledge that I am pushing west further has almost given me a new life... there just is so much on the road to share with you all, and strange enough... as much as I want to be there... I don’t want to get there... afraid to miss what lays in between! I should be in Texas by tomorrow, it is 33 degrees here this am in New Iberia, Louisiana!... I know the northerners reading this are probably smiling, I am not complaining, I actually like the cold better than heat, this does however slow down the amount of outdoor activities, specially with Spirit.

Regardless of the mechanical break downs I have had, this first month has been a great trial time... and everyone in my path has been so kind and hospitable, I could not ask for more. If the rest of my Journey includes people as I have just spend time with, well, I will consider the luckiest person alive!

Friendships and human relations have always been for me the key of life. You know the classic saying... “money can’t buy...”. How true it is, and how great it is when, strangers at first, we can spark such positive emotions into each other’s hearts.

I hope, as I leave here, that my Internet connections are many on the road followed! I enjoy posting these reports along the way.

You be well... enjoy your day... looking up the sky will always make you smile... try it.

Ara and Spirit.

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

We are moving on to... Texas!

It is a “commute” day for us... not a long one as I need to regroup and decide where I will make home for a while... Your comments, you should know, are always appreciated. And also... while in an area maybe interesting to you, if needing any information, just let me know. I will be happy to look it up... let me be your... traveling agent! I would say us... but Spirit is turning out to be a lazy bum on this Journey...

Someone has to do it!... and write about it... this is your own backyard, accessible... right under your nose, no Oceans to cross, we all speak the same language, the food is good, the water drinkable... and how can you not love your... ATM!

Lets see what you think after reading about it...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Ara & Spirit

So why would someone rests on a Sunday?... because they can... because the winds blew me everywhere but where I pointed my nose at... because it got colder and colder going north...

And the fact that, hopefully there will be a tomorrow... Of course I can always say that Spirit was cold... made me turn around...and that would be it for my Blog but there is a bit more... but lets not always blame the lazy bum!... he makes up for it with his personality... and his great companionship, he is a good listener, always agrees and low maintenance!

Should be in San Antonio tonight... I repeat... Texas is huge!!!

And then I found out the weather for Big Bend for Friday night... might need some Gerbings for the rig...

Till then... Ara & Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.com

Parked in San Antonio since yesterday... going to sightsee for a while and find some good Tamales!... the Riverwalk... anything else?

How do I manage to meet such great people?... How can my Karma be so good and so kind to my present life?... I must have lived right I guess... I can just imagine... trust me when I say “don’t let the few bad seeds of our society give you the wrong impression about human kindness”.

One always needs to be planted firmly on their two feet... but what a lift it is when one similarly meets good hearted people that open the doors to their home and heart!

Spirit had a blast yesterday playing with a buddy!... over one acre fenced was his playground... can this dog run or can he run!... He is so much in my care that it felt so great to see him have a good time! Such a shame that Pits have such a bad rap... it is slowly I think changing however... punish the owners... not the breed!...

Crossing Texas... for the first time is really not being felt!... This is the way to do it... take time and cover a couple hundred miles per day, if you have the time... It reminds me of the many times I have crossed Kansas to get to Denver, what a long straight road...

On my way to discover the town... and make preparations for Big Bend...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Be well... have a great day...

Ara & Spirit

Some riding yesterday... urban riding... amongst the city traffic... the stop and go and engine overheating surrounded with the fumes of freshly lay out tar... Somehow one has to sacrifice sometimes the comfort to be able to witness what some cities have to offer on an historical view point, touristic... it is after all a Holiday season... at the height of its commercialism and lights...

It was a great day, a full day... ending with a with a great culinary experience, a kind of food I am fond of... report on the Blog ... with pictures...

Tomorrow morning we will be leaving... yes... I know, I have been saying that for days... but it is true...

Enjoy... stay aboard... and be well...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Ara & Spirit

Too busy for your little Armenian buddy "Whip"...still waitin for your call.

Whip

I think I Pm'd you... or wrote somewhere what happened!

We did ride downtown, but I would not leave the bike unattended... and you can, I hope, understand why!... GPS... Valentine... too much stuff! That is the price to pay when traveling in this fashion!

We came back at night, driving this time, but it was too late. We are not leaving till saturday am... weather dropping to the teens on friday at Big Bend... so riding the Hill Country, how about getting together friday night?

Maybe somewhere aroud here?... I'll call you tomorrow...

Thanks Whip...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

A bit of the Texas Hills...

It seems that plans when living on the road are made to be broken!... As we have been watching the weather, they promised hail and snow and 1 degree temp for tonight in Big Bend... it was already last night... brainless decision to hold the departure for tomorrow am...

Food store today... new coat for Spirit... “camo” design I might add... not my favorite by from lack of choice... and a good night sleep for tomorrow’s travel... half way most likely if anything interesting pops up...

In the meantime, we took a short ride to the Texas Hills yesterday... glad that I did... I know now that Texas is not as flat as I imagined it!

Some pictures and ride report here on the Blog ...

Hope writing to you from Big Bend next time!... really!!!

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

I could not resist the picture...

Be well... from Ara & Spirit

Made it to Big Bend... today!

I wanted to make my first sight in daylight and we took two days to get here... Sanderson was last night’s stop... but today I am in Terlingua... and without say... breathtaking... this is not having even been into the Park yet!

All I can hope is that my camera does justice to the scenery for the days to come...

Hwy# 90 was a nice ride... deserted... and as one might say the ocean can be boring and is not... the same scenario plays here. I have heard over and over... but there are no trees... of course not... but if one looks closely there is so much more to the eye... and the mind!

I will go on posting on the Blog as much as I can... lucky to have WI FI here from 6am to 10pm... and amazingly the days here are longer!... daylight till about 7pm... summer approaching?

Better not fool myself... winter is going to be here for a while...

Till then... till tomorrow... be well... I am breathing again!

Ara and, of course, Spirit...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Nice snaps

Our own Leslie and Marty Hill have stood on that very same high bridge over the Pecos River:

The park is awesome..get your camera ready!

I may be the millionth one visiting this Park... I so much wish now I had a better camera!... looking into it... will try to find optical zoom lenses for a great Nikon Cool Pix 990 that I still have... there are thousands of pictures just more stunning than mine... but this is my story... and... as they say... I will stick to it!

I will start getting into the Park at sunsets... sunrises... I am finding a lot of haze during the day...

I am trying... I want to stop every 100ft... the rock formations resembles so many scenes and people of the past daily life... and it will be fun to post the pictures and write about them...

It was a different ride into the Park today... the West end including Chisos Basin at 5401ft... and the Blog has it all...

Be well... and enjoy...

Ara & Spirit

Still waitin on that phone call......I didn't really care to meet you I wanted to meet Spirit.

Great pix......be safe and maybe next time we can hook up.

Whip

"I am so drawn to the vast open spaces, it will not be the first time and not the last. The ability to actually live in one place for a few days or a few weeks suddenly is so appealing. It is the first time that I adventure myself in this fashion. The past has always seen me on the go... ride, ride, ride... only seeing the peripheral attractions which stood up in travelers brochures and magazines... I want to taste and experience the unadvertised paths which need to be discovered!

I want to unpack everything I have... cook... ride... discover the back roads daily, "

Very well put! I have long thought that I would take a trip like this in some number of years from now. The draw of actually watching the game instead of only the highlights.

I hope that your decision is as rewarding as it sounds. It seems to me you've go a book to write at the end of your voyage.

Again sorry it did not work out... but Spirit is waiting for you... plenty of space here and I will even feed you.

I am sure that our path will cross again...

A book?... definitely a Cooking on the road book... at the end of the Journey... maybe sooner as I do not see and end!

Even though it almost seems unfair to be here today... Friday... I remember the traffic jams... everyone getting ready for the weekend getaway... myself mentally abusing my mind to feed the hungry patrons of the late night restaurant scene... or trying to be the object of abuse by the capricious moods of the rich and not so famous billionaire clients, when catering in Naples, Florida, as a Personal Chef...

The brain waves screaming “WOW”... and “OH”... or was it “HO”... just don’t cease... whichever direction I am headed the scenery is just on a constant overdrive, so much that I just wonder how can I describe my being here...

But there was more today than just riding... seeing some familiar faces and a great time with Voni and Paul Glaves... and some... which I tried to put in words on my Blog ...

Tomorrow is another great ride, the river drive to Presidio... I hear stunning... keep tuning in!

Be well... have a great weekend...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Ara & Spirit

Ara,

Glad your seeing great sights. I plan on heading to the west coast in late jan. Let me know where you will be.

Enjoy.

I think maybe in AZ?... or New Mexico?... or around here?

Let me know when...the I will know where!

Nice black GS buddy!!!...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

This is in response to a comment on my thread on BMW MOA... “sensory overload”, truly I agree describes the indescribable... and after a while, a few days, one just wants to stop describing and just look.

Every few miles, a 360 degree span offers a new background, new silhouettes against lately the clear blue skies I have been spoiled with... the feelings are actually beyond the scenery, the space here itself is magical and spiritual as being transported in a different medium, which it is with no doubt. I have a tendency to always think about years back when it was the land of the Native Indians and sadness always occurs in my mind. I see families living here off the land, only using what their needs where, the children playing peacefully, the women going on to their chores... it is always the biggest puzzle for me as to what happened? How did this happen! They call life in the past “the dark ages”, I call the present years... “the dark ages”. None of the natives now are here and it was not so many years ago, their Spirits are still lingering, probably tearing constantly to the loss of their lifestyle and ancestry , manhood and civilization... It is to me one of the most mind boggling part of History... I am not even comfortable to the fact that it is now a National Park, sure, trying to conserve the beauty of it all, with rules and regulations needed for the masses that would ruin it all in a heartbeat... how sad would it be to witness some day a descendant of a family that lived on this land, walk to the front gate and pay his or her $5 to get in... can you feel his heart and emotions?... What a World we live in!... driven by greed... materialism and no fondness for the past in real sense... if it was... all the land would be given back... all of it!

NO... I am not a political person or would ever get political... this statement is purely from the heart!

On a different subject... it was a fun time meeting some of the San Antonio riders for a run through the Park, will also the presence of Voni and Paul... as written in my Blog ...

Be well...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Ara & Spirit

All I can say is... do not take your good health for granted!... What a difference a day can make!

It seemed like such a long day yesterday in search for a Doctor in a town where everything seemed to be moving in backwards...

More pictures and report in the Blog ...

Be well... we are again... Ara & Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

The wind had its fun yesterday, it blew with full force, took my “dining room” down... we rock and rolled most of the time! Just like in a good Western the tumbleweed was trying to make a touch down on the goal line, as the night went on, the other team won however as the wind changed direction by 180 degrees!

It was an anticipated ride on river road to Presidio and I returned just on time before its full strength, still my arms sore... what a work out it was!

Today is a down day... a catch up day... again the good stuff... laundry, reorganize this place and brace ourselves for some cold weather... it is all in the Blog ...

Be well...

Ara & Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Wow, my kind of road. Not necessarily the curvy aspect, but the appearance of being out in the middle of nowhere.

B.C.

Thanks for the pics and memories. I camped in that campground (it was a lot greener with leaves on the trees) and stopped at the same Tee Pee's on my way to Presidio and back to California in May 2005 after picking up my 04 RT in Ft. Worth. Big Bend is a grand sight to behold-800,000 acres. It is the least visited National park in the lower 48. If you have not been there is certainly needs to be added to your list. It is stunning.

Well, you need to come back... even three weeks here is not enough!... but the road will call again soon!

I have been trying since my departure to switch places with Spirit some days! But no deal... he is a stubborn dog!... and last Sunday was one of those days, courtesy of the San Antonio Riders visiting Big Bend, that I tried really hard to convince him... hey, riding ain’t that bad buddy... the bike runs good, you can build up a bit of your upper body muscles, get a bit of adrenaline rush here and there... you will still get to eat, drink and mingle... but no go...

So I guess I am stuck in this position, witnessing sometimes on a daily basis all the attention he gets, and the petting, and the scratching... where did I go wrong?

And there is more on the Blog ... I hope this situation lingering ahead does not alter my mind...

I am after all, only a human being!

Enjoy... Be well...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Ara and Spirit... I had to sign for him, he is too busy...

I was wondering after seeing the pic you posted. How is the visibility with 7 beams, I mean lights on the front of your bike?

Drats, I was only in Big Bend for a day passing through. Can't imagine 3 weeks. That would be pure heaven. I guess you have time to teach Spirit to drive. Should be quiet there over Christmas. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Keith

The visibility is awesome... high beams... low beams... side beams... they all have a purpose...

Huntington Beach!... California will see me going Northbound as it warms up! I'll wave...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

So this is where I lived...

This is where I live now...

How ironic that public “progress” is the reverse of my present life’s progression...

Thought I would give you a tour of Terlingua , a little town unlike others... with a lot of local flavors and inviting little spots... all in the middle of some of the beautiful landscape I have ever seen... I will be leaving in about 10 days... and I know that I will miss it... but the road is already calling... more Texas? New Mexico? Arizona? Southern California? Maybe Spirit can decide...

Be well... enjoy the Blog.

Ara and Spirit

Ara,

Glad your enjoying big bend. I've spent some time there and think it's wonderful. Returning in late march.

Take care and hi to spirit.

Hmmmm, this pic reminds me of the ruins at Gran Quivira in NM.......

I am not going to lie and say “it feels like Xmas...”, because it does not...

The campground is fuller, a couple Adv riders have arrived, more tomorrow...

Old Faithful got a new front shoe today and some Xmas lights!

And a dinner at the Starlight Theater finally...

More pictures and a full report on the Blog ...

Enjoy...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Ara and Spirit..

There has been only one “no good” weather day... and that was yesterday, I cannot even call it bad...

Last night the wind must have been blowing at around 50mph... Mike and John, that was John by the way... not James!... took refuge in their truck... the tough girls, Anna and Becca endured somehow the night in their tent. Real troopers... From Chicago and Texas... would you expect any less?

And the day cleared up and the ride was awesome... as usual... full report in the Blog ...

Hope you are all having a great day, Many Thanks to all the great wishes I received... it sure is nice to know that friends think of me...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

From Ara and Spirit... have a great one... and stay well...

I found my original Big Bend National Park entrance map last night... it is dated the 12th of December... Have I been here that long?... I am taking roots... and still discovering the town, so unique... still discovering new riding... river beds are my new “thing” as 98% of Texas land is privately owned... found myself sitting in Kathy’s office... some chairs around the fire ring in front of her Kosmic Xafe... for a couple hours... by the road... the local source of gossips... waiving at most cars passing by and meeting more strangers... everyone has a story... a couple professional photographers wanting to take some shots of the rig and Spirit... no, not of me!... and more riding... not a problem...

More riding... and more riders are showing up... they want to see the “girl” that planted this destination in their mind... I am and have not be alone for a while now... and the company is awesome... including sharing some Pizzas for dinner... as it is written in the Blog ...

Busy... busy... busy... I keep saying... “I need a vacation...!”

Today will be my first ride through the State Park, back through the river road to get there... versus the National Park which I still have to finish exploring and probably will not, leaving some for the next visit.

Till later... you be well...

Ara & Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

This is one of those days when you have to think by it’s end... any riding is better than none...

When you have to think, well we made it, we build up character, fought the wind, the sand blowing... never reached our destination... but we rode! This was not all however... we met some riders that knew me... and I knew them too... from the Forums... go figure that one in the middle of nowhere.

I might be wrong... geographically it is far down south... but I have stopped to think as Big Bend being in the middle of nowhere for many minds... there are been a sudden growth in the population!... and more to come... as you can read in the Blog ...

The rain has finally, for the first time since being here, arrived... I can now lay back and write!

Be well...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Ara & Spirit

It suddenly hit me this morning, there is a whole winter ahead of me... cold weather for Spirit, myself also I am not denying, short days... where to go? No, it is not a problem by far, there is a need for a wise decision to be taken for both of us, as the 3rd is approaching, departure day from Big Bend that is closer than ever to my heart and my well being. For years, I have waited for a spark from my senses to ignite a desire to stay in one place... and as much as Big Bend has... I know myself well enough, bohemian blood running in me, I cannot stay still for too long.

Fort Davis has been my planned next destination, I know only a few miles up, but providing a totally different surrounding and vision. New Mexico, Arizona... all on the way West... but again, winter is making its mark and being in a no-riding situation is not an option!

My logic is leaning me toward a straight flight to the southern west coast... Anza Borrego and its surroundings... will it be warmer? Get situated, explore a bit of that beautiful land... and... head south to Baja, Mexico... Rig and Spirit only, leaving the camper and trailer safely behind with maybe someone offering some space.

I have time to think about it...

In the meantime, David and Mike showed up... truck, trailer and bikes... kitchen, outdoor heater... well seasoned campers!... Was a blast to cook for them... you can read it and see it on the Blog !

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Be well...

Till later... Ara & Spirit

As the year is closing on us, I feel like there are life’s aspects I need to think about, maybe resolutions to take, try to better our life somehow... but I cannot find anything. I already live to the fullest every day, I can only on this occasion step back a bit and look around me, sometimes amazed at my own path. I am on the path of my desires, hoping some happiness for Spirit and missing my loved ones, the ones too far away to see and the departed ones...

Actually, I look forward to next year, a whole year on the road as I have only done 6 months at the time. There has been some incredible growth in just these past two months, incredible people I have met, the start seems so far away, even geographically as I have been so absorbed by my immediate surroundings... and the finish... I hope that there is none!

Wishing you all a Happy New Year, a healthy one, both physically and mentally... the rest will come.

It has been short rides the past day, still sore from fighting the strong winds on our way to Presidio, a bit of snow and fog has made the scenery and the ride even more enjoyable... after a couple cloudy days, the sun stands up high in the sky as a daily gift again, I think also sending great wishes for the coming New Year... and there is more on the Blog ...

I think the pages have been saturated with the rig’s pictures... not that you will not see more of it, but today... my buddy Spirit... comfy and warm... is on the front page!

See you next year...

Ara and Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

I could not help feel a bit of emptiness last night after saying my goodbyes to David and Mike!

The campground again was empty, every one had come and gone, no one left on the hill... these pasts days were filled with engines starting, late night talks, much riding... much eating, and now again... left... just Spirit and I... back to our scheduled programming I thought!!!

What schedule?

The year started with a great ride yesterday... South County Road to North County Road, then north toward Alpine, east toward Terlingua Ranch, Marathon road toward 385... great weather, great company and roads... much fun as you can read about it on the Blog ...

John, Mike, Becca, Felipe, Wayne, Byron, David, Mike, Anna, Big Don and Lobby from on the road... even you, the odd Texas Pete... and I have the feeling that I am forgetting some names here... thanks for your presence and making these Holidays some memorable ones... Maybe again next year?

You be well...

Ara & Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

My last sunset on the hill... an untouched photo as the camera took it!... just in case you were wondering... A waive, a smile, a going away present before our departure? You be the judge of it as I have been taking sunrise and sunset pictures throughout my stay... and none compare to this none.

Day to pack... re-arrange things in a better fashion, which worked out much better. It is the first time since I have left, but I am sure it will not be the last time.

Some more good byes and while trying to put some order in this minuscule camper of ours... I just thought about showing you how and where we live! It is kind of a mess... two extra books and it is overcrowded!...

You can see it all in the Blog ... tomorrow we will be in Fort Davis, exploring also Marfa and Balmorhea, Mc Donald Observatory...

You be well...

Good Bye Big Bend... you have been kind to us...

Ara & Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

We rolled in Fort Davis in the afternoon... the weather was not cooperating... very thoughtful that I packed yesterday in dry conditions... and so here we are a few miles north.

And I was thinking that maybe I should have skipped Big Bend, leave it for last, and then again, there is no planned end to this Journey. You guessed it, I just understood what my friends, which had left days earlier, wrote... I already miss it!

There will be other regions, comparable on many levels of its beauty and serenity, but I just realized that Big Bend had been to me like a calm Ocean with its full sun, day after day...

I think today the weather has a lot to do also about how I feel... dark grey all day... there is excitement however in being here... It is a real little town... with many Restaurants... shops... friends to be made and awesome roads to ride... as I understand, it is going to be beautiful these coming days...

Spirit and I took a walk... check it out in the Blog ...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Be well...

Ara & Spirit

Fort Davis is a great place. Be sure to visit the state campground and keep your dog protected. Lots of wild pigs running around there and they have no fear of humans. My wife still hates they day she crossed trails with them.

I fell asleep when I returned from today’s ride, which beat me up again struggling against the winds riding up to Fort Davis Mountain and the Mc Donald Observatory... Awesome roads... it had been a while since riding nice sweepers and twisties, without a speed limit per say, remembering someone not too long ago telling me that I would be done here in a couple days!... So much to see, so much to ride... The start is in today’s Blog .

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

*** Thanks for the warning... mules deer... cows... horses... what else!... Oh! the vultures that fly to the right only to dive flying back left!!! Yes... we see it all!

Be well...

Ara & Spirit

Ara, look for the guy on the left while you are in the area. He is a very interesting fellow and the converstation with him is amazing. He lives out on the loop and comes to town often. If he sees you he will more than likely stop and chat. His name is Bill as best I can remember.

Quite a contrast from yesterday, was a cool night at the most which even allowed us for a nice walk... Spirit had some problems during the night... and this morning I woke up to snow flurries!

Am I complaining?... not the least... will take it any way it comes... specially after yesterday’s great ride as written in the Blog ...

I will keep on eye open for him, Jerry here might know him also, I will show him the picture... Many, many interesting people live here and in Terlingua... many artists... writers... UNLIKE other cities... they stya under cover... and I can understand that fact to feed them their creative flow...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Be well...

Ara & Spirit

It was an anticipated day to see Meathead, (Mark), can you understand his handle through some of the pictures?... swing by here, Fort Davis, TX, and join me for dinner...

I have posted the pictures and the short stay on my Blog ...

Enjoy and be well...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Ara & Spirit

Hard to believe that one week and more has already gone by in this New Year... time is starting to speed up as I look at maps, there is no plans or directions, the weather will be my guide mostly as I have to move on to warmer climates, mainly for Spirit. With even two coats on, the poor guy is cold, he does not want to go out and I am not feeling comfortable with his lethargic days... we both need our exercise... him as much as me!

We did not ride yesterday... spend it mostly at Jerry’s and Nalda’s Bookstore... it amazes me for a town this small how many interesting people there are... so many conversations!

There are always pictures from the past that do not make it on the Blog ... with Cagiva 549's permission I have posted some of the recent past ones...

Hope you enjoy...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Be well...

Ara & Spirit

Don’t you be thinking now...

On my way back from Balmorhea Hot Springs, a few miles into the ride, a black truck with blue and red was flashing... I could not see very well beyond it, looked like a couple bikes had kissed the grass...

Not so...

They were shooting a commercial! I stop... U turn... going the wrong way... the local Sheriff is not very happy, but the guys are... a sidecar with a dog? compared to the usual two wheel stuff they have been working on. Any chance to be in it?... I ask... sorry... wrong brand!

Oh well... maybe better luck next time...

The rest of the riding was great... it is all the Blog .

My last day in Texas... you have been good to me... I leave with some new friends and some incredible memories... and I will be back! There is no doubt about it...

Be well...

Ara and Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

You know the drill if you have ever taken a Freeway, in transit as I call it... and most, unfortunately, because of lack of time, somehow wondering why my time has been lacking now suddenly... needing to get from point A to point B as I am doing!

It finally was a good decision to take Hwy #10... as you might read it in the Blog ...

Till then... you all be well... were going...

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Ara & Spirit

It rained all night, we, I say we!... slept late... kept raining and there was not much sense going to Tucson trying to find another place to camp... 80 miles away, I thought, leave early tomorrow morning and have a do nothing day!

Well, the skies cleared up, and actually for the first time I cannot write it all in one Blog!

So this is part one of what end up being a full day...

Be well...

Ara & Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com

Two summer's ago on my way around the US. I stopped at those wonderful tepees and took a break before entering that incredible canyon on the way to presidio. Took the edge off of the 110 degree day. . . .

come to think of it, that was the day I hopped in the Hot Spring in Big Bend just to say i did.

Mexico never looked so cool!

A quick overnight in Gila Bend, AZ, and here we are now in Anza Borrego, California! I will spell it for the first time...

A day, or was it two days ago?... returning from the Chiricahuas the sunset was magical... as so was the ride up, all in the Blog .

Feeling always like a kid in a candy store... that is me today... new maps, new roads with the knowledge that I will be here, in this area anyhow, till it starts warming up a bit...

Be well...

Ara & Spirit

www.theoasisofmysoul.typepad.com