Life at 60, (mph)

Well, maybe it was ‘just a period of life that a person could paddle through.’

With all intentions of doing some paddlin, I loaded up the truck along with ‘Pearl’ the trailer – and headed westward, 2023.

Through Memphis, where the sign said “anywhere but here – and ‘anything Green helps”……

Through Arkansas where at 11pm and 1000 miles we pulled into a nice travel center in OKC, and found horizontal peace until first thing in the morning. In traveling I like to cover as many miles as possible on the first day, before finding a room (for Kim) within more moderate distances in the days ahead. This trip, she was my company.

Along with being a ‘good travel sport,’ she also had a couple things on her bucket list that we could knock off…

With some extra ‘zip’ in my coffee, we made Amarillo and the Big Texan, right at lunch.

mmmmeat,! I had the lunch prime and it hit the spot, mmm.

We endured a nice ride on I-40, while others trodled along on the nearby Rt 66…

The trains piercing the landscape were miles long…….

even the Willy-Wonka truck was doing his duty…..

We spent a night in Santa Rosa, NM – then proceeded through Albuquerque, and to Gallup, where we found lunch at the Golden Corral food-trough.

Then upward and across Arizona to the Hopi Reservation Cultural Center for a night.

That was an interesting stay, nice room – but I think it was a first to where it was easiest to unload/load a nights luggage through the rooms window…..

 The next day began what we came for; backroads –

and wide open spaces…

Tuba City, AZ

right on over to the Big Wash….. 

The Grand Canyon at the Desert View tower….

Yes, it was a big hole – but most importantly, something off her bucket-list. Done.

Then back across those wide open spaces.

There were others out there too; adventurers, adventuring.

Lots of neat looking highway.

to Kayenta, Az

where we found a great room, with a fine porch to roost on –

alongside another ‘roosting’ one..

and the local food was more than enough…

then once again, it was time for the road – “Leave early, enjoy the ride.”

Many of my rides too are about “closing little-circles.” My personal definition of little circles is; ‘an interesting comparison of memory, perceptions, and present reality of a place that you remember and have been before“….. That windmill I have visited before;

in 2010, and in 2015.

Not important to many, but once home the image did inspire me to do a barn-quilt painting – which is simple yet one of my favorites.

But anyway, nice to close those little circles – before another stop at four corners.

It too is quite a change from 13 years earlier. Eight bucks to get in, walk around and look at Indian jewelry, no complaint. My smile here came from a National Lampoon movie (Rusty Griswald’s trip) where Rusty wanted to spend a private moment on the marker with his wife, they were confronted by a crowd and law enforcement from 4 states. 🙂

We chose Colorado, our original destination for a family visit (and maybe some paddlin).

another corral of sorts.

and a visit with an old Church/school chum in Durango, Co – Chuck Rickards, FMHS 70.

To a great little spot (and soft bed) alongside a little lake in Pagosa Springs – thank you Joe/Judy.

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I guess I’ve completely lost track of the reason for this post, I hope that you understand…..