"The Oasis of my Soul", Seventh year on the road...

[BeemerChef]

Originally Posted by CCRyder

Ara, seems like just a short while ago--- that I visited you there near Dahlonega at the house on "Wheeler Rd" ? wasn't it ? And Spirit was just a big puppy - I remember the Ford truck with the camper that you started out on. You had just recently got it, and were getting prepared to travel.............................

Hard to believe 6 years or so have passed.

But then again, when I think of all the moving and traveling Tami and I have done since then, yes.......much time has gone - and gone quickly it now seems.......

Good luck with the heart transplant on old faithful.......I remember when you had just broken the 100,000 mile mark I believe.........

Plan to spend 2 weeks in Colorado this summer at the end of July and into the 1st week of august, perhaps our travels will allow us to cross paths once again ?
Tami sends you a "hello" and best wishes as well.........

Champ

Thanks you two... has been a while! Finances are going to be tough this summer, so we are going to stay in CO at heights. Check our SPOT, stay in touch. We will be on some roads between Lake City and Creede and Lake San Cristobal... Visiting some Friends also in Ouray that have a real nice house... Maybe we can do that ride again!!! That was 10 years ago... Be well, Ara and Spirit

[Ponix]

Love the pics and the report....sir

[BeemerChef]

Originally Posted by Ponix

Love the pics and the report....sir

Thank You Ponix... On our way to pick up "Old Faithful" with it's newer engine...

Stay well... Ara and Spirit

[BELSTAFF]

Ara:

I am looking forward to making your & Spirits acquaintance over Expo weekend & hope won't mind a few photos .

I have signed up for you seminars. & as a former scoutmaster with a troop of 30 boys, outdoor cooking is close to my

heart, so believe it --I will be taking notes .

[BeemerChef]

Oh!oh!.... will be fun. They are all on the "One-Pan " section. Will be making a Pizza also, dough included, no mess....

Send from somewhere on the road...

[BeemerChef]

Northbound. In lust with “Carrizozo”. NM

Sometimes it happens as in a few years ago when arriving in Big Bend and Terlingua. There is an indescribable sensation that penetrates one's inner senses and makes it all happen, happen as “I would like to spend some serious time here...”. That is what “Carrizozo” did to me while after leaving “Valley of Fire” [NM] to come into town when my stove lost a part. Will see... might be a good space for next winter.
In the meantime we are circling “Mountainer” having accepted the hospitality of new Friends and tomorrow is “on the way to again Albuquerque” to saddle up with “Old Faithful”.
“Sandia BMW Motorcycles” in Albuquerque I must say has done everything possible for us to get rolling without much delay. Quite a task I must considering installing a new engine and the intricacies of reinstalling the sidecar. A bit more complicated on the GS [R1100] while there is not front frame and engine bolts are forward the main supports.
Seems as it has been an eternity. Seems. Will not be that much longer till the three of us again are reunited and rolling, this time toward Arizona.
Enjoy “Carrizozo” photos. There will be more.

Be well, always.

Ara and Spirit

[BeemerChef]

More of “Carrizozo” and “Chaco Canyon”. NM

This vast space has touched us. Carrizozo is till fresh in my mind, the quaint feel and friendliness of the locals, the proximity of so many new roads, all makes me want to make it an “Oasis” for us next winter. Will see! Maybe. As everything else on this Journey of ours. “Chaco Canyon” where we also spend a few days, well, none has yet sank in due to the enormity of what we encountered. The past remains of a Culture so intense, the many dwellings standing and preserved from an era when yet “metal tools” where just not around.

“Old Faithful” is up and running. The anticipation of the repairs dollar amount was a shock, of course, like everything else, yet, it has been done right and can only hope many new miles are in store ahead of us.
To compound it all however half of our camping gear has been stolen from one night in Albuquerque, simply lifted off “Old Faithful”, another shock, another setback.
Sometimes the skies open up and the storms drop to no end. That is how it right now feels as we try to move on toward Flagstaff. Check out our Merchandise section...
Enjoy the photos, the roads. On we go for more... Trying!

Be well, always.

Ara and Spirit

[LynxSS]

Your camping gear was stolen? Wow that sucks.. Sadly, I know how that feels and how it can affect a trip. My fiancé was robbed in Yellowstone on one of our bike trips, they went through all her bags and clothes to find get to what they took too. She was so upset and cried for half a day while I tried to console her that we could replace everything and eventually karma will catch up with them. Meanwhile we had to file a report with the park police who all tried to reassure us that this kind of thing never happens there and that this was the first big theft in 10 years at the park but that there was nothing they could do for us.

Was this stuff stolen while it was parked at Sandia BMW or while it was somewhere else in town?

I'm ashamed that several travelers who's threads I've followed have been relieved of possessions while passing through Albuquerque. Most of those thefts were from the Embassy Suits parking lot, seems to be a very nice new hotel but with 5 second access to the Interstate its a favorite for parking lot thefts.

[Louis]

Always a great read bud!

Will hafta catch up to ya one of these...

[bergsteigen]

Hate to hear about the theft of your gear. Kind of makes me want to do something other than wait for karma. Not that I'm a vigilante or would take it upon myself to dispense justice on low-life scum like these types. Better left to the "effective" hands of law enforcement who might be able to do something if they weren't sent out by the city to raise money through issuing tickets.

Oh well, hope the gear the ran off wasn't too valuable and easily replaced. Take care...

[BeemerChef]

Figuring out how to use Tapatalk! Thanks for the thoughts. Will post some photos tomorrow from Flagstaff before OX.

Send from somewhere on the road...

[BeemerChef]

Without a “Philosophy of Life...” AZ

Unusually have not been here in a while. A couple entries on the Journal, the one before last with many more Photos of "Chaco Canyon".Between playing hide and seek with some return and sending oil hoses which were wrong four times [outside vendor], picking up then “Old Faithful” to ride it and trust it, moving on here to the “Mormon Lake” area near Flagstaff, Spirit a bit under the weather with a Vet that wanted a series of expensive tests... Life on the road seems to finally lighten up for a breather before Overland Expo starting in a couple of days.
I had no idea this area is so beautiful and plentiful of unpaved but very well maintained roads. Cool weather throughout the days, cold as we [at least I !!!] like it.
I am slowly trusting this new [for us] engine, the feel is different, stronger of course with only it's 30,000 miles.
There will be a big crowd at Overland Expo, many Friends we only see once a year, some maybe twice. Lots of cooking, chatting, giving a “One~Pan” cooking Class for all the three days. Traveling without refrigeration as we do... simple and clean and good.
There will be I am sure many photos from all attending vehicles, maybe a couple videos, the area is huge. Much excitement ahead I must say...
Till next time. Enjoy the Photos from “Mountainair” all the way to “Mormon Lake” including “Pie-Town”.

Be well, always.

Ara and Spirit

[BeemerChef]

All Roads lead to Overland Expo. AZ

The dust has settled from days amongst an Epic wave of vehicles, people, Friends camping with, names which now have faces, dogs, classes, movies and more as I am sure I am forgetting something. Cooking! This Year's Overland Expo was larger than ever, it was an amazing array with everyone present living a common denominator : The Outdoors.
We had arrived early, amazed with the Coconino National Forest and it's hundreds of miles of well maintained unpaved roads and the bonus of some very cool weather. I always feel so ignorant as with in past years “Big Bend”, this stage also was a big green space on the map I had never quite paid much attention to.
Such discovery always makes me smile when I am asked at times “so what are you going to do when you are done?”. One is never done, only rests a few days as it was last weekend.
We are now on our way to Colorado in search for more such roads, elevation and cool weather. It is there awaiting.
Enjoy the many Photos of some truly incredible vehicles. There will be more, the camera did not rest too long.


Be well,

Ara and Spirit.

[BeemerChef]

Looks like "we are" doing it. AZ

The dust has settled from this past weekend amongst a sea of many Souls everyone on the path of their own direction. Ours will take off tomorrow when we head North for months seeking more beauty, calm days, cooler weather and if lucky isolated spaces with a creek. I know it is awaiting for us. Faith in Life within this direction taken. I am thinking about backtracking a bit and heading out through New Mexico to experience the "Bisti Badlands" if the heat does not chase us away. It has been a bit of a numb week following all the recent past excitements. My sleeping bag has been replaced as also cooking stove and miscellaneous items. As more time goes on I feel as cutting back more and more the luggage volume. Devising different scenarios. Who needs all this! Simplicity is always so much less to try lug around. Anything we have not used for a year or more. Yet, Murphy's Law might prove to the contrary as soon as leaving some items behind. Who was Murphy?
More Photos of Overland Expo on the Journal. Enjoy.


Be well,

Ara and Spirit.

[Archimedes]

Ara and Spirit,
Glad to see you're both well. We were hoping to make it to the outdoor expo but simply couldnt.
It's our two year anniversary on the road today, do you remember how that was for you?
We are heading north and will go through Colorado to see Shawn C. Maybe we bump into you somewhere. I'll keep tabs on the RR to see if we get close.

Best wishes and safe journey you two!

Brian and Deya