People I met on the trip.
Friends and Ancillary notes about the 2023 WY to MO to NM loop
There are many things to share about another "Trip of a Lifetime" as this loop to the mid-west was, but the people we met were a major highlight. Most of the people, we'll never see again. In the end all we have is memories of places and people. The contributions each stranger makes to each of us, to our values, priorities, opinions can be very subtle or not so.
Each trip we go on has one or more themes, or excuses to visit.
- The stunning natural beauty is of course a major reward.
- Modern or historic art museums is another.
- A search for the best Tacos in the land is another theme.
- Hot springs, in a natural setting or in a cement pond is another. They are gathering places.
- Old or prehistoric buildings show a little of how people thought and what was important at the time.
- Prehistoric art like pictographs(drawn or painted), or petroglyphs(carved or scratched into rock) are another. It must have taken many hours, days, even lifetimes to create some of the huge wall images of this symbolism. This was a mayor theme.
- The natural beauty of places we went was stunning and in a category of it's own, but the faces of the people, tell of the human struggle, of achievements, of failures. This is what I was all about.
- The best taco!
People are one theme. Fellow campers, or customers sitting on the step outside the coffee shop, or waiting for someone outside a museums. The space that governs the body, the small space between ones ears directs and rides a vast universe, with it's mental and physical perceptions is everything. This is what we are all made of, the day-to-day of existence, of birth, of death and everything in between. It is the sum of our experiences and reactions. To everyone who spoke with us in earnest, we are grateful. Most people we seriously met are friends. I may use that to loosely. Maybe acquaintances is a better term. yet most we shall never see again. Yet for a moment, a minute or an hour they shared a part of themselves. That is real and the moment should not be glossed over, or taken for granted, treated casually, or simply discarded for the next novel experience. In dense urban areas, we bob around doing our business. We avoid crashing into people constantly. We never touch.
On this trip, I wanted to look people in the eye, to touch, and I did.
Prehistoric art like pictographs(drawn or painted), or petroglyphs(carved or scratched into rock) are another. It must have taken many hours, days, even lifetimes to create some of the huge wall images of this symbolism. This was a mayor theme.
Sept-5-2023
At the Flaming Gorge Buckboard Crossing Wyoming State
Campground. I met Ken who was single and traveling alone. A widower of 8 years since his wife passed he was
58 but looked older and was missing many teeth. Now on his way back to Idaho
Falls, ID where he worked and lived he’d been in Colorado to see a Fish
concert. He once went to San Francisco where his daughter got married. Cities
are not for him. He had a family. He had possessions of life, goals. He had love. I
realized with him how loosing a mate, can change everything. It seems we are
wired that way. It seems we must have a fear of loss, to
love. With out the fear of loss, we can not have the thrill, the
affection of love. I saw his loss. It was hidden deeply, but it was there.
That same night we joined 2 other couples, travelers like us, we’d never met.
We each brought our chairs and sat around a nice fire sharing stories and trading information. Mark and Anne Harrington were from near Greenville, North Carolina. She was an ordained Roman Catholic priest. She told us how a group of seven women met in 2002 on an independent neutral island on the Danube River and were ordained. The “laying on of hands” has been handed down since Peter was the first pope, and now it has jumped across the gender barrier to women. They were excommunicated immediately, but have continued their ministry. They formed the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. See the website: arcwp.org. See also: bridgetmarys.blogspot.com. They continue to advocate for the rights of Christian women and other minorities in the Roman Catholic church. Their Bishop continues to ordain women.
Anne’s Husband was in IT and had interesting thoughts about photo file management. They invited us to swing by their place in North Carolina any time. Mark also recommended places to go and camp in NC. See Frisco and Buxton and Prett(?) on Hatteras Island, NC. Try the National Seashore Camp ground. Go for a week he said.
Sept-6-2023
As We were driving
north on US 20 near Hudson WY, when I saw a sign Offering fresh goats
milk. It has been over 46 years since I
have had fresh goats milk so we had to stop.
I got a whole gallon for $12. Seems like a lot but so worth it for a one
time deal. You can’t get fresh un-pasteurized
goat’s milk in California. In Wyoming there are some limited laws that make it legal
here. It was good, cold and so delicious,
rich and creamy. Normal pasteurization
breaks it down and changes the taste. Buying it in the dairy section of your
market is um, not as good. And canned
goats milk, EECCCCH. Quincy and his
wife Diane rune Rae Bird OrHai’s
Birdsong Ranch. Quincy milked the goats
this morning. It was delicious! You
should stop by and see if he has any to sell. He’s at: PO Box 36, or 1320 S.
Oklahoma Ave. Hudson, WY 82515. Quincy also wants to be a “Harvest Host” and
take in RVs for the night.
Quincy milked the goats this very morning, about 6am.
Also in Thermopolis I met Hannah Gelling-Van den Brand, a
Pleasure-Way ambassador, Crew Member#
709. She was great to talk with. She is
a nearly full-timer and had a nice wide body 2003 PleasureWay Excel she had bought new.
Travelling with her new boyfriend, of 7 years, she has a Facebook
page you should check out. I had her
card and she said we could visit her in Mine Center, Ontario. Her phone is
807-707-2430,
But especially she said to go to Eunice, Louisiana for Martee Graw!
Sept-8-2023
As we were bar hopping up the main street of Cody, Wyoming
we ran in to these young girls. They were
a hoot laughing, joking, giggling.
Sept-10-2023
Going through Red Lodge north of Cody we met a ceramicist. Stopped
in the lovely town just as we came off the Chief Joseph Scenic By-way on US-212
we met Max Henderson was a resident now of Red Lodge. He has a degree in fine
arts from Arizona and was selected as an intern at the Red Lodge Clay
Center. A wealthy patron sponsors
several students, all expenses paid for 9 months to work and create their
pieces. See: https://www.redlodgeclaycenter.com/ They had some beautiful ceramic pieces, and
many guest artist from all over had pieces for sale. His Mother lives in Eureka Springs Arkansa
and works her own coffee shop. Its called “Beam Me Up” but the title has no
connection with Star Trek he says. Check
out his Instagram: MH_Pottery
Sept-11-2023
We had checked into Sibley Lake Campground on US Hwy 14 in
Wyoming when I met Pallet and her husband from Nebraska. On their way to
Yellowstone they were towing a trailer. They were out for 2 to 3 weeks,
depending on how well they did together. Tomorrow is her birthday, and she will be able to buy
her Senior National Park discount card.
She was excited.
Sept-12-2023
My cousin Tim’s ranch near Hayattville, Wyoming is named
Twisted Tippet Land and Livestock Co. He’s a rancher among other things and
runs over 400 head of cattle. While we were there the cattle were pasturing up
in the hills. Come colder weather they
will move back to the ranch where alfalfa and sorghum are being grown for
winter. I helped Tim with one of his projects.
Dick and Jim are staying at Tim’s in the big house while they are down from Idaho to install a complex serries of clay skeet sport shooting machines. Dick designs the course. Jim his son fabricates the housing for launchers which are shipped from France. Jim builds foundations and boxes to protect them. Then they install them for clients, but Dick and Jim are mor than clients. They’ve known Tim for over 30 years.
Sept-13-202
Terri is a bartender at Paint Rock Inn & Bar in Hyattville, WY but she commutes from
Grey Bull, 45 minutes away. There is no cell service in and around Hyattville.
So every one goes to the Paint Rock Inn and use their wifi. The password is p@introckinn
Jocorey was the cook. He came from New York originally. He
did fabulous beef tacos. He would take various cuts, big hunks of meat, spice
them, braise or bake with carrots potatoes onions etc. on a cooky sheet long
and slow. He put this on soft hand made corn tortillas with a green sauce made from: tomatillo,
green chili salsa blended well, like an aioli sauce
Sept-14-202
One night Joe came into the Paint Rock Bar. He’d done ranch work all his life and own one 6 miles
out of town. Deborah sauntered over and request he play a song for her.
It was some of the sweetest most genuine county blues I’ve ever heard. It was a special moment. The whole bar got quiet when he started to play.
He’d smashed up his left hand in a hay baller a few years ago and could no longer fret the strings so he learned to use the slide and avoid certain notes.
Joe was very friendly and polite. He was a great performer and had an old presence about him and I bet he had a lot of stories to tell, but at this bar, the close down by 9pm, except on Saturday. Everyone gets up early in this town.
Sept-15-2023
Gloria was a volunteer at the Ten Sleep Visitor information
office. She was a local and loved the little town. She sold me a Ten Sleep t-shirt and gave me a
bunch of stickers with the town name.
She is worried for the area.
There are a bunch of very rich people with Silicon Valley money. They
have been buying up huge ranches in the
area.
Kristy Bruce was our tour guide at the Brinton House south of the town of Big Horn. The museum next door holds one of the greatest collection of Western art and native American clothing and artifacts in the world. It is a very modern structure up on a beautiful hill at the base of the Big Horn Mountain Range. Check out: https://thebrintonmuseum.org/ Close by is the Bradford home built by Bradford Brinton in the early 1900s. It is a huge house that has been preserved as Bradford left it. A graduate of Yale with an engineering degree, he returned to the Midwest to help in his father in the farm implement business where he eventually became very rich. Because of the endowment and trust the museum and grounds are free.
Oliver was the camp host at Devils Tower camp ground, called Belle Fourche River Campground. He’d lit a fire as if he wanted to share it and invite campers to it. This was the only campground that had free firewood. He was quiet, but attentive. Seemed like ex-military. Everything had it’s place and protocol. He ruled his campground, with, total focus.
Sept-23-2023
In Sturges South Dakota, there was this bar, and we met many nice folks.
The Badlands of South Dakota were beautiful. You can see a short video of the National park at www.nps.gov/badl (At the top of the page, hover over 'Learn About the Park' and click on 'Photos & Multimedia' Then click 'Videos,' and then 'Land of Stone and Light'.
Or visit www.youtube.com and search 'Land of Stone and Light'.
In the Badlands, at one point we were arguing, discussing our next move and decided to grab a drink in the first bar we could find. It turn out to be the Wagon Wheel in Interior, South Dakota. Interior has a population of about 73, and this was the only bar in town.
It appeared as a real hole-in-the-wall, kind of a "out in the middle of nowhere" kind of place. Lena was the Bartender. Originally from Columbia she came in
on a temp Visa, and became close to someone in the Valley south of Interior. When her visa ran out she married him. “We’ll see if it works out.” she told
me. Her father died two years ago from
Covid right before she was to leave for the US. Her mother told her to go to
the US and make a new life. She is not
an American Indian and is 26 years old. She started on the east coast, Florida,
Georgia, up to New York but ended up here. Her Husband is the son of a rancher
and works the family ranch.
Years back, in 2007 the Bar had a “Free drinks if you can
ride the bull naked.” Laura was 27 then. She rode the bull and got
free drinks! She came back in May of 2023 and left this poster of her ride in 2007.
Traveling through Nebraska, we stopped at a small taqueria in Broken Bow. I ordered my standard of 3 different taco. I choose different types of meet if given an option. I compare the tortillas used, their size and how they were cooked, that is fried or steamed or baked before hand. Were they made, what spices were added. Then the meat is very crucial for a good taco and in fact the most important part is the meat. Was it enough meat? Was it made that day? Any grizzle? Was it too dry, or too saucy? Too salty or not enough salt? What does it come with? A jalapeño, grated carrot, lettuce salsa on the side, slice of Tomato?
So in Broken Bow, at Jaunito's Mexican Food restaurant I
learned just because is from a local shop, does not mean it’s good. I think Junito has seen better days, and maybe had a stroke several years ago. But he got our order
correct, and had a pride in his work. I
think this was the only Mexican style restaurant for 60 miles. It was fun to
watch him interact, taking orders and dispensing food to go. He was a bit slow
in writing down orders, but everyone was patient.
Tami, A Kansas native was our barista and Harvest Host at the winery. It was closing time but she let us in to taste a whole bunch of bad wines. She worked at Wildwood Winery near Paxio, Kansas.
Bob was a retired shoemaker from Ohio. He had a nice sprinter and we talked for an hour before his wife came and got him.
Roberto & Peronist from Guadalajara, Mexico had their
own Taquiarea called ‘Wrap It Up’ a TexMex Grill, in the financial district of
Kansas City, MO. They’ve been here for 25 years.
That evening we went t o BBS Lawnside Blues & BBQ and had some great Kansas City BBQ. Lensey Chchan was the owner(right side in picture) and he had many stories of Blues artists that played in his place going back to the 1960s.
Coyote Bill and his band preformed old rock, new rock and The Blues. Coyote is a KC Legend. Deborah introduced herself to Ms. Kelsey Miles and they talked music and singing and vocals and style and bars, men, venues, weather, living in Michigan, well everything. Then Kelsey went back up on stage and sang another set. Check out her FaceBook page.
Oct-1-2023
On the way to Branson we pulled into Harry S. Truman Lake. John was there. He was very helpful, but maybe not ready for my normal barrage of questions. Or maybe he was down about his daughter, or wife, or he had a stomach ache or he couldn't wait for the season to end and the campground to close, and he could go back to Florida, or his brother just totaled his car. Regardless, he new his facts, he was quick and smiled after I took his picture.
Oct-2-2023
Still traveling south in the Ozark Mountains. We met Debbie
& Gary, a married couple and campground hosts at Pomme de Terre St. Pk., at the Hermitage
campground in Missouri. The season is
coming to a close and they had mixed feelings. They’ve been together for over
30 years. I think they were happy,
smiling and joking with each other constantly.
They live full time in a nice big trailer. When we arrived late in the day they were hanging out together in the small ticket kiosk. They liked each other. They were proud of their state, their lifestyle and loved the land.
Oct-4-2023
Finely we arrive in Branson, Missouri. This was the reason we started the trip. This was the first goal with a fixed date that we hung the whole trip on. Our good little Class B by PleasureWay, a "2015 Lexor TS Tour" has done us so well, So we have come to this rally hosted by PleasureWay to meet like minded owners. Pleasureway Inc. Invites 50 owners from east of the Mississippi and 50 owners west of the Mississippi Coming through Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas to Missouri were just extra benefits. Here is "Lexy" looking out her window at her new friends!
Oct-5-2023
Of all the people we met, one was very special. Our
PleasureWay on-call technical guide. We have on
several occasions, had to drive down from a mountain campground to an
interstate to be able get cell service to call Ryan at PleasureWay. He sits at
his desk in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Whether its complex electrical fault testing or plumbing issues he is
there and he patiently stays with us until we can resolve or fix something. We
had never met him in person so this was a nice surprise. He ended up spending 3 hours at the rally
helping us with all sorts of little things that had been plaguing us on the
rig. In Buffalo, Wyoming we had to order
a solar controller through Amazon, then install it with the integrated circuits
of the rest of the van. Ryan helped us
diagnose the problem then told us exactly what part we needed. When the main integrated circuit board blew
out on a trip to Nevada, Ryan was there..
Thanks Ryan. I think we'll stay in touch.
Oct-6-2023
We left our campground that morning and drove into Branson
for a nice breakfast. It was a 3 block
stretch of Oldtown Branson full of touristy small shops. Our waitress at The Farmhouse Café was Salina. She was wiped out from the
morning rush, and still had 4 hours to go.
Eggs and grits were their specialty.
After breakfast, we wandered into a little store and met
Rebecca. She was a treat and told us all
about herself and Branson. She proclaim
she can’t sing, and it’s because she has Acid Reflux, What ever, but it is real to her. Deborah bought a purse there, a Myra bag, and
she got a good deal! Rebecca is 68 and
she has family, out of state, but she like Branson. Her husband passed about 10 years ago. She
told us all about the other shops in Old Town.
I would probably look just like her if I’d been born a women. Oh God!
I met Tim Ford on the streets of Branson. His dark heart-shaped glasses were so wild, I knew he was begging to banter. Tim was ushering a church group through Branson. Find him on Facebook. He told me next summer he will drive the ‘Prayer Wagon” up to the Cheyenne, WY county fair, and I should meet him there. Tim drives large trains of horses, pulling wagons. Meanwhile he invited us down to his place in Wilton, Arkansas, in the south west corner. He was hanging out on this bench with his friend Terrance.
Carole & Vasilica Sakellariadis had driven there Pleasureway RV out from
Palos Verdes, CA. He was Greek and had come here nearly 30 years ago. He and
Carole had met and fell madly in love she told us. He is retired and they have a nice
home. She is about to retire from her job
at her Human Resource director at Wells Fargo Bank. They were great.
Michael Seals and I did our laundry together at our ABC
campground in Branson. He actually works
at the campground but lives about 8 miles west in Silver City, MO. He’d been in
the Navy 10 years, and had served in my home town of San Diego.
He knew all about the park and how to work it and to take advantage. Silver City has the upper crust of Branson
locals he though.
I met Scott and his dog Blaze on a walk outside of the
campground one day. He was a lot like me. He started off in Michigan. When
young he’d had a job as a mechanic for a small fleet of cars and trucks,
working for an electric company. But his
coworkers were constantly asking him to fix their cars on weekends. So he
finally called a realtor and said find me a cheep home out in the woods,
away from his work place so he could say ‘I live to far away from you to drive
in on the weekend.’ He got a small
house, wood heat and electric only. He
spent the years adding to it, building additions, even a second floor, gardens,
paths, a work shop, remodels, and more. He’d been married for over twenty years
and had adult children. Then, she wanted
him to change. People grow, people
change he said.. When he separated they
had to sell the house, and he moved down to Brandon while he worked and found a
house to buy. It had just closed and he
was hopping to move in, in 20 days. He
was staying in his trailer at ABC campground.
Oct-10-2023
We met Bobby at Nimrod Lake, Arkansas. Bobby and her husband
sold it all, to become camp hosts. They will be at Nimrod through the winter
and next summer then who knows She has
grown kids and all is good except her eldest daughter. “I don’t know what
happened to that girl.” She said. “Maybe
it’s her husband” I asked. She said no, he’s good and a good father. I wonder
what she meant. Bobby was nice.
Oct-11-2023
In Hot Springs, AR we met a lot of people. It’s an old town, and the only hot springs
that is a U.S. Park. It has quiet a
history as a big resort in the 1920s and before. Heather Adams was a Park Service guide and
she was great. I of course had many questions about the town, it’s geology,
plumbing, organized crime influence, population and prospects to mention only a
few areas. I peppered her with questions
and she new most of the answers.
After walking all
over town we chose Diablos Tacos &Mezcal to continue our quest to
find the best street tacos in the US.
Donna, a volunteer camp host was very nice. She said “Ya all” but had a very conservative
side. We apologized for being from
California. She said no problem, she’d
seen much worse from California. She just couldn’t stand Kamala Harris, and she had other thoughts about the direction of the country.
Oct-12-2023
On the way towards home from Branson, our goal had been to
make a bee line to New Mexico and explore that state for the last month. Instead when I called my brother in law James
he told me that he was flying to Tulsa for his father’s memorial. He invited us to attend. I could not say know and I’m so glad we
didn’t. We ended up hanging out with him
and his huge family for 4 days! We
regret the occasion but loved meeting everyone. There were over 60 people,
family and friends we met. They all welcomed us into there homes and were all wonderful. Here is James and one of his nieces.
Then even more people came to the memorial and graveside internment. Afterward there was a big “Bonfire” like party or celebratory wake.
Oct-14-2023
While in Tulsa I went to “The Gathering Place” a wonderful outdoor public park with museums and place to explore It was awesome, full of beautiful gardens,
ponds, things to explore. I briefly met a young girl named Ivy, going through a
cabinet of collections. Infact this one museume was all just collections to explore.
I talk to this women briefly. She seemed to have a lot on her mined as she
waited for some one.
We saw the partial eclipse, using our phones. This brought people together.
Oct-16-2023
On our way through Oklahoma City, we stopped at the Oklahoma
City Bombing memorial. I met no one
there, but in an hour of reflection, I connected with the victims. Each had a
memorial “chair” with their name. Each left memories. They became real people to me. What a tragedy.
Near was a fence where remembrances, and messages were placed. These seemed refreshed as often as friends or family wished. A guard told me they were periodically collected and placed in a repository. Why do we cry when those we love leave this earth? Why do we cry when strangers die?
We went to Cadillac Ranch, west of Amarillo, TX. It is quite a sight. We met some Germans there. At first I had a hidden prejudice, just because they were German, but they turned out to be very friendly. I’ve always thought that Germans are to Europe as Texans are to the U.S. I was proved wrong on both accounts. Every single Texan I met was kind, considerate, and accepting of us Californians. Both people are very proud. They have a self confidence and manner that I found welcoming. I think I learned a bit about myself in all my encounters there.
Oct-19-2023
I had met my
cousin Davis only once in my life when I
was about 8. It was back in the early 1960s.
From Wyoming I called him in Santa Fe and said “Ah, this is your long
lost cousin from San Diego.” And could I
stop by in a couple of weeks? He and his
wife Christine said of course and they welcomed us warmly. They have been collecting Mexican folk art
and their home was a gallery of wonderful figures and paintings from southern
Mexico. Davis had a art gallery in old
town Santa Fe specializing in Mexican folk art. Christine was the
Curator for many years at the Museum of International Folk Art, in Santa
Fe. This is a world class museum. Check out their link: https://www.internationalfolkart.org
While shopping in Santa Fe we met an art vender, Keith
McGregor. He came to Santa Fe from
Toronto 32 years ago and has never gone back. He plays hocky and is 61 years
old. He has a grown daughter.
For the record I must say that in the fall as trees are
turning red and gold, New Mexico is the most beautiful state of all!
Oct-20-2023
I met Deedee and Dennis in a Laundry mat in Santa Fe. You
know you have time to sit around in one of these. We shared stories of life, of
children, of homes and houses. We talked
about Santa Fe and the beauty of New Mexico. They shared their projects and
aspirations. I have never met their daughter but I feel I know her
somewhat. How will Santa Fe grow and
evolve I asked? What is important to
them now. And “Why are you in a laundry
mat instead of your beautiful home?” I inquired. Because the bedspread was too big to wash at
home.
As I went into a market in Santa Fe, I saw this Man, Jahni
Coyote playing his Didgeridoo. It is a
most fascinating instrument to me. (I have two of them but can’t really play.)
Originally this instrument came from Australia and was made from a burned out
Eucalyptus branch. Jahni’s was made of redwood from northern California. His
life has been very colorful, living in Sedona AZ for over twenty years then
leaving there to go back east to take care of his ailing mother. When he tried to return to Sedona and rent
his old converted garage apartment the land lord had raised the rent from $800
a month to over $3,500. So now he seeks an alternative life. His playing was
beautiful. How he got such beautiful,
blended deep, bone touching notes, and created pleasant music from them I could
not match.
I hope he finds what he’s looking for.
Oct-21-2023
One of our most favorite things to do as we travel is visit
farmers markets or swap meets. It is a
great place to see and watch and meet people.
The Santa Fe Farmers market was very cool. People amaze me, for their attitudes, their
wants and needs, actions and reactions.
There are usually interesting foods and wares. Most often the sellers are the creators of
the items. You can ask questions of there sources or raw products, their
techniques and methods and they don’t act pestered or bothered at all. Their reasoning and motivation for why they
do what they do is often their raison d'être. Do they have other day jobs or is
this full time? Is this their passion, or just a job. It is a chance to look a person in the eye,
to guess at their validity. Like a group
of women, review some knitted pieces while the men stand in
the background, helpless.
Colin Dyck, N.M. had some of the most beautiful ceramic
pieces. He specialized in fermentation crocks, mortar and pestles and other
dinnerware and You could see his self
pride in his design and function. I wish
we had his sour kraut maker/crock. I envy his line of work, his profession. Check
out his pieces on ETSY @MUDSLIDESTONEWARE. Or his sight: https://www.mudslidestoneware.com/ I see in him what I might have been if I had
not pursued cartography. Is not such a desire to create in all of us be it maps
or ceramics?
While at the Santa Fe Farmers market I met Yuccabird. He was selling his had crafted Bitters and
had several flavors. Bitters are a type of alcohol infused with botanicals that
can be used as a digestive agent OR flavoring agent. They usually have a taste sensation that is
sharp, acrid and often disagreeable. I
had only heard of Angostura bitters made down in Trinadad. I always have a
bottle in my kitchen. I like to add a
couple of good dashes to my meatloaf. It
can also be nice with a little bourbon on the rocks. Yuccabird had several
provocative flavors including Juniper and Pinon berry, also Mushroom with Cacao bitters. I bought a
small bottle of Dandelion with Cardamon bitters. He also makes unique vinegars
and syrups such as Rose Hip and Tulsi syrups.
Check him and his farm in Llano de San Juan in New Mexico at www.yuccabird.com. Talking with him gave me insight of a man that
pursued his farming passion and went where his creative efforts led.
Oct-22-2023
The Autumn colors were now full on. Red River is a cool little ski town north of
Taos. We did a little shopping and met
Mary in her store, Gold Nugget Gift Shop. There was a lot of cool stuff, and as
we went to but it, her computer cash register crashed. Or maybe it had been crashed for weeks.
Going west from Taos, NM you cross the Rio Grand River as it
flows west to Texas and Mexico. The large gorge it cuts through the plains is
jaw dropping. There is a rest stop and observation platform. And many people
gather. For the brave, or stubborn you
can walk across the bridge. The American Institute of Steel Construction awarded
it the title of ‘Most Beautiful Steel Bridge’ in New Mexico.
They have given up their lives for a mission, to save
people. Kelly smiled but they are very serious. They run the Suicide Awareness
Bus & Spirit House. Check out their Facebook or Instagram, or YouTube.
They
had been here a week waiting for bus parts to come from Santa Fe. Kelly was working on a Octopus painting over
the driver’s seat.
They knew the area. This bridge has a reputation. The fence near the
bridge has padlocks, attached, promises that will never fail, in a lifetime. Testaments
of lives come and gone. This spot is so
infamous for jumpers that local governments and business contribute to having a armed guard
present to try and stop people from commiting suicide. It’s a multipronged approach. Cory told me some of his stories. To me life is so amazing and wonderful. That it is not for all, is a true injustice.
But the person that left the
strongest impression on me was this man, grieving I feel. To loose a loved one,
a child before the parent goes must be the greatest of all disasters a person
can ever feel.
Oct-29-2023
The Ladies of Las Cruces meet every Sunday for Coffee and
Knitting. They were making a
cowell, 2 sweaters and a shawl. The secret to good knitting is in finding
good wool I was told. They like to go to the store,
“Thread Bear” and recommended it as a good place to knit on Tuesdays.
There were some beautiful things at the White Sands National
Monument gift shop. Passion the cashier laughed at how we went crazy buying
stuff.
Oct-30-2023
Gila Hot Springs was a wonderful camping areas. We’d stayed
2 nights bathing as much as we could. There was a nice cool stream next to
these 4 nice hot ponds. Allan and Carla
were our hosts. He would empty the pools every 4 days and steam clean the rocks
and sandy bottom. He had a lot to say about the mechanics of cleaning them.
Night time baths were wonderful.
It got down to 22° F on both nights we were there. The second night we shared a bottle of
wine with Douglas and Lucia, and their dog Benji. They were a fascinating couple from
Vancouver, B.C. We shared a bottle of
wine that night. They invited us to come
by if we were ever in Vancouver. The had
a little pop up trailer.
Both from South
Africa. He was a general practitioner doctor then quit to go back to school to
study radiology. Later he moved into
pediatric radiology. He had been in charge of some major hospital programs and authored
several papers on radiology.
Nov-1-2023
Nora was spread out in the local gas station in Silver City,
NM. She had packaged up a harvest from her family’s farm over in Hatch, NM and
was selling dried chili peppers. We
bought a big strand of the most beautiful chilis. When I got home I ground up some in our spice
grinder. It had the most delicious smell
ever, spicy but sweet. Every time I walk by the jar I have of it, I just could not resist smelling these ground chilis. She and her son Santiago hang out in the
trailer while waiting for customers.
Nov-4-2023
On our way into Phoenix
we traveled through the San Carlos Apache reservation. It was pretty dry and desert
like land. We came upon the Reservation’s Saturday Swap Meet in Peridot,
Arizona and met Lillian. She made all
her own bracelets and bead jewelry. Her daughter was with her.
Junita (& Mani) made the best tacos.
Nov-5-2023
In Phoenix I met Johnny, a man looking for himself. I and
Deborah were part of his search. I guess he was part of ours. Thanks Johnny.
Nov-7-2023
On our last day driving home from a night in the Tehachapi
Mountains, we hooked up with Joe Averado. His food truck has a permanent
location in Gorman, CA and on Google maps. It was some of
the best Salvadorian pupusas I have ever eaten!
We talked a bit about how he and his wife made them, how it’s different
here than in El Salvador. They talked of
their children and the challenges of running the truck. They work hard. He has 2 other jobs.
We are all a like in a way. We have loves, hopes, dreams, aspirations, pride. The gift of people may be our greatest cultural treasure.
Phil
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