Tanker Reflection

This is a photo op that I've hoped to get for many years. Here it is: an image of Silver Slug with Wandrin Wagon in tow appearing on the rear convex surface of a tanker truck. Most times the tankers move too fast. Fortunately, this up hill climb on I-17 heading toward Flagstaff gave me the chance to get closer than usual. In a convex mirror, objects are closer than they appear. Yup. Silver Slug and Wandrin Wagon are closer than they appear. Too close even though moving at 35 miles an hour. Besides taking a photo with one hand and driving with the other was really taxing my multi-programming abilities.

I'm hoping for the day when one of these tankers pulls off the main road and stops. Then I can pull up right behind the tanker for a really special photo. Still waiting for that to happen.

Books: Some recently read

 
Dreaming of Jupiter by Ted Simon... The author traveled around the world in the early seventies on a motorcycle and wrote the book Jupiter's Travels (read a couple of years ago). At the age of seventy, he decides to reprise the ride around the world once again -- and again on a motorcycle. Retracing most of his earlier journey, he meets some acquaintances from his previous journey. Not surprising, he also finds things and places along his route had changed. In some cases nothing was the same and other places had not changed at all -- especially in the stretch through Africa. Frequently the author compares his younger self to his older self on the journey -- the wisdom of age and acceptance. The events of 9/11 and the ensuing war overlay much of his ride around the world. The author observes and comments on the effects of that in his travels. Most refreshing and quotable are his personal philosophical riffs and observations of the world today versus 30 years earlier.

Among The Cannibals by Paul Raffaele.... Following historical research of the subject, the author travels to some countries to get first hand accounts of those who practiced cannibalism. In some the case of some of these primitive tribes, there is evidence and first hand comments to ensure that it is still practiced. The most disturbing part of the book was finding about the 21st century Ugandan rebel forces making cannibalism part of the initiation into their army. A desensitization of humanity at its worst.

Let's Get Lost by Craig Nelson... subtitled "adventures in the great wide open". This is truly a journey to all the out of the way places around the world. Few places on the tourist paths. This author seems to have a need for a large dose of adrenalin to keep going as he travels where few have gone before to visit way off the path where some tribes live as their ancestors lived 1000 years ago.

Continental Drifter by Elliott Hester... With the downsizing of the airline industry post 9/11, the author gives up his flight attendant position, breaks the lease on an apartment and travels around the world. He visits all those places where he landed at the airport and never saw more than the airport and the hotel where he rested to get back on the plane. Traveling on the edge and taking a few chances, the author relates -- with lots of humor -- the life of traveling the world out of a suitcase.

Awe Inspiring

Looking at the mile deep Grand Canyon, I wondered where the drinking water comes from for the Grand Canyon Village perched on the south rim – almost a mile above the Colorado River below. A visit to the Park's HQ provided the answer. Today, the water is piped from Roaring Springs on the north side of the canyon. For those early 20th century tourists, Santa Fe Railroad hauled the water in from 100 miles away until 1932. Over the next forty years until a reliable system was built from Roaring Springs, the park periodically resorted to hauling water to the Village – for its residents and tourists.

(Note: The village of Tusayan just south of the park with its complex of hotels and restaurants has two water systems each with a well over 3000 feet deep.)

One morning when I arrived at the park earlier than usual, I was passing the mule corral as the riders were being given the talk about riding mules. A couple of wranglers were sitting on a stone wall waiting for that moment when they would assist riders in boarding the mules. I sat down and started conversation with an older cowboy with a weather beaten and sweat stained hat. With ice blue eyes and a beard that was fading from red to gray, he politely answered my questions. First season as a dude wrangler and first at the Grand Canyon. For forty years, he was a cowboy all over the west from the Canadian border to Mexico – mostly following cows. Our conversation ended far too quickly as the head wrangler had completed his words to the dudes who would soon be atop the mules.

As I walked away capturing a few more photos, I noted the cowboy had a cell phone in his hand and was obviously reading a text message. Cowboy and a cell phone. Time warp to be sure.

The park's guests arrive from dawn to dusk. They arrive by RV, by train, by car, by tour bus, by motorcycle and at least one bicycle (I saw one). One day I made the mistake to be in the Village at mid day. It was difficult walking with all the posing for photos in front of the Canyon. Rather than fighting the crowds, my offer to take the photos of couples or families was gladly received.

Over three days, I walked most every section of the Rim Trail. There were several sections where my acrophobia had me hugging the inside of the trail. Okay. So I wasn't going to fall over the edge. My real concern was that a gust of wind might throw me off balance -- and over the edge.

Frequently, there were people standing right on the edge of the canyon. Then there were others with youth and testosterone raging in their bodies who were on the rock outcrops in the canyon. As I watched people challenging gravity, my thought was a book that I had read about a year ago: Over The Edge: Death In Grand Canyon. (The book documents the deaths in the Grand Canyon over the past 100 years. The high level review of the various categories is fascinating, but the book bogs down in details of individual deaths.)

One of the CCC projects during the 1930s was the construction of a knee high stone wall for most of the distance in front of the Village. Most of the rock consists of sandstone and limestone slabs with an occasional non square specimen of rock – like this heart shape. It would be nice to meet the stone mason that placed that rock there and what were his thoughts as he set that rock in mortar. (Sounds like a plot for a love story.)

Each time I visit the Grand Canyon, I am awed by my insignificant and short life on this planet.
 

So with that, it is time to head out and do more exploring to satisfy my ever curious nature.

For more photos, check out the Grand Canyon gallery.

Book: Queen Of The Road by Doreen Orion

Mid life crisis is what the author called it when her husband and she headed out in bus conversion to RV around the US. This was a year long adventure visiting and exploring and observing. The author tells a great story with humor of living in a bus -- from some one who wasn't too much into the idea of "downsizing" to a home on wheels. With their professional careers left behind for a year, the author makes observations about another world to which they had not been exposed. It turns out to be an enriching experience for all.

Wupatki National Monument

Wuptaki National Monument is just north of Sunset Crater. Following the road from the crater north along the park road, there are several pueblos dating to 800 to 1000 years ago. The pueblos have been reconstructed to preserve and interpret the history of the peoples who once resided and raised crops in this desolate dry land.

When the construction of some pueblos included the use of the volcanic rock that overlaid the sandstone, it helps to date these constructions to be after Sunset Crater erupted about 1000 years ago.

The Wupatki Pueblo has been extensively preserved.

In this complex is a restored ball court -- the arena of the day for groups to play and compete.

Once getting all warmed up, there was a blow hole just a few feet from the ball court. That was the place to cool off. At my feet is the grated opening to the cavern. As I stood there the air was blowing upward to cool the warmth my body acquired as I took photos in the ball court.

How does the blow hole work.... According to the sign: There is a large underground cavern that has been created through volcanic action and water erosion. The actual blowhole can actually either exhale or inhale air depending upon the difference between air temperature and atmospheric pressure on the surface and the conditions inside the cavities. If the air outside is cooler than inside, air will rush into the hole because the air outside is more dense. The air will blow out of the hole if the air outside is hotter than inside because the air outside is less dense. High and low pressure weather systems will also have the same effect.

Enough geology for today. Time to head out and explore...

Ten-X NF Campground

Grand Canyon -- south rim. The reason for this stop.

Lots of spaces in the trees -- mostly pine, ponderosa and juniper. Looking for a site with more sun for the solar panels meant circling looking for an optimum site. There were few occupied spaces so there were choices. In the end, the sunniest space in the park may be number 58.

Verizon signal is strong and no problem using the Palm Pre or my air card. The reason for the strong signal is that this campground is less than three miles from the air port and the hotel complex at Tusayan.

$5 per day with the geezer card.

Bookmans

Not a good day for outdoor exploring yesterday (too windy -- again), so I headed to downtown Flagstaff once again. Decided to take a recent accumulation of tree based books to Bookmans. There I would trade those for more reading material.

Surprise. No Bookmans. Sign on a temporary fence in front of what once was a building said that Bookmans will be back in the fall of 2010. From there I headed over to Barnes and Noble to access their WiFi with my iPad. Searching the internet, I found that the roof on Bookmans collapsed due to the weight of snow last January. Guess I will have to drag those books around till next winter when I return to Arizona.

After a couple of hours on B&N's WiFi and having a Chai Latte at Starbucks, I browsed the "three for two books" sale table. Fell for that one. Found three books that were on my list of "should reads". More ballast for Wandrin Wagon.

Less Wind This Morning

Fortunately, the wind has died down somewhat. The Verizon signal via the air card/amplifier/antenna is pretty consistent. There is an occasional burst of wind, but it hasn't interfered with the signal this morning.

Considering the force of some of those gusts yesterday and early last evening, it appears Wandrin Wagon was located right on the edge of the low and high pressure areas.

Exploring Sunset Crater

Parked conveniently at the Bonita Campground at the entrance to Sunset Crater Volcano NM, exploring the extinct volcano would be a good way to learn about the volcanoes and what things look like a thousand years after the eruption. Starting at the visitor center, I refreshed my memories of volcanoes and geology 101 from University days.

Throughout the campground and the park, the evidence of volcanic ash is at your feet. When it isn't cinders at your feet it is the solidified remains of a 1000 year old lava flow. The lava flows reminded me of visits to other volcanic sites through out the US including Hawaii. Considering that it has been 1000 years since the Sunset volcanic eruption and lava flows, it takes Nature a long time to create a layer of top soil for grasses and shallow rooted plants to become established. The pine trees struggle but are more successful as they send their roots deep into the earth.

Sunset Crater in the background is the cinder cone. The foreground is lava flow that oozed from the base of the volcano. That lava flow is not something to walk through. Great way to hurt yourself. 1000 years of weathering hasn't softened those edges of the lava flow.

Look the other direction and the San Francisco Peaks are other one time volcanoes of the area.

Trees that have died and with weathering they become great sentry trees. With some imagination, it easy to envision Snoopy perched on one of those branches.

No doubt with some time in Photoshop, I could perch myself on one of those branches. That might be something to do when I am trying to put balance in my life.

Wind Rocks

Wandrin Wagon is rocking. Has been for over a day and it will continue for another day. Kind of like sleeping on a rocking boat. Was that water sloshing in the fresh water tanks. Hope so. The wind noise in the trees never stops. Sometimes it sounds like a train passing through the campground. Soon after Wandrin Wagon is rocking in the breeze. Tornado like winds. Easily hitting 50MPH. Hope those trees stay standing. Especially since there are two huge pine trees right next to the door. That could be a test for the strength of these New Horizons fifth wheels. Rather not test that.

The wind also seems to affect the Verizon signal. It wavers from there to not there. Is it possible that digital signals are affected by wind. LOL. Sure would seem that way. Probably another reason. Like trees blocking the signal.

Since the Verizon signal is flaky, I headed to Barnes and Noble in Flagstaff to use their WiFi to post today, I am using the iPad using BlogPress to send the post to my blog. At least that is what it supposed to happen.

Looking forward to light breezes and warmer days. Balance out the cold and wind.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad