Category: CA-AZ-NM 2018

UPDATE:  I went to my doctor today and found out I did not have Strep Throat (good) and I can stop taking the antibiotics the Urgent Care gave me (also good).  Still sick (not so good) but getting better (good).

As I mentioned in the last post, I headed to Santa Fe NM from T or C, making a stop at the Very Large Array.  My throat was feeling a little scratchy, but, having done a lot of spiritual and emotional work that seemed to swirl about communicating, it didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility that my throat would be sore. Continue reading “Santa Fe and … a yucky illness!”

So, as I said in my previous post, I sadly left Miraval and was on my way into New Mexico.

On the drive, I saw a bunch of little billboards for a place called ‘The Thing.’  I had also read about The Thing in Roadside America.  And, I needed gas and I needed to pee (I know – TMI) so I figured I’d stop in and see what’s what. Continue reading “On the Way to Truth or Consequences … and Beyond”

Sadly, I checked out of Miraval this morning, and now I am sitting in my hotel room in Truth or Consequences NM.  It’s nice, but boy is it old school!  You use an actual key to get in your room!

Continue reading “Sadly Leaving Miraval”

Still at Miraval.  Got up real early this morning and went for a 2 hour hike at 6am.  Oddly it isn’t all that hot here, right now anyway.  I didn’t really understand what ‘monsoon’ season meant, but it rained a lot today and got quite a bit humid.  Now it’s fairly pleasant out. Continue reading “Another Day in Paradise”

So, in yesterday’s post I mentioned that I got caught in a wind-dust-rain-thunder storm.  I have found out the name of that type of storm:  Haboob (accent on second syllable)

And, somebody posted a video of it on YouTube.  This is exactly what I saw – I big wall of dust and whatnot.  Take a look!  Pretty epic!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ays-uWzPffc Continue reading “Learned a New Word and made it to Tucson”

Woke up after a good night’s sleep.   Wanted to hit the Palm Springs Museum of Art before leaving town.  Checkout time  is 11am but I got a late checkout for noon.  The Art Museum opens at 10am, so headed over there right at 10am. Continue reading “Art and an Epic Day of Driving”

A wonderful week visiting Jon and Tina came to an end, and it was time to head off to Palm Springs.  In my last post I mentioned that I had missed picking up my rental car because I didn’t realize the office closed at noon.

So, I had reserved another one, and lo and behold, they had a car for me!  I requested Sirius Radio since I knew I’d be driving in the middle of nowhere and wanted to have music.  Got all my stuff loaded into the car, but, hey – the Sirius isn’t working!  Checked in the office – the person tried to authorize it, but the app was saying the car wasn’t ‘Sirius compatible’ (even though it was).  Ended up having to unload that car and get another car.  Ended up taking off before verifying the Sirius worked.  Luckily it did!  I ended up with a Hyundai Tucson SUV. Continue reading “Driving Through the Desert”

It has been an action-packed week here in Long Beach.  Went for bike rides along the beach, went to the miles-long dog beach, went kayaking (in a kayak that you pedal, not paddle, to propel .  Much more conducive to beer-drinking while kayaking), helped out with a neighborhood 4th of July block party (where I met Todd Forman from Sublime, who played sax and melodica!).  I also met “Mr. Crumb” who is in a band with Todd called “Jelly of the Month Club.”  Got 2 hugs and a free CD! Continue reading “Nearing the End of My Stay in Long Beach”

Flew out to Long Beach, CA a couple days ago.  PHL to Phoenix to LB.  The plane into LB was pretty small – a CR9 I think?  In first class it was one seat on one side, and two on the other.  And we debarked right to the pavement! Continue reading “Back to Cali … for now”

OK, I think I have figured out how my upcoming trip is going to flow.

But first.  I went to see a friend’s blues band do an open mic at a local tavern.  I saw them a couple weeks ago and they were good, and fun.  Last time, there was no keyboard player, but this time there was.  I got to sit in for 3 songs!  They play pretty basic blues so it was easy to play along, and everybody gets a solo in every song, so I got to do that too.  Fun!! Continue reading “The Next Trip Is Coming Together”