"The Oasis of my Soul"... A Lifelong road trip with Spirit...

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

From Memphis, TN, more on the Barber Museum…

The pictures are still endless but I am almost done working on sorting them out for the picture Gallery! In the meantime I posted some interesting ones on the site, including my favorite, one of them anyhow, the full dressed Vincent, which ironically did not sell well.
We have arrived in Memphis, and getting ready to learn what all the fuss about Graceland is… camera is also ready… Spirit will have to stay behind for a few hours. I need to find out if Elvis had a dog and what kind! Should be an interesting day…
I cannot help posting a picture of Spirit while visiting second graders in Birmingham, which I will write about also next time! You know… those Pits labeled “mean”…
Maybe we will see you sometime down the road… and hope that you are not yet tired of motorcycle pictures!!!
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

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From Memphis, TN, more on the Barber Museum…

I cannot help posting a picture of Spirit while visiting second graders in Birmingham, which I will write about also next time! You know… those Pits labeled “mean”…
Maybe we will see you sometime down the road… and hope that you are not yet tired of motorcycle pictures!!!
Be well… Ara & Spirit

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great shot Ara!!
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cheers to you and spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

Any plans to do Moab soon??? We will be there soon for a while...

Moving right along, Amarillo, Tx

With a prediction of wind chills between 16 and 21, accumulation of 2” of snow, winds between 25 and 35 mph per hours with gusts of 45mph… that is tonight… repeat scenario for tomorrow… you would think we are in North Dakota! No… this is Texas… but not the same Texas that has been so friendly to us! For some reason today Florida sounds real good… We might not be able to move till Tuesday. Well, we have food, fuel and power… heat is good… books and the Internet!
The link for all the pictures from the Barber Museum is up.
I also posted about our visit to the Deer Valley Elementary School in Hoover, near Birmingham, AL, entertaining the second graders! It was a fun day and I think the kids also had a blast…
Hope we survive all this!
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

A visit to Graceland, Memphis, TN

Just like the flip of a coin the weather showed its smilie face in Amarillo, a welcome change. We made it to Lubbock and spend the day with Mike and Nathan working on a final proof for a T shirt and a mouse pad with some very impressive machinery these guys have! And on camping a few miles south of it, in a little town called Slaton as right downtown, at the City Park, they provide free camping for up to three nights! Awesome…
The visit to Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley was memorable, there are still crowds coming in to pay their last respect and take the tour as I did. It was a strange feeling to actually walk around in the same space that he did trying to imagine all that has gone on in the past. A step back in time as the pictures show…
Less than 800 miles from Moab now, we will be headed that way tomorrow morning for the last leg of this “coming back West”.
Exciting….
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

To Albuquerque, NM

Try spelling that word without looking!
We end up using all three free nights of camping the City of Slaton gave us as we had to regroup yesterday. What is regroup? Just a feeling that we are caught up with everything including replying e mails, baking some Treats, cleaning, filing pictures, roasting coffee and… taking a nap! That is “regroup”!!!
A bit of snowing, a bit of wind and beautifully clear this morning as we hit the road again. I will not even bore you again with the destination, seems like lately it takes us twice as long to get anywhere! More on Elvis and Graceland on the Blog… while already sorting out the pictures taken at the wind mill museum and the oldest bakery in Texas.
Be well… till next time we are rolling.
Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

Leaving Texas…

We are in Moab today… as soon as we made that eastbound turn on 550, a bit north of Albuquerque, big empty and vast spaces presented themselves and suddenly it was as if another new page of this Journey had been turned. Peaceful, calm and serene, mountain tops covered with snow, cattle grazing in search of green patches, it was as we had never left the West. We stopped many times as the weather cooperated fully with our last leg of thistransition, lucky I was thinking having missed the horrible snow storms that hit the towns we had just come through.
My first picture here on our way near a few miles from Moab!… The story of a T shirt, new friends and a Wind Mill Museum on the Blog…
You be well… come and visit!… we will be here a while.

Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

Fascinating Moab, UT.

“This” is definitely a “destination”… a smorgasbord of rides, photography opportunities, just being amongst it all can be overwhelming and glad that we will have the time to explore it all… versus just blowing by at a multitude of frames per second.
Strangest weather here, 80 in the sun by the afternoon, 20 at 6 am… 60 degrees difference within every 24 hours! Dress up and take it off… constant as even in the hot temps riding is cold…
We have only taken a quick ride through the Arches National Park, a few miles also along the Colorado River, today we will head south a bit more and try to ride into Canyonland…
Enjoy the Blog…
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

Canyonland, Moab, UT

The possibilities are endless in this area. Canyonland was new to us and I share this with others saying that it is actually more beautiful than the Grand Canyon. Maybe “beautiful” is the wrong word, as every Park has its own personality and character, Canyonland is more intimate specially when we get the chance to do Schaffer Trail and Long Canyon on the return which both run on the lower Mesa’s edge near the White Rim.
It is also Jeep Safari week and some of those trails seem just impossible to pass through, called “rock crawling” I have only seen the start of some and we have been invited to ride in one! It has been through the drivers a good source of information as to where ourselves can go or not go. Much going on here!
Be well, Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

Life in Moab, UT

I think the decision to come here and spend some time was a good one. Diversified for many there is much to do for everyone that loves the outdoor, from the simple hiking (inexpensive…) to photography combined, on and off road bicycling and motorcycling, 4x4 jeep rock crawling, rafting, fishing, snow skiing in the winter times and I am sure I am forgetting something.
The town this week is filling up as the Jeep Safari event is taking place and yet the area is so vast that we can get away in other directions and find peace and tranquility.
Still cold specially in the early morning hours, we have yet to witness a sunrise in front of some red rocks glowing as on fire, but that will come soon. We are just exploring the different roads, trying to find some dog friendly lands unlike the National Parks, there are many.
Enjoy the Blog…
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

As Life in Moab goes on…

So today I wrote a controversial Blog! So I have been told. I generally do not dwell on situations, the words are there, they had to come out at the risk of offending some maybe which is not my style, but, it is in black and white, it is reality, nothing else. Truly nothing offending! Will there be a Lifestyle change or not… all I can say is once the words have been out I have felt filled again with much freedom as to the outcome of this Journey…
My tire is late, maybe tomorrow. We have been staying on black top discovering more and more many trails we will be able to ride without great difficulty. I have only seen them from the distance and the views are just spectacular as in “Dead Horse State Park”.
The pictures today are from a ride to Potash along the Colorado River, a salt mining plant and “that” start of more trails…
Enjoy the Blog…

Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul

Dead Horse State Park, UT

Moab is growing on us as every day, with the help of “chit chatting” with the locals, we are discovering some doable trails for us. We can ride better than a 2 wheel drive but not as daring as a 4 wheel drive! The best views are off the black top except for a ride to “Dead Horse State Park”, a natural wonder which only took 300 million years to achieve, and still under construction!
The town is filling up with the oddest 4 wheel drive vehicles, one could just sit on a corner and admire the parade going down the street. We waited for the right time to be here as this is going to take some time to explore!
Some great views today…
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Down on Potash Rd, UT

This is one road to mark on your map, you will need a 4x4 or a dual sport motorcycle, nothing too dramatic but rough in some places. A cattle trail established in 1917, constructed further into a truck route and finished in 1952 for the ore and uranium miners, it is now used for the lucky ones that can drive it, ride it and also bicycle it. It is so humbling to traverse the canyon with the thought that all this was started 300 million years ago, one day at the time, erosion slowly with no help of human hands or mind delivering this Artwork for us to be privileged to be on. It is a geology class, it is a photography class, a spiritual journey for most it is, you just need to experience it some day… soon. There is no doubt that we will be going back while here, so much yet to witness.
Enjoy the Blog… and be well.
Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Over my head in Moab, UT

Last night we had to tow the rig back to camp after some a bit to rough riding, a deep creek crossing and the engine dying a couple miles after. 24 hrs hours later with much help from friends, it seems that it is the HEC…
Hall Effect Sensor… ignorant me, never heard of that animal lounging around deep down somewhere in the midst of all the running parts. Seems like they only last about 50,000 miles, this one must be a record with 182,000 miles on it. Repeat moisture and finally much steam from a deep bath we think gave it its final spark! So we are leaving for Salt Lake City tomorrow, a new part is already on its way to meet us at the shop we are going to! The support on the road is incredible. After posting my trouble, not even an hour later that the diagnostic replies where coming in.
We will be back here in Moab when we are all fixed up!…
On the Blog, the last of the Potash Trail, definitely a road worth taking more than once as we will do again soon…
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Repairs in Salt Lake City, UT

We arrived yesterday afternoon a bit ahead of schedule, and right away dropped off the bike at Motorcycle Repair and Rendezvous” where the Dr wrote all of his symptoms… Yet has to be seen if it is the HEC (sensor!). Either way that part is being changed anyhow, too old, and hopefully we will head back to Moab as early as Friday evening as they are fitting us in tomorrow. A great service considering how busy they are, everyone getting ready for the riding season.
“Hurray Pass” was our last ride before all systems failed, a pass geared more toward smaller dirt bikes and four by fours than anything else, worth the pictures?… the adrenaline rush?… Will try to avoid those difficult situations in the future!
Wish we watched television after receiving this e mail:
“I didn't see you guys in Moab, but I did see you guys on the rock crawling TV channel when we were watching it late one night.” Maybe next time!
So we are at idle… catching up on e mails, cleaning and… sleeping now that this afternoon the snow is melting and the sun has made its appearance.
You be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[Beemerchef]

The Oasis of my Soul...

Rolling back to Moab, UT

A record or what?… considering being 230 miles away from the shop! 72 hours later Old Faithful is running again and we are so ready for some long, did I say… long rides!
I guess I do not do too well without the rig at hand… kind of lost, feel a bit trapped, immobile… even Spirit gets into this lethargic mood, eats less and asks too many questions!
I just find it amazing that the “diagnosis” was done over the Internet, the part was mailed to meet us in Salt Lake City and THAT was the problem.
The weather here in Moab is now perfect, April seems to be very promising with a dry 60’s to 70’s during the day and a perfect mid 40’s at night.
The Blog has some photos of Onion Creek Trail, the Fisher Towers and Castle Valley, another ride we took not long ago.
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

[silversvs]

I will be in southern Utah Monday 4/7 and generally screwing around through the national parks for a couple days before heading east. I plan on going through Moab as well. I'll PM you my cellphone #. I'll be camping, so if we can run into each other it would be fun to say hi.

 

[Beemerchef]

Ara & Spirit

Hi Silversvs... I pm'd you with my ph#... call me if you can a day ahead... will have campsite and food for you!!!... That is of course if Spirit agrees!!!
Looking forward...

More of the Arches, UT

No April’s Fool here as we have fallen back into the slow lane of checking out the sights, looking for the opportunity for some good pictures after this dark weather that was hovering over us.
All is quiet now in Moab, Jeep Safari week is over and so is spring break and this feels like the last stretch for summer, right around the corner. Revived energy thinking about the long days with the cold replaced by higher temperatures allowing us to spend more time outdoor.
The immediate area of the Arches National Park is a constant discovery of shapes and colors taking on their unique personality with every phase of the weather. Patience is one of the common denominator for good pictures… and luck. Always luck to be there at the right time, at the right place and not 100 miles away or even being a mile away when the window of opportunity knocks.
I don’t think we will ever be tired of the Arches…
Be well… Ara & Spirit

 

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hi ara and spirit!

brilliant photos as always! i was enraptured during my brief excursion down there. isn't canyonlands awesome? right next to moab, but a seemingly different place altogether.
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how long will you be in the southwest?

 

[Beemerchef]

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hi ara and spirit!

brilliant photos as always! i was enraptured during my brief excursion down there. isn't canyonlands awesome? right next to moab, but a seemingly different place altogether.
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how long will you be in the southwest?

Can't make it... brief!... We will be around till end of June probably, then Wyoming, Montana... you know, trying to stay cool. Planning a ride?
Be well... Ara & Spirit

 

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Can't make it... brief!... We will be around till end of June probably, then Wyoming, Montana... you know, trying to stay cool. Planning a ride?
Be well... Ara & Spirit

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indeed i am...thinking of doing a ' short scoot ' up in oregon but planning a major trip through oregon and toward the lolo (sp? ) pass then back toward california..
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unfortuntley...