The Oasis of my Soul... A Blog... a Journey on the Road.

[Beemerchef]

Valley of Fire, NV

Intermittent Internet connection, much Desert, a bit of heat and the greatest sights around. Photos sometimes do not make justice as this is the case. It is the feel they cannot transmit, vast fields of red and yellows and all in between, maybe from another planet?
Camping is good, Spirit is good, besides a few dilemmas while having to go to Las Vegas for the day. Not such a smart idea after all.
So much actually has happened since we left Logan, Utah, including meeting up with my greatest Friend, Bill from Florida. We go way back through thick and thin as they say. We rode together to Valley of Fire and as the long distance rider he is, unlike us, he is now already home. Much of it are in a couple Blogs posted, more photos will go on the Gallery as again here every step makes the camera shutter…
We will be headed back to Lander, Wyoming, on Wednesday, the cold and rain should have dissipated by now and hopefully we will meet our Friends tomorrow.
Most have never heard of Valley of Fire and I always wonder why. Come and visit, the roads are great, in the meantime enjoy the photos.
Be well…
Ara & Spirit

[Beemerchef]

Back in Lander, WY.

Do not attempt Valley of Fire this time of the year. We were actually the last ones to leave as they closed the campground for lack of visitors. Heat and more heat accentuated even more by the red walls of the surrounding landscape. Even shade was starting to take it’s toll as today I feel as recuperating from extreme exhaustion. I feel a bit old for the first time as I know years ago this tiredness would not be quite as prevailing. But “oh! well…” as they say. It was a bit too much in too much of a short time riding the 2100 miles round trip. The original plan was to be south for much longer… sometimes I don’t think! July… hello!
We are getting ready to find this little free camping spot on the Snake River between the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. We will probably leave Sunday, so ready to find that passageway back into our space which seemingly turned into a fast and furious pace, for us that is.
Today the rain is back here, I was told not to bring it with us, I think it is Spirit’s doing! No complain… after those few days in the smoldering heat, rain, cold and even snow are more than welcome.
Some more photos of Valley of Fire are on the Blog…
Be well.
Ara & Spirit

[Beemerchef]

Red Canyon, Wyoming.

I wonder how many ride or drive by Red Canyon only to take a glance and go on at gazillion miles per hour. It is a fine road for any vehicle except when it rains, only 9 miles south of Lander or 21, depending which entrance of the loop one decides to enter from. The land is a protected Natural Habitat, it’s green carpets yesterday were lined with flowers from all colors and shapes. Much to ponder while there finally within a space I am so familiar with. A space quiet, serene and peaceful that has shut the doors to the every day Life seemingly what I feel I have experienced the previous days on the path of a fast pace… too fast for us.
Tomorrow we are pushing a bit more North, camping right in between Yellowstone and Grand Tetons. I have been warned about mosquitoes, I am only hoping that they are not too bad as the location is perfect to explore the many areas present.
We both "Thank You" for the "Happy Birthday Wishes".
Enjoy Red Canyon and take the loop next time if and when in the area, well worth it.
Be well…
Ara & Spirit

[Beemerchef]

Yellowstone, near Cody. WY

Grand Titan National Park was a blur a couple days ago while checking out the beautiful free camping on Grassy Lake Rd. Mosquitoes by the thousands, Spirit was instantly not a happy camper and neither was I. And on we went, not even able to take a single photo of the picture perfect setting, not able to remove my helmet. I was warned… it did not come much as a surprise. Plan B? try the campgrounds, with not much luck as they were filled to the brim. Same in Yellowstone and by late afternoon not much of a choice but get near Cody were we will stay till Monday. It will be then on to Montana on a Friend’s Ranch where we can taste maybe then the lack of crowds. Such is always the situation within spaces as these, a destination for many specially during this Holiday coming up.
Plan C… pack real lightly, nothing compared to our round trip to Valley of Fire and go on to some overnighters back here and Grand Titan. Being an over packer I am already this time making a list of what to carry. Cooking will only be coffee as I will be making sandwiches. Tent, sleeping pad and pad with no cot, change of clothe, tools and that is it… Small tent. Old Faithful rides so much better without the kitchen sink!
Be well… always.
Ara & Spirit

[Beemerchef]

More of Yellowstone. WY

Every campsite, every corner even through the Park is filled with tents as mushrooms sprouting in the middle of nowhere. Riding has turned into traffic jams in most places helped with unconsidered drivers that will stop in the middle of the road to take a photo of some creature that can only be seen with a pair of powerful binoculars. Most are even afraid to drive as their speed drops to 25 miles per hours followed by a procession of drivers that only try to pass them creating even more havoc. That is the scene within the Park! Not a pretty one and on this Fourth of July weekend I am wondering if sitting still would not be a better solution than trying to ride the complete loop through Chief Joseph Highway and Bear’s Tooth Pass. Hard to stand still however as even though the temperatures have dropped the skies do not look as menacing as yesterday when we rode 200 miles through rain, hail and sleet… in July! Will we get caught in heavy traffic going through Cody also? Wish I had been smarter and picked a location away from it all, some camping at the end of a trail to nowhere.
Right now my boots are still soaked from yesterday, they have proven not to be waterproof as the gloves as was wearing. Will have to wait till they dry anyhow. Spirit is resting, he was quite a trooper yesterday going with the punches as usual. He is the smart one… no doubt.
Enjoy the photos… it is a beautiful space.
Be well… Ara & Spirit

[Beemerchef]

A great loop, Mt/Wy

Defying all Mother Nature’s obstacles, Chief Joseph Highway and Bear Tooth Pass is present more inviting than ever for the rides and drives of many. The roads are open with still much snow, cold temperatures, unfortunately the day of our ride some much darker skies following us. We made it to Red Lodge untouched and actually also back to Cody with just a few drops on the camera lens while taking photos of what was ahead of us, some real dark skies which decided to open up for our passage. Kind of love it when that happens, almost an eerie feeling, a mystery of Mother Nature parting the horizons on demand.
Right now we are in Montana and finally realize why they call it here the big skies… as they are big and finally this magic that I wear through this Journey is back. This is “the” space I have been seeking as we are camped out on some Friend’s property near Columbus, that is Columbus, Montana.
The land is huge, the silence is deep, we have not experienced the roads yet as there are many for the taking, this is as my Friend calls it “The Northern Oasis”.
Enjoy and be well… we feel good here! Very good…
Ara & Spirit

[Beemerchef]

The Big Skies of Montana

Even Spirit is doing so well here, his body language is of happiness as mine here is of Peace and Serenity. I wonder who said we will ever run out of land! The roads are to seemingly nowhere, the skies are huge and one can hear themselves think. We will be here for a bit, will have to move here and there, but this is mainly where we will stay till we make our way south again before winter. The eternal cycle, over and over…
The mosquitoes here are almost non existent, the bears I have not seen one yet, the birds are of many and the deer grazes around with no fear.
We did have to go into Bozeman yesterday, another visit to another Dentist as I lost one more tooth. At this rate I just might have to buy a pack of straws and change my diet forever.
It could have been worse, amazing how much pain can cost!
We are going to adventure ourselves into areas off the Parks, the hidden gems where maybe so few go and visit. The crowds did not suit us at all, why even go there if the feeling toward Mother Nature is robbed by the careless drivers, loud exhausts and the too many rules, specially toward Dogs, that National parks have.
“Point Reed” just a few miles from here is a gem of a town… enjoy the photos.
Be well… Ara & Spirit

[Beemerchef]

Urban camping in Bozeman. Mt.

Sometimes the best laid out plans fall apart, human error mainly including mine. It turned out to be an Urban camping situation if one calls spending the night in a house on a golf course, with gazillion bedrooms and bathrooms and huge kitchen… camping. I think it was more of Spirit’s liking, those soft carpets and rugs as he could not decide which one was the most comfortable one. Flushing a toilet… long hot shower… could I get used to all those comforts again? Not really… as nice as Bozeman is, it is still within me to call it an Urban Jungle and end up more exhausted than hundreds of miles riding. It is all about the Soul of a space we are parked within, the search for silence, solitude and the true display of Mother Nature, not the man made green lawns of a gold course.
But it takes some tasting of the other side of the coin to appreciate what one has as it was the case these past couple of days.
The weather is continuing to not cooperate, got soaked again trying to ride Beartooth Pass one more time! Eventually it has to get better… right?
Be well…
Ara & Spirit

[Beemerchef]

More Beartooth and Gardiner, MT

So busy sometimes times escapes me, trying to find a balance throughout this Journey to write my words down. Finally the weather is really cooperating, even a bit on the warm side these days, but in Montana I yet have to feel a warm night. All is just so perfect, staying dry pleases me and Spirit to no end.
We took a ride to Beartooth one more time, another double bacon cheeseburger also at the Red Box, will just need to avoid that area in the future! Another ride to Gardiner which is also the original Northern entrance of Yellowstone Park, not much around, besides a touristy ambience I can do without.
We are now near Manhattan, settled for about a month, hoping to discover a lot of Montana as I am also finding out that most unpaved roads are very doable. Any tips are much appreciated as always. Three Forks, Virginia City, Old Yellowstone Road and a few others near by is right now the extend of my knowledge. I see a lot of Lakes on the map, we will just pick a road and go trying to also find always some unseen corners to spend the night within.
We pack light now… maybe too light, it is such a pleasure to put up and take down quickly unlike before.
I have posted a couple Blogs since last time here, enjoy the photos of our Life on the road.
Be well… always.
Ara & Spirit

[Beemerchef]

Three Forks, MT

Is it called “Americana”? It is, I just checked the definition. “Materials related to American History, Geography…”. Great weather still holding up, had cooled a bit to make it a pleasant ride, rides…
The Missouri River starts a few miles from here where once the old city now defunct “Gallatin” use to stand, a campground where Lewis and Clark once camped, so much has happened within these spaces, water calling for past Pioneers to settle a while. The city of Gallatin did not make it and a few miles away seemingly has moved to another one, replaced, called now “Three Forks”. “Three Forks” was in a jovial mood for their Rodeo weekend, the locals were spilled out on the sidewalks all day, there was a free lunch, much chatting as always, it kind of felt a bit like a Christmas in the summer. It would be fun if it was the case every day of the year… sure would keep everyone much happier I think.
The Rodeo was in full force with much shooting and riding, Spirit’s moos was up, what more can one ask for on such a beautiful day
More on the Blog…

Be well… Ara & Spirit