TOOK THIS PICTURE OF MYSELF USING A NIKON D50 ON A TRIPOD AND SELF TIMER WITH THE LIGHTING BEHIND ME COMING FROM THE JEEP’S HEADLIGHTS….I AM TAKING A PHOTO OF THE FULL MOON COMING OVER THE SWISS HELM MOUNTAINS EAST OF ELFRIDA ARIZONA….CAMERA I AM USING IS A NIKON D40 WITH MY TELESCOPE LENS…..IT WAS A COLD NIGHT SO I HAD 37 LAYERS OF CLOTHES ON AND THAT IS WHY I LOOK SO BIG…………YA RIGHT!!
I have never looked at our 5 or 6 months in the southwest during the winter as a vacation. In my mind, a vacation is 2 or 3 weeks away relaxing on a beach or at cottage somewhere. We took a travel trailer up to Killbear Provincial Park near Parry Sound, Ontario about 12 years ago for a couple weeks and I considered that……. a vacation.
HIGHWAY 82 HEADING EAST TOWARDS HUACHUCA CITY ARIZONA
Our lifestyle in Bayfield is nowhere near our lifestyle on the road. Everything is different (including my attitude:)) Different country, different people, different house and greatest of all, different scenery which has the great option of changing whenever we want to change it. I once had a neighbour say to me, "well, it's nice to get away for awhile in the winter but then you have to come back to the real world." That statement stuck in my craw all summer that year as I pondered those words. Our half year life on the road is every bit as real as our half year life here in Bayfield.
BOON DOCKED JUST A FEW MILES NORTH OFJOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA
I noticed while traveling that I rarely think of our life in Ontario and when I do, the memory always seems so far away that it just doesn't really seem to matter a whole lot. Our life in Bayfield is like an old faded memory from a far distant Planet. Only time my thoughts turn to our Bayfield life is the last few weeks around the end of March before we return from the Southwest. Can’t say those are good thoughts for me.
CASTLE VALLEY NEAR MOAB UTAH BACK IN 2008
I have blogged a few times before about us having the best of both worlds and of course in many ways it is true. I think most people would probably agree with me on that one. Pretty darn nice having a home base and yet be able to travel for half the year. But, only half the year………. Unfortunately for me, I was just born with a restless spirit and too darn much travel juice in my blood!!
Our two reality worlds will soon be switching places once again as we head off for our second home in the land of deserts & mountains. Our other lifestyle. That other reality. My personal favourite of……………..our two lifestyles:))
WE ARE GOING TO DEARLY MISS A COUPLE OF OUR BEST OLD TRAVELING PALS THIS WINTER
GROANER'S CORNER:)) I got in a fight with my wife last night and it was totally my fault. She asked me what was on the TV and I said............"dust."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
-Until one has loved an Animal, their soul remains un-awakened.
OUR PICASA PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
You live in the "now" all winter. It seems you appreciate your home base and do things to make it nice while you are there, but you are ready to go again by fall. So what's wrong with that?
ReplyDeleteSo sadly sweet to see the picture of Max and Checkers with little Cora. Of course you will miss them but I hope Pheebe helps fill the empty place left by those two. Not that she will take their place, but in our hearts there is always room for one more fur friend.
ReplyDeleteHappy travels to you and can hardly wait for you to be underway and posting about all your adventures. Great self-portrait there at the beginning.
So, I'm thinking why do you choose to go somewhere that you have to wear 37 layers of clothing?? :)
ReplyDeleteI know the answer...
I'm not sure I even HAVE 37 layers of clothing that would fit anymore!
ReplyDeleteHappy Trails to The Bayfield Bunch as those big wheels start rolling soon. We'll look forward to following along on another great adventure.
Thanks for sharing.
Definitely not a vacation. Just a continuation of your life in wonderful new surroundings. The closer we get to AZ the happier I become.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful life no matter which way you look at it. I'm a natural-born traveller, but I appreciate making a home of a place too. I'm definitely looking forward to your upcoming trip south. Always enjoy the blogs and shots!
ReplyDeleteNina
Having a summer life and a winter life (by the calendar) keeps things interesting. I can tell by your posts that there are many things you enjoy about Bayfield and the surrounding area - maybe not the excitement you feel for the desert - but being away from the southwest for a few months a year is probably what keeps it exciting for you. And vice versa.
ReplyDeleteKnow what you mean by a restless spirit. I can so relate to Shawn Mullins when he said. "I've always known since I was a child. that the road is my home and my sprit is wild." Won't be long for you guys now.
ReplyDeleteAh, wanderlust! A common malady among us RV bloggers. But what a blessing that your camera artistry, shared so generously among the afflicted, blurs somewhat the distinction between the real and the imagined in being "out there". For that, my friend, we are grateful.
ReplyDeleteWe fulltime, as you know, and that is a difficult concept for many folks we come in contact with in our travels. They always ask, but where is "home". Well, my answer is "home" is where my fifthwheel is parked...that IS my home. They smile and usually give a bit of a chuckle, but they really don't "get it"!
ReplyDeleteI wish we were headed to AZ instead of Florida...I really don't want to go to FL,,,I spent 20 years there and Ms Pat was born and raised in North Florida. We both prefer the West,,,, But we have kid's to visit, then we are outta there! I we are also one of the have the best of both worlds folks!!
ReplyDeletethanks for the comments on the new "gooseneck" lights on the rear of my Rig!! Got a real kick out of that one!!LOL
Yep...We have taken lots of "vacations" in 30 years Den worked..all geared to the 2 week shut down of Caterpillar Tractor Co..We'd pack up the kids,drive 12 hour days, jam as much fun into that short time as possible and high tail it back in time for Den to go back to work...
ReplyDeleteNOW???? AHHHHHH...NO MORE VACATIONS..NOW WE HAVE A SECOND HOME ..ON WHEELS..WHICH WE LIVE IN 4-5 MONTHS...KEYWORD HERE IS "LIVE", NOT "VACATION"...
All us Snow Birds are darn lucky, I'd say,....right?
I love love love that first shot! Super use of light.
ReplyDelete