sundog

Reading a great book on a possible way to understand (in the future) how the brain actually works. Also reading a mystery - and it calls to me - good night chicklets - may you all be free, in your hearts and your minds and your bodies. Freedom of motion is sold cheaply sold and so very difficult to regain.

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December 15, 2005 9:29 PM
Where is Alan tonight?
117.0821W 34.85405N
Barstow, CA.

There is a magic few hours that bewitch me on the trip from Eugene to Quartzsite each year. Two years ago when Gary, his family, and I tag teamed down to Quartzsite from Eugene we had rain all the time until we climbed over the mountain to the desert on Route 58 out of Bakersfield, CA. Last year it rained and was cold and I did the trip alone. Still I felt such a sense of relief to break out into the sun. This year I took a few pictures starting the night before, hoping maybe I could catch the emotional impact of shrugging, shucking, wiggling free of the smog, fog, and dismal light that turns everything to a winter soft focus in my wet world (Willamette valley). I hunger for the crisp sharp edges a rock should have. I felt the resistance that my Willamette valley life draps around me, soft, drowning, while working, a comforter tucked in too tight but so ephermal that it isn't there when I try to shrug it off. That's the feeling of coming up out and breaking free at crest of the Mojave. Maybe the pictures an give you the feeling better than my tired words tonight.

Moonrise last night at flying J's in Lodi. It was a short day, but a long four months of getting ready. The truck problems stressed me, tested me and I wondered if I would be here this year.
Just left I-5 and crossing east to Bakersfield
Just starting the climb. About 15 minutes out of Bakersfield
15 minutes after the picture above - around that turn in beginning of the Mojave desert, and the large wind generators I have pictured in the past. However at this moment the suffocating wraiths of the winter have fallen from me and I push into the blue, free at last, god all mighty free at last to touch the face of god! (coudn't resist stealing both of those for the sake of the moment)
Just minutes before reaching Barstow, the end of a 400 mile day, the moon rose over desert mountains, and trying to take this out the side window didn't work too well, but it was late and Barsik and I were tired.

December 13, 2005 6:08 PM
Where's Alan?
122.3844W 40.50636N

It's lunch time in Casa del Rolltec, dish up cat is much more serene, and I'm looking foward to turning left in 1 mile. I think I like Quartzsite because the trip directions are just my speed.
From Eugene
1. south on I-5 to Bakerfield,
2. Turn left and go until you cross the Colorado river
3. Turn right stay straight until the middle of Quartzsite.
A two turn 1500 mile trip. Cool.

I love leaving this valley. I 5 below the turn of to San Fransisco is fetid, dank, dusty, and psychologically oppresive. When I've gone through here previous winters it is either raining and foggy or brown and foggy. Not the rolling hills of Eugene or Pittsfield, Mass., nor the open clean sharp contrasts of the desert.

Since I won't download the camera until tonight, here are a few pictures from my trip home 4 months ago.

on the bank of the poudre at 9000 ft - thats bro flyfishing at the corner.	on the banks of the great salt lake in Utah on the way home
	Left - just one of the many great salads I'll not being enjoying this trip - assembled by Gail, Alan and my brother, Butch.

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