Spa-lendid week - Essence of Tranquility, Safford, Arizona

I stopped back at Essence of Tranquility to heat my heels while I waited for roads back to Datil to clear. I got tired of waiting, and surrendered to staying a week. It was a blur of non-activity; the most strenuous thing I did was float in hot mineral springs. Just to keep up my fitness level, I did this three or four times a day.

I did finally leave yesterday, but still couldn't convince myself that roads to the cabin were passable with Spud. So, I headed to Caballo Lake State Park, New Mexico. Although my good friend, Sue Soaring Sun, was on a people-free retreat at the park, she agreed to see me on the grounds that I'm not really "people."

Bureau of Land Management/National Forest Service office in Safford. I dig my reserved parking spot.

Deming, NM. 

Truth or Consequences, NM.

I thought I should blur out his number, but instead I'll just amplify his message.

One of the Elephant Butte State Park campgrounds. No number on my side to blur out.

 

One of the Elephant Butte State Park sunsets.

I still haven't made it back to Datil, and I want to say "thanks!" to some people who have helped me out in my absence. Thanks, Betty and John, for collecting my stash of packages from the post office. Thanks, Linda and Wayne, for closing my front door.

Eastbound and down - Organ Pipe National Monument to Safford, AZ

Organ Pipe National Monument was great, even though I barely explored it. Thanks, Vermont Chris, for the invitation to join you. It was a relaxing time in a beautiful place.

Hanging-fruit ("jumping") cholla. They don't really jump. Really!

Phainopepla. Just like it's spelled.

I spent an afternoon in Ajo - always a pleasure. The plaza alone is worth a couple of hours. More if you're slow or lazy or need to eat.

I stopped for the night at Buckeye Regional Park. It was a Saturday night, and so the park was full. I didn't linger there this morning, but set out for exotic gas station coffee. Because I was parked so far from the bathroom, I used it all night long.

My GPS kept routing me on I-10, so I resisted all day long. It finally sighed and let me take 60 to 70 to Safford, Arizona. Beginning at Gonzales Pass, I was saying things like "Great Googly-moogly!" and "Zounds!" You may say similar things; some favorites are "Good Golly!"or "Wowwie!" or "Gosh!" Feel free to use any of these. I couldn't stop exclaiming long enough to take death-defying photographs, so you may have to Great Google.

Always looking for new ways to thwart toilet paper theft. This seems foolproof.

I knew I was taking a risk, not phoning ahead to Essence of Tranquility, but that's how I fly. I was flying high today, so got my favorite campsite (next to the bathroom, guaranteeing I won't need it all night).

This is not the bathroom - don't even JOKE about it.

When I'm on the road in Spud, I can't stop myself from checking thrift stores. In Ajo, I also shopped at the discount grocer, which means I am now sleeping with six jars of mayonnaise and a 10 X 14 oil painting.

The Fugitive.

New Year's Eve woke me up with a weirdly-east wind and a coating of ice. Who can sleep through a coating of ice? Then Betty called to let me know that Hell™was about to break loose, and was I prepared to be stranded there?

I'm writing you from Tucson.

Annie and David, friends to the world, took me in without a question even though they were expecting bona fide guests at the same time, and wouldn't even be home when I arrived in Truth or Consequences. I was fabulously and graciously entertained and fed for three nights, along with guests Donna and Gary.

Finally, the weather broke in TorC, and I kept going south. 

Gary and Donna talked about some sights they sighted on the way, and so I reverse-traced their wheelprints. First stop, Safford Arizona, and Essence of Tranquility.

If you are in a position to camp, this option offers outstanding value at $15/night/person. They cannot accept RVs, so Spud came in incognito, disguised as a hatchback.

When you camp, you also get community room and kitchen privileges, electricity, wifi, coffee, and nearly-unlimited hot springs access. The community room has a TV and a propane fireplace, so I relaxed in there by the fire until I couldn't delay bedtime any longer.

That night was 24°F, my new high of lows. I learned later, unofficially, that for another $5 they will run an extension cord to your vehicle or tent. I would have splurged. The next night was a Casita #16 splurge.

While I was there, I met Mosey, a toddler still measuring age in months. She had a lot to say. I think this name may be the single-best thing her parents did for her future.

When you get to the hot springs, you're going to see a lot of "Don't" signs. "Don't" let that discourage you. Clarisse is very sweet - she even gave me a hug when I left - and unless you're a jerk, you're not going to get yelled at.

Have you seen The Thing?

Yep, seeing The Thing.

Before you get to The Thing, you're already seeing Some Things. 

Thing 1 and Thing 2, may they rest in peace.

 Sorry, but if I was gonna see this stuff, so were you.

Saguaros!!!

After I left Truth or Consequences, I was doing all-new stuff. It's good to be on the road. Tonight I'm in Tucson where it is not 24°.