Okay Sedona, you're back in the game.

Sedona showed her true colors today, so I forgave her a little for the past few days.

You may not forgive me, though, because I am too languid to bother choosing tonight's pictures. Photos: let me give you them.

Tee hee! I was hiding.

Early US map, including Bermuda, Cuba, and the island of Mexico.

I don't know if I found Emily's spot or not; it doesn't matter, though. Because I went looking for it, I got to see all this stuff I wouldn't have on wheels.

Balloon. I think this is the one that nearly fell on Al and Kelly, and then Pheebs bit it until it let go, so she's the heroine. I think that's exactly how the story went. I shouldn't even link Al's post, because OMG look at his picture quality. That's how the balloon inflates. [shrug]

I've been to Jerome, too, but enough is ... more than enough. Maybe later.

Sedona - stay or go?

I closed Spud's hatch against the rain last night, and slept like a rolling stone. I decided this morning to pack it in and head somewhere - anywhere - I could see the Sun. We're not in New York State anymore, Toto; I need the sunshine, and I need it now.

Last minutes, Sedona! If you want me, let me know. If you don't, then let me go. Just then, Corey walked past and said "hello." I mentioned Corey and Emily, of Where's My Office Now?, in my last blog post, but I hadn't met them. We chatted about the Habitent, and terrific places to camp in the PNW, and before my stomach growled many times Corey had invited me to have breakfast with them.

Emily and Corey live and travel in Boscha, a seriously cool 1987 Vanagon. I grilled them about their technology set-up, their propane, their sleeping quarters, their pop-top - whatever brassy questions I could think of. They answered all of them graciously. I pictured myself living in Boscha, and I can totally see it. Surfboards and all. These two surf, mountain bike, kayak, hike. Their metabolism slowed just talking to me.

Tell me if you've noticed this on the road: people just get down to it. Life on the road is a pineapple with the husk already hacked away. What do you do for a living? HACK Who is your realtor? HACK What schools do your kids go to? HACK And so, we spent a real morning talking about sweet things and sweet no-things that excite and inspire us. Emily drew me a map to get to one of her favorite spots, and I'm thinking today or tomorrow might be perfect.

Another family camped here also seems intriguing. I haven't met them yet, because I'm shy. Maybe there are reasons to stay in Sedona just a little longer.

Pentax Lazarus. Soggy Sedona.

Here are some shots with the dead camera:

I'm not dead yet!

Yes you are.

I got better!

These folks parked near me last night. I didn't meet them; they came in after roosting time.

I don't like to look gift rain in the mouth, but the weather is pretty miserable. I looked around for other favorite areas, and the forecast looks the same for the rest of the world. It's okay. If it took leaving my lawn chair and slippers outside to get some needed moisture to the area, it's a hit I'm willing to have taken.

If I want to go somewhere, I'll need to take down the wet tent and cram its wetness into a dry Spud. [That sounds more tater-porny than I mean it.]

My internet connection is holding, and that's a fine thing. I have books I can read, and sudoku. My camera works. I had my caffeine in an innovative way. There is a toilet mere steps from me. Don't cry for me, Arizona.

Friendship and death: Sedona, Arizona boondocking

Look who came all the way to The Desert to see us! Our very, very good friends, Carolyn and Annie!

Carolyn and Annie at Montezuma's Well, where they were wary of revenge.

  Sure, we look all sedate like middle-aged women are supposed to. Should I have worn absorbent undergarments? Did you bring the sherry? How many more steps? I could use a nap. I said DID YOU BRING THE SHERRY? THE SHERRY! NO! THE SHERRY!!!

L to R: Carolyn, NotMyAnnie, me, MyAnnie

However, Carolyn (far left) is the Venom Whisperer. She showed us our first scorpion within an hour of arrival. We knew they come out at night, which usually keeps us out of our lawn chairs after happy hour, but we had never seen one.

Later that night she found this guy in slo-mo flight:

It's chilly at night now. He was rockward-bound in the slow lane.

This is my camera on tequila.
Western diamondback rattlesnake txts friends: LOLOMG! U wont Blieve this. BCH pls!

Carolyn missed our trip to the V-V Ranch because she was stung by a fire ant and had an allergic reaction.

But, after that, things just got ridiculous.













And we saw things:

Montezuma's Castle. 

Coffeepot Rock, Sedona.

A mountain

Bell Rock is thought to be a vortex. I think it's spin.

Our campsite, the Valley of Death. 

Seeing Annie and Carolyn after eighteen months was like we never left the 'Burg.

After a few days, they decided to leave before Carolyn invoked javelinas. Sorry guys! Next time we'll meet someplace nice, instead of Sedona.

We miss you already.