The Impulse for Tucson

A friend told a story of adventure, and right in the middle of it, I decided to go to Arizona. I made sure Spud was packed with the essentials, but before I could embark on that kind of foolishness, my cousin invited me to stay with her.

She has the delightful skills of nurturing and kindness, while being annoyance-tolerant. It's a combination that just begs relatives to visit.

Seriously, she's almost a saint.

Left alone for an entire morning, I went geocaching. A cache presented itself within theoretical walking distance, so naturally I jumped in the car and headed toward it.

I think of my friend Zee.

The cache was in an arroyo, where coyotes ignore the speed limit. THAT'S adventure! I tumbled right in where regular people just cross the footbridge and keep moving. I saw it there, the cache, at the top of a bank I had no intention of scaling.

 I've been missing saguaros lately, like an actual longing. I notice that we People of New Mexico decorate with them, but we're poseurs. Saguaros live in the Sonoran desert. Chihuahuas live in the Chihuahuan desert.

Gates Pass

Folks back home sayin', "Why don't he write?"

It was hiding in plain sight!

This one was not-so-hidden in plain sight.

This vacation was the luxe life, and I'm powerless to refuse that kind of adventure. We worked up the courage to eat at a French restaurant, braved the elements to reach cafes, and risked our safety for the best parking spots in front of shops. I'm just saying don't let fear stop you from reaching for your dreams.

We started up Mount Lemmon today, but by Molino Canyon Vista we realized we were hangry, so we bagged the scenery and headed toward snacks.

I may or may not stop to see The Thing on my way home tomorrow. That's the kind of tantalization you come here for.

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°.