The Painted Desert.

There is a side to my personality that wants to push the limits of my endurance. After Gene and I arrived in Chicago from India, I chose to drive to OKC, a twelve hour journey! This was after a long international flight. When I woke up this morning, I had a chat with myself--- no way was I going to drive straight through to OKC. I woke up late deliberately; that's not too hard to do! Then, I drove slowly, that was a bit more difficult. Then, I made myself take the exit for the Petrified Forest and the Painted Desert. Even though I have seen this beautiful park before, I knew the only way I would not test my endurance was if I simply didn't have enough time to make it to OKC in one day from Winslow.

I am glad I took my time today, I drove slowly through the Painted Desert, it always reminds me of spumoni the delicious Italian ice cream dessert. I almost want to take a spoon to the delicious looking mounds. Fear not, I only think about it!

The Petrified wood really fascinates me, I want to take a big chunk home with me, but I resist the strong urge. Instead I took pictures of the colourful trees. As you exit the park the rangers ask you if you enjoyed your drive through and then politely ask if you removed any petrified wood? I am sure no one is going to admit to taking anything, yet the park has been pillaged since it's discovery. I am reminded of a policeman who stopped me from picking up a stone from Mount Rushmore. He eloquently said "Young lady, I am as serious as a heart attack, you can't pick up a rock from here. If I let you take a rock, then everyone else will want one too, and pretty soon we won't have a mountain left". Those were the days when I used to pick up rocks as souvenirs, I ain't like that no more! I am a reformed rockoholic.

After my side trip to the Painted Desert, I drove on through. It was hard to say goodbye to Arizona.  New Mexico is interesting too, I find Arizona's beauty in a class by itself. Tomorrow  

I will be home, and I would not have pushed the limits. It will be an easy drive from Santa Rosa to OKC. There are no more road trips in the near future for me. I guess I need to start planning where I will drive to next summer. Nova Scotia has been intriguing me of late!

 

The Grand Canyon!

Today, I left Kingman AZ in the morning and headed east on I-40. At Seligman AZ, I had to stop because they had a cafe called "The Roadkill Cafe" I had to find out what a vegetarian could eat at a place called ' roadkill '! Turns out, they had quite a few items on the menu for a vegetarian. I settled on a grilled cheese sandwich with fries. After lunch I decided not to go back on I-40, instead I followed historic route 66 to Ashford and then joined I-40. But, for about 22 miles I was traveling on a piece of history.

For the rest of the day my time was spent in a place where my heart resides. I have been in love with the Grand Canyon for a long time. I took both my children and my nephew along with my sister to the canyon on our first trip west. I have taken a lot of trips down memory lane on this sojourn. Remembering my son, daughter and nephew when they were little tykes, looking over at the canyon and not really understanding what they were looking at. Later as my children grew up, my daughter and I rafted the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon, and then hiked our way out of the canyon. Out of all the trips I have taken, that one still takes my breath away. We stayed at the bottom of the canyon for a whole week, slept under the stars and ate our meals by the river bed. It was an awesome trip. Today, I retraced my steps minus the rafting or hiking out of the canyon. I missed my daughter, so I called her as I got close to Bright Angel trail, the trail we had used for our hike out. It was good to hear her voice as both of us were transported back to our trip, it was good to reminisce about our time together at the canyon. 

Getting to the canyon on hi-way 64 north, one does not get the sense that soon we are about to witness one of the seven wonders of the world! The entrance fee to the park is $25.00, the pass will last for one week, well worth it. I tried to spend as much time as I could at the canyon, I really didn't want to leave. I took hi-way 64 east towards Cameron, so I could see more of the canyon as I drove out. The vistas along this hi-way are superb. My heart just filled with overwhelming feeling of joy and sadness at the same time. I don't like traveling alone, I would much rather share these fantastic moments with loved ones, or a special someone I can share my life with, for now that is not how my life is evolving, and I am a person who believes in living in the moment. So, if traveling alone is how it must be for now, then, so shall it be. 

I am spending the night in Winslow Arizona, the song "Take it easy" by the Eagles is making it's way in my mind right now. Whenever I hear that song, I am transported to Arizona, not that I need any nudge to transport me here. In my head I think I live at the bottom of the Grand Canyon all the time!

Tomorrow I will see the Painted Dessert along with Petrified Forest. I love this drive on I-40 east.

The Grand Canyon state.

I left this morning from Stockton, I noticed how messy the hi-way was in this area. There was trash everywhere. I think Stockton is referred to as the armpit of California. I can see why.

As I was driving east towards Arizona from California, I took hi-way 58 east from Modesto. This road wove it's way through high mountain country, at top of the hills were several thousand wind mills. They looked so graceful, it seemed as if they were doing cartwheels, at times it felt like they were waving to me. I did take a few pictures, but it didn't seem to do justice to the vista I was viewing. Today the driving was more pleasurable, even though on hi-way 99 drivers were hogging the left lane. Nothing annoys me more than people in my way when I have the need to speed!

I love being in Arizona, it's one of two states in the Union that does not observe daylight savings time. I call that free spirited! I don't like to have to adjust to time changes twice a year, it messes with my internal clock.  I think Arizona is my favorite state. There is something about the stark beauty of this state that amazes me every time I drive through.

Hills that have hues of pink, butter yellow and mauve mixed in with brown dirt look so barren yet open. I don't feel oppressed here as I do in the northwest. I do love trees, though the mountains in Vancouver feel as though they are foreboding. The terrain here feels more open. The sunset colours were spectacular. The mountains looked as if they had taken on a deep purple colour against the yellow, amber of the sunset, truly magnificent. Tomorrow I will be at the Grand Canyon, I really think that I have spent other lifetimes at the bottom of the canyon, I always feel as though I have come home when I am here.

Stockton CA.

I made very good time today, I am in Stockton CA. After having left my son's home this morning around eleven. I miss him terribly. He is a gifted writer and I was able to read some of his new writings. The story had me in tears as well as many moments of laugh out loud excerpts. He began writing in the fourth grade and I have enjoyed his musings since then. I know his time to be a published author is not far away.

We may live logistically far away from each other, but our hearts are attached by that ethereal bond. I can always tell when either one of my children are in a state of distress. I usually dream about them or my mind remains occupied by their image. It feels good to be so closely connected to both my son and daughter. 

The drive today was uneventful. I didn't stop at too many places, just long enough to fill up gas and stop to stretch my legs and then I was on the road again. It was incredibly hot, most of the way the temps were hundred or above. It's never fun to stop in this type of heat. And, of course the car top could not be down, I had to have air conditioning on---bummer!

Tomorrow I hope to reach somewhere in Arizona, and then I will decide if Zion Nat. Park is an option. I do know that I will stop at the Grand Canyon, I have to see that again. Today I did get to see Mount Shasta, it's odd to see such a huge mountain traveling south on I-5 with snow in the middle of a heat wave! 

The cooking diva.

Today the day is going to be spent cooking a favorite dish requested by my son. Since I was driving, I was able to bring the supplies needed to prepare the meal. I enjoy cooking and I am grateful that my family loves the food I prepare for them. While in Canada, I prepared pakoras for everyone, not a morsel was left at the end of the evening. Pakoras are spicy potato and onion fritters. For my son today I prepared handowa, it's akin to a spicy baked cornbread type of a dish. It too never lasts very long. 

It's been very hot here in Portland, fortunately my son's home is air conditioned. Portland has seen record breaking temps. I need to bring some cooler weather here! I will be leaving in the morning. The time spent with my son has been all too short. Again, never enough time. I have come to the conclusion, I need to spend my summers here in Portland, so that I can see him for at least three months. I enjoy time spent with my son, we have great conversations about a myriad of subjects. I am always heart warmed by his unique perspective on life. 

The drive home will be long, I am not sure I want to stop off at Zion National Park. The northwest is seeing temps in the triple digits and Oklahoma is experiencing eighty degree weather; what's wrong with this picture?!

Well, I will be on the road again tomorrow and will write more from whatever town I end up in. More later....

Back in the USA.

This morning, I said goodbye to my Canada family as they are fondly known and headed southwards towards Portland to spend a couple of days with my son and daughter in law. It was a tearful goodbye. It's hard to bid adieu to my sisters. It never gets easier. It's never enough time. Even though I was ready to go home, I am never ready to leave my Canada family. 

The drive to the US border was fairly fast, but the wait at the border was horrendous. It took more than two hours to get through. I hate having to go through customs, I always freak out because, either I can't find my passport, or I wonder if my car will be the one they will want to check randomly. Usually my passport is always in a safe place and my car is never singled out. Except, for last year when I was on my way to Alaska, then-- I was pulled over. A customs officer was curious as to why I was going to Alaska? My mistake was answering in a rather cheeky manner ..."because it's there" Not a good answer. They just get annoyed with answers like that!

My time in Vancouver was spent painting three paintings for my sister's radio station RJ 1200. I spent time with my brother and his family, applying my Feng Shui principals to their home. My two sisters and I took our youngest nephew on a short trip to Hwy 24 in BC. It's hi-way that meanders through the lake country of British Columbia. Pristine clear lakes dot this hi-way. We stayed at Lac des Roches a fishing resort. It's not really a resort, more like a cabin with minimum amenities. Our eldest sister is not used to anything but a five star hotel! It was quite an adventure for our young nephew to stay in one room with all of his aunts. I think he is a brave soul. He did exceptionally well, he seemed to enjoy our company. He was very easy to get along with. My two sisters get to see my nephew often. I on the other hand don't get the opportunity to spend time with my nephews. I was very pleasantly surprised with my nephew. He has a gentle manner and a very caring disposition.

This time my visit to Vancouver was different, usually I am greeted with cool ocean breezes. This time it was uncomfortably hot the entire time I was there. At least in Oklahoma I have air conditioning to temper the heat. I kept visualizing a thunder storm, and finally day before yesterday, a spectacular thunder storm along with lightening appeared out of the eastern sky. I was glad to see that my weather making powers are still working!

Yaletown.

Today, my day was spent in the company of my eldest nephew and his wife. I love to be able to spend time with my nephew, he is five months older than my son. I regard him as my son. I went to their apartment in trendy Yaletown. This is where the young, hip generation of Vancouverites live. I have watched my nephew grow up from babyhood to adulthood. Just as I have witnessed my two children grow up. There is very little age difference between my two children and my nephew. The three of them grew up together, even though we lived so far away. Their bond is special and strong. That's how families in the Indian culture behave. Closely knit.

They treated me to lunch, another thing that is different from days gone by. I used to pick up the tab and now they pick up the tab. It feels strange. I am not sure if I like it much, I guess I need to get used to it.  After lunch we walked around meandering in and out of shops. Something I could not have gotten my nephew to do only  a few moons ago! But, here he was as casual as you please, walking through shabby chic furniture store. When I asked him how come he can wander through a home decorating store now, his calm answer... "In my head I am replaying the entire Star Wars movie"! Things a man will do for the love of a woman. I was pleased to see that. I smiled a silent smirk and walked on.