MyIronHorseJourney

It took a little while, but I knew it would when I scheduled the pick up and delivery.  Haul Bikes were excellent, they kept me informed every step of the way.  The truck was pretty neat too, it had two floors.  The tailgate opened up and was a hydraulic lift/platform to get the bikes out.  He had about 20 bikes with a lot of room for many more.  I wish I had asked him how many he could haul at once, but I didn’t…  You will see in the picture below that my bike was on the top floor.

The timing was perfect, any sooner and it would have been difficult getting into the driveway.  We had a soupy muddy mess for a couple of weeks, this weeks warm weather really dried it up just in time.

I’m very glad to have my baby home safe and sound.  Now for some heavy rain to clear the salt and sand off the Maine roads so we can get out riding!

Love and Light to you all!

Once I decided I was heading home, I started my journey.  I went down to Tucson, over to New Mexico and then to Texas.    At one point I was going to try and dodge storms and make my way up through to Maine.  After chatting with a friend and thinking about what they said, I decided it may be best to fly home and have my bike shipped home.  I started researching on line for transportation, and stopped at a couple Dealerships to see if they shipped bikes.  When I got to Fort Worth, Texas the service department gave me a contact of who they (Harley) uses for transporting all their bikes.  So I called to get all the information and get a quote.  It was a little more expensive, but I think it’s worth it.

After dropping my bike off for pick up I took Uber back to my hotel.  About 5 minutes after getting back the wind picked up and it started raining.  I have been extremely fortunate as the last four rain storms have started within minutes of me stopping for the day – phew!

The morning I was flying out of Dallas, Texas it was freezing rain.  With multiple accidents reported on the news that morning.  Definitely a sign I’m doing the right thing by shipping my bike home.  Since I’ve been home and watching the weather up the east coast and hearing about the tornadoes in Alabama, I would have been in the middle of all that or stuck in a hotel waiting the weather out.

As bummed as I am that I’m here in Maine while it’s still winter, I’m very grateful that I’m home safe and sound.

Love and Light to you all!

The last couple of weeks in Arizona have been crazy.  The weather especially, 15-20 degrees colder than normal for this time of year.  Last week they had over 40 inches of snow in Flagstaff and snow all the way down into Tucson.  They are saying they haven’t  had anything like this since 1910.

Since being back, I’ve been looking into many different options for living arrangements.  Everything that I would feel comfortable with has fallen short, to many to list.  I’ve been traveling the last year and a half without making any arrangements until the last minute.  Leaving my travels to be free to change at any time.  It worked out fine until now!  I’ve decided to head back home to regroup.  I will decide then where I will go next, then have my living arrangements done before I head out.

So, last year I hit two ice storms in Texas.  If you remember the normally only have one every five years, and last year they had three in five weeks.  This year Arizona just had snow and cold that hadn’t happened since forever ago….  Are you seeing a pattern?  Is this a sign of some sort?  Makes me wonder!

As I was traveling around Arizona, here are a could signs I got along the way!  Really got me thinking!

Love and Light to you all!

Once the holidays were over I started to look into heading back to Arizona.  Hearing about everything affected with the Government shutdown, I decided to wait it out.  Travel could have been a mess, national parks were only partially open with vandalism happening.  Knowing all this I thought it was best to wait.  I’ve been able to help some family and friends while home, which makes it all worth it.  So glad I was here and able to help.

Maine has had some really cold days this winter, those days I hibernated!  With the hibernation I also got into a slump or block with writing my blogs – sorry about that!  I’m hoping when I get back out to warmer weather and sunshine that will get me back up and going again with my writing.  My next post will be back on the road!

Love and Light to you all!

The few days before I flew home for the holidays I did some site seeing around the Phoenix area.

I was heading out from my hotel to go hike Camelback Mountain again when I came upon an Old Town Scottsdale – it’s original name was “Orangedale”.  I decided to stop and walk around.  I walked around the town most of the day, going in and out of all the different shops.  I grabbed lunch at a local sandwich shop.  Fun little town, and a nice change from riding or hiking.

The next day I was following my GPS and it kept taking me around in circles.  After about the third time around I decided to go my own way thinking the GPS would recalculate.  The only thing it did was keep telling me to turn around, turn around now.  I finally just shut it off and went whatever way I wanted.  When I was getting down to about a 1/2 a tank of gas I decided to stop and fill up along with figure out where I was.  While I was on my phone figuring out where I was I had a gentleman say “it’s a lot warmer here then where you are from”.  He had looked at my license plate!  We chatted for a little bit and he told me of a park just up the road.  It was Thunderbird Conservation Park.  I decided to get a hotel near the park thinking I would come back the next day and do some more hiking.  I would be checking into the hotel that was going to take me to the airport the next afternoon.

After I got checked into my hotel I started checking out what was in the area and found Papago park that had a neat look through rock that you could hike up and around.  Once I got there I found it was right near the Botanical gardens I had been to and the zoo.  The park was busy with hikers, bikers and families enjoying the park.  There was some beautiful ponds with palm trees.  I noticed a few people were fishing in the ponds (not sure if they caught anything).  I saw ducks, turtles and a heron on the banking, just a very peaceful place.  Off in the distance there was a pyramid, when I hiked over there it was Arizona’s first Governor and their families.  George W. P. Hunt was the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 10th Governer setting a national record.  The pyramid looked down over the city, park and zoo.

After my day at Papago Park I checked into my hotel and got my laundry done and repacked everything so I could drop my bike off to be stored while I’m home for the holidays.

The next day I road over to the Harley shop only to find it was closed – ugh…..  They had their Christmas party and the owner gives them the following day off.  Other than that, they are open 7 days a week.  I panicked as I was flying out the next day.  One gentleman was there working and after talking for a few minutes I found out that the service department opens at 7:30 am.  If I got here right when they open I would have time to make it to the airport and make my flight – phew…..

My hotel was about 50 minutes away, so I needed to leave early knowing that morning traffic would be heavy.  I ended up waking up at 3 am – I justified it by saying it was 5 am at home.  I left the hotel at 5:30 am knowing that if I left later it would make me late.  I got to the shop about 45 minutes before they opened.  I went to a DD and had a muffin and coffee while I waited.

Oh, I also had to sign up for Uber and  schedule a pick up.  I did all that the night before, but wasn’t sure if it was working.  I got notification that they got my request but that was it.  I asked a younger gentleman at the shop if I was doing it right, and I was.  Shortly after I asked him I got another notification that my request was schedule – phew!

Besides the shop being closed the day before, my trip home was smooth.  My kids were outside when I landed and we headed right home.  It was cold, thank goodness the car was warm as my winter jacket was at the house.

Love and Light to you All!

I haven’t done a New Year’s resolution for many years, I got tired of always disappointing myself!  I would set a resolution and work on it at the beginning of the year and something would happen and I would stop.  Sometimes I would try and pick it back up only stopping again.  Then I would get down on myself about not sticking with it.  I’m sure I’m not alone with all of this.

Over the last years I now work in finding something each day to be grateful for.  When I first started I would lay in bed just before falling asleep and find something from the day to be grateful for.  As the years have passed I do it throughout the day as something happens.  Most days I set my intentions for the day before I get up.  Most days just go so much smoother now that I do that.

I am so grateful for the life I have, and thankful beyond words that I get to do what I do!  I am thankful for all of you following me on this journey called life.  I wish you and your family a joyful, bright, healthy, prosperous and happiest new year!  What is your next chapter going to hold?

Happy New Year!

Love and Light to you all!

I’d been seeing a lot of advertising for the Desert Botanical Light show, so decided to go.  As you can see in the feature picture, I got there just about dusk.  Most of the gardens have either cement walkways or very packed smooth dirt paths.  The park is big, and they had multiple music venues throughout it.  They also had dinner packages and wine packages to view the gardens.  Once it got dark enough they started the light shows.  Up behind a restaurant on a hill that is adjacent to the park they placed lights all through it and did a light show to music.  It ran about 12 minutes before looping around again.  I tried to capture some of the displays, but these just don’t do it justice.

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i got talking to one of the volunteers, and she said this crazy weather has the cactus all messed up.  Some are starting to bloom, which is way too early.

It was a fun night, loved seeing all the different displays of lights.  An added bonus is walking around and really enjoying them without freezing (like at home in Maine).

Love and Light to you all!

I took off from Tucson and headed towards Willcox, Arizona.  My GPS took me to Route 83 and 82 through Tombstone across E. Davis Road.  Then Route 191 to 181 onto S. Bonita Creek Road into the park.  I passed cotton fields, wheat fields, pecan groves, wine vineyards and two large US Air Force plane graveyards (why don’t they just scrape them).  Most areas were wide open ranges, for miles and miles.  The roads were good with little to no traffic.  The sun disappeared behind clouds which made it a little cooler riding.  The last few days I haven’t had to have my cold weather gear on – nice change.  My chaps would have been nice, but I didn’t feel like stopping and digging them out. (guess it wasn’t that cold then!).   I got to the park about 2 pm, so I was just going to check it out then come back in the morning and hike.  This park is known for the Land of Standing Up Rocks.  I rode up to Masai Point which is 6,870 feet in elevation.  The road twists and turns up to the top.  At the top it’s the views with no end.  While I was up there the wind picked up and it was strong.  I believe they said 35 mph, time for me to work my way down!  On the way out I had a deer jump in front of me, and while I was stopped two more came out.  Down the road a little further we’re three more grazing under a tree.  It was about 35 miles to the nearest town, and on the way to my hotel I saw three red hawks.

Ed Riggs and his wife Lillian settled in the valley just below in the early 1920’s.  Ed and Lillian appreciated the natural beauty of the Chiricahua Mountains and looked for ways to promote the area.  You will see in one of my pictures an observation platform which was constructed in the 1930’s and is still being used today.  Ed called the views “Wonderland of Rocks”.

Their house is surrounded by the mountains, no matter which way you look there are beautiful views of the rocks.  Lillian named the farm “Faraway Ranch” as it was so far away from anything.

Oh, I stopped on the way in to take the feature picture.  There was no one around and I hadn’t seen anyone for miles, so I stopped in the middle of the road to get this shot.  “Tumbleweed”.   Just when I was putting my phone away two trucks pull up and ask if I was okay….  where did they come from.  It was nice of them, especially since the closest town was about 35 miles away.

Love and Light to you all!

Saguaro National Park is two parks 33 miles apart.  I went to East – Rincon Mountain District.  There is a 8 1/2 mile loop that you can drive around with scenic overlooks and places to pull off.  The whole middle of the loop has many hiking trails along with picnic areas.  I drove around once to see it all, then went back around and stopped for pictures and then found a couple places that I hiked.  Today was above average for temperatures, high 70’s.  I hiked for about 2 hours in one spot then hit another for about an hour.  Part of me wanted to see a rattle snake or a javelina, but I think I’m glad I didn’t.  The only thing I saw and heard were a few birds.  The cactus are really cool looking after they have died and dried out.  The large Saguaros look like wood as you will see in a couple of the pictures below.  Some are webbed almost like a spiders webs.

When getting involved with taking a picture of one of the cactus I stepped back and touched another bush, ouch!  It had thorns…. I then started looking and realized just about everything had thorns.

It was very peaceful hiking the trails, I only saw one couple walking.  I get the funniest looks from people, as I’m in boots and jeans.  I had one park ranger say to me this isn’t really for motorcycles.  I had to tell him I wanted to hike.

Love and Light to you all!

Tuzigoot is the largest and best preserved Sinagua Pueblo ruins located in Clarksdale, Arizona. The ruins incorporate very few doors; instead, the inhabitants used ladders accessed by trapdoor type openings in the roofs to enter each room.

After checking out the ruins, I walked down around the marsh.  It was very quiet with only a few families enjoy the grounds.  Besides walking the grounds, this Park is short visit.

After I headed back to the hotel, to do laundry and decide what’s next!

Love and Light to you all!

I went over to the Montezuma Castle which is located in Camp Verde, Arizona.  The Sinagua farmers built this five-story, 20 room dwelling back between 1100 and 1300.  The access is located about 100 feet above the valley.  It is all closed off now as people were vandalizing it.  I took a picture of a replica of the insides.  Just amazing!  When you look up at the wall you see holes, those are all the different rooms.

The park is a short walk, all paved so easy access for anyone.  Since it was a quick viewing, I headed over to the Montezuma Well located in Rimrock, Arizona.  The Well measures 386 feet from rim to rim.  The Well contains 1,500,000 gallons of water which comes from an underground spring.  This volume stays consistent even during times of drought.  I walked down to the canal and the water was rushing out.  The tree by the canal was huge, I wish I remembered the measurements around.  Again, just amazing to see all this.

Love and Light to you all!

I went over to the Red Rock State Park and hiked around and took a bunch of pictures.  The last few days I have been doing a lot of soul searching.  I passed a sign in the park, then went back and re-read it again.  I love how messages come through.

The last part “Let it be” popped out at me.  I started singing the Beatle’s song in my head.  There will be an answer, Let it be.  When I got back to my room and looked up all the lyrics and there was a few more messages.  I also love finding rocks or anything in the shape of a heart.  Today was a lot of rocks and a cactus!

I hiked up to the Eagles Nest, and looked out over to the meadow below and all the red rock.  The park had quite a few people there, but not many ventured up around the mountain to the top.  There was a couple there when I first got up there, then they left and I had it all to myself.  I sat up there for a while and did a short meditation.  It was in the mid 60’s and just beautiful.

This is one of my favorite kind of days as I was able to ride for a while, hike and play with my camera.  Plus I treated myself and ate out at the Black Bear Diner in Cottonwood.

Love and Light to you all!

Wickenburg was another town I heard about and decided to stop by on my way back from Lake Havasu City.  Such a neat little town.  I spent the afternoon walking around the town, in and out of all the shops.  It’s so weird to see all terrain vehicles driving around on the roads.  It looked like a lot of the locals use them instead of regular vehicles.  I had a sandwich at a local little restaurant called Nana’s, which was recommended by one of the shops.

That evening I took a walk around the trails behind the hotel.  Feels so good to be able to go out in the evening (and not be freezing).

Love and Light to you all!

Someone along my travels mentioned Lake Havasu City, so I headed over there to check out the London Bridge.  This bridge was built in the 1830’s and formerly spanned the River Thames in London, England. It was dismantled in 1967 and relocated to Arizona.  How cool is that!

I know I keep saying it, but the views are amazing.  Every area is different.  I’m also amazed that people just pull off the road with a camper or with all-terrain vehicles and set up camp.  So many of the campers that I pass are toy haulers, or trucks hauling all-terrain vehicles.  They are everywhere!

When I got to Lake Havasu I was hoping to get service at the Harley shop, but it was just a clothing store.  There was a walking path along the water, very pretty town.

Love and Light to you all!