The past 3 years our local Ananda Velo cycling group has taken trips to ride bikes. Last Spring we went over to Gualala near Sea Ranch on the northern California coast.
Several members stayed at the county park, but i chose Anchor Bay just north a few miles. What a find. As you can see below i had a prime site mid week with a view of the beach. My buddy, Vidura and his son, Dwayne, came over for campfires. Not much beach to walk but listening to waves all night was “hard to take” as you may imagine
We we did several 30 to 35 mile rides each day up in the hills in different places a couple days. It was very windy and one of the rides included a 6 mile stretch of 17% grade my new E bike held up pretty well and I held up pretty well, but I did shorten a couple rides just in caseall in all it was a blast
Anchor Bay CampNear the beachFrom the beach sideMy view from campfireDwayne and ViduraVidura and meRiding past a Buddhist Retreat CenterHigh up in hillsThe inevitable flat tire“Professional” flat tire fixersThe Buddhist monastery Stuppe.Walking the beach
Yesterday, we headed out late morning after a 2 day dig in the snow. We made it to Orange Grove RV park just south of Bakersfield by 7 o’clock. Enroute to the Grand Canyon south rim where we plan to spend 4 days hiking down into (and out of).
Digging out
This morning, we walked around the park picking oranges (yes, it isan Orange grove) with my cousin, who rendezvoused with us there on his route north. Fun to see them. Rving in their 80’s and had delicious oranges too
We proceeded east over Tehachapi via Barstow to Amboy crater.
We stopped in Barstow for fuel and had a “Barstow Walmart“ experience. Hard to describe that in an email, you had to be there.
Amboy crater is on the eastern side of the Mojave desert on the old route 66 highway,an old cinder cone from many eons ago. We shouldered our canyon backpacks as a little preliminary hike before heading out to the Grand Canyon. 4 miles later we felt pretty confident that we could do the canyon
Up on topTreacherous narrow rim. It gets worse.
That’s is that is assuming we could stay upright. Very steep and narrow. Easy without the packs, Treacherous (never again) with.
Now, as the evening sun sets over the Mojave desert, and the golden light illuminates the beautiful boulders and dry landscape, we proceed along the highway down the hill towards the Colorado river atNeedles, California (also known as to us as Noodles,California), where are we will encamp for the night
Tomorrow we head up to the Canyon. We will encamp I’m Trailer village. Hi temp is 40, low is 20 or well 🙈. From experience we think if we keep plugged in with heater on, we will be ok. Daytime above freezing and☀️☀️to warm the van.
Prayers willingly accepted. (Memo to Kent: “what were you thinking when you omitted to this?”)
More later, assuming we don’t get run off the road by sleepy truck drivers on I-40. Ah, the life.
Learning experience, Whirlwind, Unexpected, Delightful, Challenging, Full filling, Gone. You fill in the blanks. Certainly not boring.
Living a very active, yet reflective, life filled with new projects is challenging. Being “retired” hopefully allows one to have a little more say over not only what you are involved in but when.
For me, it is more a when since another aspect is living as service filled life. Sometimes the service is requested. Sometimes it is just a feeling that this is what is to be done. Sometimes I even say yes. Other times… well, let’s just hope I reflect on all of it.
Can’t say any major accomplishments this year but some progress and satisfaction from living a directional life.
Many photos and videos. See my youtube channel and website. Photo exhibit at Expanding Light guest retreat. Many greeting cards sold in boutiques. Good health for both of us. Even lost some weight and improved fitness. The Ananda Library working well, The Ananda Bell phones and internet systems are running fine and improved. A bit of travel to see family Wonderful garden House still standing (we live in a major wildfire risk area).
Much gratitude for friends, God, Guru. It’s all about relationships. Within and without.
Other than helping to celebrate Ananda Village 50th anniversary with new temple I am gonna get my General Amateur radio license, a trailer and do some local and perhaps western US travel. Maybe even some more photo/video
We arrived after long day of driving, settled into campsite, and by the time I went to fly it was getting to be sundown. The link to the youtube video is at the bottom.
Didn’t have a great experience here which is nothing against Needles. We arrived after long day of driving, settled into campsite, and by the time I went to fly it was getting to be sundown. The link to the youtube video is at the bottom.
Walked out to the point near the Colorado River and set up to fly but the DJI Mavic wanted a firmware update. Ok, last time I did an update it went fast and smooth. Looked like i had good internet cell service on iPhone so I hot-spotted the iPad to the iPhone and started the download.
Waiting and Waiting and Waiting – golden light passing fast.
And waited and waited and waited. Meanwhile the sun crept out from behind the clouds to give me the golden light we crave whilst I waited and waited.
Finally as the sun was setting I could take off.
Drone Selfie as sun going down
Was able to take a little video.
click on link below for a quickly cobbled together video
PhotoKent's Musings 