Virtual AZT: 100 Miles

 

Beans, here...

 

The weekend in Patagonia was heavenly!

Good food...good bath...great rest...and now we're off again.

This is pretty much what the trail looks like in June...a few scrub trees...a lot of prickly pear cactus...and dried tumble weeds. 

Layers of either pinkish or gray dust.

Unbearable heat...even at 10 AM.

It is 88 degrees, now...but expected to reach the high 90's today.

They showed me photos at the Inn of what this looks like in Spring with the colorful blooms.

 

And this current hellscape makes it hard to believe.

Onward we trudge.

I cameled up before I left town and am back with 5L of clear water...so that is something.

It is out here I will learn that mirages are real...where shimmering pools of water lay just out of reach.

Nothing is moving out here besides me.

Not bugs...not snakes...no animals to be seen (except for range cattle) some of which low as I crunch by.

They eye-ball me as though I have lost my sense.

I wonder how they even survive out here.

By mid-afternoon it is blazing, and although I have made much less than 25 miles I am spent.

Once again wondering if I can possibly complete 700 more miles of this.

I have decided to hike a bit this evening when it is still light...but the sun isn't directly overhead.

Catch everyone on Wednesday.

 

Love,

(...the desiccated...)

                     "Beans" 

 

 https://youtu.be/UOfVBVTjxNQ?si=gkVfq6C5f8McTRWN

Waldo- Day 5 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual AZT: Friday...and Patagonia

 

As I said on Wednesday...25 miles a day is a bit ambitious.

 

Made 88 miles this week and ready for my zero weekend...a hot bath...a good meal and a soft bed.

Have seen very little in the way of wildlife (...too hot...and the range cattle don't really count...) Did learn immediately that you don't leave your hiking boots outside the tent overnight...as scorpions tend to get inside. Always shake your shoes in the morning.

 Not deadly, but they can give a nasty sting and seem to be in a perpetually bad mood.

Aside from a Roadrunner (...meep...meep...)

 and a single shy Mule-deer...

and the omnipresent range cattle (...mostly black Angus...).

The landscape has been pretty devoid of visible life.

I have heard coyotes at night...but have yet to see them.

With the exception of a few straggling SOBO hikers, who just seem eager to finish the journey, I have seen NO north-bounds since I started...and feel fairly alone out  here.  

Hoping I am not too late in the season.

The hotel is what you would expect for a small run-down trail-side town. Clean but not Holiday Inn. Nothing matches inside...not sure if this is a quirk or a feature. Think interior done by Goodwill.  A small concrete pool outside with slightly stagnant water that is warm.

The restaurant inside says tonight's special is meatloaf.

But first a good bath.

Trail funk is real.

Catch ya'll on Monday!

Love,

"Beans" 

https://youtu.be/wqySKDBXJuQ?si=qonqsgyYizMYdsA5
 

Virtual AZT: Bathtub Springs...Day Two...and SNOW!

 

Well...this was certainly a surprise...

First, let me say that the 25 miles a day goal might have been a bit over-enthusiastic.

Made a bit less than 20 yesterday, and that was really pushing it.

The trail immediately started up the Huachua Mountains...elevation 8500 feet. It will get your attention.

The desert heat rapidly gave way to blustery winds and then chilliness.

By early evening it was downright cold. 

I fixed my evening meal and turned in after the particularly spectacular sunset

Only to wake in the middle of the night...freezing.

By this morning I was greeted by a blanket of white fluffy snow!

The extremes of this trail are shocking.

I spent the night on the north side of the mountain and this morning began slowly with coffee and warm oatmeal.

Leaving on my thermals I finished up, starting the descent. It was now only 54 degrees.

In a little less than an hour I made it to my first water refill-

Bathtub Springs

 

And the snow was nearly gone.

Bathtub Springs was essentially a real clawfoot tub that had been modified with a trickle pipe to fill from the natural spring...and an overflow hole drilled to control the water so there would always be a moving fresh supply.

Refilled my water bottles using a Platypus filter

 and back with 5L of clean water for the day.

The mountain taking me through the Coranado Forest and some lovely pines. I have yet to see wildlife of any kind...but I am sure this will change as we go on.

The flat spots in these mountains are known as sky-islands...and make perfect camping areas.

Miles to go before I sleep and doubtless will shed the thermals and such as I reach the desert temps once again.

 

Love,

(...slowly thawing...)

                   "Beans" 

Catch everyone on Friday... 

Virtual AZT: Beginning The Adventure

 

"Beans" here again...

You may remember my trail-name from our year-long hike on the AT.

Today, begins our new Virtual Adventure on the 800+ two month adventure known as The Arizona Trail (AZT) 

We will be NOBO (Northbound) from Mexico's border to Utah.

Outfitted yesterday, and was somewhat alarmed after a discussion with some SOBO hikers who were just finishing their journey.

Apparently, June is a rather late start for NOBO hikers...and I have missed the Spring Window of Mar-May.

What this means is that we will miss a lot of the early cactus blooms, but more importantly that the heat will be oppressive, and water sources will be sketchy.

"I'd wait until next year, if I were you."

I heard this a lot.

But this is virtual...and we are as ready as we'll ever be...so let's go.

Started out after a good night's sleep and a decent breakfast.

Packing in 5 liters of water and mindful of reminders to top them off every chance I get...because this late it can be miles before you reach another water source.

Other tips included a floppy hat that shades the back of your neck, good sunscreen, sunglasses, a thick sleeping pad, thermal underwear for cold desert nights...oh and a cell phone...not for communication, necessarily, but for GPS so they can (QUOTE)

"...locate your dead body..."

 

Yeah, very funny.

 

Started out at 6:30 AM...it was 75 degrees. Planning 25 miles a day for the next 4 days...to reach the 100 mile marker by Friday. Plan to take every weekend as Zero Days...restock and camel up...800 miles in 8 weeks. 

I will check in on M-W-F.

It is now past noon and stopping in the already 90 degree heat because damn...

The terrain from the border seems to immediately climb and is little more than desert...scrubs...dead plants and rocks.

I can envision this in 65-70 degree temps with blooms and wildlife...but this month is not that.

I have used 2 liters of my water already...and nothing to replenish to be seen.

Others have advised to watch for green areas indicating water...but I've yet to see anything remotely green.

The heat...dry though it may be...is exhaustive...relentless...and I'm beginning to wonder if this was a mistake, already...

I'll quit whining, now...catch you further up the trail.

Love,

     "Beans"

 

 

 Trailhead Marker

 

 

 

 

 

Summer...Bears...and Pacers

 

Nothing says the bears are back like Benny goofing off...

Hibernation is coming to an end and the Usual Suspects are arriving.

83...909...Bead and Bean...Grazer and Biggie...Bucky...Chunk...and Benny!

909 arrived with triplets three weeks ago...before the camera were even on...lost all three of them and promptly went back into heat.

(...life is precarious for baby bears...) 

83 caught 6 salmon in a row his first day back not even finishing chewing one before catching the next.

Grazer and Biggie look plump and happy after a successful hibernation.

Chunk has sustained a major injury to his lower jaw...not sure how this occurred...or how he will do this year.

Both Bean and Bead are now emancipated...and this will be their first year on their own. They are two, now.

Bucky and Benny are back.

Poor Benny has a stalker, already. 909 has set her sights on him and follows him everywhere!

With both of them having bright blond pompom ears...if they do mate...next year you will be able to see the cubs from space.

And it is nice to have coffee, once again, with the bear-folk. 

Enjoying tea with comb honey and warm croissants with blackberry jam on this first day of Summer proper.

Woke up to sunshine and 80 degrees at 9 AM...I think it is going to be a hot one, this year!

John and I have been watching The Pacers slowly creep toward winning the championship...

BOOM, BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thursday's game was amazing...and now we wait for tomorrow's.  It would be so great to win the championship!

Had to laugh at Haliburton calling McConnell 

"The Great White Hope"

 

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!

Love,

Carla, John, Gadget and Tux

 

 

 

Five Months In...

 Okay...so it is a lot like this...

 

And we are exhausted.

 

And we have 43 more months of this.

 

So much random shit has happened that frankly it is impossible to keep up with it all. 

Hundreds of lawsuits filed...people snatched off the street by ICE agents in plain clothes and face masks...some of them American citizens...targeted assassinations...the (failed bigly) military birthday parade...squeaky tanks...the hugely successful No Kings march...the return of Albrego Garcia...in TWO WEEKS...and it just goes on and on and on...

 

But Summer is finally here...and limiting my news intake to morning and night...balancing my desire to stay informed with my need to stay sane...and there are flowers to plant and brunches to plan and life to be lived.

We will survive.

Eventually he and his MAGA followers will be gone.

Nothing more than a bad memory.

But for now...we play in the plants and regroup.
 

Middle of The Year...BEARS...and New Stuff

 

Here we are...right in the middle of 2025!

 

Despite the current President and Administration...and multiple wars raging...and unrest here in the states...it has been a fairly decent year so far.

Everything is paid...there is food in the house...John has finished surgery, radiation and chemo and will remain on immuno-therapy for a couple of years but is feeling good...doing well...and we will have another CT-and MRI in August...all in all the feeling is positive and life is good.

Thriving.

Oh...and tomorrow Explore.org turns the Bear Cams back on at Katmai and the bear-folk will be back for coffee!

Hibernation is ending...and we are all wondering if Otis is really gone, or if he will lumber back for one more year.

Adapting...a few new glitches with FRED...but over-all fine.

Amber picking up a few extra duties that I am no longer capable of doing.

She is a lifesaver.

Planning a new virtual hiking adventure on the AZT...soon...maybe next Monday.

John and I have been cheering on The Pacers together!!! Loved beating The Knicks...and hoping to best Oklahoma and win it all!!!

Summer is almost here...everything is warm..heavy...green...lush! The fireflies are back...I have Mourning Doves...a pair of Cardinals...a pair of Blue Jays (nested in my Black Locust out back and dive bombing the cat)...ready to put out bedding plants and Summer-Up the patio to enjoy iced sweet tea and reading on.

The new stuff involves Arby's latest additions of 

Pulled Pork BBQ with a spicy sauce.

And
 

Tried this weekend and both are really incredible!

 More soon!

Love,

Carla

...and Gadget!
 

The TACO/Elmo Break-Up

 

Yeah...it's kinda like this...

 

Let's see...

Elmo first called TACO's BBB an abomination...and TACO got pissed and said Elmo wasn't the friend he thought he was...then Elmo reminded him that without him both he and the GOP would have lost the elections and called him ungrateful...then TACO got really mad and blamed Elmo about the EV mandate...then Elmo told us Trump was in the Epstein Files...Then TACO said he could save billions...and billions by canceling Elmo's government subsidies and Elmo calls him a pedophile...and threaten decommissioning the Dragon Program...

THEN Steve Bannon enters the chat!

Saying that TACO should just deport Elmo and investigate his drug use.

And Duffy blames Elmo and Doge for the air crashes...

Elmo reminds TACO that he only has 3.5 years left...and that he will outlive him.

 

Yeah...to say it has been an exciting day on Twitter/X would be an understatement.

And it is still going on!

 

We're going to need more popcorn.

 

June...Lachlan's 1st Birthday...Mission Impossible...and More!

 Yeah...yeah...I know...

It has been forever.

It's called life.

 

John is finished with radiation, now...and working his way through chemotherapy...again.

Actually, doing quite well!

We're hopeful!!!!

 The boys have been doing good, and are back to playing music together out!

Hannah has graduated!

 Brendan has grown up and become a wall!

James, Jess and some of their friends/friends kids converged on Turkey Run recently.

 

Happiness is sharing ice cream with Georgia!

 

And we finally went on our Mission Impossible Date...

Which was edge-of-your-seat good!

We enjoyed some "normalcy"...nice after the month of cancer chaos.

Some good food.

 

and just some US time.

It was wonderful!

 

Yesterday was Lachlan's Party.

"Hobbit" themed.

 

He is one, now...and there's no stopping him.

Pulling up and walking...teeth...eats everything...just a goofy..happy kid!

 

Finishing the dishes and the laundry...then outside to play in the plants!

 

Have a GREAT rest of the weekend!

 

Love,

Carla 

May...Anniversaries and Birthdays...John's Treatments...Sister's Day...And More

 

If April showers bring May flowers...we should be a boutique this year!

Chris and Tina have now celebrated their 6th anniversary...and tomorrow, John and I will be back together for 8 years!

Aiden's birthday was the 2nd, and we will be celebrating with Jess' on hers later this month.

Tina came back from vacation...and we enjoyed Sister's Day with quiche, grapes and a homemade chocolate cake that Chad made, and sent with her.

She found a new "Weeping Pussy-willow" that is too cool.

Chris brought Lachlan over, yesterday, and he is now nearly 1 and has 4 teeth and is walking already.

 

He also brought his new Martin guitar...playing a bit...and that was nice. I love listening to him play and sing.
 

Busy times!

After all the rains it is 75 and beautiful outside...trees are leafed out and everything is clamouring weed me...prune me...plant me...so it is time to play outside in the soil a bit.

My Mockingbird pair is back.

Loud, annoying, too far up North...but totally captivating. 

The doctors have now coordinated John's care, and post tumour/cancer removal treatments...we have a great team!

Radiation begins next Monday...followed by chemotherapy...then up to 2 years of immuno-therapy.

And we've already made reservations for our upcoming Mission Impossible Date...and looking forward to July's Dinosaur Date!

...yes...Jurassic Park will be releasing Rebirth...

Always have something to look forward to!

Lastly...politics...

Yeah, 100+ days in...and not surprisingly...it is STILL a shit-show.

...who saw that coming, eh???

The ports are emptying and so are some of the shelves.

Prices are slowly creeping up.

But, hey...you owned the libs...right???

Love,

Carla

(...who must now go play in the plants...)

 

 

 

 

 

End of April...100 Days...Senior Citizen...And More

 

We've survived 100 days of the Trump Administration....

Only 1360 left to go.

Try not to think about it.

We'll get back to this.

So...it has been an eventful month.

See the tiny arrow pointer on John's MRI?

He developed a brain bleed post surgery...it was scary.

Now resolved...but a real problem if it had continued.

His head has healed nicely.
 

And the staples are removed.

He has his new primary (Dr.C) and thinks he is going to be a good fit...and tomorrow goes to get another MRI and discuss the oncology/radiation going forward.

To make sure Ethel doesn't re-stage....later, to deal with the lung cancer which has come back.

...it's always something... 

It helps (me) to be involved (3-way) during these appointments...even when I can't be there in person.

He drove out last week (as soon as he was able) to celebrate my officially becoming a Senior Citizen (...65....how the hell did that happen???)  and it was wonderful with steak and cheesy french onion soup and salad. Chocolate and a balloon and even brought me my favorite...a piece of cherry pie!!!

...it was perfect, honey...

Tomorrow, we see what the game plan is...

 Catching up with the boys.

Chris is doing great...and Lachlan is walking (and dancing) now. He is back to playing guitar and the little guy loves it!

Lennon is fine...got his new roof done and sent me the cutest 1.5 quart crockpot for my birthday! We spend a lot of time discussing politics, now.

James, Jess and the kids were over on Saturday...Rylee has a new job...Brenden is a wall...Ethan and Aiden are back on the ball-field...and I got to hear some new reggae that he is working on!

About those hundred days...

It has been such a shit-show one barely knows where to begin.

Signalgate...tariffs...stockmarket plunges...more tariffs...lawsuits...lies...more lies...economic disasters...plunging consumer confidence...et al

Economists are predicting real supply chain disruption by June/July.

MAGA...getting everything they voted for...sorry about your FEMA.

Worst 100 days in 80 years!

...sigh...

45 more months.

Watched the latest Venom

Which was entertaining....and I highly recommend!

Tried Wendy's Thin Mint Frosty

which was nasty and I do not recommend.

...bleah...

It is basically thin mint cookies...ground with chocolate syrup and layered in the Frosty.

The consistency is that of chocolate covered beach sand.

...yeah...

Have a Great Week!

Love,

Carla and Tux