Ocean Beach

Life is one beautiful trip

I was last in Ocean Beach, CA sometime during the 80s with my favorite ex-husband, Warren. 

Joelle and I took a stroll down to the ocean, and got our toes wet in the Pacific. It was lovely, but my heart is back in the warm Atlantic on the beaches of IOP and Folly. Joelle wanted to drive around a bit before her flight back, and the next thing I know, she has driven us onto the San Diego Naval Base. Well, the gates were open, and the view was spectacular. 

Photo by Joelle Mann

Photo by Joelle Mann

Photo by Joelle Mann

After I dropped Joelle at the airport, I spent a little more time in OB, grabbed some coffee, and walked around town a bit.

The Black is the only place I recognized from my visit here in the 80s. So, I hung out for awhile, chatted with some folks, and picked up a dashboard Buddha and a new peace sign sticker for the Jeep.

Hanging in there since the 60s.

Petrified Forest

Life is one beautiful trip

After we picked up the super cool mini van in Gallup, Joelle and I headed to the Petrified Forest. It is a distinct possibility we drove through the Twilight Zone to get there.

It seemed in keeping with the wood theme that we saw this glossy, towable work of art at the Information Center.

Black birds have been watching over me since 2001. This pair came to visit us at the forest, and have been keeping me company across the country ever since. 

These pieces of petrified wood are approximately 211 million years old.

A fallen tree forms a bridge.

The Petrified Forest National Park is located in northern Arizona and covers 146 square miles of Navajo and Apache counties.

Painted desert

Where am I?

Life is one beautiful trip

This is the first morning that I woke up and had no idea where I was. No panic, just a moment of reorientation. It appears I am in Flagstaff, Arizona. It's misting, and I'm headed off to Gallup, NM to pick up the Jeep. Yay!

I've dropped Joelle at the San Diego airport and miss her company. What a testament to our good friendship that we spent an entire week together and got along perfectly. Very harmonious. 

Scooter is a good listener, though. 

Joelle heading back to Texas

It's official: I've driven from coast to coast. This is also the longest I've ever been away from home. And what a week to be away from home – record rainfall and flooding in Charleston. (how ironic that I was driving across the Mojave at the time) Griffin is safe. It took him four hours to notice he had lost power, and it was restored within the day. The house is dry, although the streets are flooded just a few blocks away. Our house is on some of the highest ground in the neighborhood, being 8 feet above sea level. We are grateful for this blessing.

Where are all the hippies?

Life is one beautiful trip

Wow. Sedona. Route 89A into Sedona makes you gasp in wonder at such spectacular beauty. Arriving right before sunset is absolutely magical. Joelle took the steep curves with the agility and calmness of an ice road trucker. I grasped the passenger door handle with a sweaty death grip. 

No, that is not your small intestine. 

We awoke at 5:30 to get an early start on our day of hiking. 

Sedona is the site of four vortexes. A vortex is a swirling earth energy, a spiritual power center. People from all over the world travel to Sedona to experience this energy. There are numerous stores in the area offering New Age wares and services, from crystals to psychic readings and aura photographs. I fully expected to see a town full of hippies and VW micro buses. I didn't spot so much as one tie dyed t-shirt. 

Bell rock

Our first hike of the day was to Bell Rock. The path becomes narrower and steeper the closer you get to the rock formation. 

Juniper trees twist and grow with the energy.

Once we reached Bell Rock, we rested and warmed our backs against the stone.

The heart-shaped cactus caught my attention.

Prickly heart

We barely caught our breath from this trek, before we hopped into the car and drove a few miles to our next destination, the Airport Vortex.

Sherpa dog Scooter

It's windy at the top.

After reaching this summit, we figured, why not? It's supposed to be an energy center, so we laid down on the top. It was pretty cool – well in a windy, top of the mountain, blazing sun kind of way. The next thing I know, Joelle has decided to venture out farther over the edge.

. . . while I clung to the rock like a human barnacle.

Today's tune

Witchy Woman – The Eagles

Today's Gratitude

The Jeep is fixed.
Griffin, always

Santa Fe 2

Life is one beautiful trip

Apparently there is a max number of images Blogger will let me use in each blog post. Eh, what do you expect for free? So in that spirit, here are some more shots from our day in Santa Fe.

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi 1869–1887
Photo by Joelle Mann

Photo by Joelle Mann

St. Francis is dancing in the courtyard.

San Miguel Mission 1610–1626
Photo by Joelle Mann

215 East De Vargas Street 1740–1767

Window display. La Fonda Hotel.

What's with the peppers? We never figured this out. They are hanging from everything.

Santa Fe 1

Life is one beautiful trip

Joelle, Scooter, and I found Santa Fe to be friendly and walkable. There are many, many shops selling high end jewelry, art, and clothing. If you have lots of money to spend, this place could keep you occupied for days. Santa Fe residents and business owners also have an eye for art, and the architecture and aesthetics reflect this at every turn. Santa Fe embraces its history as well. 

We started the day at the Swiss Bakery and Bistro, fortifying ourselves with eggs Benedict Florentine and French toast. Since Scooter is traveling with us, we are grateful for pet-friendly restaurants. On more than one occasion, we've had meals al fresco, or made a picnic in the Jeep. Joelle is so understanding of the extra steps we need to take to accommodate our furry traveling companion. Bless her. 

Architectural elements available for sale

Newspaper box

Scary Mary