notsonomad

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Dwellings Into The Past

Dwellings Into The Past

Through Navajo Nation…

As the journey continues, we leave Holbrook Arizona and head north through Navajo Nation, and into Cortez, Colorado to visit Mesa Verde National Park.

Hubbell Trading Post

First stop along the way was in Ganado, Navajo Nation, where the National Historic Site, the Hubbell Trading Post awaits.

Originally purchased in 1878 by John Lorenzo Hubbell, the trading…

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Petrified & Painted

I think I might have said this before…

So at this point my original itinerary has long been since discarded. I more or less figure out my next destination a day or two in advance. After those cold and windy nights at the early part of my journey, I seem to let the forecast (and advice from fellow nomads) decide my next stop.

… but not this

Next stop was the Petrified Forest National…

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The Cosmos & Cliff Dwellings

The Cosmos & Cliff Dwellings

“Standing on the moon With nothing else to do A lovely view of heaven But I’d rather be with you” – The Grateful Dead

On the Road Again

Following my stay in the Coronado, I headed north to my next destination, the Gila National Forest where I would visit ancient cliff dwellings, and spend a few nights stargazing at an international dark sky sanctuary.It is a 243 miles from Chiricahua. The…

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Wall of Hoodoo

“I dial it in and tune the station They talk about the u.s. inflation I understand just a little No comprende–it’s a riddle.” – Wall of Voodoo

Act One… maybe a bit philosophical

Cruising down the I-10 from El Paso, through the Chihuahuan, I got the music cranking, and Subee and I feel like Easy Rider driving through a Carlos Casteneda novel. Through my peripheral vision, I see pronghorn, and…

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The Franklins of El Paso

The Franklins of El Paso

“They headed down to, ooh, old El Paso That’s where they ran into a great big hassle Billy Joe shot a man while robbing his castle Bobbie Sue took the money and run.” – Steve Miller

… And…

So after the White Sands National Monument, on the recommendation from an individual who I was speaking with outside of Las Cruces, I headed to El Paso, Texas, to visit the Franklin Mountains State Park.…

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The Road Goes On...

The Road Goes On…

“Still round the corner there may wait A new road or a secret gate, And though we pass them by today, Tomorrow we may come this way And take the hidden paths that run Towards the Moon or to the Sun.” – Bilbo Baggins

First Snake Bite…

… Of the season here in Arizona, but luckily it wasn’t me. The weather is wonderful here (at least to this New Englander’s built in thermostat).

Yup’ that’s me!

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Into The Desert We Rode

Into The Desert We Rode

“Well I’m not a scientist. But I know all things begin and end in eternity.” – Thomas Jones Newton

Onto Alamogordo

It has been over a week since my visit to the White Sands National Monument, and I am know in the Gila National Forest, at the Cosmic Campground. The cell phone signal is excellent here. So I can finally get focused and talk about my day traversing the White Sands…

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The Storm In The Mountain!

The Storm In The Mountain!

The Drive to Las Cruces

After four days, off the grid, in the foothills of the Guadalupe Mountains, I headed west to the Organ Mountains. Leaving behind the high winds, and a run in with some cattle, it was time to see what challenge awaits me elsewhere. However, first things first, I needed a margarita, and a shower. So I spent the weekend in Las Cruces.

I took the scenic route through…

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Of Wind And Cattle

Of Wind And Cattle

Cruising Through the Chihuahuan

After Roswell, New Mexico, I headed just southwest of Carlsbad, to the Guadalupe Ranger District of Lincoln National Forest.

Rising from the second largest desert in the United States, the Chihuahuan Desert, the Guadalupe Mountains span from west Texas to southeastern New Mexico with Guadalupe Peak being the tallest at 8,751 feet.

Over 250 million years…

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Greetings From...

Greetings From…

Aguirre Springs Campground!

This is just a quick update. I arrived at Aguirre Springs Campground around noon. Good thing I did because I have a beautiful site and it’s beginning to fill up with campers (mostly RVs). So this place is really not off the grid. The main reason I came here was to, ummmmm, empty my portable toilet in there vault toilets.

It is beautiful here, and since I have…

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The Roswell Incident...

The Roswell Incident…

… and the Voyage of the Kon-Tiki

I am five days removed from Roswell, New Mexico, and just getting time to sit down and catch up on my writing. However it might be more than five days before you see this post because there is sporadic cell phone signal here. I am currently southwest of Carlsbad, New Mexico in the Guadalupe section of the Lincoln National Forest, and have found a decent spot to…

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24 Hours in Muleshoe

24 Hours in Muleshoe

Where?

120 miles southwest of Amarillo, by car, is the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. It is located in the central flyway for migratory birds. For approximately six months out of the year the refuge is the wintering home of sandhill cranes. Muleshoe NWR, founded in 1935, happens to be the oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas.

Saline Lake at Muleshoe NWR Working out the wrinkles

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First Stop, Cadillac Ranch...

First Stop, Cadillac Ranch…

Cadillac Ranch

“You’re my last love you’re my last chance Don’t let ’em take me to the Cadillac ranch” – Bruce Springsteen

The grueling 1,953 mile drive form Boston is now over. The next month or so I will be traveling New Mexico, and Arizona. I will be heading to the Gila National Forest, White Sands National Monument, the Coronado National Forest, and, yup, the Grand Canyon. Those are…

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400 Miles To Amarillo

400 Miles To Amarillo

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

The Roadkill Game

6 raccoons, 4 white tail deer, and 2 Skunks. For 621 miles, I think that is a pretty low score. However there was no competition, so I win! Yup, I drove 621 miles from Indianapolis to Claremore Oklahoma today. Aside from the roadkill game I listened to Led Zeppelin’s first six…

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The Show Is On The Road

The Show Is On The Road

…and we are off!

St. Michael’s Chapel, South Kent

It kicked in when I looked in my rear view mirror and I saw the Boston skyline, for what I know, will be the last time for quite a while. It was what I would call the mental equivalent of heartburn. My eyes swelled as a wave of sorrow rolled through my head. What the hell am I doing? I have lived in Beantown for so many years, and now I am…

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One Week To Go...

One Week To Go…

just a quick update

for the new fishing hole

With one week to go I have been extremely busy, as you could imagine, if you have been following previous posts. What a pain it is to pack, and consolidate, but the end is almost in site. A week from today, I will be on the road heading to South Kent Connecticut to meet up with an old friend of mine from my high school days, and then visit th…

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Getting Ready for the Road

Getting Ready for the Road

Quick Update

With just over twenty days to go until departure from Massachusetts it has become crunch time. I have been busy packing boxes and putting them into storage. My only complaint has been how much boxed up books weigh. I literally have been saving books from my high school days. So maybe I am a book hoarder and this is the price I pay; having to lug heavy boxes of books form place to…