Sleepy Hollows RV Park, Winterhaven, Ca

Madigan was up all night whining, whimpering and pining.  A little poodle was in the off leash dog park.  It’s his second encounter with her. The owner said she was in heat.  She’s come to him twice turned and presented. I think his only experience to date has been pillows and Laura’s leg. He did some serious cunninlingus before I got to him and removed him from temptation. She was clearly displeased . He was mindless. He’s not neutered.  A second day when the owner brought their several dogs into the park when Madigan and I were there.  They’re RV people with 4 little dogs.  Madigan likes them all but was immediately infatuated with the sexy one who again presented and was backing into Madigan hoping to get him to mount her when again I scooped him up.

I let him out to pee outside the door but he was of running back to the car park so I ran after him in my night shirt and brought him back.  He’s been whining all night when Laura has come over and something about her pheromes triggers him but now he’s testosterone brain again.

This morning I took him outside the park and we walked through the border area.  A half dozen camps and trailers were there looking like long term boondocking but they may well be natives with the Quechuan Band that own the casino and in the last few years bought the RV park.  You see the homeless living rough in the woods with tarps and tents up north but I have seen these off grid Rv and camp places. I come across them hunting.

Here it would be easier because it’s not cold like up north. I have my generator and thought to try boon docking just to try out the generator and rig.  The monthly rent here with electricity and water is very reasonable but if one’s not working it might well be worth living off the grid.  The busses I saw could drive into town and get water and gas. I heard one running this morning and a couple of hours charges everything. I can go 1-2 weeks easy with water and sewage tanks.  It’s something to consider.  I don’t want to especially getting older.  I’m hoping that the Liberal in Canada will be gone with all their corruption and economic failure and waste so that people who are elderly on pension aren’t persecuted by elites like Trudeau with his globalist ideology and trust fund life.

I’m rather enjoying the trailer life in the south. Trailer trash. 

I will likely move in a couple of weeks but frankly don’t know whether I’ll go on to Mexico or start wandering north. The Mexico limitation is insurance so I looked on line and it was prohibitive, just too much for even a motorcycle.  I’m enjoying California and Arizona so may put off heading into Baja for another year or not.  The beauty of my time is that it’s open ended as I carry my office and everything else with me.  But as I’m having to visit family out east this spring since my sister in law has put their house up for sale and I have to pick up stuff I had there I may just return. I feel healthy again with sun and dry. I worry about the winter and becoming ill being slowly run down by the weather , demands and stress of this time of year for me in Vancouver.  So many sick people and I get sick. Well I’m frankly afraid of dying with so many friends having done so and the risk of pneumonia and death.  

I’m not usually afraid but I couldn’t breathe, literally couldn’t take air in when I was in Bombay with what was likely Covid. This winter break has certainly protected me in my mind. Placebo or whatever I head south rather desperate and a few weeks here I feel I regain my strength and health.  Then it’s the drive back.  The rain storms are a challenge especially with declining eyesight. I’m looking forward to seeing my ophthalmologist to learn what I can about that.  

Life is good though . Blue sky and sunshine and warm.

Laura says Madigan is having a summer fling. 

I’ve a full fridge and all I need so I don’t even plan a run to Walmart for fun.  After work I’ll likely read or watch tv. I’ve been enjoying that. Lots of walking the dog. This morning was an hour of exploring the area that lead to the river that runs by the Cassino. I like taking bird pictures too.  I love that the new iPhone camera is so good.  

I took out the GoPro and tried it out. I may get it attached to the helmet again.  Photography.  Distractions. What to do until the Messiah comes. I’ve been reading the Bible but missed a day . Good habits are hard to maintain and easily waylaid. I thought of a zoom meeting too.

Thank you God for this day.  

Yuma, Thursday Morning

There’s snow in the north.  Here it’s warm in the morning. The night wasn’t as cool as it has been. I’ve been able to swim, hot tub and lie by the side of the pool midday. It’s been a good week. I’m unwinding I believe.  The routine is good.  Work goes fine with even the complicated paper work being done.  

This morning I contemplated heaven.  Every day is full and sufficient of itself. Yesterday is a memory, a selected story little different from the dreams I wake from. Tomorrow is imagination and manifestation. All that counts truly is today where God is.  God is in the present.  The power of now, So the historic Jesus is an idea of today as are family and friends and other places.  I remember the epiphany of Jesus altering the dimensions of the existence.  God and creation as one. God and human as one.  

I remember Yahweh the name of God, “I am that is who I am.” Touching me.  The inner recognition of truth.  Revelation as the realization of my own god stuff. The feeling of being touched by God over and over again described by C.S. Lewis as ‘surprised by joy’.

I experience that here. Watching the sun rise and sun set.  Taking the time to sit and experience the day. Looking up at the clouds and stars and moon .  There are these moments over and over again of peace and calm. I feel heaven is within and I’m touching living heaven at times.  Brief encounters with the transcendent.  

Jesus is within.  Heaven is within.  The answer is within.  I like the adventure and journey outwards but it’s not the destination.  Spiritual consumerism the disease of the modern.  I’m here talking with God within.  The conversation is enough. The encounter with the hound of heaven.  Tuning my inner ear to the celestial.

There is work today.  I’ve enjoyed work this week, the sense of being helpful and contributing.  I like the security of income even if it’s a somewhat false security. God is all that is secure.  Faith and Grace.

I renewed my membership to CMDA.  The woman there said ‘grace’. Grace was a part of our conversation  I expressed concern about my individualness and the failure of the institution of marriage for me and my disappointment for the CMDA during the Covid crisis when individual pastors but not institions stood up to tyranny.  I missed Bonhoffer’s voice in Canada and missed the voice of St. Francis’s and spirituality.  It seemed the church was just another government agency as was CMDA.  I was wrong to be judgemental perhaps feeling my own guilt after a lifetime of sacrifice and service looking now to comfort and pleasure.

Obesity, Gluttony and Sloth are so much more concerning than Lust yet the perversion of the world favours vices.  The obese wag their fingers at the polyamorous.  The family becomes its own idol while the government ravishes the believers.  State churches, are they different from Beijing and Constantine.  

I’m here in the now and could be writing treatise on these thought. I could be sitting in a library, researching and writing but frankly I’d rather walk the dog and finish this coffee before setting out on my day of work.

I emailed a trail ride place asking if they could accommodate me tomorrow or Saturday for a couple of hours.  I told them I was 220 lbs but I think I’m more like 240.  The other trail ride place said they only took people who were 200 lbs. Discrimination or a focus on little horses.  Do I  need a Clydesdale now?  Mostly I’ve been given Morgans at stables. I’d rather a little horse but don’t want to over burden him or her.  I’d just like to enjoy the movement again, It’s been 5-10 years.  I’d like to ride again and more perhaps.  I ride my motorcycle with joy and wonder if my struggle selling my sailboat is a message I’m to do more sailing.  I could gather the retired guys for a run. I just worry about the cost especially if something goes wrong. Im so much more satisfied with this camper.  I imagine my fifth wheel will be even more enjoyable but I wonder about a smaller fifth wheel or bus. I could consider trading that in.

I imagine a trip to see Berlin, Vienna and Venice.  I’d like to return to Ireland and New York. I have a desire to wander museums and art galleries but the issue is whether I’d like to travel au femme , alone, or with others.  I have Madigan so I’m happy to be outside and this camper is a great home base for our travels.  I could well continue what I’m doing for another year and each year older he’s less barbarian.  Europe and museums and galleries are not dog world.  New York wouldn’t work either.  Maybe. I always think walking about galleries would be more enjoyable in a skirt but when I’m in the gallery I’m sufficiently charmed by the art that I’m not aware of how Im dressed.  The activity is what defines the clothing. On my motorcycle I like leathers and jeans. I wish kilts were lighter. I like the feeling of long and short skirts. Like the Roman wear.  Short do it for me mostly but they’re not what I imagine in museums. I’m into this fashion and image issue.  I like photography and have always enjoyed Laura’s company on these excursions.  I just missed her after the Louvre.

I’m alone and talking with God but God speaks through people as well. I’m not lonely. I have this dog partner. I do feel a desire for companionship.  I like lying naked in bed with another. That experience is akin to sex now which involves work and effort and doens’t come spontaneously.  I can hope for the return of some athleticism. I spontaneously ran for fun yesterday. I do that still sometimes but wish I’d return to jogging seriously. I would be better if I exercised more and here I’m improving.  

Thank you God for this day. Thank you for my positive dreams. Thank you for wakening. Thank you for the sunshine and pleasant weather Thank you for my family and friends. Thank you for coffee.  Thank you for Madigan.  Thank you for Yuma.

Spanish Trail Outfitters, Tucson, Arizona

Horse back riding in the desert is a must.  Spanish Trail Outfitters in Tucson are a delightful place for a very fine trail ride. The horses are well kept, safe and well mannered. The organizers are truly professional. The equestrian was beautiful and entertaining as the cowboy. "I"m not a cowgirl,"she said. "I don't have anything to do with cows".  "So my elderly aunt, when I told her this, said, then you're an "equine lady".  "Yes, aunt, I'm an equine lady, "I said, "preferring that to cowgirl. In contrast, Roger, is a cowboy who has done his years of outback riding and carousing and was glad to share this on the trail when I told him about my grandfather the rancher, my uncle the cowboy and my cousin who raised appaloosas.
I've been around horses alot of my life but moved from riding horses as a young man to riding Harleys as an old man. My friend, Dr. John Christensen, rode motorcycles all over the aussie back country as a young man before becoming an accomplished equestrian who did those days long overland round up  rides Canada is famous for.  Dad grew up riding horses but speaks most of his driving a logging wagon with 6 Clydesdales pulling.  My brother rode motorcycles as a young man and now kayaks and bicycles.  His butt is less sore as a result.
I did an hour and a half ride with the Spanish Trail Outfitter, $40 of incredible scenery, and great exercise, My horse, Fidget, wanted to stop and chomp on any tree as opposed to focussing on following the horses ahead. It gave me a lot of arm work pulling her head out of the bushes. The 'equine lady" followed behind on one of the most beautiful mules i've ever laid my eyes on. "They're the best for mountain trails because their eyes are placed more lateral and they can see their back foot  placement better than an horse can."
Along the trails,  there were rabbits, quail, chipmunks, and one harmless snake that certainly was a show stopper.  We didn't see any Apache or Navajo but I would later buy the silver inlaid jewelry the Navajo are famous for.  When the first family with school age children left I stayed around for the sunset ride.  A couple of really cute teen age girls rode along on that one looking like they'd been poured into the saddle the way they sat so tall taking the uphill and downhill climbs like regular pros.  Roger commented on that between our discussion of black bears, grizzlies and bald eagles versus Mexican eagles.  It was gorgeous riding among those tall Sonora Dessert cacti watching the blaze orange of setting sun .  Alot more serene than my harley. It was a great ride and I'm sure I felt every muscle in my body when I climbed out of the saddle. I'll have to get up to Mount Currie and out riding with First Nations retired World Rodeo Champion Wayne Andrews when I get back. It's such a grand experience trusting a horse and enjoying the ride.  Spanish Trail Outfitters are good people. They treat their horses well as a result the horses treat rusty cowboys like me just as well.