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Check out "The Oasis of my Soul", U. S. road trip blog with superb photography.
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 Posted: Wed Apr 29th, 2009 10:30 pm
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chronos
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Dont be silly Ara. You are very welcome here on this forum.
We value all viewpoints and your photography is wonderfull

Some of us enjoy a good argument once in awhile but dont let that deter you.

I for one would love to hear your stories from the road.



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 Posted: Thu Apr 30th, 2009 12:07 am
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barb
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chronos wrote: Dont be silly Ara. You are very welcome here on this forum.
We value all viewpoints and your photography is wonderfull

Some of us enjoy a good argument once in awhile but dont let that deter you.

I for one would love to hear your stories from the road.
Oh my gosh, me too.................loving it!



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 Posted: Thu Apr 30th, 2009 01:50 am
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destindreamin



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Ara, I've been following you and Spirit for a couple of years off and on. So glad to see you again!!! It's been a while. LOVE all the pics and stories!!

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 Posted: Sun May 3rd, 2009 02:26 pm
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Beemerchef

 

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A tear and a smile, Utah

Valley of the God is behind us, hail and heavy thunderstorms is what we went for, in Moab. This too shall pass in this Capital of 4x4’s and toys as one has never seen.

We left some trails not ridden yet, seems as it is always par for the course to leave some for the next time, giving us a reason to come back toward certain destinations.

I say "us" because of Spirit, "stoic" as ever, being the perfect and ultimate "Adventurer" with never a complain or a sigh and a constant smile on his face. Lucky me, lucky him, we are truly fortunate in these times to have each other.

We had a visitor for a couple days, Andre, his first time out with his great trailer set up, tent and kitchen included. Drove around to Gooseneck, Mokey Dugway, Muley Point which I call "the top of the world" as he also was taken back of it’s grandiose and majestic presentation.

Some thoughts on "commercialism", some past images which were awaiting to be posted, all in the Blog with more of the area’s history we went to for the next one.

Be well…

Ara & Spirit

http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Journey under the Stars…

 

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 Posted: Sun May 3rd, 2009 02:30 pm
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Beemerchef

 

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Thanks!!! A bit computer ignoramus here, hard to believe but true! I think that part of the brain is resisting...

I had not seen your comments till this rainy morning in Moab!!!

Have a great one... This is a pefect lazy day... even for Spirit!

Be well, always, Ara & Spirit

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 Posted: Wed May 6th, 2009 04:27 pm
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Beemerchef

 

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The Gooseneck, Mokey Dugway and Muley Point, Utah…

In Moab right now, a few miles north of it, we actually have managed to never pay for camping so far since we have left "The Oasis". That is the plan this time around. The "photo" of this Dish within it’s surrounding beauty I would call it an "oxymoron"! Not to my liking, millions of years spread ahead of us harboring this new technology yet at it’s infancy stands allowing me to communicate. Is there a choice? There is only two… well, maybe three, as I only see it as a "yes" for the Blog, a "no" for it or countless hours sitting in a coffee shop… for me not a doable solution when the chapters here are reaching the present numbers way over 400.

Valley of the Gods and it’s surroundings will again have to wait another year for our visit, many trails untouched yet, it seems as an endless space we can never finish savoring. My Friend "Andre" spend a couple nights camping by us. Much cooking, much chatting and much solving our own dilemmas that are a daily barrage of questions.

Will be here for a few more days, regrouping I thought… we have however met many nice people we have spend some quality time with. Will write about that also next time…

Be well… thank you for your support…

Ara & Spirit

http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Journey under the Stars…

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 Posted: Fri May 8th, 2009 03:59 pm
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Beemerchef

 

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Life in and around Moab, Utah

Once again it is not flying through the States that is giving us the ability and the gift to meet many other souls, the ones lined up on each side of the road we are on. Time is lingering, raising it’s value and lengthening the joys of vagabonding we have with such passion embraced. Friends of Friends of a Friend! Is that how it happens when suddenly we find ourselves with "places" to go and people to meet. The experience these past days has overshadowed the riding, the focus has been the minds met, many Artists each on their own path within their own creation. It has been so interesting to be an "observer" listening to the how’s and why’s of other’s lives. To experience their own creations, sculptures, paintings… words. The same with off roaders and their 4x4’s, each so unique and yet designed for one thing only in mind as us, to explore the outdoors.

Moab is such an incredible hub with never a dull moment, it is not a city, it is a center for all people with that certain desire to be "outside" to gather up and do "their thing".

You will find out more about it within the Blog… too many photos and yet, not enough of them.

Be well… Ara & Spirit

http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Journey under the Stars…

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 Posted: Fri May 8th, 2009 05:16 pm
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Treehugger



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Hey beemerchief.

We visited near the W entrance of BiBe as you were photographing ocotillo.  On another chat room we both post on my alias is Boojum1.

Recommended reading pertinent to Moab and Arches NP is "Desert Solitare" by Ed Abbey.  

Safe travels...sorry to hear of your mishap on the return from Blackgap...I hate it when a tree interrupts a perfectly good maneuver.

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 Posted: Sat May 9th, 2009 06:09 am
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Benbrook Susie
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Maybe it's my computer, but Beemer's photographs are incredibly sharp and clear !!  It's like my eyes have HD. :grin:



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 Posted: Tue May 12th, 2009 04:03 am
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Beemerchef

 

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Treehugger wrote: Hey beemerchief.

We visited near the W entrance of BiBe as you were photographing ocotillo.  On another chat room we both post on my alias is Boojum1.

Recommended reading pertinent to Moab and Arches NP is "Desert Solitare" by Ed Abbey.  

Safe travels...sorry to hear of your mishap on the return from Blackgap...I hate it when a tree interrupts a perfectly good maneuver.
HI!!! Yes, I have seen you... I was told about that book... I will have to get it, Moab has some great bookstores...It is your computer!!!
Potash Rd and Schaeffer Trail revisited, Utah

The loop, the excitement, the challenge is so great that we rode it twice back to back two consecutive days. Uphill that is, making room for the other vehicles at times going the wrong way. There is actually no wrong way, going uphill for us gives me much better control of the ride.

Resting back today after finally a tooth extraction finding this really good Dentist here and a bit stuck from a frayed clutch cable. I always carry a spare of everything, all is well, I am happy that it did not happen on one of those rides, on the switchbacks. Not much energy right now to change it, it is going to be so strange not to be in pain anymore, not quite gone yet, but will soon.

Spirit continues amazing me, it is almost as I take it for granted that this Dog (is he?) can ride with such pleasure, specially over such disturbing roads bouncing around non stop. He loves it! So does "Old Faithful" behaving as a good companion herself never missing a beat.

It is quite a road, the switchbacks are amazing, a definite must if in the area!

More photos of it are on the Blog.

Be well…

Ara & Spirit

http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Journey under the Stars…


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 Posted: Fri May 15th, 2009 03:14 pm
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Beemerchef

 

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"Desert Solitaire"... that is the one... I don't keep books, but that one might be one of those to...

 



 

As "beauty" rises through the pain. Moab, Utah

A strange facet on this Journey happens as almost stricken with panic when faced with the inability to write my true honest realistic to myself thoughts. The cap solidly remains topping a Soul and a mind that needs their own quenching, all needs to pass on onto the pages of this insatiable Journal filled with moments that cannot be skipped, reflecting always my own reality through the nights and days of this taken path.

Criticized at times I fall and enter into an arena unwelcoming to my own well being, a territory so foreign that when reading my own words I realize they just are not truly mine. They are not faithful to my train of thoughts, they are as if Spirit suddenly was lacking his water and food, his love and affection, his running and clowning around. And why? Because maybe not wanting to write about pain, about sadness, about missing a Loved one when told such feeling would be a negative aspect of my pages. I have risen up into a new step realizing all those are only "human" facets of everyone’s Life and comprehend that through those feelings comes out the beauty surrounding us as the incredible contrasted World we live in.

There is much "beauty" that rises through pain… There really is.

Be well…

Ara & Spirit


 

http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Journey under the Stars…



Last edited on Fri May 15th, 2009 03:15 pm by Beemerchef

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 Posted: Fri May 15th, 2009 04:56 pm
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Roders
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Beemerchef can you tell us a little about your bike and sidecar setup when you get a chance?
What size bike, what adaptations have you made to accomodate the kind of riding you and Spirit do?
Do you use a GPS to help you get around?



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 Posted: Fri May 15th, 2009 05:03 pm
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Beemerchef

 

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Roders wrote: Beemerchef can you tell us a little about your bike and sidecar setup when you get a chance?
What size bike, what adaptations have you made to accomodate the kind of riding you and Spirit do?
Do you use a GPS to help you get around?


what is a GPS?... just kidding!!!

Good idea... give me some time, I battling teeth and what it looks like a bad sinus infection! 3rd rounds of antibiotics... Going to the Clinic again this pm...

Be well... Ara & Spirit

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 Posted: Fri May 15th, 2009 05:21 pm
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Scarlett~NC
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photography is Wonderful !! I especially like photos of Ara and Spirit !



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 Posted: Sun May 17th, 2009 09:03 pm
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Beemerchef

 

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The bike is a 1996GS R1100 with now 210,000 miles on it. The car is Ural (Russian) sidecar attached by Dauntless in Seattle and much mofifications by some Friends!

It had only needed one new clutch and one broken U joint... I really don't use the GPS only to see where we are specially on dirt roads when we get lost. We also have a SPOT (front page click) that shows LIVE where we are when we are moving. SAT phone (a real deal at $15 a month for 5hrs of talk!). That is about it for now... 7G of water, 11G of fuel... we are good for 3 to 4 nights at the most depending how much we drink...



 

In and around Sego, Utah

I must be moving on with my own Calendar. For some reason I thought today was Father’s Day… can the Journey’s path be so mixed up or is it a good sign that we are hovering a bit above reality? Wish Spirit would also get it straight… He could have told me.

It was a tip from a local, Sego was, and what a surprise when not only discovering a Ghost Town, Petroglyphs from three different eras but also a well maintained non paved road climbing nearly to 9000 feet with green grass and the vegetation unlike in the Valley of Moab.

Obviously not a popular path as we did not encounter a single vehicle all day, cooler temperatures and much photography mixed with some great riding.

Such surprises are always the welcomed ones, off the beaten path, the ones so many overlook when traveling under a schedule. We will probably return to Sego as the road ridden is Sego Canyon and two more are awaiting for us.

Another week in Moab, it will then be decision time for our next destination, probably Wyoming. I think we are both ready for some unseen sceneries.

Be well…

Ara & Spirit


 

http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Journey under the Stars…



Last edited on Sun May 17th, 2009 09:05 pm by Beemerchef

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 Posted: Mon May 18th, 2009 02:30 am
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Roders
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I took one road trip on a my Kawasaki 750 motorcycle a couple years ago and had a great time. Had I not dropped my video camera trying to get a shot going down the road, I would have some had some pics too, but it was not the will of allah.



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 Posted: Mon May 18th, 2009 02:48 am
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Beemerchef

 

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Roders wrote: I took one road trip on a my Kawasaki 750 motorcycle a couple years ago and had a great time. Had I not dropped my video camera trying to get a shot going down the road, I would have some had some pics too, but it was not the will of allah.

Now that is a real tragedy! I stopped taking photos while moving, even with the little camera... for that reason. Happens to the best of us...

Let me know when you are ready to take off again...:smile:

Be well...   Ara & Spirit

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 Posted: Wed May 20th, 2009 02:58 pm
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Beemerchef

 

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Sego’s Ghost Town

The Ghost Town was a couple days ago, more photos are up, unlike me today not up too much after a root canal. Hopefully this will be the last round for a while, it is part of Life on the road.

The big surprise passed Sego was the path taken. Well maintained and endless as we even stopped a couple times, besides for photos, just to figure out if there was an end to it. It did at around 9000 feet with an incredible and spectacular view of the La Salle Mountains and surroundings. Definitely worth the ride more than once as also another Canyon is awaiting us "Thompson Canyon".

Feeling a bit at a stand still right now with all these health care issues as I will know in a day or two if everything is going to calm down.

Of course there is no sense moving on till after the Holidays as the roads will be packed and finding campsites will only be almost impossible.

I am thinking as Wyoming might be too early, to make a loop through western Colorado first awaiting warmer weather.

The same weather also has changed here near by Moab, cooler but with a thunderstorm predicted every day for a while… Better get the rain gear out!

Be well…

Ara & Spirit

http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Journey under the Stars…

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 Posted: Fri May 22nd, 2009 10:38 pm
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Beemerchef

 

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Fisher Towers, near Moab. Utah

The Journey is adventures, riding and everything else that fills in the gap while on the road. So often others enter the scene and suddenly the mind cannot help thinking, what a shame it would be to cross those miles on "automatic pilot"! There is communication, meaning thoughts. There are gazillion ride reports already out there, travel logs, I always wonder about the traveler him/herself as to what truly goes through their own thoughts within those moments passed. I have always written about my own, everything complements each other including Spirit’s own Life and as much as I can tell… his own thinking.

We picked a hot day, not on purpose for sure, to go on to the Fisher Towers. I had planned another ride but since my root canal the day before, the energy and desire only dwindled away and this closer by destination suddenly seemed so much more appealing.

It was the first warm hike we had done in a while and how quickly I forgot how much heat canyons retain. Today and for the days to come it is suddenly the other side of the coin with thunderstorms and showers… Never a dull moment it seems like. Enjoy the Fisher Towers… they are a sight to see and the ride along the Colorado River also is so unique.

Be well…

Ara & Spirit

http://www.theoasisofmysoul.com Our Journey under the Stars…

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 Posted: Fri May 22nd, 2009 10:54 pm
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Michael in LH
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Beemerchef, thanks for posting. I forget to check your site so it is great to get reminded from time to time. Good luck in your travels. Hope that root canal gets to feeling better. From my experience there are only bad and terrible root canals. Hope yours does not turn out to be the terrible kind.



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