Up on the mountain.

Today we head up to the Four Peaks.  Perhaps we will find some tablets and a burning bush.  Our goal is to check out some trail work another trail crew has done.  The sun is struggling to come up.  The morning air is fresh and full of oxygen.  Over the mountains is Phoenix spewing pollution as fast as possible. Once people were sent here for clean air. That day is gone.  Fishermen are like flies here.  The lake is up and it brings them in.  Back in North Dakota the big lake is rising a foot a day.  If the snow melt in Montana does not go just right there could be some problems with the big lake.

Slowly the camp is emptying of volunteers.  Rita and Ken have departed.  Ted will go Monday, and the Kadizzles should blast off by Wednesday. 

Another Crystal Clear desert Day.

Here we sit drinking coffee with the smell of fresh air permeating the universe.  Mrs. Kadizzle is refusing to leave the desert.  Old Kadizzle can see her point up to a point.  The desert is in full bloom and so lush it may lose the title of desert.  The grass is unbelievable.  The wet weather a while back has transformed the flora into a different universe.  So we do have to return to the arctic red neck infested area where our house is.  Work needs to be done.  A bathroom has to be remodeled, the garage needs to be dry-walled, and on it goes.  Mrs Kadizzle loves the area we are in and refuses to leave. 

We could do some more exploring up Cherry Creek, but it is time to get in gear and head north.  The summer will be very strange in ND without a boat. 

Ebike Adventure to Coon Creek Ruin

Kaidzzle headed up Cherry Creek, and then up Coon Creek.  The goal was to seek adventure on ebike.  With the help of the battery old Kadizzle peddled in six miles to a cliff dwelling type ruin.  This was not the well known ruin on Coon Creek, but one nearby.  Kadizzle did not even know this particular ruin was there.  Perhaps ruin is the wrong title.  What it turned out to be is simply a cave that had been occupied a great deal. There were no walls or any features made by humans other than the smoke on the ceiling.  However, a metate and one pot shard gave away the secret.  It was a great ebike adventure. Will try to add the video when I get some energy.

Educated Fool

You can go to your church, you can go to your school, but without Jeeesus your and educated fool.

It doesn't hurt to ask

The day is glorious. The temperature could be no more perfect, the sky is crystal clear, and God is in heaven, but Trump is in the White House. None the less it is a good day.  Kadizzle hopped on the Yamaha and took the treacherous ride to the the Arizona Trail.  Good judgement told Kadizzle he should not make the trip alone, but what the hell.  The heavens smiled and he made it without a crash.

Next a trip to the mail box on the ebike.  Since mail man Willy was late Kadizzle had to waste some time until Willy came.  Kadizzle took the Emil the ebike over to the marina store.  The idea there was to purchase a coke. The ultimate plan was to have a bourbon and coke late in the day.  Even though a Coke truck was parked in front of the store, there was no Coke inside.  Elma Jean the store lady said Coke had delivered, but it had not yet been received, so no Coke would be available until tomorrow.  Not easily defeated Kadizzle went outside to the Coke truck and found the Coke delivery lady.  Explaining the dire need for a mixed drink with Coke Kadizzle asked the truck driver is she could supply Coke for the drink . The kind lady tattoos and all obliged.  She would take no cash for her kind deed so Kadizzle put her on the Christmas list.  All doers of good deeds get on the Christmas list. Under the tree they will find diamonds or gold.

Life wants to give you what you want, but you have to ask.  Kadizzle has made astounding accomplishments simply by asking try it.  Try not to abuse the magic.  Mrs, Kadizzle no longer responds to while you are up could you get me a whatever. 

Jasper Little bottom and the rest of the trail crew are going to do an overnight or two hike.  Kadizzle is to big a lump to haul a 32 pound pack plus his lump five miles up the trail.  So here we are alone enjoying music and the sun. The Archaeologist crew is in our campground and Kadizzle may invite them to a campfire tonight.  Yesterday we took Jeff and Barb up to the Sycamore ruin.  Littlebottom found a nice piece of black and white pottery.

Coon Creek Indian ruin

Well we found the Coon Creek Indian site.  It turned out to be way better than old Kadizzle remembered. Kadizzle walked with John the last mile or so because John did not have a good heart, but we made it.  The site was much more elaborate than the memory from many years ago.  The trip had two highlights. First, Kadizzle found an unusual piece of pottery.  It was not large, or anything special with designs, but it was extremely well made and was very thin.  Additionally the pottery shard seemed to have a core of white sand. This was the most unusual part.  The color was also a bright orange.  At first Kadizzle thought someone might have sewn it there as a prank, but after consulting with brother in law Ned, Kadizzle found out it was traded from the Hopi far north of this location.

Now for delight number two.  Kadizzle has been searching for ancient sites for almost twenty years.  The net result is a feel for where a site should be.  As Kadizzle walked out of the valley where the Coon Creek ruin was he noticed an area that would make a perfect open site.  There was no visual indication from the road that a site existed, but it was just that intuition.  After telling John to go ahead at his snail pace back to the jeep Kadizzle walked off the road a couple hundred yards to see if there was any indication of occupation.  Sure enough there were the outlines of rooms.  It was a surface site.  Kadizzle needed confirmation.  After poking around a bit Kadizzle found the requisite pottery shards.  He was delighted.

Now Kadizzle has not always said good things about Globe, Arizona, but on his birthday the other day a friend offered to buy dinner.  The little trail crew group accidentally found a very nice little place to eat in globe that served an Asian noodle selection.  Eating the meal which included a great wine,  Kadizzle realized he has had some very good food in this little mining town.  So hats off to Globe for some nice eating places with good and different food.

Find the Indian site

Today Kadizzle will set off with a couple of Canadians to find an ancient Indian dwelling on Coon Creek.  Kadizzle has been there before, but it was a long time ago.  It will not be easy to find.  It is not much of a ruin, and perhaps Kadizzle will talk his friends into visiting a better one.  Time  will tell, but if we do go there it will be a long drive up Cherry Creek on a poor road.  Not all bad, the desert is in full bloom and nice to see.  One big problem the rattlesnakes are our and hungry.  Kadizzle has heard lots of reports of sightings.  A couple horse back riders told Kadizzle they spotted one on the trail Kadizzle was motorcycle riding yesterday.

Long drive, bumpy road

The trail crew set off on fifteen miles of bumpy road to fix a sign.  Five people worked for four hours painting and re-installing a very large trail sign held up with two six by six pieces of lumber.  Of course the sign had bullet holes in it.  The NRA makes sure every idiot can get a gun to shot holes in signs.  The five people fixing the sign were working for free, but it still cost the tax payer something.  The cost of driving a three quarter ton truck.  The cost of housing the volunteers, the paint, the supplies,  and the salary of the management people that work with us.  If you paid the five people each even fifteen dollars an hour the cost of the repair could easily come to five or six hundred dollars.  Multiply that by thousands of signs all over the National Forest.  Gun damage probably cost you hundreds of millions nation wide. Don't forget the simple minded gun people shoot the windows out of fire towers, and do countless other damage to prove their manhood.  Who encourages these idiots, the NRA.

Away from it all

Kadizzle spends most of his life in the countryside.  Every visit to a city like Denver, or Phoenix feels like a trip into a world of insanity.  Cars are the number one insanity. There simply has to be a better way.  Moving a two hundred pound person in a six thousand pound car just seems insane.  Our obsession with cars goes on.  Mass transit is something no one seems to perceive.  Yesterday the Kadizzles went from Stapleton in Denver to the Denver Airport.  We took the light rail.  Oh how pleasant compared to making the journey by car.  It was fast, quiet, efficient, and roomy.   A couple blocks from Erin's house we jumped on one of the trains that come every fifteen minutes.  If this simple minded country had put half the money of car systems into mass transit getting around would be so much more sensible.  Our world is choked with cars.  At any given moment there are forty million car engines running in the United States, and six thousand jet engines flying over our country.  You think the air will not suffer?  It is amazing we have not already choked to death.

Back here in the desert among the mountains it is  peaceful and you can forget about the city insanity.  This morning Kadizzle gets to sit in the sun and forget about the clogged arteries of the city.

Amazing

Stop now if you don't want to read a bragging grandpa.  Sylvie's performance as Mary Poppins was terrific.  She is an amazing little kid with multiple talents.  Needless to say Grandpa is very pleased.  Her little cousin Evie is already showing signs of more genius in the family.

The Kadizzles had a great time in Denver.  Last night we were treated to a wonderful meal.  Tess gave us a magic card she gets through her business that gave us a 70% discount. You can imagine what it does to your appetite when you only pay 30% at an excellent eating establishment.

Back into the air an home to the desert today.  Denver is growing at an unbelievable pace. Traveling from place to place one can only conclude human life is unsustainable. Like termites we are destroying the Earth.  People don't even notice the crowding.  Cars are the curse of the planet.  Aggressive drivers are like mad men haunting the highways.  Why can't computers spot and catch these nut cases?  Standing in front of the theater where Sylvie performed it was like being on a drag strip.  The piston heads raced down a crowed street with no regard for common sense.  The potential for the death of a lot of innocent people is always there when you combine testosterone and gasoline.  Imagine having 40 million car engines running all the time.  That is just the United States. It is not going to work.

Off to Denver to See Mary Poppins

Tonight Sylvie our wonderful grand daughter will be Mary Poppins.  Sylvie has been practicing, taking voice lessons, and singing lessons.  It will be very exciting to see my little girl perform.  She is a natural actor and has performed Jefferson for us in the living room.  Her current obsession is Greek Mythology.  Her mom and dad will be dealing with a nuclear bomb when the teen years hit.

The Best of Times

It was the best of times it was the worst of times.  I just made that up and really like it.  Looks like it will be a very nice day, crystal clear and warm.  Snow is on the mountains again.  The green is spreading like paint and the poppies are going nuts with their bright yellow.  Below I will post the Coal Mining Blues video.  As an ex coal miner I find the song very nice.  Be sure to listen carefully to the words.  Kadizzle like the part about looking in the mirror.   The coal miner sees the old man he has become.  Kadizzle has the same problem.

Matt Andersen - Coal Mining Blues

Preparing the Ark

Rain has been pouring from heaven in torrents for almost two days.  The Kadizzles may have to make a tour this morning to see the streams flowing.  This much rain in the desert is a sight to behold. Roosevelt  Lake will rise several feet per day if this keeps up.  Once the sun shines the desert should bloom with an explosion. 

Friday we fly to Denver to see Sylvie perform as Mary Poppins.  Sylvie's other grandma will come from North Dakota for the event.  It will be a performance as never before in the family. 

Along with the rain the wind is howling.   The driven rain is sneaking under the door.  Wind is rocking the Earth Module as we burn up the gigabits. making Verizon rich.

A gathering of Eagles

As the day ended friends kept pouring into our camp site.  All friends we met while in our many years of travel.  Best of all our friends have become friends of each other.  We are united as sailors, hikers, bikers, and just plain outdoors people.  Drinking beer, wine, and maybe a mixed drink Darch, John, Emily, Rita, Cliff, Dave, Winkle, Barn, and Jeff all sat in the sun and enjoyed adventures.

Everyone pooled food for dinner and the group had a wonderful dinner in John's deluxe motor home.  Now morning has arrived and the aspiring dirt bag Darch is out there in his truck where he slept. It appears to be another nice day in the desert.  So here we go.

Canadian Ambassador to the Crazy Club

All the way from Canada Darch came to sleep in our little compound. Darch is the Canadian Ambassador to the Hazen Crazy Club.  Darch is way too full of energy.  He runs, rides a mountain bike and is 74.  No one has the energy he does.  The Kadizzles had a great time sailing with Darch west of Vancouver Island.  Hopefully Darch will bring his new trimeran to Hazen this summer.

Megan and Evie

Two of my loves. An artist rendition of Megan and Evie.

Rattlesnakes are out

As we drove up to Oak Flat to put up some trail signs the trail crew encountered the first rattlesnake of the season.  This signals spring or some other change of season.  The Trail Crew works in the brush a lot.  With the snakes active it means you have to be on the lookout.  The grass makes it hard to see a snake.  Fortunately the snakes don't have any desire to strike people.  Strikes are mistakes by both the snake and the hiker. Both are scared and the result can be bad.

How about a little political rant for lack of anything better?  Socialism will be the new buzz word. As usual your typical dinger has no idea exactly what socialism is.  Republicans know socialism might mean the rich have to pay taxes.  Republicans will do everything in their power to demonize socialism. The classic trick will be to compare socialism with dictatorships.  This brings us to Democratic Socialism.  This is a term that really leaves the dingers clueless.  The dingers rely on Fox News to interpret words.  The principles of Democratic Socialism can be written down and spelled out, but that will not happen.  Instead the will be scary talk and deliberate confusion hosted by the right wing nut crowd.

From the Air; Roosevelt Lake and Dam 11-8-14

The Canal Trail

Cliff and Kadizzle busted the canal trail through to the work center.  After a lot of brush clearing you can now follow the old canal along Lake Roosevelt from our camp site clear to the horse camp.  With the gas powered brush saw we made some serious progress. Today Kadizzle may go back and try to get rid of some of the stumps.

Slowly the season is coming to an end.  The Kadizzles will have to soon go to Denver to see Sylvie be the star of Mary Poppins.  Sylvie has been practicing day and night and is very excited about being Mary Poppins.  Three grandparents will fly in just for the performance.  Things have changed.  No one ever flew anywhere to see Old Kadizzle do anything.  Coming from a family of nine that would have been a lot of flying, but then again Kadizzle's grandparents just lived two houses away.

Sitting with Pay Phone

More than once we have taken in hikers from the Arizona Trail.  So here we sit with " Pay Phone", that is the trail name of Mark who is hiking the Arizona Trail.  Mark camped in our camp area as our guest last night.  Rita met him while she was working on the trail and they put him up for one night. Mark speaks with a French accent since his is a French Canadian.  At 29 he is a nice young guy wandering through life. Kadizzle has been giving him a lot of life advice.  Politely he listens.

The big excitement yesterday was the canal hikers coming across a rattlesnake.  It is that time of year when the snakes come out.  Rita, Littlebottom, and Ken decided to walk through a tunnel on the canal.  The rattling of the snake scared Mrs. Kadizzle, but she could not see it in the low light of the tunnel.  She did not know which way to go to avoid the snake.  Fortunately she chose the right direction. Ken saw the rattlesnake.  Apparently Ken realized he had just about stepped on it.  Snake will now be on the list of things to look out for on the trail.

Pay Phone is going back on the trail today, but is worried about the snow he will find farther North.  Pay Phone wants to get to the Grand Canyon.  He may have to stop when he gets to the deep snow.

The Jug

Bob came and slept of the floor for a couple nights as we hiked the area.  Yesterday we hiked down to the Jug. The Jug is a narrow rock canyon.  With the recent rains and snow the water was roaring through the Jug.  It was a sight Kadizzle has always wanted to see.  On the previous day we hike up Tule Trail.  In two days we did about ten miles of hard hiking, so today we will rest.  Bob took off at 3 A.M. to return to Hazen. 

Today looks like it will be a very nice day. Mrs. Kadizzle who cannot be satiated hiking may take off with the trail crew to explore more of the canal.  With the help of the prisoners great progress has been made creating a trail along the canal.  Kadizzle may buzz down there in the ebike today.  Sunday should be a day of rest.  Hope all are doing well.