Here we sit

 Winky is over there cooking up a great breakfast.  Out the window the four wheelers are gathering. They are going to drive through the mountains.  Get in a line and drive over gravel. Stir up dust. The first guy gets to breathe clean air. Everyone else will dine on dust. Who would want to do this?  Yesterday Winky and Kadizzle again took an ebike ride. As usual we sort of got lost in the woods.  Gradually we got to the top of the terrain.  We found a good road that took us back to the truck. In the end it was a nice ride. Fo about five miles we glided downhill reaching speeds of close to thirty miles per hour. 

Republican insanity has reached a new high. Here in Arizona the Republicans have hired the Ciber Ninja's to recount the ballots.  Wish this was made up, but this is true.  Now to top that off they are checking the ballots to see if they contain bamboo.  If the ballot has bamboo in it that means the Chinese interfered in the election.  Can they get any more goofy? Yes, if you tell the truth in the Republican Party you will be thrown out.  Ask Liz Cheney.  Of course North Dakota Republicans are on the bandwagon trying to be every bit as simple minded. 

The Peasants

 Sitting in the parking lot of the super market Kadizzle watched the low paid employees scuffle about. The sheer number of people living on subsistant wages is frightening. These poor people are lost in the wilderness. Their income goes up in the flames from their ciggarettes, and tattoos.  They push the hamburgers out the window, and the grocery carts back in the store.  This is what it must have been like in the days of slavery.  Suffering people were taken for granite. Our economy relies on exploitation. Bezos makes billions from Amazon while people's grandma shuffles around in the warehouse for peanuts.  The nightly news shows toddlers starving in India and Africa while the yachts sit idle in the Mediterranean.  Off the coast of Chile the fishing boats bring in protein that is fed to our dogs while many in Chile lack protein.  

Working old people

Two old goats spread 8 tons of gravel yesterday around the Earth Module. Today we will do another 8 tons.  Winky and Kadizzle spread the gravel with a wheelbarrow , shovel, and rake. The plan is to keep the dust down.  The same old grandpa that pulled his dump truck into the driveway will show up this morning in his overalls and cowboy hat. 

Kadizzle awaked and did the daily update. Kadizzle was pleased to see the letter he wrote yesterday to the Fargo Forum was published today. Firing a good stinger on the Republicans is a great way to start the day. 

Cliff has a cell tower right on his property where we are staying. Wow, does it make a difference. Now we can see our grandchildren with a sharp clear picture.  Then internet works all the time.  Amazing. 

Now if you want a dose of insanity watch the movie FLOWERS on Netflix.  If you think you have an insane family the Flowers will show you how it is done on a professional level.  Make sure you go past the first episode. 

A nice bike ride, ya sure ya betcha

 Cliff told old Kadizzle he could ride the ebike, while Winky and Cliff went on foot on the Indian Spring Trail. Cliff assured Kadizzle it was a fine bike ride. Kadizzle decided to go in the opposite direction on the loop trial so he would meet the other two on foot.  Off we went. Kadizzle found the trail nice and figured he would quickly complete the entire seven miles in no time.  Things changed rapidely.  In this area there had been fires, and blowdowns. Soon Kadizzle encountered large trees across the trail. Each time he came to a tree he had to go over, under, around or through the mess.  As he went farther and farther into the forest he assumed the tree mess would improve, it didn't.  Should he turn around or continue with the struggle of picking up the heavy bike every hundred feet to hoist it over a log?  Digging himself in deeper he began to see that he was making no more progress than if he were walking.  At last he came to the old railroad grade and hope emerged.  False hope, the railroad grade also was also blocked by trees.  Halfway through the trip Kadizzle ran into Winky and Cliff.  Winky said the trail was worse with downfall where they came from.  However, Cliff said it would be best for Kadizzle to continue in the same direction he was going. Winky said Kadizzle should turn back.  Fortunately Kadizzle took Cliff's advice and found a logging road Cliff had seen. The logging road got Kadizzle out of the maize.  On good roads Kadizzle made it back to the truck in no time. In the end Kadizzle got an upper body workout lifting the bike hundreds of times to clear logs.  Next time Kadizzle starts down a train and finds out it has not been cleared he will turn around. 

Time for a rant

 Kadizzle needs to rant, and vent a little.  Our country is in peril. Republicans have infected the country with a special kind of ignorance that is spreading like wildfire. Republicans have enabled people to divorce themselves from reality, and embrace any fantasy they like. How does this work? Drive around America, poverty spreads like a fungus. Poor people want to slash out at someone.  Trump gives the poor and the ignorant a chance to give the finger to the world.  Simple minded people thrive on fantasy. That has always been the secret to selling religion. Give people permission to believe in nonsense. Trump is a new religion. Trump helps people believe in the world of make believe.  Sadly the poorly educated are so vulnerable to simple explanations based on nothing.  Raping the ignorant has been the story of humanity since the first God was invented. People love Gods.  Once you embrace the God jazz everything becomes clear, because you are living in a fog.  Reality is never pleasant. Escaping reality sells beer, cigarettes, and drugs.  Trump and the Republicans are a drug.  Trump allows people to think their failure is not their fault. Some evil spirit such as China or Democrats has created the problem.  Science has brought us so much.  Name one thing fantasy has accomplished.  Religion, and Republican thinking are fantasy. Both funnel money to the rich.  Look how religion has always funneled money upward to build huge churches, and enable the priest and nuns to live off the poor.  Republicans are about nothing but protecting the rich from the poor.  It is that simple.  All the Republican rhetoric is just about keeping people from taxing the rich. You can twist it, turn it, spin, lie about it or do as you wish, but every Republican scam is about making sure resources are unevenly distributed to the wealthy.  Our country is now in a pandemic of stupidity, and Trump is the infector. 

Living a constant high

 Our new location puts us at 7,500 ft.  The body is adjusting. Using the oxygen monitor we bought for Covid Kadizzle finds out he is running around 91% oxygen saturation.  Normally the oxygen in the blood runs about 95% or better.  Is this due to the altitude? Do seem to be more lethargic. Hopefully the body will adapt. Yesterday we took a drive through the local wilderness.  The terrain is a lot like the mountains in Montana. There is still snow on the highest peaks. Vast meadows and mountain lakes are nearby. 

Today Winky is taking an early hike with Cliff, and Kadizzle will hopefully get the motorcycle flat tire fixed.  The west is suffering from a severe drought.  Locally the volcanic soil is so dry it is like flour.  The dust is everywhere and a bit of an annoyance.  There are a lot of elk around here, and hopefully some will show up nearby.  Saw some antelope yesterday. 

Reading the New York Times this morning Kadizzle came across an article about living in a bubble.  Kadizzle looked up former home Hazen.  It was a bubble of Republicans.  Check out where you live to see how bad the infestation of idiots is.  The country is frightening. You must have seen the news,  thirty percent of Americans think Biden did not win the presidency.  The country is split.  Idiocy is rampant. People have so readily adopted any reality Fox News puts out.  Science has faded into the background, and roll your own stupidity is the new driving force. 

Lost in the Wilderness

 Old Kadizzle took off on his ebike to explore the new wilderness we moved into.  The ride was very pleasant through a quiet environment. Kadizzle had it in his mind from something Cliff told him that the ride could be made into a loop that came back close to the start.  On and on Kadizzle peddled but the road just kept going.  It was a wonderful ride, but the battery was getting lower and lower.  Could he make it back? Soon it became evident the road was never turning and heading the right way.  Now Kadizzle decided he better pedal harder and save electricity.  At last it seemed like the road might come back to pavement, wrong.  Although the ride was many miles long there was absolutely no one back in the woods, but finally a couple of gas buggies came by. Kadizzle asked the people where he was and how he could get back.  Wait something is left out. Kadizzle's phone was dead.  After getting new information it looked like the most prudent thing to do was go down the backside of the mountain ot a town called Eger.  Kadizzle new he could get from Eger to Springerville, and then back to Cliff's.  The problem was it was a long way.  Fortunately the road to Eger was all down hill.  Keeping an eye on the battery it kept inching downward.  Kadizzle figured he had to go about twelve miles, and there was one big hill in the way.  Along the road Kadizzle met a girl running and asked to use her phone so he could update Winky on his predicament.  With 8% left Kadizzle made it back, but a short ride turned into on of the longest.  The ride may have been between 25 and 35 miles long.  In the end the whole thing was enjoyable. 

Earth Module Lands on New Planet

 Here we are, we landed near Nutrioso, Arizona.  The Kadizzles are bumming off our friend Cliff. Cliff has a nice place with his own cell tower on the corner of his property.  Winky is over making arrangements with Cliff for a morning hike. Kadizzle may not be able to get his old body going. We are at 7,500 ft so we need to get used to it.  Stopped at the new house yesterday and it looks like the walls are going up.  On the way here we checked into a volunteer job near Heber, AZ.  We may not take the job.  We would stay at a camp for various groups. The spot is not really that private, and it is too much activity for old people who enjoy solitude, peace, and quiet.  We may just base out of Nutioso. We have to go to ND to get our furniture. That will be an adventure.  A lot of new ground to explore here.  Will try to post some pictures.  

Moving Day

Jumping around like drunk frogs we are getting ready to move to our next adventure. Our next location may be the White Mountains or Bear Canyon Lake.  Imagine moving your house. Of course Winky gets nervous when we move and wants to put it off for another day, and another day. If the plan works we will be moving to Heber, AZ and doing some volunteer work there. 

Let The Mystery Be - Iris DeMent H.Q. Religious people please listen carefully

Urban Sprawl, Rural Poverty

Yesterday the Kadizzles drove to Phoenix, Scottsdale to be correct. What do you see when you drive in America?  You see some wonderful scenery, but also urban sprawl, and rural poverty.  Urban sprawl is insane. We experience it on the East Coast, Along the front of the Rockies, and of course around here. Then you have the rural junkyards and some Indian reservations are in pretty poor shape. America, good old America.  In Scottsdale at the airport there is nothing but a pile of private jets. Meanwhile the people who did not quite make it are living under the bridge. Poverty is an artificial construct. It always has been.  The old kings built castles while the peasants lived in shacks. Nothing has changed. Since the rich now move in jets why not let the roads and rails fall apart.  Why waste money on health care for the peasants when you need a new yacht? Buy yourself a congressman, and get yourself a few nice tax breaks. Why pay taxes at all? Most of the big corporations cheat and pay nothing. Needs some votes? Buy a Fox News and fill the Hoopleheads full of nonsense.  What a wonderful country. Then nicest thing is the lottery.  Everyone who wants to be rich merely has to go to the gas station and buy some lottery tickets. We are all going to be filthy rich, it is just a matter of time. So the best thing to do no matter how poor you are is to support all the benefits for the rich because someday you will be the one cheating the poor. Just be patient and vote for Trump if you get a chance. 

Just Keeping UP

 

No Country for Old Men

 Things that used to be easy and stressless are not when you are 72. Building a new home is stressful. The Kadizzles are building a home in Payzon, AZ.  The idea was a home with the right climate, and plenty of outdoor adventure.  The home is rising from the ground.  Problem one. The builder of course wants to squeeze as many homes as possible onto the land.  Our lot is on a culdesac, so that means it is pie shaped.  Kadizzles are not too happy with how the home will be close to the next home.  Now we are picking out granite, tile, and cabinets. Thankfully we have a designer for a daughter, but she is in Philadelphia.  Winky and Kadizzle will be tied up most of the day picking out granite.  This is no easy task. We will have to drive to Scottsdale about one hundred miles away.  They will only hold the slabs for a short time, same with the appliances.  The building boom makes all this much more difficult.  Perhaps we should have stayed in the little Republican hamlet of Hazen. 

Einstein and God.

When Einstein gave lectures at U.S. universities, the recurring question that students asked him most was:

- Do you believe in God?

And he always answered:

- I believe in the God of Spinoza.

Baruch de Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher considered one of the great rationalists of 17th century philosophy, along with Descartes.

(Spinoza) : God would say:

Stop praying.

What I want you to do is go out into the world and enjoy your life. I want you to sing, have fun and enjoy everything I've made for you.

Stop going into those dark, cold temples that you built yourself and saying they are my house. My house is in the mountains, in the woods, rivers, lakes, beaches. That's where I live and there I express my love for you.

Stop blaming me for your miserable life; I never told you there was anything wrong with you or that you were a sinner, or that your sexuality was a bad thing. Sex is a gift I have given you and with which you can express your love, your ecstasy, your joy. So don't blame me for everything they made you believe.

Stop reading alleged sacred scriptures that have nothing to do with me. If you can't read me in a sunrise, in a landscape, in the look of your friends, in your son's eyes... ➤ you will find me in no book!

Stop asking me "will you tell me how to do my job?" Stop being so scared of me. I do not judge you or criticize you, nor get angry, or bothered. I am pure love.

Stop asking for forgiveness, there's nothing to forgive. If I made you... I filled you with passions, limitations, pleasures, feelings, needs, inconsistencies... free will. How can I blame you if you respond to something I put in you? How can I punish you for being the way you are, if I'm the one who made you? Do you think I could create a place to burn all my children who behave badly for the rest of eternity? What kind of god would do that?

Respect your peers and don't do what you don't want for yourself. All I ask is that you pay attention in your life, that alertness is your guide.

My beloved, this life is not a test, not a step on the way, not a rehearsal, nor a prelude to paradise. This life is the only thing here and now and it is all you need.

I have set you absolutely free, no prizes or punishments, no sins or virtues, no one carries a marker, no one keeps a record.

You are absolutely free to create in your life. Heaven or hell.

➤ I can't tell you if there's anything after this life but I can give you a tip. Live as if there is not. As if this is your only chance to enjoy, to love, to exist.

So, if there's nothing after, then you will have enjoyed the opportunity I gave you. And if there is, rest assured that I won't ask if you behaved right or wrong, I'll ask. Did you like it? Did you have fun? What did you enjoy the most? What did you learn?...

Stop believing in me; believing is assuming, guessing, imagining. I don't want you to believe in me, I want you to believe in you. I want you to feel me in you when you kiss your beloved, when you tuck in your little girl, when you caress your dog, when you bathe in the sea.

Stop praising me, what kind of egomaniac God do you think I am?

I'm bored being praised. I'm tired of being thanked. Feeling grateful? Prove it by taking care of yourself, your health, your relationships, the world. Express your joy! That's the way to praise me.

Stop complicating things and repeating as a parakeet what you've been taught about me.

What do you need more miracles for? So many explanations?

The only thing for sure is that you are here, that you are alive, that this world is full of wonders.

- Spinoza

Morning in America

It is a quiet calm morning. Seems ominous like it may rain. That would be glorious. Coolness pervades, but not for long. 

Yesterday Kadizzle took the daily ebike ride around the camp site.  One part of the ride parallels the lake.  Three grown men were out there in their fishing boat with a flag. One was posing for a picture. The flag proudly said " Fuck Biden".  This is the legacy of Trump.  Kadizzle wanted to yell an obscenity at them, or make a rude gesture, but what does that do? These men are making a public declaration they are idiots.  What more needs to be done? 

A long time ago Winky and Kadizzle briefly worked with a guy that sold black light flashlights.  What was the purpose? You could shine the light at night and see the scorpions if any were around. It made them glow.  Trump has made the idiots glow.  Now you can spot an idiot easily.  You know where they live, what they drive, and even see them fish.  People who self identify as idiots save us all a lot of time. 

Twenty miles on the ebike with Winky

 Winky's energy is endless. The boss of our organization made old Kadizzle get up and drive the ebikes to the mountains. Once there we set off to look for an Indian cave we never found. After asking a few four wheelers we realized we looked in the wrong place, but pedaled through some very nice scenery.  High in the Serra Anchas.  

The New York Times has an article about the movie Nomad.  A lot has been written about the movie.  We live among the Nomads and actually we are well to do Nomads.  We have a new truck,and a new fifth wheel.  Kadizzle loves the hard scrabble Nomads. They are very interesting people.  Bill comes over every afternoon and we have a beer with Bill. Bill is a true Nomad.  He was a professional machinist and a man with some very good skills. He has  lived in tents for five and  three years at a time. Bill can laugh and is fun to talk to.  Bill is very good a firing a stinger on Kadizzle.  In the past Kadizzle has written about Gary, and Duane, other people eking out an existence. Bill has more honesty, and morals than your typical person living the life chasing money.  The Nomads are easy to make friends with.  Working together is something essential for the Nomad life.  Giving things away, and getting things for free are all in the game.  Although we have way more cheese than Bill he has given us several useful items.  We try to give Bill a meal, some beer, or whatever we can. The tribal life is way better than the Republican life.  Does it really matter? Most people eventually realize what matters and what does not matter. Nomads know most things in life really don't matter.  Being warm, having something to eat, and the ability to move do seem to matter. Little else does.  Recently Winky and Kadizzle spent some time with a woman who was a van Nomad.  She made a living editing books. We once met another woman who did the same thing.  Kadizzle needs a Nomad editor.  There are many women Nomads whose life has gone to hell when the husband split. Nomads have good stories.  Bill told me a good story how his son in law went to prison. His son in law had a job at the post office.  A casino sent their daily cash bag by mail. The man decided to take a couple bags worth a couple hundred thousand dollars. It did not work out. Although he claimed he found the money, and had his young son testify to finding it beside the road, the court did not buy it. Reminds me of the story Gary told me about robbing the ice cream truck company and ending up with hundreds of pounds of change. 

Mount Ord

 

Yesterday Winky and Kadizzle rode the ebikes up Mount Ord. The view from the top was incredible. The collection of antennas on top of the mountain was unbelievable because it is the second highest Mountain in the area.  If you want to take the trip watch the video below.  Will have to see if Kadizzle can post some pictures from the top. Amazing view, one of the best ever. We peddled up to 7.500 ft. 

Today's news the Rusty 1 was sold. That ornery boat had to go. A very nice young guy from New Mexico bought the boat and hope he enjoys it. That boat kept trying to drown Kadizzle.  Tomorrow Winky wants to go up in the mountains and ride some more. 

Mount Ord highlights (Arizona scenic drive / off-road trail)

Up Mount Ord

The second highest mountain around here is Mount Ord. Of course Winky wants to go up it. We are back a our base camp and will move the Earth Module in a few days up to the White Mountains. Mount Ord was once used in the Indian wars as a message point of the old fashioned devices they used to signal with the sun. Kadizzle cannot remember the name of the device, but it could be used to send a message from Flagstaff to Tombstone in 45 minutes. It was crucial in the defeat of the Apaches. Winky just came in the door and reminded Kadizzle it was called a Heliograph.  Look it up the history is interesting. The ebikes will hopefully take  us the six miles up the mountain. The ebikes are charging. Winky cannot stand still and a trip up that mountain should wear us both out. Cliff is pulling his fifth wheel up to his home in the White Mountains. We had a nice drive back from there yesterday. There is some wonderful country, but also some serious urban sprawl and professional slumming. Kadizzle had no idea how big a population was living up in that area.  A lot of summer homes. People trying to escape the heat in Phoenix. Why people have to accumulate trash?

Life on another Planet

 Here we are in Springerville.  Way up in the White Mountains we went for a hike in an entirely different environment.  No more desert, now tall pines, mountain streams, and a totally different ecosphere. This is where we will bring the Earth Module in a few days. Cliff is graciously going to let us park by his mountain home with water and electricity.  

The town of Springeville is thick with Trumpites. The gun store is sold out of ammunition. Not a box of any kind on the shelf. A big war is brewing. and they are ready. 

Strange to be cooler, and walking in a pine forest.  Elk are everywhere. The drive up here is very scenic. If you ever get the chance to drive through the Salt River Canyon do it.  The Canyon is a chasm you don't often get to see.  Imagine being able to drive down into the Grand Canyon and up the other side. 

Game on

Up early with fresh coffee. Hook up the trailer and head to Springerville. Fist step in escape to cooler mountains. The Earth module will stay behind as we move the utility trailer Al and Debby lent us to Springerville. Inside is the motorcycle and some other junk. The desert is turning green, but lacking the moisture to bloom the flowers. Here it comes, the sun just jumped over the mountains. Looks like a warm day. Should be a nice three hour drive.  The exciting part will be going through the Salt River Canyon, a mini Grand Canyon you get to drive through. There will be some driving through poverty stricken Indian reservations. No excuse for poverty in this country.  Greed stricken Republicans have robbed so many of the chance for a decent life. Sorry Republicans, but such is life. The sun on the mountains early in the day is a wonderful site.  In the background the fishing boats are roaring out to capture the prey.  Here we go. 

Dwindling Down

Winter volunteers are migrating to cooler places. Steve took off for Colorado, Kadizzle and Winky are about to move to the higher mountains, Ken and Rita went back to Spokane, Cliff may go to the Grand Canyon, Bill says he may go to Montana, and Helen will go to California. The people you meet. Al and Deb took off for Lake Powell. So down the road we will meet again. Like the days Indians roamed the west the tribes meet and disperse. 

The desert is doing it's best to bloom.  The lack of water makes all the plants struggle. Today Winky is going to go pick out tiles, and other surface material for out new home.  Kadizzle will pack the trailer to move junk to Springerville. Change is coming. 

Jeeps doing Reno Pass where we rode motorcycles

The soldiers made it and so did we

 The road over Reno pass was abandoned by the early military because it was so steep and difficult. Al and Kadizzle took on the boulder strewn road on the motorcycles yesterday.  The narrow road has a very steep drop off as it hugs the mountain on the way to the pass. Kadizzle cannot determine if he has become a better cycle rider or a more stupid on. Facing a small cliff and rows of boulders you either need stupidity or skill to challenge them. We made it to the top and rode out the ridge. The entire ride was very challenging. Fortunately Al noticed Kadizzle's cycle tire was flat.  It was so rocky Kadizzle himself did not notice. After pumping up the tire a few times we made it back. Recovering a motorcycle from that mountain would be a real chore. 

The little Yamaha 250XT impressed the old man.  Looking at that little cycle one would not guess it was capable of the rock hopping it did. Kadizzle has a rule not to do this kind of trip alone.  We carried the satellite communicator to call the helicopter if need be. A friend had a terrible crash in a nearby mountain and they had to hike to the top for phone service so he could be helicopter rescued. 

Maybe some getting ready to pack up today.  

Pack up the Wagon

 As the heat builds the need to move north into the mountains increases. Looking around while walking back from the executive suite Kadizzle realized all the stuff that has to be moved.  Trying to stay light makes being a nomad hard. That brings us to the book Nomad. We watched the movie in Florida.  Kadizzle found it boring. Maybe it was boring because we live among the Nomads. Van Nomads are just a subset of the overall group trying to live on the road. A lot of people living the traveling life are not poor.  Many people are scraping by on Social Security. Dry camping is the common term for people not hooked up to anything. That means solar for electricity, find a place to dump sewage, and find some water.  All. these things can be a challenge. Our society needs and overhaul.  People should have a basic means to survive.  When Jeff Bezos of Amazon makes and additional 64 billion during the pandemic it is time to wake. up and make him pay people rather than enslave them.  Then on the very bottom are the bum walkers. These are the people you see walking down the highway pushing a cart or on a beat up bicycle with a dog. The bum walkers are truly destitute.  Who knows where they sleep. A lot of the marginal people are there because of poor planning. Then there are the people from busted marriages, and dead spouses.  The plan falls apart when someone dies. 

The Garbage Man

Kadizzle used the little John Deere tractor to scoop up spilled garbage at the transfer station yesterday.  We miss the prisoners. Usually it is their job to clean up the mess of spilled garbage, but the virus has imprisoned them. Waste, we waste, and then we waste. Plastic is the bane of humanity. Tons of plastic get buried every day. A thousand million years from now there will be pockets of solidified garbage that will amaze the geologist of the future.  Maybe when the oceans dry up plastic will form a layer like the Great Salt Lake.  Maybe when we burn up the planet plastic will blow about the planet from violent winds as on other planets. 

Horton Spring

If all goes well the Kadizzles will have a new home in Payson, AZ. in the fall. It will be an entire new area to explore.  With out friends Al and Deb we took an eight mile hike to Horton Spring yesterday.  The exosphere up in the mountains is a different world from life here in the desert. The smell of pine is always refreshing. Hiking up the trail the stream was dry for the first small portion, then the water suddenly was a good sized stream with fish.  After a long slug there it was the spring. This was not the typical spring, it was water gushing our of the rocks and roaring down the mountain only to eventually disappear. Although the walk was relatively gentle Kadizzle managed to end up sore.  Kadizzle's muscles have become attuned to riding the ebike, not walking. The trail had no signs prohibiting ebikes, and someday we may ride it. 

The American medical system is insane.  For about a one hour visit to the emergency room for a kidney stone Kadizzle is being billed over four thousand dollars. Today we fight the hospital billing department. 

Down the Canyon

 Two couples and a dog headed down the Campaign Creek slot canyon.  This is not a hike for the timid. In order to get to the bottom one must get down several drop offs. The drops are in conjunction with small waterfalls. Each drop off involved rigging a rope, and lowering Debbie, and coaching the dog to come down. On some of the drops we videos.  After the hike laughing at the videos provided a lot of fun. 

Today the crew is going up near Payson to hike to Horton Spring. This hike will be in the mountains and should be cool and relatively easy. 

Up to the canyon

Today we are going up the mini slot canyon.  It may take some climbing down ropes. Debbie's arm is not good so we will have to lower her in some places.  Al has invented a rope harness to do this. Then there is the dog, Zuni who will also have to be lowered.  Add to all this the logistics. We will leave the electric bike or truck at one end of the canyon and the other at the other end. This will be some juggling. Of course we will have to walk in the water, just one more complication.  

Days are slipping by

Most of our beloved trail crew has gone north for the summer. Winky and Kadizzle are sitting in the Tonto National Forest while our new home is being built in Payson, Az.  The foundation is complete and like a flower sprouting from the ground the home is growing.  Al and Debbie pulled in beside us yesterday with their camper.  This means we have to plan some local adventures.  Perhaps we will go toward the Doll Baby Ranch. Winky and Kadizzle took a bike ride into some entirely new parts of the planet. The Doll Baby Ranch is near the East Verde River. It is close to what will be our new home.  There is such a vast new area to explore by foot, bike, and motorcycle.  Hundreds of new forest roads, streams, springs, and Indian sites. 

The logistics of moving is a mess.  First everything has to be moved to Cliff's in Springerville, and then we have to take the huge trailer to North Dakota to get our junk collection.  Money is flying out the window at a frightful pace. Winky is sitting over there picking out new appliances.  Those hoping to inherit need to make other plans. 

Had a nice afternoon soiree yesterday, with Bill, Al, Deb, and Cliff.  All friends we have met in our RV adventures. Bill has a wonderful sense of humor and is a pleasure to have with his wicked sarcasm.  Bill may spend the summer in a tent in Montana. Bill is in his mid seventies and it seems odd he will be perfectly happy living in a tent, but he has done it for five years at a time.  The scattering of the tribe seems like the old Indian days. We come together and move apart. Al and Debbie have no good idea where they are going except to the North West.  Cliff is first going to the Grand Canyon to volunteer, and then play it by ear. 

 

Rampant Paranoia

 Sitting in the shade talking to someone new you recently met. The conversation goes all over the place. Inevitably Kadizzle has a bad habit of turning things towards politics. This person who seemed intelligent, rational, and normal slowly reveals they are into the insane conspiracy theories. The popular right wing crazy idea is that Obama is secretly running the government. Where is this insanity coming from. Kadizzle needs to check.  Rush is dead.  Is Fox firing out these lies? There must be some popular nut radio or internet person dreaming up this insanity.  The Republicans find paranoid people a gold mine of votes. Making the Hoopleheads dance with crazy ideas is game on for the Republicans.  Fear is the name of the game. Someone is after your money, and your gun, and they don't want to let you talk to Jesus. The country is in a swamp of stupidity, and uninformed people. We are living in a country of the rich for the rich by the rich. The absurdity is the poor support those who are smacking them down the most. This is one amazing plantation where the slaves love the master and thing they will strike it rich picking cotton. 

One more time

 Distraught that there was no wind Kadizzle sat on the dock debating if he should just take the Rusty 1 out of the water.  A little breeze piped up and motivated Kadizzle to go  out again.  After a short sail a big wind came up and overturned the Rusty 1 for the second time. Someone must watch over old Kadizzle. When the wind hit Kadizzle was sailing towards two lime green kayaks being paddled by two senior citizens. The plan was to sell them the Rusty 1.  The old gentleman who paddled toward the wreck immediately said he knew how to upright the boat. One could not have better fortune than to immediately have someone show up with an unusual skill.  After a lot of struggling we managed to upright the Rusty 1. The wind was still going strong. By this time a nice gentleman came out in a pontoon boat.  Kadizzle was able to get back in the Rusty 1.  The boat would not sail as it should.  The rigging was wrong and messed up. Somehow Kadizzle managed to get the boat to shore.  Cliff had been up the lake in his trimaran. Cliff showed up and helped Kadizzle relaunch the boat.  The Rusty 1 would just not sail right the jib was out of control and the boat would only go on the port tack.  After struggling for a long while straining to control the boat Kadizzle gave up and once again sailed ashore at the wrong boat ramp.  Cliff made it back to camp and sent Winky to rescue Kadizzle.  After more struggle getting the boat on the trailer the job was finally done.  The Rusty 1 is cursed.  The little boat just does not have any ballast and it has a knack for turning over. When the old fellow came out to rescue Kadizzle in the kayak the first question was " How long have you been sailing?".  Kadizzle answered. " I am too embarrassed to answer". Kadizzle thought he had conquered the quirks of the Rusty 1, and like an idiot failed to secure the items onboard.  Now all the tools and a few other things are too deep to recover.  To remind Kadizzle of his age and his stupidity he is sore all over.  Put it down to a slow learner. 

Speaking with the mentally ill

Yesterday started with Kadizzle taking the long ride to the top of the Four Peaks. Winky, and Cliff got out of the Forest Service Truck to head across the Arizona trail. Kadizzle made a second trip up the mountain to leave the truck at the end of the trail for them.  At a perfect temperature with sunshine and clear skies Kadizzle drifted the six miles down the mountain on his ebike.  

On the way back to camp Kadizzle stopped at the shack the Arizona Trail hikers use to resupply.  At the shack Kadizzle had a long discussion with a Republican.  Kadizzle explained to the delusional man that he like to probe the minds of Republicans to see how those minds put a view of the world together.  This man said Obama is running the goverment and Biden is just a front.  Kadizzle has found this it the latest mythology promoted by the right wing.  Republicans for some reason cannot admit they are afraid of black people. Being scared is a thrill for them so they cook up conspiracy theories.  We all live in our own world.  Mr. Republican said climate change is the result of the sun wobbling. He is not sure, but he read it somewhere.  These people vote, and of course try to make sure no one else does. 

The drive down from the Four Peaks is spectacular on a road many are afraid to drive. On the way down Kadizzle listened on the radio to anther kind of insanity.  An FM radio preacher was explaining the Bible.  The man sounded very scholarly, and kept throwing out the names of all the Biblical kings and kingdoms. The sermon was such an entanglement of nonsense.  If God wanted to send a message, why did he have to do it with dreams, prophets, and the most obscure scripture imaginable. Fundamentally it makes no sense. It was a great prelude to talking to the Republican.  People seem to love ridiculous simple explanations. Back to the God stuff.  IF God wanted us to know something he now could go on TV, the internet, or appear in the sky and let us know first hand.  However, God seems to prefer crooked preachers, Fox News, and Donald Trump. 

The Mother of all bad roads

Al told Kadizzle we would take a motorcycle ride on the west side of the Catalina Mountains near Tucson. As we approached the start of the ride Al said we would turn around if it got too bad.  The road immediately became terrible. After a mile and a half we surrendered. The road was strew with watermelon sized boulders and ever conceivable rock mess. Before it was over Al crashed five times and to his absolute amazement Kadizzle did not crash. The road was so bad Kadizzle did not think making the journey without a crash was an option. Al is a much better rider and has a much more aggressive cycle than Kadizzle.  That may have be the salvation. 

We are in Tucson, AZ. We came to borrow a huge utility trailer from Al. Ultimately we will use it to get out worldly possessions from North Dakota.  

Little Chicago

The home town of Kadizzle, Wheeling, WVa. was known as little Chicago. Kadizzle has been reading the history of Wheeling crime. The extent of mafia influence is amazing. Seeing the names of people Kadizzle knew and went to school with is fascinating. One name popped out. Bob Dorn went to grade school with Kadizzle. One morning in about the sixth grade Kadizzle was on the porch of the school. Bob Dorn was wearing a sweat shirt.  Bobby kept scratching here and there and it seemed like he had fleas or something. He held out his right arm and a hamster crawled out of his shirt.  Bob went on to become a drug runner, professional high end shop lifter, and served half his life in prison.  Kadizzle found out the lawyer down the street in the fancy house represented the mob.  Kadizzle went to school with his son. Seeing all the names Kadizzle realized how many children of the crime people we knew and went to school with. Strangely many of the crime bosses sent their kids to private schools.  Bill Lias who was the crime boss was purported to be the richest criminal in the U.S.  On Wheeling Island Lias built an elaborate racetrack.  The government went after him for taxes and took the race track. Then they hired Lias to run it.  The audacity of the crime was unbelievable.  One good story was about a man thrown out of a whore house into the alley. The police arrested him.  He said to the police " You arrest me and allow prostitution in there".  The police said " If you want to prove it, you need a recite. "

Repair the Plumbing

Off to Payson today to do some doctoring as they say. Poor old Kadizzle will get a CAT scan in preparation for having a camera inserted into his bladder.  Have had this done before. Interesting procedure. You get to see on television inside your bladder. The last time is was like being in a Gold fish bowl with little bits of stuff floating around. Not real enthused about it all. 

Weather has been great, and the Kadizzles will pick up a huge utility trailer this weekend. A friend has agreed to lend it to us to bring our worldly belongings from ND.  

At the soiree yesterday we has some nice guest from Washington. Kadizzle met them in the morning and invited them to the meeting held every day at 3:30.  You show up with your own drink and tell your stories.  Meeting so many new people is always a main pleasure of being on the road. 

Will be interesting to see if the Republicans can keep the country from going forward.  As usual they see progress as a threat to the rich. 

Ode To The Little Brown Shack Out Back

Morning at the Long Drop

Years ago Kadizzle met a young guy from South Africa. He told the tale of camping with his family.  The young man explained how the servants dug a long drop and set up the tents. Kadizzle inquired what a long drop was.  You can guess. Here we call the long drop the Executive Suite. Our long drop is deluxe. It has flush toilets, a nice porcelain sink, and the best solar lightning. Once Kadizzle takes the little walk down to the long drop in the morning he can sit on the throne with the door open and look into the desert sunshine. The walk is a step from the Earth module into reality. At the long drop the Forestry Supply catalog is there for reading pleasure. Everything a man could ever want is listed.  The grand finally at headquarters is checking for dead mice. Three traps are set in the plumbing chase.  If a mouse is caught the poor soul's carcass is put out where maybe some bird will swoop down and take it to mouse heaven. The old outhouse life must have had some good to it. There is a song written by someone back home in West Virginia about the little shack out back. 

They passed an ordinance in the town they said we'd have to tear it down
That little old shack out back so dear to me
Though the health department said its day was over and dead
It will stand forever in my memory
Don't let them tear that little brown building down
Don't let them tear that precious building down
Don't let them tear that dear old building down
There's not another like it in the country or the town

It was not so long ago that I went tripping through the snow
Out to that house behind my old hound dog
Where I would sit me down to rest like a snowbird on his nest
And I'd read that Sears and Roebuck catalog
Oh I would hum a happy tune peeping through the quarter moon
As my daddy's kin had done so much before
It was in that quiet spot daily cares could be forgot
And it gave the same relief to rich and poor
Don't let them tear...

Now it was not a castle fair but I could dream of future there
Build my castle to the yellow jackets drone
I could orbit round the sun fight with General Washington
Or be a king upon a golden throne
It wasn't fancy built at all we had newspapers on the wall
It was air-conditioned in the wintertime
Oh it was just an humble hut but its door was never shut
And a man could get inside without a dime
Don't let them tear...

There is a lot of truth in that song. 

Murder Never Dies

 Kadizzle was hopping around on his laptop when he found a book he must have purchased some time ago. Murder Never Dies was the book. On the first page that happened to show was the name Bob Dorn. Kadizzle went to school with Bob Dorn.  He was a fat kid and had fat brother. Also Dorn had a wild sister named Lorretta who wore skin tight leather pants.  Bob Dorn lived near my Uncle and shot at my Uncles house on one occasion. This got me interested in the book which maybe Kadizzle had read before. The book was about a famous gangster in the home Town ow Wheeling, West Virginia, which was known as "little Chicago".  Kadizzle remembers going to school one day and Bob Dorn showed up with a sweatshirt on.  Bobby as he was called kept scratching and moving his hand all over the sweat shirt until a hamster crawled out the sleeve.  The hamster was living in his T shirt.  Kadizzle remembes hearing Dorn went to prison so Kadizzle wanted to see what role Dorn played in the book. Dorn's father no doubt was connected to the crime gangs in the area. Dorn's father ran a strange business out on the interstate that sold to tourist.  More than likely it was a front for something else.  As Kadizzle may have mentioned in the past he had a boyhood friend who's father ran the illegal gambling in town.  Kadizzle rode in a car with a major crime figure in the book. Paul Hankish picked up Kadizzle and his friend Ben on the Suspension Bridge and took us for a speedboat ride on the Ohio River.  A few weeks later Hankish had his legs blown off when he started his car.  

Anyway the book goes into how Bill Lias became one of the richest crime figures in the United States at the time. Lias based his criminal activities in Wheeling, Kadizzle's home town.  Hankish took over for Lias when Lias went to prison.  Reading about these people is fun, because it traces the history of crime in Wheeling.  It is obvious the respectable people were in on the game. Kadizzle has read all he can about Wheeling mafia activity since his friends father was tied into it. Kadizzle has always been curious about how the Dobkins got involved in organized crime. Most of the people who made illegal money converted the winnings into real estate.  The book is well written and has drawn Kadazzle in.  Maybe an update tomorrow. 

Attack of the Javelinas

Rumbling outside last night turned out to be what Winky said was about 15 Javelinas.  She chased them off.  Walking back from the executive suite Kadizzle realized it is going to be another perfect day. 

A thought went through Kadizzle's head as he passed his marvelous street light.  Kadizzle set up a solar powered light that comes on at dark and goes off at daylight.  The system harvest the sun power automatically. What does this mean? It means we waste an incredible amount of energy on lighting with traditional power plants.  The little Kadizzle system could probably run three days with no sun. 

Now for the next revelation.  Poverty is just something we chose to have.  There is no poverty, there are just people taking way more than their share.  There is plenty of everything, houses, cars, food, clothing, you name it.   Some people have no where to live because other people have used all the lumber and bricks to build more homes than they need. Some people take the  bus because someone else decided they needed six cars. We live in a world of illusion. Kadizzle is a Democratic socialist. What does that mean? It means we should vote on who gets to take what.  The current system of government that allows the 1% to buy the goverment is simply evil incarnate.  The big problem is people walking around in a daze.  The other day Kadizzle was talking with Bill.  Bill is intelligent, but, but, there is a problem. Kadizzle was discussing with Bill how things stay in orbit.  Bill did not understand the principle.  What is the problem? The problem is Bill never thought about what keeps the moon circling the Earth.  Well, so what? Well people need to ask basic questions about the world they live in.  One question might be asked about the amount of perfectly good food we threw out the other day while people elsewhere were starving.  One question no one ask is just how does the government work?  Who cares? That is the problem as long as you have a warm place to sit at the executive suite, and a decent pair of shoes, who cares where all that stuff goes? Put simply people are distracted. Sports is a major distraction.  People watching football have no clue the wealthy cheat all day long on their taxes. If the wealthy only paid what they owed, not talking about cheating the government would have an additional 1.9 trillion dollars.  Then of course there is the cheating, just add at least another trillion or two.  Ok, take those trillions and build some homes, schools, interstate, mass transit and people have jobs.  Now make those same tax cheats pay their share and another trillion pops out of nowhere, but who cares I am watching football and my team is winning. 

Landing on a different Planet

From the lap of luxury back to the Earth Module, our version of Nomad Land.  From the jungle to the desert.  From high density people to low density people.  From the flattest lowest land on Earth to the 7,000 ft mountains of Arizona.  The silence and isolation are golden. Kadizzle has never had a desire to live in or near a large population.  Often Kadizzle reflects on the fact he never had an office job. Sitting in one place for more than an hour or two drives one crazy. Looking back on life Kadizzle is forever grateful that he was always his own boss. Most of his life Kadizzle set his own schedule for what and where he would do what.  Today people glued to a computer all day seems like a kind of torture one would never want. So today it will be a nice ebike ride and perhaps a sail on the little Rusty 1.  Who knows.  A life of mystery rather than a scheduled regime. 

The times they are a changing

 Sitting here with my grandchildren screeching and having a good time. What a different world these kids live in.  Now we have three.  They have no clue what the old world was like. Growing up as one of nine there was not much spoiling or delicate care. In their short lives they have lived a life of luxury Kadizzle could not imagine as a child. Toys, and gifts fall from heaven in a constant rain. Sylvie has had more luxury vacations by the age of 11 than Kadizzle has had in his entire life. Every desire is catered to. If they do not become spoiled it will be amazing. The real world teaches those who do not know reality. Kadizzle has been trying to pound this into Sylvie's head. Your  mom and dad may treat you like the King of Siam, but the real world thinks you are just one more kid. At home you don't have to work or do what you are asked, but what a surprise life will be. There is a word called no.  It is a word not heard much to modern children, but they will learn. 

The Transition

 Noise from screaming youngsters will cease, the tropical climate will give way to the desert.  Paths through jungle like terrian will be replaced with cactus and prickly plants.  The swarm of city life will be replaced with the solitude of the mountains. The plane will take us from people infected with acute prosperity and Trump to people living on the edge with brains infested with Trump.  Days by the pool will be replaced with days by the lake in the little Rusty 1 sailboat.  Evening drinks with be with the seniors in the campground. Youth will all but disappear from the game.  Evie, Sylvie, and little Quinn will go about growing up while granny and gramps get back to the trail work. The clock will tick and life will go on.  

Colorful water

Sam had a great idea for the pool party last night.  Into the pool went various round globes lit from the inside. The color in the globes changed. The pool itself was equipped with underwater colored lights that would change. The net result was swimming in a pallet of color. 

 Gun control.  Republicans will let our children be shot to ribbons in order to maintain power.  Republicans know exactly how to get cheap Hooplehead votes. Passing out guns and ammunition is a sure vote getter. The simple minded love guns, noisy pickup trucks, and wearing their hats backwards.  Courting the ignorant vote has become the simplest way for Republicans to maintain power. Who cares if you have to invade the Capitol? Who cares if school children are shot? It all pays off with more tax breaks. 

The Ocean

The ocean has been a stranger to Kadizzle for a long time, but yesterday Kadizzle baked in the ocean and let the waves move his lard about. With the family we went to the beach. The water was warm and pleasant. According to Erin a six foot shark passed right behind me. How did that shark resist all the fat recently supplied with cake, steak, and the best seafood?

Here at the house Sylvie and Evie will play all day in the pool. From the desert to water everywhere.   

Brave men with guns

Old Kadizzle is 72.  In those 72 years Kadizzle has never needed a gun to protect himself from another human being, yet the gun nuts live in fear every day. Once upon a time Kadizzle asked the police chief in our little town how many times he had his gun drawn. The answer was twice in 25 years. Really what are the odds a gun will ever be needed?Scared little men feel safe with a gun. Winky and Kadizzle occasionally run into a gun nut while hiking.  We ask "What do you fear?" .  Mountain lions if a favorite answer. We have been hiking for over thirty years in the west and have only seen one or two.  They run from you. 

What if the government tries to take over our freedoms?  Look what happened with Trump. We almost lost our democracy, but our main weapon was a majority of intelligent people, not guns.  The gun nuts were the danger. The reality is the gun nuts themselves present the most danger from guns.  Now you fear being shot at the grocery store or school by gun nuts.  

Chaos

 Screeching Evie, and Sylvie running about. Now they are outside so the decibels have gone down. Kadizzle tried to clean his ear, and it backfired. Now deafness is a problem.  Might be a blessing. The high level of activity with three grandchildren running about is a different way to awaken. No stillness of the morning. Quinnie is an eating machine that matches grandpa for consumption.  He is a smiley guy, always happy.  The in laws have graciously allowed the clan to use their home in Florida for a get together. With a nice pool the home is ideal for keeping Sylvie, and Evie outside playing in the water. 

Old folks migrate to Florida or Arizona.  Florida is just too flat.  Arizona has such a variety of landscape.  Winky would go nuts in Florida with no mountains to conquer. Both states have a severe infestation of Republicans. However, there might be fewer guns in Florida.  

Awakening at 72

Awakening at 72 years old the crumbling goes on.  Kadizzle often feels like an old building out in field with a sagging roof.  Gravity has no mercy and works 24 hours a day. If only the government would turn the gravity down as you get older rather than up. The machinery strains, creeks, and squeaks. Monday morning has come and Evie is sitting like so many kids soaking up the rays of giant TV.  This TV must be five feet by four and a half feet. Cheech is playing with Quinnie, better known as curly boy. Sam and Winky are on kitchen duty, and of course Kadizzle is just a big lump in a chair.  Later today Sylvie, and Erin will arrive.  The entire tribe, except Fran will be enjoying the atmosphere Trump basks in.  That scoundrel is somewhere around here. Sadly covid has devastated Trump's compound.  

Life in Florida

The Kadizzles are in Florida living the life of ease with the grandchildren, and in laws.  Life in Florida is a vast difference from the Earth Module back in the desert. On the way we got to fly the 737 Max, which made the entire trip without a crash. From Houston to West Palm Beach we got a brand new smaller plane.  The airports seemed plenty busy. Mask enforcement was stick on the planes.  

Usually we spend the night before and early flight in a hotel in Phoenix. When we got to the Motel Six near the airport the place looked like a training ground for thieves and drug dealer.  Abandoning that reservation we could find no hotel that was not booked at any price.  Now we had to drive back to Ruth's who kindly put us up for the night in Gold Canyon. 

Tom and the kids.

As old Kadizzle coasted downhill towards the Earth module, there was Tom, an old man in shorts and muscle shirt.  It appeared he was trying to push a bright red soccer ball into the sky. Kadizzle stopped to find out what Tom was up to.  Tom explained he was stretching and staying in shape. Tom appeared old, he was dam near 8o, yet he looked fit and very muscular.  In no time we were deep into conversation. Tom lost his teeth for lack of care, but his father died from smoking. On his deathbed Tom's father told him to quit smoking and get in shape. Tom took those words to heart. So here is Tom doing his daily routine. 

Then Tom began to tell Kadizzle about the three kids he was raising.  One of his children became addicted to drugs and the father abandoned the kids as well as the mother went to jail.  The state asked Tom if he would take the kids in.  Of course he would Tom told the state.  So here was Tom with limited means 80 years old raising a family.  We spoke for awhile, and it was really uplifting to meet this old guy with such a good attitude.  80 years old and taking all this on.  Tom had a good reason to stay in shape.  The whole thing makes you think about people doing good, and people not doing much good. 

Off we go

Florida is the destination. The goal is to see the little people. Hop on the plane, put on the mask.  Kadizzle has been advocating loading planes from the rear.  It makes so much sense.  Now airlines are going to do it because of the virus. Instead of clogging the isles it will be done sensibly. 

Ken and Rita are going back home, their season of volunteering is over.  The campground is full.  The virus has driven people to the wilderness, may be a good thing. Sad the place is so underfunded. 

Winky is buzzing around more than usual since we must prepare for our trip.  Today her name is Active Warrior. She is barking out orders quicker than Kadizzle can fulfill her wishes.  

Kadizzle is proud of the new solar light system he installed on Broadway.  Broadway leads to the executive suite.  Now the computerized system turns on solar powered lights for night trips to the dropdown. With rattlers waking from their winter rest one cannot be too careful. Kadizzle repurposed a light controller form another part of the campground. The controller is hooked to the solar panel. If figures out by itself when the sun goes down and comes up and turns on the lights accordingly.  If this type of system were adopted by others the power savings would be substantial. Harvesting sunshine is fun. 

Hikers down from the Mountain

Kadizzle had the opportunity to be near the area where he hikers come down from the Arizona trail to resupply yesterday.  About six hikers were having lunch and resupplying.  Two days ago Kadizzle met two other hikers.  You have to give these people credit, it is a very strenous hike.  The trail goes from the Mexican border to Utah.  It is about an 800 mile hike. These mountains are rugged, often lack water, and it takes a tough person to make the trek.  A mom and her teenage daughter were making the trip and about three single guys, plus one couple. A good way to spend the pandemic.  The snow up in the mountains drove a lot of the hikers down for a respite. 

There is so much that could be done with the money flooding the country from the Capitol.  Why not start the CCC program all over. That program paid young people during the depression to do public works.  Wow, if young people could help us with so many projects on the trails, and the campgrounds, we could make America Great again. 

Shoot money out of the cannon

Opening the mailbox Kadizzle found the FFR newspaper from Honest Omar. Honest Omar is the Pope of the atheist. Freedom From Religion is the official name of the paper.  What caught Kadizzle's eye was the article about crooked preachers, soaking up stimulus money.  One of the crooks immediately bought a jet.  You tax money when to one church that paid out billions for pedophile priest. Why are non believers forced to give tax dollars to crooked preachers who pay no taxes on the money they steal?

So much of the money sent out went to the wrong people.  Kadizzle, check his bank account today and found $2,800.  Truthfully it should have gone to someone much more in need.  

This brings up the subject, what is money?  Money is just a made up concept.  Where is the government getting all this money? It is simply ink.  In the old day they were called promissory notes.  I will right you a note and when you give me the note back I promise to pay you so much gold, wheat, or whatever.  No, longer.  Who knows what the current promise is.  It seems to be " I promise not to tax the rich".  In the old days when the government spent money it had some plan to get money.  No longer is this plan in effect.  Uncle Same just prints the money and gives it to crooks.  

The real secret to this system is no one pays attention.  Yesterday Kadizzle picked up two hitch hikers that came down from the Arizona trail.  The first guy Kadizzle drove back up to a higher elevation to save him some hiking.  The second guy was sort of giving up because of the weather. Kadizzle asked hiker number 2 if he was a Republican.  Lucky for him he answered correctly.  Then he ask why Kadizzle asked.  Kadizzle explained he would be thrown out of the truck if he was a Republican.  Next, Kadizzle brought up his jihad on social security and asked the young guy if he knew about the cap on social security.  To Kadizzle's surprise he said yes. This was a rare young person that actually knew how social security is rigged for the rich. From Kadizzle's personal survey for over five years most people have no clue that if you earn over $138,000 you no longer pay social security.  This is just once example of the ignorance of the populace. The wealthy have rigged the system so they and the crooked preachers can prosper.  Religion is a key to manipulating voters. Trump knew the evangelicals could be easily fooled.  Back to the FFR.  A young person wrote a nice essay in the paper about how religion is used to fool the vulnerable into making poor choices during elections. Some people are born ignorant and it seems to be genetic, but most people have a choice about being uniformed.  You can chose to watch and believe Fox or you can read something real.

Rain and information fall on the Earth Module

Rain has fallen all night.  The desert changes dramatically with rain.  Watching the streams flow and waterfalls run is a pleasure.  Winky and the Trail Crew are debating if they should work today.  Hans and Ruth decided to move farther south to be warmer.  

Kadizzle awakes each morning and gets up to date. Getting up to date involves checking the Fargo Forum, The Bismarck Tribune, The New York Times, a little social media, and CNN.  The two North Dakota newspapers are pretty worthless, but the letters to the editor do show some insight into the mindset of the Trump cultist, and the normal people. Some of the right wing letters and the letters from fundamentalist are so full of conspiracy theories, and lies it is hard to believe.  On the other hand there are some good people that fire on the right wingers with reality.  Of course Kadizzle is biased, but such is life.  The Fargo Forum has a nice assortment of right and left.  The Bismarck Tribune is just too tame.  The Bismarck Tribune seems to be afraid of it's own shadow.  Newspapers fear losing readers and advertisers so too often they don't want to offend anyone.  Sucking in everyone is a necessity for a paper to survive so they do put the nut case letters in to appeal to the Trump crowd.  Gaging how deep the insanity is plays a crucial role in figuring out reality.  Each person creates their own reality.  

Go out, don't go out

Yesterday was not a perfect day for sailing.  For some strange reason the lake looked fairly doable, while the wind on land seemed strong. Add to that the temperature was a little on the cool side.  Kadizzle thought maybe yes, maybe no.  Finally he hooked up the Rusty 1 and drove down to the boat ramp.  When he got there he changed his mind and did not feel like overturning.  On the way back he saw Cliff out bucking the wind.  Kadizzle went to the other boat ramp and Cliff invited him out on his boat.  The wind seemed to settle and was just right.  Kadizzle told Cliff to take him to shore and Kadizzle launched the Rusty 1.  What a launch, it blew the Rusty one into the bushes, but the little motor saved the day.  Now, Kadizzle and Cliff were each on their own little ship putzing about.  Of course the wind came up and the Rusty 1 became a wild horse.  Kadizzle just wanted to get back to shore right side up.  The jib came loose and was of no use, but Kadizzle managed some beautiful boat handling and sailed up to the dock. A small boat and a big wind are two things Kadizzle has not done for many years.  It is a different ball game that does not tolerate mistakes well. 

Rattlesnake Season

A morning ritual is the walk to the executive suite. Now that the weather has warmed up we have to be on alert for our old friends the rattlesnakes.  They are like Republicans, you just can't trust them, and you don't know when they might cause a problem. Cliff and Winky have had close encounters, Kadizzle has not.  When you get to the throne, you don't just fling open the door and go sit on the thunder seat, no you peak in first to see if a rattlesnake went in to get warm or catch a mouse.  At night is when the snakes like to hunt.  Sort of like Republicans doing voter suppression, the snakes are sneaky.  If the temperature drops the snakes may try to warm up on the asphalt or the concrete.  Always check and know where you may step at night. Kadizzle has upped the game by putting more solar lights on the walkway.  In reality Kadizzle has seen as many rattlers in North Dakota as he has in Arizona.  Usually the Kadizzles leave AZ when the snake come out, but this year with no home in ND we may be dancing with the snakes.  The recent fires must have wiped out a lot of snakes, as well as many other animals.  The fires also drove many animals down near the lake. 

We got some good rain last night, but today may be sunny enough to launch the Rusty 1.  It has been a little cold and you can see the snow up on the mountains.  A dump in the lake may be unpleasant.  Stuck in the Earth module Winky and Kadizzle watched some America's Cup racing.  The current boats they are racing are insane.  Now the boat will go up to sixty miles per hour.  Kadizzle is an old sailor and cannot figure out how these boats are going downwind.  The complexity of sailing these boats is much more difficult than flying a plane.  Since the boats rise out of the water that is one major problem.  Once out of the water the boat is held up by a hydrofoil on the rudder, and one on the side of the boat.  So the boat is sailing on a tripod, a rudder, a sail, and a foil in the middle of the boat.  The boat actually has two foils in the middle of the boat, one port, and one starboard.  Rather than try to explain all this it would be easier if you are interested to go on youtube and watch the racing.  Perhaps Kadizzle will put a video on here.  Think about it, the boat Columbus came over here on might do five miles an hour.  Now these sailboats are going sixty.  The referees follow the boats with fast small inflatable boats.  They can hardly keep up.  If one of these boats is steered incorrectly it could nose into the water at fifty or sixty.  Imagine what will happen to the crew.  They do not wear seat belts.  It appeared the Italian crew was wearing a small scuba tank in case they got trapped underwater.  The sport has changed completely.  Last winter Kadizzle was in New Zealand and it is fun to see the races right where Kadizzle was in Auckland.  The money spent on these boats is insane.  It must be thirty or forty million dollars to build and race one.  All of this while people are homeless. Well the rich do need to be entertained. 

Education Just Confusers People

A favorite quote was from my old Republican neighbor up the street "Education Just confuses People".  Simple minded people like simple minded explanations.  Complex thoughts don't sit well with the Trump cult.  Most problems can be simply solved with a gun.  If you don't understand it, shoot it. 

Found the video below last night.  It was fun to see the video.  It was just a week or two ago that plane was constantly flying over and beside us for training on the lake.  Seeing what they were doing from a different perspective was entertaining. 

The Hoopleheads are still out there.  Trump is gone, and they are looking for leadership.  Someone will exploit them.  Trump showed the way.  Ted Cruz is a likely new preacher to the deplorables. Cruz has the lying down, and his father was a crooked preacher so he has the background. 

Got some rain last night, and the day looks gloomy.  Winky wants to clean and wash.  Snow landed on the mountains. 

How Aerial Firefighter Pilots Are Trained | What It Takes (Fire training on our lake this winter )

Gun Insanity

First a disclaimer.  Kadizzle and Winky hunt pheasants, and have shot guns.  We do not own a handgun.  Yesterday the trail crew went up to the Four Peaks to put up a Wilderness sign.  The sign is wooden, hand made, and expensive.  To think a gun nut might decide to shoot a hole through the sign is very disturbing.  After we installed the sign the sign the crew took a tire ride and went down the backside of the mountain. It is an amazing wilderness.  On the way the damage by gun nuts could be seen.  Gun nuts shoot up expensive signs to the point they cannot be read.  One favorite tactic of the gun culture is to drag propane tanks, and televisions out into the forest and murder them.  Of course they just leave the trash there. 

Kadizzle wrote to three newspapers with this proposal, a 10% tax be put on guns and ammunition to pay for the damage and cleanup.  We tax the drunks, the cigarette smokers, and why not the gun nuts?

Two old Men

Two old men buzzing about in tiny boats. Hans 80 years old and the ex captain of a 50 ft boat in the Caribbean.  Old Kadizzle whose last boat was 34 ft. Hans with a single sail on a boat a little bigger than a slice of bread. Kadizzle on the 14ft Rusty 1.  Two old men having a good time trying to stay upright.  It is an entirely different game. One mistake and you are upside down.  It seemed the wind was getting stronger so in a stroke of wisdom we went back to land. 

A little cool today

One of the great pleasures of the RV lifestyle are the friends we meet.  Yesterday Hans, Ruth, Marty and his wife Annette stopped by for the afternoon meeting.  Swapping stories and adventures is the routine.  An amazing aspect of these get together s are the places we have all been at one time or another.  Marty and Annette had done turtle research at the Dry Tortugas.  It seems travelers have a lot in common.  Most are good liberals, many are sailors, and all have the need to explore.  Traveling opens up the mind. 

Today Winky and the crew are going back up in the Serra Ancha mountains.  Kadizzle is worn out from the last hike, and may do a little sailing today. 

Re-purposing things can save a lot of money.  The Forest Service wants to put up new big sign boards at the trail heads.  This could be expensive.  Kadizzle suggested the signs be constructed from the little Ramadas they are tearing down.  This would save thousands of dollars.  Will have to see what happens, but Kadizzle's guess is they will buy new and spend a lot of money. 

Yesterday Kadizzle had Marty try out the ebike.  Like so many he loved it.  Kadizzle predicts ebikes will be everywhere as more people try them.  Hans, and Ruth have ebikes and love them.  For older people the ebike is a good way to keep active.  You meet more people walking, biking and hiking.  

Now just a side note.  As volunteers we are allowed to have guest stay in our campground free.  A couple of friends have visited us this year. If you are reading this you are invited to visit.  We can hook you up to electricity, and provide you with water.  Your sewage will have to be self contained, but we do have a bathroom with flush toilets and a sink provided by the Forest Service.  It is for our use only and it serves us well, but we can let friends use the facilities.  We are located on Lake Roosevelt in Arizona.  The outdoor life here has everything. 

Taking on the Cult

An email came to Kadizzle from a Trump cult member. It had the usual right wing nonsense.  Kadizzle has been going back and forth a little with this cultist. Today Kadizzle wrote Mr. Trump cult a long email explaining the mind of a cult member and a Republican.  Honest Omar if you are reading this you would no the man, his initials Are D.V.   D.V.  is the classic Trump cult member.  I got mine, the hell with you.  You were just too lazy to be rich.  This reminds Kadizzle of the UPS driver in Bismarck who married a rich woman. The driver took on the mannerisms and attitudes of the rich. No doubt he became a Republican. It is always " Pull yourself up by your bootstraps".  However, a lot of people don't even have boots. Republicans love to blame the poor for everything.  The bottom 20% of our population only recieves 2% of the GDP.  If you think of the poor like a car they would get 100 miles per gallon.  On the other hand the rich are gas guzzlers.  The rich soak up way more than their share of everything.  So when gas is in short supply who do the rich blame, of course the poor.  Logic goes out the window once you accept the ideas of the Republican Party.  Logic, science, and good old reality are not going to get in the way of a good Trump cult member.  Anyway Kadizzle gave it a try.  Lets see what happens. 

Afternoon prayer meeting.

 Marty was riding by on his bike when he asked us for some trail information. In no time he was sitting with us having a cackle session.  Not too long afterwards Reta and Ken showed up along with Bill, then Hans sat down. So the session was on with laughter, lying, story telling, and some beer drinking.  That is life in the desert.  So many people with so many life experiences.  Outdoor people always compare hikes and adventures.  Hans it turns out was down at Patagonia state park and turned his little sailboat over. So now we have two old experienced sailors turning over boats.  The weather has been warming up and it is about time for our friends the rattlers to come out.  Soon they will be warming themselves at night and one must be careful not to step on them.  Kadizzle filled the coolers with ice today.  The Forest Service has a big ice machine and we usually get about fifty pounds at a time to keep the beverages cold.  Kadizzle and Hans may sail tomorrow if the wind is not too strong.  At 72, and 79 on a small boat we may never return. 

Marty lives in Payson and he gave Winky and Kadizzle the lowdown on the Trump gang there.  The Trump strain runs strong here and they have not yet developed a vaccine. The variants are numerous.  You have the paranoid bunch, the Q Anon goofs, and of course the good Christians who hate everyone. 

Sailing the Rusty 1

Winky set sail with Kadizzle on the Rusty 1.  There is no sailing crew like Winky and Kadizzle.  Hope Winky does not read this.  Kadizzle could take anyone with any mental condition and successfully sail with them, but not Winky.  The trick is pretty simple, just do what Kadizzle says.  Stroupini, Kadizzle, and the owner of the old boat we used to own the Xanadu were racing the boat. The mainsail blew to shreds.  Stroupini and the boat owner thought the game was over and we were out of the race.  In a very strong wind Kadizzle told the other two crew members if they would just follow his instructions we could replace the mainsail with a spare that happened to be onboard.  Under very difficult circumstances they did as asked. The extra mainsail was hoisted and we managed to take second place. 

This type of cooperation does not happen when Winky and Kadizzle sail. Yesterday the wind was light, thank ya Jeesus.  After an uneventful sail we decided to return to the dock.  Since we were out a ways the motor was engaged.  The motor had recently been entirely submerged and may have had a little water in the system.  The motor conked out.  The Rusty 1 is a very delicate boat and easy to overturn as readers may know.  Winky was very nervous about sailing this delicate craft, but we did have to get back to the dock.  To make the dock a tack of the boat was needed.  The wind was picking up.  The good Captain Kadizzle gave the command to reset the Jib.  The Captain would have done just as well telling a Cat to fetch the newspaper.  Winky said no way would she set the sail. To maneuver the boat Kadizzle needed the headsail.  Ultimately this led to Winky pulling the sail down while Kadizzle was trying to pull it up.  Kadizzle prevailed the sail was set and the boat was sailed right up to the dock.  Kadizzle often imagines flying a plane with Winky.  Kadizzle would say put the wheels down, Winky would shout no, you will get them all dirty. 

A Day off

Friday is a day off for the trail crew.  What should we do? Winky will decide.  Yesterday Roberto and Kadizzle secured the bridge so it cannot float away again.  It was absolutely amazing that the North Dakota legislature threw out a Trump rat.  Perhaps there is hope.  Looks like a great day weather wise.  The foundation for our new home in Payson is taking shape.  May go up there for a peak today.  Since the whole trail crew has been vaccinated we are letting up a little on the mask.  

Back to the bridge.  To secure the bridge we had to drive devices called "duck bills" into the bottom of the canal.  Roberto said we needed to drive the duck bills into the ground with a jack hammer.  This meant Roberto and Kadizzle had to lug an electric jack hammer and a generator about two hundred yards down some steep steps and on down the trail to the bridge.  Driving the duck bill in meant using a steel rod about six feet long.  This task was insane.  That meant we had to also have a step ladder to stand on top of with the jack hammer.  What a recipe for disaster.  Fortunately the brain kicked in and we found a better way to do it. 

This winter we have been doing a lot of bird feeding. It seems to be costing as much to feed the birds as it does to feed us.  We have three suet feeds. The birds take about two days to go through a suet cake.  Then there are the humming birds.  They drink sugar water at an amazing pace.  The Jila Woodpeckers get in on the action to help deplete the supply.  In the process of filling the feeders Winky spilled sugar water all over my bike. 

Since it is Friday we may get to order out. Perhaps ribs, maybe a good burger, or even pizza.  

Move the Bridge Day

 Had a great hike in the Sierra Ancha Mountains yesterday.  Today the crew will assemble and try to move the bridge that floated away.  It will be an engineering feat.  Kadizzle has a plan.  One end of the bride will be supported by a large set of wheels on a device used to move welding tanks.  The other end the bridge will be fitted with wheels from a dumpster.  If all goes well the bridge will be tugged along with a hand winch back to it's home.  Surely there will be a lot of discussion, and people saying " That will not work".  In the end failure is not an option.  Five old people have moved some big trees off the trail, so we should be able to do this. 

Up in the Mountains

Today the crew will drive many miles into the Sierra Ancha Mountains.  The hike will be in an entirely different biosphere.  High in the mountains we may see elk.  The last trip indicated a lot of bear were in the area.  Kadizzle is going along to see a wonderful spring camping area the crew reported. 

Move the bridge

 Roberto showed up yesterday and asked if the trail crew would move a little bridge that washed away.  When the lake came up the canal filled with water.  The foot bridge spanned the canal.  The bridge floated about sixty feet from the path it was used on.  Moving the bridge will mean it has to be pushed, pulled, or hauled about sixty feet. It will be a mini engineering feet.  Kadizzle may go to the work center today to see what we can use to move the bridge. 

Bill said no more sailing for him after the Rusty 1 turned turtle.  However, Matt say he would love to learn to sail.  Matt is like a giant version of Bill with a little meat on the bones.  With Kadizzle and Matt in the w boat it may be a lot more delicate.  The weather needs to warm up a bit so we can get on the lake.  

In the background public radio is playing.  The subject is voter suppression.  Amazing how blatant the Republicans are about their racist ways.