Kofa - In Four Wheel Drive

The roads in Kofa National Wildlife Refuge are not friendly to large or fragile vehicles. Most ARE navigable, at least to a degree, with a sedan, but large cobbles, recalcitrant protuberances along with creosote and cacti eager to "reach out and touch someone" can intimidate those who have concerns.

There's a campsite a few hundred feet before this short section. Getting down wasn't too hard and though I suspect it wasn't necessary, I used four-wheel-drive low to get back up.

Phoebe is my first four-wheel-drive vehicle and I'm still in discovery as to her abilities. The difference between the apparent ease with which she navigates terrain compared to the experience behind the wheel, is still a surprise.

Goodyear Wrangler Trailrunners on the front. Goodyear on the back as well.

Kofa - Gnarly's Camp

 

Avid Photographer

Concession to Convention

Our public Lands, frequently managed by the Bureau of Land Management, are often in remote places where one can safely surmise that one has it to one's self. But on occasion I've seen postings by The Bureau where they evidently felt it necessary to constrain behavior warning that due to the potential proximity of others, nudity is not allowed. 

Like Paul Weiner (deceased), I eschew clothing. Not for any principaled reason, but simply because I don't like the feel of cloth against my skin. 

Though there is little traffic on the road in Kofa, any is some. In a concession to convention and a placatory nod to the BLM, I not only don underpants, but augment the concession with shorts...such as they are.

Crafted from long pants that've seen better days, they rip and tear as I squat, bend over and otherwise cavort about. 

Lite On the Mtn Camp

She arrived a little after dark. The fire was going nicely and served as a beacon. She said she wasn't sure 'til the suspenders gleamed against the white shirt.

The moon was full, or perhaps a hair's-breadth under. But the night was tender as we sat, hand-in-hand admiring the embers and enjoying the pleasure of rejoinment. 

The wind started up during the night and by morning the air was so full of dust the mountains had disappeared. While waiting it out, we alternated the day with visits, breaks for rest and meals. Then, with the moon in affirmed tumescence, we set out. I haven't the stamina and though her mind was willing, I've taken a stern stance with "Her Ferretness." She denies the incursions of age and cites Sophia Loren's advice to not grunt when getting up, but she does anyway. So, though it's difficult, I force limitations...and rest.

This morning, aside from the cloud hovering o'er the length of the distant freeway, it's a bright, sunshiney day.

Photo courtesy of iPhone. I have a 'droid.

The Right To Die

This just in from EXIT International:

Exit would like to congratulate the Finnish documentary team of Jan-Olof Svarvar and Maria Holmberg who have won the 'Best Producer' award at the 2022 World Film Fair this week in New York.

Based on the 6-part TV documentary series which was aired in late 2019 by the Finnish national broadcaster YLE, (link is to movie trailer) 'Right to Die' follows the end of life experiences of four people (two Exit members) in Finland, the Netherlands & the US.

Olof Films feature documentary (English language) stems from their initial TV series.

The documentary can be viewed on Vimeo (by subscription; scroll down...it's in the list). Exit hopes to post further information of free to air viewings in the near future.

Watch the TV series Trailer

* Note - this documentary should not be confused with the 2019 film by Vice Media called 'Time to Die' An image from EXIT's website...in order to have some image to accompany the post.

Lucky Day In Wickenburg

The microphone on my new Pixel 6 quit working so I went into Wickenburg to get it looked at. 

This was the 1st day of the Rodeo Arts & Crafts Fair and, counting on my Lucky Herrmann luck, I turned into the public parking across from the fair. The lot was full, but as I exited to the street a car 10 feet away pulled off, leaving their vacated spot for me.

At the Verizon store, I left it with Kaleb Pitts while I went to the fair. 

At the fair I discovered the most unique jewelry at the end of an aisle dominated by ATV rental companies and commercial products. When I inquired about the reason for their location she said they'd applied late. In addition, because they had some items made by other artists, they were ineligible to be among the "Completely Hand Made" group.

I found an administrator of the show who asked me to show her the booth. As we made our way she told how she'd had double knee replacement & needed to go slow. Pausing to rest, she added that one of the knees had become infected and had had to be re-replaced. That was four years ago and I could see her knees were still swollen. 

Asking her to wait a moment, I went & got a bottle of Dragon Spray from the car. After telling how to apply, I related the tale of its discovery. 

As a Marketing Analyst at University of New Mexico Press, I wore a suit and tie and dress shoes. One day at karate class when the instructor blocked my front kick, I broke a couple of toes. At work the next day I was politely informed I couldn't come to work wearing only one shoe. As a new hire, I needed a solution and found it at The Herb Store where Edgar Chase sold/sells his miracle jow. Jows are traditional Asian analgesics/curatives used in the martial arts community; their formulas are closely-guarded secrets. That evening I spritzed my foot and in the morning was able to put on my shoe.

As we walked to the booth  she told how she'd just taken over the administration of the show and had never done anything like it before. I told of Michelle's and my trip to DEEP ELUM "cutting-edge" art fair in Dallas where there we vendors selling lawn chairs and commercially-made hummingbird feeders. I said I understood the need for quality control but....

She looked at the work and met the vendor. As we walked back she thanked me for bringing the situation to her attention. 

Back at the Verizon store, Kaleb had discovered the microphone was clogged with dirt. He'd sprayed it with cleaner and blown it out with compressed air. I gave him $10.00. He gave me a bottle of cleaner & a NEW can of compressed air.

Now aside from the parking place's miraculous appearance, here's the best part...I'd scheduled the ultrasound of my aortic aneurysm back in December. Since then plans changed but when I tried to reschedule they told me they were full up & scheduling for Spring of 2023. But today when I called they had several openings to choose from. Lucky Herrmann!

Wickenburg Trestle

The gap between the hills was a mere flash. I turned around and waited 'til the 5-o'clock flash-flood of commuters had had their way.

I tried cropping to emphasize the trestle's smallness, but ended up leaving it original. This is merely a memento, at least until they invent the camera that can produce a lifesize hologram.

The red-on-yellow PROPANE $2.89! sign was not to be ignored. I pulled into the RV Park and up to the propane dispensor as he was lifting himself from the chair. As I came to a stop he said, "I was just leaving. But for you..." I rejoined, "Bless yer heart!" and we commenced.

He asked how long my tank lasts me and in explaining it depends on the number of baths and/or gourmet dinners I cook - and he might wanna stay upwind -- I mentioned the catalytic heater was giving out. He told how one of the residents repairs them and he thought it easy. 

I may give it a try, but given that I'm continually surprised at seeing the toilet paper where I left it after settling on the throne, I'm not overly confident of getting it re-assembled.

 

Harquahala Mountain Trailhead

The move from Blythe's 337 feet elevation to around 1700' on highway 60 a few miles west of Salome took the wind outta muh sails; but around 3:30 I was packed and rolling. I spent an hour in Salome finding water. With sundown drawing nigh, I headed east.

There, 14 miles further on, was the BLM sign (see below).

The trail is a road for several miles and we were able to get far enough from the highway to make it tolerable...and in time to boil up some pasta and set up the trail camera. Weather perfect!

Pano from my NEW! Pixel 6 phone

Ancient tire tracks on left - road on right.

National Defense Authorization Bill

Senator Martin Heinrich has done an amazing job of balancing the diverse interests of New Mexico's Constituencies. Ranging from the hi-tech corridors of Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos and White Sands Missile Range, through the Northern stronghold of Hispaniola to the predominantly-agricultural southern communities and including the many Tribal Nations throughout the State, he's even managed to avoid getting FAT!

(He HAS recently acquired a Bud-light-esque beard.)

He's always been good about keeping the citizenry informed and his latest email, January 31, 2022, exhorts the folks in the southern part to recognize the many benefits of the American Rescue Plan, the National Defense Authorization Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, "all major pieces of legislation that I helped to pass last year."

Curious about the National Defense Authorization Plan, I looked it up.

Near the top, in Sec.114, is mention of "the procurement of accessories for the next generation squad weapon." Intrigued by the name, I googled Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) and was informed that the military will replace all M4 carbines and M249 automatic weapons with the new. The contracts won't be awarded until October and Textron Systems has dropped out.

Prototypes

From the article on Armytimes.com: The optic will include a “ballistic computer” and the future ability to link with new night vision devices to connect the goggles with the weapon site for target acquisition and engagement.

In perusing the websites of Vortex Optics and L3 Harris, neither offers the public anything that even approaches the technology of the military's NGSW optics. 

There's a link in the Armytimes article to current Army pay rates and compensation calculators. After 20 years ANY soldier will be making $55k - $75k and likely have better retirement benefits -- as much or more than is available in public-sector jobs. 

With jobs disappearing to automation and no incentives for population control, things could get interesting. As the need for middle-management has faded, the middle-class, comprised of college-educated professionals has also disappeared. And as the divide between the working class and the wealthy has widened, America has sunk into third-world status. It is at times such as this when dictators have managed to gain control. But we can all feel safe knowing the military is well-endowed.

LYFs

 

Little Yellow Flowers

The sun shone through and I, on my knees, looked up their skirts.

Keep Your Lamps...

 

How the Quarantine Concerts came to be

Fur Peace Ranch

Coyote's Bidet