Durango

Double-el has an eye for the surreal.


She got the chance to focus it at an extraordinary thrift store in the corner of the little shopping center north of the Budget Inn.

With Jimi Hendrix and Elvis Costello.

Her fascination with the culture's ability to convince women they need to look a certain way prompted us, decades ago, to do a show (at my gallery) called Poodlemania. Poodles, womens' canine equivalent, require coiffuring. And pussy, or even better, pussyass, really needs sparkling-blue eyes. All this from the masters-of-pedophilia; with downcast eyes she's ever-ready to do his bidding.

Then there was this Radiant Cat.

Bought & Paid for by the Durango Herald.

You're ready for ennything iffn you gots yer meat an' yer paintbrush.

A cute video for you gun enthusiasts...(WARNING - Writer & Director is a Double-el)

https://youtu.be/4T41M7cCqsU










Acerbic kulchur-critic. Have you ever SEEn anyone so smug?!!!

At Jean Pierre's (Double-el)

And after months of hunting, I found my five-dollar hat at the Humane Society Thrift across from Walmart. (Note gusseted pantleg.)

Photographer Jake Quinones is a contributing editor to Overland Journal. He took the photo below on Sept 15, 2014. I was camped on the Taos Steppe when Jake came by scouting destinations for his tour company, New Mexico Backroads.  Although barely 9:00 in the morning, when Jake proffered a Santa Fe Brewery stout, I set my spliffoes (the poochy part from whence cats' whiskers protrude) and proceeded. It served as the blog banner for several years. (Mentioned by Mark Johnson in Comments.)

I still had Eggbert, my 1999 Chevy (Suzuki) Metro hatchback.

The Granites - Northeast Nevada

I took the DelaPlain road a few miles south of Jackpot then turned right at Crocket Spring.

After a few more miles I made camp in this saddle.

I was fixing supper when a Peruvian sheepherder rode up. He spoke Spanish and my intermittent studies paid off; he accepted my invitation to beer...and then dinner (corazon). He and another live in two trailers parked about a mile apart. One of 'em is that white rectangle in the "flat" area.

He said their contract was for three years. I showed him my copy of Overland Journal. That's the Trout Creek drainage to the left of my right shoulder.

It looked like there might be a road into it, but I decided to follow the Devils Creek road; it resonated more. It was definitely The Road Less Traveled." (I'd be lost without my Garmin Etrex.)

It's beautiful country. And I had it pretty much to myself.

Can You Mix Engine Oils? (Jeezus!! A friggin' *technical*!)

Out there in the fields, where we ponder our wheels....the question has come up a number of times (for me). I tho't you too might find this article of interest. Besides which, Overland Journal is the only publication, I know you agree, worth subscribing to. 

And their annual conference, Overland Expo, is coming up soon. (New location: Fort Tuthill County Park, mere minutes from Flagstaff)

How's tHAt for a press release & promo?

For those who, like myself, eschew campgrounds, road 89A going SW from Ft Tuttle C.G. is the "backroad" to Sedona. It's in Nat'l Forest and from my brief looksee this past Fall appeared to offer innumerable boondocking opportoonitees.

Happy New Year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Overland Expo West

You know how when you walk into a party, a bar, or a nudist colony and you just fit in? Well, the Overland Expo West was that way for me.



Check it out....a komode!

                                                                    (Four Wheel Pop-Up Campers).



Everywhere there were folks talking about their adventures, the great people they'd met and where they were headed next. And next was, at least from those I spoke with, remote areas of the Southwest, Mongolia (on motorcycle, no less), India, South Africa, Malaysia and places I'm gonna have to check the spelling of.

                                                                The Journal blog.


Most of the rigs were larger than what I like, but the majority were designed for outdoor living i.e., sans porta-potty and shower. I was intrigued by the number of  older-model-enthusiasts including a (young) couple from Calgary, Alberta (Canada) who had driven down in their 1988 Toyota Landcruiser J4.



This Willys predates even the Toyotas.

It was great to meet and see some of the folks/rigs I'd read about in The Journal. The lived-in look of  Anna Callau and Pablo Rey's VW synchro with it's roll of toilet paper perched atop some clothes and socks drying on the dash was especially homey.

A close-up of that bumper.....

Even some appreciation of color.... note matching lugs and

                                                                                 (THAT's cool....towel drying on front bumper)




contrasting Max-trax (the purple thing on the side of the van)....

And although it's surmisal, for some reason this one had a "family" atmosphere.

But it was the overall vibe that was so cool. No talk of politiks, guns, sports or religion. When it wasn't destinations it was vintages (wines) or micro-brews; an eclectic group that felt like a family.

Many thanks to the Overland Expo folks for putting it together!!!

Next Post: The Three Journalists and hitch-hiking around Mormon Lake.