Jozien

The sign, six feet tall, read

ART

Lot 33

I made a u-turn and with only a glance at the subdivision's* map, drove straight to her door.

Her welcoming smile and invitation to coffee evoked memories of travels in other lands where hospitality toward strangers is still the norm.

Her art had/has an appealing immediacy (see it here) and we spent the next couple of hours discussing all things of importance, including polyamory.

Vulva  (6-12-11)

At dinner we had bison steaks; the bison having been "taken" by her husband from their back forty.

Three weeks later, on my way back from Alaska (to visit Canice), we, she and I, spent several idyllic weeks (August, 2010) atop a bluff overlooking the Takhini River.

 I got water at Mendenhall Landing, the river so clean it didn't need to be boiled.

In November she rode The Bus to Albuquerque. After introducing her to Michelle, we embarked in Trevor, the Ford Aerostar van, on a six-week sojourn into the wilds of New Mexico and Arizona.

Taking the roads less traveled (the only ones), she guided us over the Animas Mountains to Douglas. From there we followed along the border until turning north to resupply in Sierra Vista. In those days the border was rife with para-military. 

And though we were frequently stopped for questioning, we reveled in having it to ourselves.

Westward across Coronado National Forest to Patagonia Lake, we eventually came up for air in Arivaca. (I STILL cannot find the roads we traveled. At one point we went through a corral (two gates) that was 200 yards from the ranch-house. She was an incredible navigator!)

At home she spends much of her time hiking, weather permitting (or not, as the case may be), wearing naught but a holster with bear-spray. Although nothing of a stereotype, I read not long ago of a Dutch woman who, apparently unaware some people are uncomfortable with nudity, was, while strolling poolside, asked to don a bathing suit.

After we parted, Jozien (pronounced Yo-zeen in Dutch tho I used the Spanish: Ho-see-en), expanded on our experience. Over the following six years she explored the myriad rooms and dungeons of Castle Fetlife. As my karate instructor used to say, the highest compliment was when a student surpassed their teacher.  A woman of exemplary courage!

May 2018

* Subdivision is a bit of misnomer.
Not only is it the only concentration of homes between Whitehorse and Haines Junction, but the smallest lot is 20 acres. Of the twenty or so families who live here, many own several lots. It's 50 miles to Whitehorse and 80 to Haines Junction.

Two weeks ago Jozien came home to find a bear digging in the compost. Ignoring her honking, it continued until having unearthed it's prize, a soup bone, it retired to some nearby bushes.

Suzan, Tumco and a Kit Fox for Christmas

I joined Suzan for a couple of days of camping as we commuted into Yuma, Arizona for provisions and such. Here she is with her new Christmas stove and foldout table. 

We camped next to a wash about 5 miles north of Interstate 8 on S34, also known as Ogilby Rd. The lack of "forage" for cattle means there are few flies.

That wee yellow sign in the center of the image above marks the entrance to the ghost town of Tumco.


Below is looking West.

We camped close enough that Fort Trevor was able to regale Eggbert with tales of his travels.

One night while cooking a fox visited. It was the first wildlife, other than a few birds and deer, I've seen in years. We negotiated for one-time rights, but in the end I had to borrow from the web.

The Desert Kit Fox Project

Fort Trevor & The Vigraha Art Gallery in Prescott

On the way to our meetup, Suzan stopped to visit a friend. As the friend's daughter was admiring Suzan's  hammock and stuff, she commented that Trevor was like a fort. Thus, his name, which means Trusted Traveler, became Fort Trevor. 

Suzan and I are spending a couple of weeks together while she acclimates to finding her way "home" each evening. 

She's adapting amazingly fast and you can tell by Fort Trevor's smile he's pleased 
to, once again, be oot & aboot.

We stopped in Prescott where I sampled the Nasty Lady (with mushrooms) at Nastee Dogs hot dogs (one block South of the Court House on the West side). They make all their own dogs, buns, mayonnaise and ketchup. The meat is smoked behind the store. It was the best Brat I've had since Germany!! And only $7.50. 

We also visited The Vigraha Art Gallery at 115 E Goodwin Street, Suite E. It's just up the hill from the Chamber of Commerce in the back left corner of a little court yard on the same side of the street as the Chamber. It was full of museum-quality Tibetan, Nepalese and East Indian bronzes (for reals!!!), a few of which were life-size. 

Suzan keeps her guiding principles on a white board so they can be easily updated. 

1) Face the fact of your own death.

2) Stop making excuses.

3) Become a woman of your word.

         A) Be impeccable with your word.

4) Don't take anything personally.

5) Don't make assumptions.

6) Always do your best.

Trevor - 1992 Aerostar XL

In those early days there was a .357 in that shoulder holster; I'd been living in the city too long.

Maybe someday I can check my journal to see where I was. The photo below, from the same period, is (worthlessly) labeled, "The Road Less Traveled."

Kusawa Camp

On a bluff overlooking the Takhini River, we spent several weeks watching swans fly by and reveling in nature's delights. Later, In November, she rode the bus down from Whitehorse and we spent six weeks traveling in Trevor, the Aerostar van.

On the Bluff

Takhini River

Roadkill dinner hit by

Border Patrol

The following was written about a camp when traveling through New Mexico and Arizona in November.

They say travel expands your horizons, but clichés are meant to be ignored, eh?

We had a rule -- regardless of where we were -- at 3:00 p.m. we'd stop and make camp. (Nomads RARELY have rules, but every now and then we try one just for fun.) The rule gave us time to unpack, make supper, enjoy a glass of wine and watch the spectacular New Mexico sunset(s).

So when the clock struck, Jozien slammed on the brakes, yanked the wheel over hard, bounced over the road-side ditch and landed on the two-track with all the Dutch determination used to invent the rule! The road, barely visible, led into some bland hills that looked like nothing more than a bunch of old muffins left overnight on the kitchen counter; not much fun. But hey, a rule is a rule, right?

As it happened, there was an arroyo with lots of dead wood. Jozien the pyromaniac, soon had  ten-foot flames keeping the evening desert chill at bay. Wine in hand, supper on the stove and sunset in full swing, we found ourselves truly entranced (New Mexico is known as The Land of Entrancement) as the local coyote chorus regaled us with a wonderfully polyphonic version of Ode to Sunset.

The next morning Jozien took off up the arroyo. You know how the Dutch can be, and she's no exception. She likes to walk IN the arroyo rather than ALONG it. This can be dangerous if there's a flash flood. But she is, first and foremost (after all), a Yukoner! In the desert the horizon can be 50 miles away. But what often catches your eye is barely more than five feet away....by your shoes. So being IN an arroyo kind of makes sense.

But this was no ordinary arroyo. It's sides began to narrow and heighten. Then, suddenly, she came to a small cliff. She climbed up and found herself in an alcove. Facing her, across a small depression, was an even larger cliff.

She approached the wall with caution. Feeling her way up, her tongue sometimes snuck out between her teeth (a childhood habit) as she concentrated....searching for hand-holds. But she made it.

It was like a cathedral! A huge wall enclosed an area approximately 50 meters in diameter.  And the vegetation was luxuriant! There was a huge oak, larger than any she'd ever seen in the desert; an aged piñon pine, several barrel cacti and through it all, birds flitted about while butterflies danced over a pool of water at the center. It was magical!

She sat under the oak and admired its gnarled bark and huge trunk. It had to be hundreds of years old! The birds were almost tame, but after coming within a few feet they seemed to grow bored and flew off. The silence was so intense she could hear her blood pounding in her ears. The New Mexico sky was so blue and the air so clean each breath was a delight!

And who would have guessed? This place, so magical it brought tears of joy, hidden among hills so bland. You can never be sure what you'll find when you venture onto the paths Less Traveled.

But it's amazing how often magic awaits!

 

North Padre Island

After leaving Eric's I went down to the coast. I've never much cared for large bodies of water, but, you know, it's sort of like being in Nashville and having to at least drive by the Grand Ole Opry.

Susan, Michelle's Mom, bought this Ford Aerostar XLT with the big V-8 for Michelle to drive to art shows around the country. When she stopped doing shows it sat under the carport as I preferred my 1999 Geo Metro hatchback that got 50 mpg.

Hauling the family heirlooms and archives to my brother's in Dripping Springs, Texas (outside Austin), required a large vehicle. Trevor, as he was knowed, did splendidly. Later, he was gifted to Suzan Shirley.