Los Angeles – Day 2

Driving south to visit new places and stopping along the coast because a selfie in front of the water always makes for a nice shot of two happy people.

Mission San Juan Capistrano in California

Our first visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano down here by Dana Point. This might be the most beautiful garden of all the missions we’ve visited to date.

Mission San Juan Capistrano in California

Nothing like recent rains to add details to already beautiful plant life.

Mission San Juan Capistrano in California

From the mosses on the walls to the crumbling facade, Mission San Juan Capistrano is wearing its age well.

Mission San Juan Capistrano in California

Infinity is found deep within.

Mission San Juan Capistrano in California

So if infinity is found deep within, what happens when we never manage to go beyond the surface of things? We crumble and fade away and ultimately will be unknown, just as most of us are to ourselves. Those who teach about spirituality in an organized Christian way only find value in the soul, which will remain elusive and foreign to those who cannot fathom the depth of where they are allowed to travel but are too afraid to venture.

Mission San Juan Capistrano in California

The rain pauses with waterdrops clinging to paddles of this succulent before falling to earth or evaporating back into a gas as water and plants live in a symbiotic balance where the cycle of life is in full bloom.

Mission San Juan Capistrano in California

The altar of God, the altar of gold, the altar of power: we kowtow before the altar but not that of ourselves. We are taught that the altar of ego is evil, and yet we are told to bow before those who are achieving greatness as defined by power structures that control the masses. We are deserving to be sheep with less freedom than a drop of water falling from the sky.

Interstate 10 driving east from Los Angeles, California

Snow and sky, green and blue, power from the wind, energy from the sun, and yet we move through the environment unaware of most everything except the next off-ramp where clean toilets have been promised because our personal needs are deemed more important than the energy we derive from the imagination that has been inspired by the exploration of nature.

Interstate 10 driving east from Los Angeles, California

Is the ultimate reward really salvation when the rainbow is a terrestrial phenomenon that our eyes are perfectly tuned for? The glory of life is a daily gift that too many have turned into a torment that becomes their living hell, at which point they try to sell it to the rest of us as a kind of normal. They are wrong. Long live the rainbow and the exhilaration that is found beneath their arc.

Los Angeles – Day 1

Caroline Wise and John Wise in West Covina, California

Another Friday night drive out to Los Angeles, California, yesterday. We are enjoying the rain we Arizonans covet so dearly here on this glorious Saturday morning. You probably don’t recognize the background, but I do. It’s one of the flood control channels that is pushing water to a larger channel that I’m very familiar with because we are in West Covina, and I used to walk by this spot frequently as a kid on my way to the West Covina Fashion Plaza (as it was known at the time). At another time in my youth, I worked across the street here on California Avenue at one of the two Barro’s pizzerias that existed at the time, which was about 1978.

Driving in the rain in Los Angeles, California

Out and about exploring Los Angeles and heading over to visit with my father.

Coronado Scenic Byway

US-70 driving east in Arizona

It was about two years ago (click here to read that blog entry) that we first drove up the Coronado Scenic Byway. Seemed like a good time to pay it another visit, so we drove out US-60, heading east until joining US-70, which passed these snow-covered mountains. We are looking for US-191 north.

Desert Flowers in Arizona

Between winter and spring, we are rewarded with the colors of nature returning to vibrancy and the cool air of transition before summer starts to bake us in about 60 days.

Clifton, Arizona

Clifton is close to being a ghost town. Only the continuing mining operations in Morenci are keeping this old place partially inhabited. For a time, visitors came for the local hot springs, but these days, it’s hard to find a reference to them, and from the number of people on the streets of Clifton, it doesn’t seem like a hot destination. This is a shame, really, as the drive we are about to start here that goes up to Alpine, Arizona, is one of the most beautiful in the state.

Heading north on Highway 191 in Arizona

Just look at all that natural beauty. This is on the edge of the large open-pit mine and not yet in the scenic part.

Heading north on Highway 191 in Arizona

For over 100 years, this area has been supporting a small population to mine copper, one of the three C’s Arizona was long known for, the other two being cotton and cattle.

Heading north on Highway 191 in Arizona

From desert mountains filled with ore.

Heading north on Highway 191 in Arizona

To tree-covered mountains filled with switchbacks, about 400 of them. Hairpin turns are a large part of why we can only average about ten mph on this byway.

Heading north on Highway 191 in Arizona

We plod along slowly, gaining elevation as we go.

Caroline Wise hunting for a toilet on Highway 191 in Arizona

Until we reach the snow line and hope for an open bathroom. I’m only pointing that out because if the snow is knee-deep and I could have taken a photo of Caroline in a scenic location, what is the significance of the building behind her? It’s an unlocked bathroom.

Heading north on Highway 191 in Arizona

Please, God of the Narrow Roads, do not allow someone else to be driving south as we need to maneuver this thread of a road without snow tires or chains. The idea earlier in the day was that we’d turn around if we hit an unsafe part of the road where snow or ice blocked our way, but here there is hardly enough room for that.

Caroline Wise and John Wise Heading north on Highway 191 in Arizona

Getting out to snap a selfie in the middle of the road and to catch our breath from the hairpin turns, deep snow on both sides of the car, and narrow part of the road we are still able to drive on.

Heading north on Highway 191 near Hannagan Meadows

We’ve reached Hannagan Meadow, and the road has widened. With only 23 miles left to Alpine, we feel that the worst is over.

Heading north on Highway 191 near Hannagan Meadows

And so we relax and spend some time checking out the scenery.

Caroline Wise and John Wise on the Mogollon Rim in Arizona

We remain in the snow a good majority of the drive home until we reach south of Payson. Somewhere out there, we encountered this 7-foot tall giant snowman, admiring his haircut; as much as we did, we knew we had to stop to take a picture of all three of us.

Adding Color

Flowers on our balcony in Phoenix, Arizona

In getting situated in our new apartment we went and bought some flowers to brighten our balcony. Locking up the condo a little more than a week ago was a bittersweet moment, but with the money we’ll be saving, we should be able to afford even more travel. Matter of fact this Saturday, we are planning a drive north on the eastern side of Arizona. I’ll report back then.

Renaissance Festival & Closure

Renaissance Festival in Arizona

If it’s the new year, it must be time to visit the Renaissance Festival, and if it’s 2003, it could be the sixth or seventh time we’ve driven out this way just past Mesa to spend the day getting sunburned, fatter, and poorer.

Renaissance Festival in Arizona

Ah, the Ded Bob Show. A crowd favorite every time.

Renaissance Festival in Arizona

Besides the turkey legs, blazing sun, and great entertainment, we are out here for the artists and craftspeople who make all manner of really cool, often expensive, stuff. Many of the decorations in our apartment are from right here, including art pieces from Bungled Jungle, a metal smith who makes some great dragon mirrors, a broom maker, our didgeridoo, some jewelry, and then there’s this weaver.

Renaissance Festival in Arizona

Caroline has been eyeballing master weaver Margaret Fischer’s work every time we come to the Ren Fest. While Greentree Weaving holds a special place in Caroline’s heart, the cost of these works is not cheap, and at about $250 for the Ruana above, she debates with herself and ultimately talks herself out of buying one. Someday, she’ll give in.

Our Condo at 16420 N Thompson Peak Pkwy Unit 1089 in Scottsdale, Arizona

Goodbye condo. You ultimately proved too expensive and incompatible with our desire to travel more. The thousand dollars a month we can save by renting a smaller apartment feels well worth the downsizing at this time. It does come with a bit of ego-bruising for me as this is America, and we are measured by our material wealth more than any other aspect of who we are. Success implies we must drive the right car and have the right address.

Oh well, that’s not ultimately very important. How much we laugh, cry at profound beauty, hold hands when walking into a forest we are enchanted with, buy a fridge magnet of a lighthouse we visited, or cringe at the worst, saggiest bed we’ve ever slept in, these things are important as they are our experiences and not our belongings or material objects to put on display to impress others. With a bittersweet look back at Unit 1089, we depart and move on to new adventures.

La Quinceanera

Yadell Perez and Roberto Perez in Phoenix, Arizona

Yadell Perez is turning 15 years old today. She’s being helped out of the car by her father, Roberto Perez. Today is her La Quinceanera.

Her mom is Socorro Perez, and with this special event, the family and friends will be celebrating Yadell’s coming of age.

Caroline and I are here because of Arturo and Guadalupe Silva, who invited us along. They are Yadell’s godparents. Prior to this Caroline nor I had any idea what a Quinceanera is.

Ximena Silva-Avila and Melissa Silva in Phoenix, Arizona

Arturo and Guadalupe’s daughters Melissa and Sophia were already having fun at the church before everyone headed to the resort for the festivities, but first, Yadell received blessings from the priest. With the proceedings finished, Yadell and her closest friends piled into the white stretch limousine for the ride to the party.

I could be mistaken, but I believe this is Yadell’s grandfather; if he’s not, he looks like a great guy to have as one.

Roberto Perez and his brothers in Phoenix, Arizona

Roberto and his brothers.

Arturo Silva and Yadell Perez in Phoenix, Arizona

Yadell had a short dance with all of the guests of honor, including my friend Arturo.

Yadell Perez in Phoenix, Arizona

Food, dancing, music, and about 100 guests kept the place jumping into the late night. Thanks to everyone for welcoming Caroline and me into this beautiful event. Congratulations to Yadell on her entry to womanhood.