Goodbye Tucson, hello....?
I am sitting just outside the camper staring up at Picacho Peak in Arizona. We hiked to the top yesterday via a strenuous trail that had us gripping cables, balancing between vertical rock walls and metal fencing, and giggling quite a bit with the exposure. Today, we are faced with the uncertainty of "what's next?" Our original plan was to visit all of the Utah national parks, but a cold snap is bringing temperatures below freezing. It is difficult to bring the camper into areas with such cold temps because we have to worry about freezing water lines.
So, now we consider our options... Death Valley? San Diego? Joshua Tree? Wait it out for a few days and head to Moab? We sip our coffee and consider our next destination.
Before Picacho: Trisha in Tucson
As we silently perseverate over our next move, me sipping coffee, Chuck making scones in the frybake, I reflect on my time in Tucson this winter. This has been my home base since mid-January while Chuck adventured to Patagonia once again. In this time, I have taught for NOLS in Florida, Ohio, and California, spending a week here or there. I have kept busy with crafting and consuming art in different ways: I saw a community theatre performance of the 1990s cinematic masterpiece "The Wedding Singer," visited the LOVERULES exhibit by artist Hank Willis Thomas, met the American expert on kumihimo Rebecca Ann Combs, and got a tour of an incredible straw bale home constructed by the owner Frank Staub. All of this among other inspiring moments engulfed in imaginative innovation and the sunshining natural wonders of the southwest in winter.
Full of the glow from this creative inspiration and with much free time on my hands, I finished my first ever knit sweater for a band of my goofy niblings (see pictures below), played lots of guitalele, patched some clothing, put googly eyes on pictures of birds, wrote a haiku every day for over a month (and still going! and I got some of my students to write haikus, too) and made some homemade cards for loved ones. I also helped remove an invasive species from Saguaro National Park (the stubborn foe: buffelgrass - learn more here), went hiking and biking, visited a cat cafe, participated in a sacred women's circle, flew to Ohio to teach a course, and did lots of yoga.
☁ Meanwhile in Chile ☁
Return of the Chuck
Chuck returned from Chile at the end of March. We had a few days to spend together before I took off to California for another NOLS teaching contract. In that time we explored Brown Mountain in the Tucson Mountain Park and took a trip to Sabino Canyon (one of my favorite spots around Tucson). In Sabino Canyon we took the Phoneline Trail up the canyon, then explored the stream on our way back down (it had been dry every other time I visited). I was excited to see water in the canyon and I, of course, had an immediate compulsion to get in the water. So, when we found a deep swimming hole, I took my chance and hopped in. We saw small fish and turtles in the water. It is amazing how quickly the creek comes to life when the water returns.
While I was gone in Santa Cruz teaching, Chuck got to play some golf, eat a lot of tacos, and hang out (arguably his favorite activity).
Pictures from Picacho Peak
I love to read your experiences, we talk a lot as you travel but reading your adventures is so enjoyable. I feel like I'm reading a good book and traveling along with you guys. Thank you for sharing with us! Love you
ReplyDeleteThanks mommadukes. Love you xo
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