Happy Valentine's Day to any followers out there!  I'm not currently "following" anyone's blog so I can't surmise a guess about how to follow or what to follow. For that matter, following has not proven to be one of my attributes. Nonetheless, a vicarious sweet day to anyone keeping track of my movements around and about the Gulf.

70 here today and even a bit of old Sol making an appearance. We saddled up the bikes and took to the beach head trail this morning for a haul.  Wearing shorts, t.shirt, and the salt air being ingested in large chunks was delicious. I think that one can peddle from here to Brownsville on South Padre Island. Of course there would be dining and a beer along the way as it's probably 70 miles or so.

Annie and I spend the midmorning and afternoon on the beach with the Bostie. Yes, everyone here is our friend with the Bostie by our side.  On that note, people here are friendly. Of course none of them are working stiffs so there's the explanation for that. Imagine if these former workers could have brought this same degree of enthusiasm and happy face to their jobs back in the day.  Mental health quotients in many villages would be much better.

I looked at a posting advertising for a barista but alas, I do not possess the skill set.  For this I am thankful. However, I did take note of the guy hosing down the untold 100's of outdoor biffey's. This I can do and think that I could bring a certain amount of charm yet hold my disdain for the people using said recepticle.

Perhaps I should save a bit of this questionable wit for tomorrow's posting. I don't want to use up all of my "A" material.

Happy Birthday Stace!  Sending you and all love and hugs from the Gulf.

No matter the rain, the temp was 60something and no wind today, that and being on the beach made life much softer than being in the snow of MT. We walked and beachcombed this morning in the drizzle and drove about after for a few spots that struck our fancy. Fast forward to post dinner...collared Enya and drove to the beach as the sun made an appearance late this afternoon. Daylight lasts longer here than in MT and it's splendid to be where water meets land and feel the quiet as sunlight is absorbed by the water.

70ish or so forecast for tomorrow. If so, I'm thinking lawnchairs and food on the beach most of the day and a book that I've restarted a dozen times or so.

Sunday the 12th in the Gulf of Mexico and it's 50ish, rainy, and windy. Not the winds that we know and love in Montana, but blustery enough so that it does not feel like 50 out there.  My most previous blog was transmitted I think, from Bluff, UT. Upon departing Bluff, we drove south and east to Albuquerque, NM, spending the night at a B&B called Cinnamon Morning. Annie had stayed here previously on a personal and spiritual trek a number of years ago. As luck would have it, we were able to rent the same casita that she stayed in at that time.  We had a little time to browse a few art shops in Old Town Albq. which was fun. Found a grocery store, purchased a few groceries as we have grown weary of cheese, crackers, almonds, and apples. That evening, we grilled a couple of pork steaks, and I made the not-so-famous Mexican salad.

The drive down from Albq, NM included a stop over in a wee Texas town called Azona, named after the pagan god West Texas god, "Azona" who is reputed to be the god of over-sized, gas guzzling, exhaust belching 4 wheel drives. Judging from this first glimpse of driving through Texas, that worship is alive and as well here as it is in MT, and of course, Rock Springs, WY.

We checked in on the 9th and unloaded gear, etc. I can now see out the rear window of the Mazda and I sense that the other drivers in the world feel much better about me being able to do so. The weather, one of the reasons for selecting Port Aransas, has been wet, windy, and chilly with reassurances from locals and people of the atmosphere that it's going to improve. Nonetheless, we've pedaled the beach on the bikes, walked the beach, strolled about this little port town and not let the weather get in the way of doing things. Still, we'll be thrilled when the sun comes out to be able to read a book on the beach.

Enya continues to be a fine little traveler and is apparently comfortable with our lodging circumstances. She has seen the Gulf and from what I can tell, does not think much of the ocean as she has yet to allow the roll of a wave get close to her. Of course, Bostie's being natural sinkers may have something to do with this.

I like this little town. Folks seem friendly, the beaches are uncrowded, with miles of spots to choose from to make a day of it and there are some aquatic and birding splendors to be experienced. We aim to do it all.  No photos contained in this blog as I need to improve my skills in this arena.

South from Bluff to New Mexico

We're in Albq. which is my abbreviation for the sure to be wrong spelling for Albuquere. Anyway, we're in New Mexico departing from Bluff, UT this morning.  We put foot out upon the land south of Bluff yesterday and even more so than MT, you can trek anywhere in this piece of the planet. I felt like I was 12 years old. Stopping and digging, scratching my way up red banks, and absorbing the silence. Annie and I banged about for 4 hours and then had to pick up our step to beat a snow/rain squall back to the car to get out of the bottomland. Bluff holds interest for me and it would be effortless to let the land take hold of one here.

On to a city today. We're staying at a B&B called Cinnamon Morning. This is sweet spot that Annie stayed at 6 years ago while upon a quest.  It's lovely and very near a part of the city called "Old Town." We checked in, left the Bostie, and treked about and in and out of a few gallery's as well as getting groceries for dinner this eve. Grilled up a few vegies, some pork steak, and had a beer. On to Texas tomorrow and clueless about where we are holding up for the night. Into Port A. on Thursday.

The vistas south across New Mexico were soft yet curious.  I love all of this land that we call home. Sending love to you all and girding my loins for the people that we call texans.

South to Bluff

Just hoisted myself out of the hot tub at the Recapture Lodge in Bluff, UT and sipping on a bit of Annie's home concoction of Le'mon which is pretty doggone lovely.  The Bostie is curled up on her blanket. Her day was varied and consisted of waiting in the car while Annie and I took a bike ride down the Looking Glass Road south of Moab and enroute to Bluff. Temp at the time of foot to the pedal was 31 and snow all around. Bostie was the sentinel in the car and did a splendid job as the car was still there upon our return. Proceeded south through Monticello (not to be confused with Jefferson), and Blanding which was very confusing.

Arrived Bluff around 2:00 and junked the bags at our spot and headed out walking to the San Juan River bottom which, as the gods would have it, was on the property of the folks who run this place where we are bunking.  The Bostie broke trail and we arrived at the river after walking through old broken down cotton wood trees and the good fragrance that they surrender. I had solid thoughts of spring in the middle of the MT winter...how refreshing.

After convincing the pooch that she needed a rest, we ditched her at our room and struck out to a rise just outside of this place called Bluff. I like the lay and roll of the land here and it's history as a place that prospered at one time (gold rush) and fell upon hard times. What I like most about it however, are the legends and spirits that lurk here. You don't have to be paraperceptive to gain a sense that you are treading upon the land of the ancients. So, I stepped as quietly as possible and attempted to leave print no larger than necessary.

Photos of the bluffs and a bit of sunlight chasing finished off the day. We have a "kitchen room" thus red beans with rice and a little mystery meat added made for a culinary conclusion. All in all, a sparkling day moving south across the majestic Colorado Plateau.

Drove to Canyonlands National Park this morning and attempted a hike to a mesa that contained a native peoples dwelling/ruins. Arrived at the trail head with 3 inches of snow on the ground. Air temp was 31 which was dandy for the hiking that we accomplished. Alas, my feet got cold and we cut the hike short before reaching our chosen destination. All in all, the land had a soft beauty about it with the snow mixed against the red sandstone. Back at the ranch in Moab, we did a trial run with Enya in her milk crate doggie carrier on the back of Annie's bike. Road about in the back yard before striking out for the street. She seemed to tolerate the entire thing OK and hopefully will help tomorrow when we head south for Bluff and some biking on jeep trails.  The whole educational process was abetted by the finer principles of operant conditioning. I love it when behavior management works.
Off for Bluff in the morning. Happy trails to you all!

Rain mixed with SW Utah snow this morning. In MT it would be the other way around with more snow than rain this time of year. We had a splendid breakfast, packed some gear and the pooch and off. Hiked to the Corona Arch which was a short 1.5 mile hike above the Colorado River some 10 or so miles north and east of Moab. Indian pictographs and dinosaur tracks along the road to the point of embarkment.

It was a lovely hike with a spot of rain and cool temperatures. I spent most of the hike following the Bostie's ass.  Enya is not much of a follower. So many rocks and so many soft canyons just beckoning to us as we hiked. I think that it's important to be as quiet as possible when walking in what are probably sacred places and the soft red sand permitted us to do just that and pay our respects to the sweet earth.

I thought of John Wesley Powell, the one-armed cartographer who floated and charted the Colorado River and this country and wondered about the meaning of voyager and scout and how this might apply to my life.  Upon returning to the outfit after our hike we had some lunch at the campground overlooking the Colorado and were joined by two Jays who savored a bit of our apple and Cliff Bar...peanut butter crunch. I bet that did not "pass" easily.

A beer and Margaretti (Annie) at the Moab Brewery when back in Moab. Grilled chicken for a chicken salad dinner and such was my day.  Replete with wonder, profound appreciation, and humbled by this great land that we call home.