Arna’s Ramblings

Five years ago this would not be true, but now that we find ourselves in Northern Arizona and New Mexico we are close to home. Thus, we feel the winding down of our road trip as we enter the home stretch. It’s hard to believe we have been on the road for over six weeks and have traveled over 7,000 miles.

Some time after Las Vegas we felt a bit of a shift. The bad weather seemed to be chasing us, we had a pipe burst back home, and we knew the road ahead was a path we have taken before. Without new places to explore (well, there are always new places – but, you know what I mean) we were feeling the tug of reality. We didn’t want to admit it, but eventually, I guess, one needs a little routine and predictability. Whatever the reasons, we reluctantly started to accept that the time had come. I must say, I don’t think we feel neither happy, nor sad, about returning to Denver. It’s just time.

We have been reflecting on all our adventures from Texas to California, the unobstructed and varied landscapes, the cold mornings, the birds we’ve been learning about, and so much more. I have been pondering my state of being while on this journey. The journey of my mind has been as intriguing as our travels. Like childhood days, carefree and full of wonder, there is so much time to daydream. Time to allow the mind to spin thoughtfully, weaving and absorbing minute details and emotional pulls. The true expression of living in the moment.

Without being tied to the clock our sense of time has shifted. Our plans have been our own, choosing when and where we want to be. Without having to worry about what we should be doing we’ve had the luxury of doing what we want to be doing. What I will miss most is the spirit of spontaneity and that unexpected jolt from surprises. But damn, when we had it we relished every moment. And, we won’t forget. Well, I might, but now I have this blog to help me remember.

What I cherished most about this road trip was being able to just be. No worries about doing those mundane items on the never ending to-do list, no household chores, no work tasks, no CNN, very little internet – basically, no obligations to anyone or anything. What that did provide was time together to contemplate our lives, the path we have been on, and the one we might take next. Our rhythm together was simple and fell into place more easily than I expected. We weren’t cramped for space, longing for home, annoyed by each other’s habits, and never tired of conversation. Best of all, was our constant connection to nature. We bathed in all it had to offer, from the lizards to the birds, the streams to waterfalls, the desert to the mountain tops, the wind and rain, prickly pear to pinyon pine, shells to rocks, the inescapable horizon, and the clouds and stars in the sky above. I am humbled by the Native Americans who truly honor the land in a manner of deepest respect and appreciation. Worship it and it does give back.

How do we keep this feeling of serenity, clarity of thought, peace with our own imperfections, desire to wonder and dream? How can we find time, and use it well, when we get back from the freedom of our happy trails? Well, I guess we will just have to find out. Maybe I’ll write about it.

I seem to do a visit to the Grand Canyon every 20ish years. My first visit was on my summer trip in high school. We all hiked down to the bottom and, if I remember correctly, camped alongside the Colorado River and hiked out the next day. What I do recall is the beauty and serenity of this magical place. I remember the red clay river and the towering walls of so many brilliant colors.

The second time I came to the canyon was when Mike and I brought our young kids. We woke up to temperatures in the 30s and climbed out of our tent with coats, hats, and mittens that we were soon shedding for shorts and t-shirts. We geared up and attempted to hike down into the canyon. Less than a half mile down, Brett became suddenly dizzy, nauseous, and within seconds fainted right there on the trail. Luckily, she sat down just before and managed to drop onto Trev’s legs to cushion her fall.

So here I am once again staring into this abyss. The canyon is humbling. You hike amidst these dazzling walls that tell the story of the canyon – as they say here, you go back in time with every step as you descend. This geological evolution starts at the Kiabab limestone of 250 million years until you reach the bottom where the metamorphic rocks and lavas formed nearly two billion years ago. They say there are nearly 40 identified rock layers in the walls. The Colorado River tells its own story of cutting the canyon walls over 5 to 6 million years separating the east and west rims. Today the canyon is 277 miles long, over a mile deep, and up to 18 miles wide.

The real allure is watching as sunlight and clouds cast shadows that dance across the canyon walls. The changing light summons you into a trance as you gaze at the ever-changing colors. The Grand Canyon is listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world and Mike and I would highly recommend you add it to your bucket list if it isn’t already there. It is truly an awe-inspiring fascination of our natural world.

I better begin my own planning though. On my bucket list is a hike down to the Havasupai Falls to camp for a few nights. But, the Havasupai Tribe limits the number of visitors (rightly so) and slots fill up as soon as you can sign on. So, I need to get going because I can’t wait another 20 years this time.

Before I write about Death Valley I just have to comment on a few serendipitous events. For instance, right now I am just north of Las Vegas, Nevada, a place I wasn’t that keen on dealing with. During our travels Mike accepted an offer to speak at an engagement in El Paso so we had to figure out the easiest way for him to fly out, speak, and fly back to wherever I was. Figuring we could easily get here from Death Valley, we picked the Las Vegas airport. We were going to set up Elvis where I would stay while he was traveling, but, we killed Elvis’s battery, Mike needed internet to do some work, and – whola, my sisters gave me a rescue-me-hotel certificate for my birthday. They can’t imagine spending a night in Elvis let alone five and half weeks! Well, Kris can, because we grew up in Family One (sorry, inside family talk).

Here’s the thing, I’m staying at this hotel with a pool big enough to swim laps! Plus, it isn’t heavily chlorinated. It isn’t a salt water pool so I’m not sure what’s in the water, but the gift shop sold goggles and the water temp was near 80 – so it was simply blissful. I can’t wait to jump back in. This is what I love about our trip – unexpected and unplanned things you think are going to be a disaster turn out to be rewarding.

My other serendipitous event was another visit with a west coast cousin, Theresa, who happened to be visiting Prescott, Arizona just when we were. Mike and I were in town having enchiladas when I got a text from her stating that Cate told her we were both there. She asked to meet up and when I asked “what about now” she and her husband showed up in twenty minutes. Again, there is nothing like family. First thing she said was you are Celeste, and I reminded her she was like her mum, too. Theresa is another quick-witted Bradley, refreshingly self deprecating and hysterical. Our time was very short, but we got caught up and had some good laughs.

Ok, now on to Death Valley. Wow, where do I begin? Death Valley is like no other, you wonder if you just stepped onto another planet. This is a geologist’s paradise full of wonderment. The sheer vastness of the area itself is staggering, and the varying landscape is breathtaking. We walked on the salt flats at 280 feet below sea level to the mountain tops at a mile high from sea level. At the flats it was 80 degrees with no wind, the day we went to Dante’s Peak it was in the fifties and the wind speed was around 30 mph. Looking straight down to the salt flats and out to the surrounding mountain ranges was one of the best mountain top views I have experienced.

We also took a bike ride and had the road to ourselves as we took in the changing colored mountain sides around us. There are carved out areas, full of color, that look like giant scalloped fossilized shells carved into the striped colors of rock. To their sides and below are alluvial fans of eroded rock and sand spilling down to the base spreading out across the desert floor. We hiked into a canyon made hollow from a volcanic eruption within the last 2,000 years and lay on the spongy sand floor protected from the gusty winds above. The only life we witnessed were some crows scavenging for who knows what.

Just outside the park is an oasis in the desert – the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. Upon entry to the visitor center hang photos of the President and Vice President – the irony of it all. The Refuge was created by the Nature Conservancy to try to restore the damage done by previous developers looking to build the next Las Vegas – Calvada. Their work now is to keep the area protected – especially the pup fish, one of the first species protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1967. It was a cold, windy day so the birds were nestled in the trees. We did see a Redhead Duck, a Northern Harrier, and we are pretty sure we were watching a pair of golden eagles soaring overhead.

We are leaving Las Vegas and heading east now with no definite plans because we don’t know where the snow is in Northern Arizona and New Mexico. Another few weeks ahead getting lost in the right direction.

And again, a third unusual encounter. While in Vegas we treated ourselves to a Cirque du Soleil performance and on the way in an usher stopped me because she recognized my bag from Mongolia. She was from Ulaanbaatar and was a professional dancer. We talked about the places I had visited, hugged each other, and thanked one another for the connection.

In this past week we have been in the arid desert, the lush coast of California, and are now heading back to the desert into Death Valley.

Joshua Tree National Park is replete with rock sculptures – rocks upon rocks. There is a stillness among the rocks and Joshua trees I haven’t experienced before for they stand without movement. The landscape is barren but for some scrub vegetation and the ever present Joshua trees, Dr. Seuss like statues with trunks and twisted branches holding up mini fronds of spiky green blades. The stone is rough weathered granite, shades of red, tan, and brown, with the texture and look of very coarse sandpaper. There are cracks between the boulders, like a long line of teeth, where molten rock has seeped in and cooled. Small creatures move over the desert sand and rocks, birds fly and twitter, but the earth lays undisturbed to the naked eye. We watched orange and yellow sunsets and pink and blue sunrises. On our hikes we spotted black tailed jack rabbits, ocotillo in bloom, desert flowers including purple lupine, red barrel and teddy bear cactus, and rocks in precarious positions. Driving out we stopped at the overlook to see the San Andreas Fault, the mountain range that includes San Jacinto, Palm Springs, and unfortunately the smog.

From Joshua Tree, with its limited range of diversity, we drove over a mountain pass headed to the Pacific coast that was overflowing with desert plants, trees dripping with greenery, abundant kaleidoscopic flowers, rolling hills, and serene meadows. We arrived at our campsite, atop a bluff in South Carlsbad, just in time to watch the sunset over the sea. We fell asleep with the waves singing in our ears.

The next morning we explored Torrey Pines Preserve. We walked along the cliffs among low sage, heathers, and a myriad of flowers which made it difficult for me not to stop and photograph each one. Like birds, I want to find and name them all. Once down on the beach I had the same issue with the teeming tide-pools and varied rocks. Childlike curiosity overwhelmed me and memories of visits to the Maine coastline flooded my veins. I observed sea anemones and felt their tentacles gripping my finger as I gently poked at them. Crabs darted away sideways, snails gripped the slimy rocks, and fish sprinted undercover. I turned over rocks and memorized their patterns for I know I should leave them where they lie – though I can’t help myself sometimes. I picked up a few pieces of smooth sea glass and some tiny shells and made friends with a wading sand piper – a Whimbrel I presume. But, the greatest thrill was watching an Anna’s hummingbird so close to us that we witnessed its head feathers opening and closing flashing green and then magenta pink as if it were flipping a switch to turn on and off its full glory. Absolutely spectacular – Jorden, I wish you had been there with me!

Our evening was spent at the campsite, sitting fireside, watching porpoises, pelicans and seagulls dining on their evening meal as the sun was setting. The pelicans gracefully skim the waves in small groups or nose dive from above plucking a fish out of the water. These brown pelicans would swoon right before us showing the red in their encumbered beak – how they forage and fly so effortlessly with that weight is a marvel.

If this area, just north of San Diego, wasn’t so populated I could easily call it home. You have a comforting mix of desert plants, low humidity for a coastal area, and beauty abounds. But with the six lane freeways and a plethora of homes we were itching to get back to some solitude. Before leaving the coast, we stopped at Lake Hodges for a bike ride and some birding. So glad we did, because we saw the Western Grebes in their finest hour. During spring mating season they carry out this maneuver called rushing where they stand up on their legs and sprint across the water in small groups! With their long necks erect and their wings folded back this courtship is a sight to behold. Jorden, once again – where were you?

Many who have never pulled a camper wonder what life on the road is like. I’ll try to give you an idea, but remember we are rookies here. Pulling a home has many variations. I know virtually nothing about folks that drive these massive homes that serve as your car and home. These are referred to as mobile homes. I really want to survey these people and ask if they are former truckers who just love being on the road and instead of hauling goods they haul their homes. I don’t want to stereotype, but I can’t imagine just deciding to do that without a background in trucking.

There are smaller mobile homes, vans I guess, that are like snails in that you always remain with your shell. You take it everywhere and when parked at a campsite you need to leave something else behind, like outdoor chairs, to mark your territory. It’s a tiny space, but if I were on my own I might choose this so I wouldn’t have to worry about trailer hitching and all those mechanical things I’m not so sure about.

There are all levels of comfort. The more comfort you want the larger vehicle you need to have to pull your house on wheels. Or, more expensive, better built rigs like Air Streams and Merceds models. Fifth wheels are quite large and you need a truck to pull them. They have this huge attachment that sits in the bed of the truck that you attach the trailer to. With these, you can diss-attach, leave your rig, and use your truck free of it’s home.

Then, basically you get into trailers or campers. I’m still not sure yet if these terms are interchangeable or not, but I’m betting they are. Again, there are a variety of sizes from about 12 feet to maybe 45 feet. Elvis is 14 feet, with the towing equipment it’s 17. There are some around 12 or 13 feet, cute as can be but not a whole lot of space. Once again, you need to know what you’re comfortable pulling and the size of the car or truck doing the pulling. I think you better have some bus driving experience for over 20 feet – but, what do I know.

There are teardrops, which we seriously considered. They are easy to pull – even a reliable Subaru works. You can park it in your garage, see out the back pretty easily, and hook up in no time. What you get with these are a bed in a glorified tent and a kitchen setup around back when you lift it open like a tailgate. You’re off the ground on a mattress and you can heat it up, you can have a cooler or fridge and your kitchen is always set up and ready for action. If you are used to tent camping it’s a bit easier – but worth the cost? Yes, if you camp all year, especially during these cold desert nights in winter.

That brings up another point. We have been tenters and that helps a lot. We have done some backcountry camping, but mostly we have been car campers. That means pulling into a campground as we do now, but we’d set up our tent instead of a camper. We did this a lot with our kids when we had tons of energy and could sleep on a hard surface and still move around in the morning. And all those rainy days – we just rolled with it. Well, except for that one time in Acadia when we woke up each morning with a river in our tent and had to spend the morning drying sleeping bags and clothes at the local laundromat. Most of the time – we all loved it. By day we hiked and the kids were entertained by nature. We later cooked and ate around the campfire and at night enjoyed looking up into the night sky. This is how we did our family vacations out west – backpacks on the plane and our only checked baggage was our tent. All of this has prepared us well for our camping days because even with a camper things don’t always go smoothly.

Now, with Elvis we can camp all year and we and don’t have to worry about the weather too much. For an overnight our trailer is unnecessary, but we were planning for long trips on the road when we bought it. We can stand in our camper, we have a kitchen with a good size fridge, a booth with our red vinyl seats, a bed we don’t have to make up each night, and a bathroom you can shower in. As far as campers go in this world it’s pretty basic. With its light birch wood interior we think of it as our own little cabin. When you are on the road for an extended amount of time it’s nice to have some space and not have to pack and unpack all the time. And, this time of year with temperatures on either side of 30 degrees, rain and some snow, we are so grateful to have heat and a place to come in from the weather.

When we were in Arizona and it did nothing but rain for two days we were grateful for our cabin. During this time we would take advantage of museum visits, a happy hour drink, and then back to Elvis to read, write, do a crossword, or play a game. We would step out for walks when there was a break in the weather but basically we were quite content to relax in our little cabin. When we stay for a few days we tend to keep up with staying organized in the camper. With shorter visits we tend to throw stuff around and leave things out until we have to pull it all together in one swoop anyway. Whatever the case, we love waking up and looking out the window at our new surroundings and stepping outside to soak up the natural world we find ourselves in.

I hate to admit this, but we have very stereotypical male and female roles when it come to our camper. Mike attaches it to the hitch while I take care of making sure everything is stored away inside so as not to go flying during our travels. Mike likes to drive and pull the rig, and I’d rather sit and daydream as we take in the passing views. Plus, backing up, making tight turns, driving in winds on the freeway – Mike can have it! I read, write, and have even started embroidering. We also listen to books on tape, blast some music, or just chill and take in the scenery.

When we get to a campsite we break free from the trailer. Once we have Elvis set up we can be free to take off in our car for excursions and then come back to relax and sleep. Set up involves hooking up a hose for water and plugging into the electricity. We then have lights, running water, and heat from the propane tanks attached to the front of Elvis. Every once in a while we have to empty out the tanks of water – fresh, grey, and black. You can figure out that one. There are always dumping stations at most campgrounds. When we don’t hook up, we can still use Elvis but our electricity runs off of a battery. This is referred to as dry camping or primitive camping. You need to fill your fresh water tank in advance, have propane in the tank, and be sure your battery is charged. The only difference is you are draining your battery. The advantage is we can set up anywhere. In National Forests you just need to get off the road and you can camp. It’s really easy to do in Colorado where there is so much opportunity for this type of camping. And, Elvis has high clearance so that helps on some of the rugged dirt roads. Obviously, this way we don’t have to be in a campground and we enjoy the privacy and freedom this offers. This mode of camping is called boondocking.

Campgrounds vary too and we have met people from all walks of life during our stays. People are usually coming and going, but some stay for weeks before packing up again. Many are snowbirds coming south from Canada, Alaska, Montana and such. In National Parks there is usually a two week limit for campers. On this trip, we have discovered that some private campgrounds offer sites to short-stay visitors like us and to full-time residents. We met several couples telling us their stories of selling their homes and living in their trailers full time. They figure out how to keep their money in a bank that doesn’t require a permanent address, deal with the DMV for licenses and registrations, and find campgrounds with good policies (and low costs) for long-termers. They tried to convince us not to work again and that we could find other ways to make money at campsites. They certainly appear to be happy and have everything they need but Mike and I know we need a home base and the comforts of home. But, with a trailer, we can now have the best of both worlds and we feel incredibly grateful for our good fortune.

Yet, this certainly isn’t for everyone. You tend to wear the same clothes, eat easy-cook meals, shower once or twice a week, and live in close quarters. Plans break down and so do the workings of the trailer at times. Alas, for us the benefits are plentiful! We are outside all day, the landscape is ever-changing, new treasures abound, catching glimpses of wildlife is exciting, finding birds and wildflowers of another region is a real thrill, and having time to ponder life and the world’s surroundings is truly inspirational. And, unlike a planned vacation, not knowing where the road is taking you, changing plans on a whim, and being surprised along the way is liberating and joyful.

Like the rest of the country, Arizona is getting its share of some crazy weather. We were thinking about heading north of Phoenix but the area is getting dumped with snow. So far, the weather hasn’t stopped us from engaging in all kinds of activities, but this snow – in an area that isn’t equipped to handle it – is a different story. Even in Phoenix, with all the rain, we were turned away from our tour of Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory now a school of architecture. We hope to make it there on Saturday when the sun should reappear.

A few days ago we woke up to a glorious pink moon just above the horizon in the Catalina mountains that tower over Tucson. The rock formations reminded us of the Italian Dolomites just not as impressively high. The peaks were covered in icy white as it had rained during the frosty night. But at the base, the desert was outfitted in flowers and red sand. We began our hike needing to rock hop across the river a few times and then ascended amongst the saguaro cactus and stone gardens. We were hoping to see some big horn sheep but weren’t that lucky.

After our hike we visited the University of Arizona Art Museum where we viewed an exhibit of scientists and artists working together with the goal of presenting an artistic and informational message. Combining arts with science the exhibit hopes to tap into viewers’ appreciation of our earth and hopefully stir a desire to do more to keep from destroying it further.

The following morning we took a tour of Biosphere 2, now owned by the University of Arizona and operating as a large-scale experimental apparatus where all kinds of experiments are conducted. University students take part, as well as scientists form all over the world, and elementary and high schools students are constantly visiting with the intent of raising their interest in earth science. There are seven different ecosystems including a desert, rain forest, and ocean environment and it’s quite remarkable to walk through each and to view the two lungs and the vast network of tanks in the basement that keep it all going. You can also view the living quarters of the past inhabitants and wonder about what it was like for the eight people who lived within this small world for two years.

It is now Friday morning February 22nd – I have to take note because at this point in our trip we are losing track of the days. We are staying just north of Phoenix at a campsite overlooking Lake Pleasant – and yes, it’s quite pleasant. And for all you ornithology-want-to-be-experts, we have now added to our list the mountain bluebirds (we have also seen the western bluebird much like the eastern one) which are the most cerulean blue I have ever seen, and the vermilion flycatcher dressed up in a brilliant scarlet red coat. At the lake, what we thought were ducks we discovered were American Coots, and what we thought were swallows skimming across the water catching insects turned out to be white-throated swifts. Just goes to show we have a lot to learn and that we need to get out today and look at all these shore birds we have been writing off as just another seagull.

We have now planned out our next week. We hope to stay here another night, get back to Taliesin West, then head to the coast and stay just north of San Diego, and then on to Death Valley where we are hoping for some spectacular wildflowers!

We lucked out once again. At first we were disappointed because the campground north of Tucson in the Catalina Mountains was all booked up except for a few spotty nights here and there. So Mike did some online research and happened upon a place south of Tucson, close to the border, between the Buenos Aries Wildlife Preserve and Patagonia Lake. We are so happy here in Arivaca that we are staying another night. The owner Steve couldn’t be friendlier and even helped us set up Elvis when we arrived in the rain. We are situated by a small pond, with two resident ducks, encircled by mountains. There is a neighboring mule, a few rabbits, and the coolest looking cardinals called Pyrrhuloxia (Jorden and Brett take note!). At night we hear the coyotes howling and whimpering and the skies are pink at dawn and dusk.

We spent one day in downtown Tucson and visited the Pima Air and Space Museum. Mike didn’t have his brother, Dave, to chum with and swap plane knowledge so I had to suffice. I guess it’s like anything you are interested in, but Mike can name a plane and tell you its history, how it operates, and whatever else. It’s Greek to me. We also visited a small town Tubac, filled with artists working in studios and selling crafts, more my speed, where we shopped for some turquoise and knick knacks.

Yesterday morning we dipped into the eastern edge of the Buenos Aries Preserve close to our campground. A peaceful place with well maintained trails throughout. We were focused on a hawk perched high up in a dead tree thinking, well hoping, it was a Gray Hawk because they are rarely seen. But, we happened to meet another woman, Michelle, who was actually from Denver, who informed us that it was a red tail. He was a beauty anyway and Michelle taught us a few things about birding, and we saw our first javelinas of this trip. What’s a javelina? Think pig, cinghiale, or wild boar. They live in small herds rustling and snorting around in the grasses of the desert. They have a pig-like snout, brownish coarse hair, and these long canines that protrude out from their jaws. They aren’t exactly pretty but interesting to watch.

Our new obsession is birding and I can see that it could become an addiction. Therefore, we just had to go to the Patagonia, Arizona, renowned as one of the world’s best birding destinations. Patagonia is a tiny town of artists and retirees nestled among mountains and the Patagonia lake. Hmmm, retirement here? Well, the birds certainly were plentiful. I saddled up beside a volunteer, Julie, who truly knew her birds and where to find them. We were thrilled to see a Violet-Crowned Hummingbird sitting patiently in a tree, a larger body than typical with an unusual curved orange beak. Julie helped me spot a White Crowned Sparrow, Lesser Goldfinch, Gila Woodpecker, Gamble’s Quail and some rarely seen Inca Dove, Fox Sparrow, and the highlight – Lazuli Bunting with its gorgeous blue feathers.

As we marveled in our days sightings we feasted on fresh trout over our campfire and once again enjoyed a heavenly pink sunset.

The next day we ventured deeper into the Buenos Aires Preserve where we did some more birding as we hiked through grassy desert grounds with no one in sight. We saw one coyote but disappointingly no prong horns. Yet, we watched a Northern Harrier flying low to the ground hunting for prey, a Loggerhead Shrike, and my favorite – a regal American Kestrel! But, the luckiest find was actually on our drive out, perched on a telephone pole, was a Crested Caracara – known in the birding world a lifer find! A long-legged falcon with a distinguished red face, a black cap, and black wings with white tips. Ok, should we quit now while we are ahead?

After birding we drove in to Tucson to the Art Museum where we saw a fantastic show by a Cuban artist Carlos Estevez. A prolific painter/sculptor/illustrator whose works are reminiscent of Da Vinci, and like him, he kept intricate notebooks which were also on display. Estevez explores dreams, spirituality, and human functionality within the universe. Too complicated to explain so look him up. The museum also had several Rodin sculptures and a few paintings from my favorite Native American artist Fritz Scholder with his use of bold colors and true depictions of Native Americans.

We topped off the evening with a concert in the Fox Theatre listening to the Richard Thompson Electric Trio. We were among the youngest in the crowd, but Thompson, at age 69, was the most vibrant. He played for over two hours without a break and we were amazed at the strength of his voice and endurance. His drummer, Michael Jerome, was outstanding, and the trio played from their new album along with some oldies from Thompson’s Fairport Convention days. His acoustic solos were simply phenomenal. Trev, Ian, Andrew, Graham and Ethan – keep on playing – it’s a lifetime enjoyment.

Today is Monday and we will be packing up Elvis, heading back to the Buenos Aires Preserve for some more birding, a stop at the Botanical Garden in Tucson, and then on to the Catalina Mountains north of the city to set up camp.

But I can’t leave without telling you about Steve the owner of the La Siesta Campground. Steve is a true gem. I just heard his story about losing everything he had – several properties in LA and more. He has now run this campground for seven years without a day off. He takes in homeless kids from the area, and some from LA, and gives them a trailer to live in and his heart for a home. He guides them in being good stewards of the earth and reliable workers. He models for them how one can always pick up and start again even after losing everything. He watched a plot of land go from $38k down to $5k and then he jumped in. With the kids listening in he asked the realtor to see if the seller would carry him. The realtor was skeptical and told him so. But Steve insisted, the buyer agreed, and the kids learned the value of being an upstanding, hard-working citizen who gives back to the community. He has even been given two cars from a local community nonprofit but unfortunately the kids have totaled them. He said they are now on their best behavior. And for food? He has it delivered from Walmart and neighbors always check in when they drive in to town to get provisions for him. He says it’s all a labor of love.