The Box, revisited

Box Canyon, New Mexico

March 28,  2012

Another stop on our 2002 trip that had to be revisited was Box Canyon.  Box Canyon has good bouldering, fun cacti, and lots of rock formations to explore. Here is a token photo of me bouldering followed by a gorgeous lichen photo. 

I lichen you.  Ha! Want to remember the relationship between algae, fungus, and lichen? To bad here we go.  "Freddy Fungus took a lichen to Alice Algae and now their marriage is on the rocks.

James and E are contemplating the best route up a rock. I love this photo.  It shows how grown up E is, how he has the ability to problem solve, and how James and he share this passion for climbing.

The meeting of the minds worked.  James is at the top.

If you look closely in the photo above, you can see T's yellow shirt. The rock face is huge and beautiful.

Fabulous Feet

just for my sister liz....feet

Moments of Missing Home

We traveled almost 16,000 miles in Love Dove over the course of 5 months.  She makes a lovely home. I spend post after post showing the fabulous places our home takes us.  However, all our moments aren't perfect or even fabulous.  We still occasionally have bickering brothers in the back seat, rotten fruit in the fruit hammock, and loud disagreements over how or where to park. Here are a few of those moments.

T, age 10,  missed home since day 1. He is a home body.  If it were up to him we would have never left home. At least every other day I heard the question "When are we going home?" to which I replied when we get there.  I know he wanted a solid answer but I didn't have one.  A different mom would have given him some closure, a different mom wouldn't have taken him out of school to go on the adventure. But he doesn't have a different mom.  He has me. And I say I don't know when we will be back to the house but you are home.  A home with people who love you and a world that is awaiting you.  James bought him a compass, good call Pappa! When he was sad he figured out which direction we needed to drive to get home.  His home sickness also taught him how to use the map more effectively.  See good things can come out of uncomfortable situations. And when he was sledding down the White Sands and surfing in Malibu, he wasn't asking about home.

 E, age 11, started missing home about a month and a half before we arrived home.  E knew we would be home before fall, so he was along for the ride.  He was definitely anxious to have a more reliable internet connection and computer access.  As much as he and I LOVE nature we also LOVE our technology.  Our most annoying conversations involved him asking to use electronic devices and wifi and me telling him no.  You can see why we were both annoyed.

I didn't really miss home.  I had moments of missing my friends.  I do have awesome friends but they don't all live near my house, so even when I am at the house, I miss my friends.  I had moments of missing fresh berries, eggs, and lettuce from the garden.  But, I love being on the road. I loved seeing all the new places, plants, and animals.  I loved the conversations James and I had about rock formations.  I love being on the road.


James had many days when he missed the Red and climbing with his friends.  Equally he had just as much fun hanging out with his crazy family that he loves dearly and contemplating never leaving Yosemite Valley.  James' worries centered around the car running well and landing a job when we get back.  He has a strong sense of needing to provide above and beyond the call of duty. 

In the top photo James is comforting T in one of the hard moments.  Our good moments outweighed the sad so know we are human and had frustrating moments but then open another post and read some good stuff!  

Free Flowing

March 28, 2012 

Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

In 2002 our family visited southwest New Mexico.  One of our favorite stops was La Paloma Hot Springs in Truth & Consequences.  It is a small resort with 5 hot springs soaking rooms. La Paloma is a mix of vintage, new age, and peaceful zen decor.  Which translates into a very calm relaxing atmosphere.  Even I can sit around and be still when I visit.  

The soaking rooms vary in temperature not because the water is pumped in and adjusted but because the tubs are directly over the spring! There is a magical feeling when soaking in a concrete square placed directly over a spring.  The hot water freely flowing around the body makes me feel weightless. E says it is like being weightless and yet being filled with everything.

In the soaking tubs the mud earth is covered with rocks.  In the foot baths there are no rocks.  That means we mushed the mud between our toes.  So good!

Did you know Truth or Consequences acquired that name in the 1950's as part of a television publicity stunt? Look it up:)















The boys needed haircuts so we headed to the local barber, Joe.  Joe is the perfect small town barber.  He was full of wonderful stories, he made us all smile, and he made us feel welcome.  Oh and he gave each boy the haircut they wanted.  Thanks Joe!

A morning in the bus

Wake up, stumble over the recycle bag; why can't I just throw this stuff out? Oh that's right, I care about the Earth. I find the 1ft by 1ft floor space that exists when the bed is made and I reach over the dining rm table to grab a Kleenex from the very front seat floor.  I spin around and fall back to the bed, lift a bag of recycle to the counter, giving me 1ftx2ft floor space. That's just enough to open the clothes cabinet (formerly a fridge). Today my clothes cooperate, they don't fall out when the door opens!

Half asleep I pick out clean clothes.  Honestly, this doesn't happen daily. But my skirt from yesterday wasn't warm enough for the morning temps. The next step and this happens daily, is to stuff my sleeping bag and fold the sheet. A sheet under my bag feels less wanderer and more this is my home. James stuffs his sleeping bag , too. He has been awake for a while so he's dressed and nicely trying to get me into gear. Next comes a familiar routine: I flip the bed back into a rear seat and open all the curtains. He moves the misc stuff, a clothes bag, yoga mat, and daypacks, from the front seats into the back. The kids are "upstairs" sleeping so I take this chance to wash my face and hands with cold water. That requires moving the recycle bag to the floor and opening the sink cabinet. Clean face and hands! Time for contacts and a final breath of calm before getting the boys up. 


Today we've decided to let them sleep in their bags buckled up. I still have to wake them enough to safely move them down. We have about 2 ft to make this happen. Every time I attempt to move my sleeping children I realize HOW much they've grown!  


My breakfast time; cereal with bananas and rice milk. I have to move the recycle bag AGAIN!  It's blocking the kitchen cabinet. I sit in my tiny home and quickly eat my breakfast.  Wipe out the bowls, cereal is easy to wipe out without actually washing. And that is awesome because then I don't have to wash dishes. 


Now topper down, James and I work together because the heavy gear in the topper makes lowering it tricky. Once you start lowering,  it wants to drop hard and fast, potentially hurting us and pinching /ripping the pop top canvas so we use a nalgene bottle to prop it open just a little bit. The purple bottle happens to be the pee bottle. Hope that nalgene really is durable otherwise it will be a nasty smelly mess. Next comes the solar panel, we lower it, clip it in place and we are off.

Sledding in a Missile Range

March 27, 2012 White Sands National Mounment

As I looked across the horizon I saw white sand for miles. In the far distance mountains edged the sands. I love Sleeping Bear Dunes so it is no surprise that White Sands was awesome.  I have never tried sledding as Sleeping Bear. I am not sure if the sand is slick enough.  White Sands is definitely slick enough.



We bought sleds and wax at the gift shop.  After 2 days of hiking we were looking forward to just plain fun without too much work.











James has driven most of the trip.  I guess he likes to drive, as he doesn't ask me very often.  That's okay, I like to navigate.  But here James wanted to take pictures of Love Dove floating over the sand, so I happily drove.







As the boys slid down the sand, James and I sat at the top soaking up the sun.  When what to our wondering eyes and ears should appear but a man playing the guitar! Seriously? How awesome. I'm laying on white sands made from minerals that dissolved out of nearby mountains, soaking up sun, it's not crowded, and now I have music to boot!  Check him out! Syd-music (Sarah W and Will definitely check it out!)  He and his wife were on vacation. We chatted, sledded, and chatted some more.  We met several nice people that day.  I'll leave you with this:  The sun wears you out fast.  Drink lots of water. Buy a sled and wax. Go for it! and Have fun!

Carlsbad Caverns

March 26, 2012

After the Guadalupe Peak hike we were exhausted, however, this was our chance to see the caverns. We did our normal routine; visitor center, Jr ranger book, watch park movie, check out the gift shop, and experience the park.

We hiked the natural cavern entrance rather than taking the elevator.  If you ever go, take the time to use the natural entrance.  The feeling of entering a large whole in the earth and descending deeper and deeper and deeper is surreal. I can only imagine the excitement and fear felt by the 1920's National Geographic team that used this wire and wood ladder for cavern exploration. It is preserved because the cave environment encourages preservation and slows down decay.  It is essential not to litter in the cave.  

The Cavern trails are paved, well marked, signed, and designed to keep you from damaging the rock and yourself.  But initial tours we very different.  Tours that now take 3-4 hours used to take all day! Visitors had to follow Jim White, the initial cavern explorer. He found the cave as a 16yr old cowhand and by the time he led tours he knew it like the back of his hand. Visitors hoped he didn't die in the cave on their tour because no one would know how to get out.  Nowadays handrails and lights mark the big features but back then a small handheld lantern was all a visitor had.  Even though visitors walked through and over the rock formations to move around the cave, they may have missed huge cavern features simply due to their light not shining far enough.

James took some amazing photos.  We saw draperies, stalagmites, stalactites, cave popcorn, and many other formations.  It is awe inspiring and a testament to the advantages of preserving natural wonders. 

I got in Hot Water...

 March 20, 2012 For some unknown reason I have been fascinated by the idea of going to Hot Springs National Park. Okay, I know why.  I love water. I love springs. So we went. Our 2 days were rain filled and cold.  We didn't hike any of the trails but we did learn a little something and enjoyed a bath.

 The city is built around and literally over the springs, which means the park is in downtown.  The public faucets for collecting hot springs water for personal use are scattered throughout the downtown.  This faucet provides hot water. It was so nice to have hot water radiating from the Sigg bottles on that cold rainy day.

This picture is goofy and I like it.  For those of you who have known us for a while, can you tell we are aging? lol.

The Visitor center is located in the restored Fordyce Bathhouse.  The traditional bathing methods include hot/cold packs, "medical" treatment, and walks in the woods after bathing.  There are several bathhouses in town and the park service is or has renovated some of them.  After renovation they house gift shops, art galleries, and baths.  The architecture on each building on Bathhouse row is slightly different. A fun JR Ranger activity involved identifying each building using clues from the design style.

Both boys earned a Jr Ranger vest.  They have worked so hard in so many parks.  Way to go!

March 2012

Best day to see a fall

 Waterfalls! The road to Kyle's landing suggests 4x4 only.  Phil was nervous. James was nervous. I said let's go for it! 

After a very steep road and river crossing we arrived at Twin Falls.   

After a heavy rain Twin Falls becomes Triple Falls! The mist and wind surrounding the falls made us feel like crazy weather channel reporters facing mother nature!  It was absolutely worth the steep brake killing road.

Buffalo National River Float

Water makes us happy.  We rented a raft rather than trying to fit 4 people and gear in a canoe.  Rafts are slow and hard to paddle.  But we still had a lot of fun.  T loved the raft because he could move around without tipping it! We could hit a rapid at most any angle and not tip!  

The clear water makes it possible to see rocks and fish on the bottom.  I was easily distracted by the bluffs and just watching the current flow.  T just didn't want to paddle.  He wanted to sit on the boat side and act like a puppy dog.  James was the captain and he did his best to keep us all in line :)

 A gravel bar made a perfect lunch stop. We laid back and people watched.  Watching other boat is always a good time. The water was very cold. But we couldn't pass up the chance to float our bodies down the river.  James is becoming quite the mountain man.  He is not cutting his beard until our trip is over!  This photo of James says it all.

The clifflines are outstanding! Buffalo National River is our 1st national river for a reason.  Please come visit. While you are there checkout the historical garden at the Visitor's Center.  As a service project for Jr Rangers, we helped spread mulch.  It was nice to have time in a garden. 

Devil's Den State Park

Welcome to Devil's Den State Park, a former CCC camp.  We started our stay with the boys playing Hunger Games.  They set up the tent, found wood for a fire, hid in the woods, made snares, and tried catching fish.

Our resident rock hounds made a river crossing.  They could have just walked through the creek but it is always better to play with the rocks!





E is becoming quite the fisherman.  He is learning to be patient and enjoy the silence.

Night brought a laser battle! For years I have been against the boys having lasers.  Well, they each got one.  This photo was the night they got them back.  The night before a child shined it out the car window (after being instructed not to) and it hit a car. A police car.  A state trooper. Yep, we got pulled over. The officer was close to drawing a gun, then he saw the kids. So I suggested he have a talk with them.  Luckily no one went to jail, no tickets, and I confiscated the lasers.  We haven't had a problem since.

Devil's Den has amazing crevices. Many of them are off the trails in an attempt to protect them.  Also all the caves in Arkansas are closed to people.  Hopefully the closures will help STOP the spread of White Nose Syndrome.  We took a ranger led hike and learned the history of the crevices and the park.  Our ranger was  full of life! She sang, danced, and taught us a lot.

This photo is for Mrs. Cooper, the art teacher at Boyd E. Smith. T thought of you and wanted to sit and sketch the creek and trees.