Prescott Circle Trail: Tales of Two Segments

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on March 14, 2016 in Entertainment, Hiking and Nature, Striving

March 13, 2016, Prescott- “It is not yours to keep, this ever-changing trail”- Laura and the Killed Men, “The Ever-Changing Trail” (All rights reserved, Laura Kepner- Adney and Sam Golden, 2015).

I sat, joyfully, in one of my favourite evening live music venues, The Raven Cafe, and listened to this Tucson country-folk band’s first set. The line above is from their a capella set closer.

They excel with instruments, also.

Include the video, as it happened that the evening was a fine counterpoint to two hikes I took this weekend, on Prescott Circle Trail. Yesterday afternoon, the spontaneity of which I wrote, a few posts ago, kicked in. I accepted the urge to do a “fill-in-the blank” hike, to the top of Badger Peak, which is circumnavigated by Section 7 of the Circle. The peak is also called “P” Mountain, owing to the large white first letter of my adopted town’s name.

Here are some scenes. The first two were taken from the access road, to which I transferred from Prescott Circle, at the half-way mark to the summit.

View from road leading to Badger Peak summit

View of Government Canyon spur, from Badger Peak access road

Communications Towers, Badger Peak summit

P is for Prescott, Badger Peak summit

View of Watson Lake, from Badger Peak summit

The third photo shows a communications station, atop the peak. The white circular arrangement is the top of the P. There is no access to the arrangement, in its entirety, without permission of the Yavapai Nation, which owns the mountain. The final photo shows Watson Lake and the Granite Dells, from the summit. This hike was four miles, round trip.

This afternoon, a friend, who had wanted my help with a remodeling project, postponed it until next week. This gave rise to spontaneous hike # 2: Segment 5 of the Circle. It is a ten-mile round trip, something I’ve not done during the Fast.until today. I was inspired in this by another friend, who is both older and physically smaller than I am, and who hikes and runs during this time period. So, out of my comfort zone I went- with enough water on which to fall back, in the event I felt weak. As it happened, that was not a problem, as the air was cool this afternoon, and the Sun was hidden by clouds, most of the time.

This segment goes from a point south of Upper Goldwater Lake, around the south and west shores of that body of water, above the west shore of Lower Goldwater Lake, which is closed to the public and through Prescott National Forest, to White Spar Campground. This hike was ten miles, round trip. Sitting here tonight, I feel refreshed and focused.

Here are some scenes of Segment 5.

Trailhead sign, Prescott Circle Segment 5

“Tree-pod”, south of Goldwater Lake

Note the “Tree-Pod”, on the right.

Gray granite boulders, south of Goldwater Lake

South shore, Upper Goldwater Lake

Pair of daisies, Prescott Circle Trail

Memorial to Yarnell Hill Firefighters

On the left are a pair of daisies, seen along the way, above Lower Goldwater Lake. The heart-shaped stone memorial, on the right, is dedicated to the 19 firefighters who died at Yarnell Hill, in June, 2013. It is atop a ridge, 1 1/4 miles southeast of White Spar campground.

View from Monument Ridge, south of White Spar

Trailhead, White Spar Campground

The Sierra Prieta range can be seen from Monument Ridge. On the right, is the trailhead at White Spar Campground. I spent only ten minutes, resting, at this very full facility. There were 2 hours’ back journey left.

On the way back, I stopped for several minutes at this lovely nook, Banning Creek.

Small pond, Banning Creek

There had been a fair crowd here, when I was headed towards White Spar. When I returned, only one lone bicyclist and I had the place to ourselves- and he was about to leave. I saw very few other people, the rest of the way, until I got back to Upper Goldwater.

Now, with the next two weekends booked, I will wait until April to take on the next segments of Prescott Circle- unless things get canceled and spontaneity calls.

The Road to 65, Mile 337: Such Is Halloween

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on November 2, 2015 in Entertainment, Historical, Inspiration

October 31, 2015, Phoenix- This day was the first Halloween I have spent away from home, since 1991. The current generation of children are more likely to be confined to one narrow space, or another-either a prescribed street, populated by well-heeled folks, who put up elaborate decorations, or a carefully-arranged event, often (ironically) faith-based. The turnout on my street, last year, was exactly eight trick-or-treaters.

I had business here yesterday, and elected to stay down in the city, especially after getting invited to a large house party. The day proceeded as a drive around several Memory Lanes, starting with breakfast at a family restaurant, close to our old house. It was called Fast Eddie’s, for several years. Now, it goes by The Cracked Egg. The Irish Omelet was hot and well-prepared, and the servers congenial. I like the former name better, but everything else is just fine. I drove by our former home, finding it occupied by a family who seem to be doing well. Then, came a visit to Penny’s grave site, where I placed a dozen roses, and reflected on all that we managed to accomplish together, often in spite of ourselves.

After a couple of hours in Sunnyslope’s Acacia Branch Library, and a bit of shopping, I took a couple of strolls around Steele Indian School Park, named for the former Bureau of Indian Affairs residential school, whose vacant buildings are preserved at the site and for Horace C. Steele, a businessman, whose charitable foundation made the park possible. Several families were enjoying the bright late afternoon, including a few who were fishing the small pond.

After a second stroll, this one at Park Central Mall, which was once managed by my late friend, Mike. The place was mostly closed for the evening, lending an eerie, but not disconcerting, aura to my time. It reminded me of a similar walk, last year, at the huge, but silent Frankfurt Messe.

Upon arriving at the aforementioned party, I found myself being greeted by Gomez and Morticia Addams (aka my friends, Jens and Maggie). There were nearly a hundred people on site, but I seemed to be the only one with a plastic mask (Chewbacca, from “Star Wars”), which precipitated a lot of good-natured chuckles, from the older guests, and eye-rolls from the hipsters. The food was nice, though, and Maggie’s intense decorations were, as usual, phenomenal. Three small outbuildings, and the grounds in between, contained theme-park quality displays. After a few lengthy conversations with some old friends, and new acquaintances, it was time to watch, as Gomez and Morticia offered their signature tango. We were not disappointed.

I had to head back to Prescott, shortly after 10, but I will recall this much-needed time, reconnecting with old haunts (no pun intended) as a time for grounding. The coming, very busy two weeks will go much smoother, for the break that was taken.

The Road to 65, Mile 258: Eight Questions and Answers

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on August 14, 2015 in Entertainment, Social

August 13, 2015, Prescott- I have been asked by a friend, on another site, to offer my answers to eight questions she posed and answered on her own site. So, here goes:

1. Which of the following will mostly resemble the next show you watch (on tv, online, or even dvd)? a nature show, a historical documentary, a cooking show, a sitcom, or sports? Given these choices, I would most likely watch an historical documentary. Nature is something I prefer to see up close.

2. Which natural disaster is your state more likely to encounter? Arizona is most likely to encounter wildfire. Occasionally, a torrential rain or blizzard passes through.

3. Would you rather vacation in a log cabin, a modern condo, or a Motorhome? Log cabin, by far. A motorhome is not something I would buy, and those of my friends who own them are barely able to fit themselves inside.

4. What type of roadkill do you see most where you live? Skunks and coyotes.

5. If you were on that old MTV show “Fear Factor”, would you most fear walking a rickety catwalk over a canyon, eating worms, or sitting in a tub and having cockroaches poured on your lap? The catwalk, if it has no rope or cable guards on the sides. The cockroaches could bite and lead to typhus, though, so they would be more dangerous.

6. Do you think you could survive alone 24 hours in the wilderness, with only a jack knife and 3 feet of rope? Yes, because I know how to forage.

7. Have you ever owned any leather clothing? I have had one leather jacket, when I was in my thirties.

8. Have you ever eaten jackfruit chips? No, but I would be glad to try them. Jackfruit is very tasty.

The Road to 65, Mile 78: All Love’s Labours

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on February 20, 2015 in Entertainment, Hiking and Nature, Social

February 14, 2015- Panama City, FL. Actors have an open-ended mission: To relieve tension in their audience, but also to incite thought. This is as true of those who devote themselves to small-city “stock” theater productions, becoming more intimate with both their audiences and their crews, as it is of those who stride the Red Carpet on awards night.

The rehearsal on which I sat in, this lovely north Florida morning, was intent on taking the viewer/listener back to childhood: Specifically, it addressed the Spelling Bee, on the surface level, and the issues of parents living through their children and the resulting effects this brazen, immature vicarious life has on the child, on the more crucial, underlying, level.

Two hours of love were put into this endeavour, at least from the actors’ perspective. There will be more, before the February 20 presentation. The troupe presents before school groups, so this play will hit home, for any child who is in an activity for the sake of his/her parents.

I started the morning watching my hosts’ dogs play, in the back yard. Dogs have the right perspective: Only do what feels right, do it as a team, and mess around a bit, while doing it.

The actors have the team thing down, and so will get through the production quite well. My host is one of the best at this, and while messing around is not on her agenda- there is no one who has more fun with her work.

The Martin Theater, where the production will first be staged, is a venerable institution in Panama City, and was a key USO site during World War II, when north Florida was a key staging area for the European Theatre of the conflict.

The murals on its south wall reflect the spirit of that time of national teamwork, and determination. Womankind in those days was far more than Rosie the Riveter. Style and grace remained key elements of maintaining morale.

After the two-hour practice, there was a new mission: Lunch. Where better to begin this important search, than at a Farmer’s Market. Panama City has a fine one, in the St. Andrews neighbourhood.

We found lots of arts, crafts and fresh vegetables, but a complete meal required crossing the street- to Little Village, a lovely old house that was converted by its owner into a small restaurant, bar and gift shop complex. It reminds me of a similar arrangement in an airplane hangar, at Oceanside, CA.

Little Village is certainly well appreciated by the residents of Panama City: The place was packed, and we got stuffed by the amazing Veracruz-style Mexican cuisine. Music was provided by a pianist-singer, evoking a cross between Billy Joel and Carlos Santana.

I was beginning to think that I might end this journey looking like these fellows.

We decided to walk off the meal, as best we could, and drove to St. Andrews State Recreation Area, first visiting Gator Lake, an encounter with a swamp environment. The signature creatures were nowhere to be seen. Of course, it was early afternoon, and alligators usually prefer to be out and about in the morning.

The sand here is the whitest I’ve yet seen, being largely the result of shell deposits.

Needless to say, Host and I were both in our elements.

The afternoon would not have been complete, though, without going across the parking lot and seeing the fabulous stretches of pure white sand and rather feisty surf.

This was a very full St. Valentine’s Day. As much as sourpuss revisionists like to put down the Patron Saint of lovers, I like to think his devotion to his chosen mission was a path of love, much like that of the actors whom I watched last night, and this morning.

The theme of real love continued on into the night, as we sat in my hosts’ living room and watched “The Good Lie”, wherein Reese Witherspoon teaches, and is taught by, four refugees from Sudan. We did so in segments, around the work of loving parents who put their son and his needs first. Later this evening, with my exhausted hosts gone to bed, I had the pleasure of talking with another house guest, an amazingly insightful boy of twelve, for about ninety minutes of free-ranging exploration of just what is needed, in order for families that are fragmented, to reconnect and ultimately thrive. I think the man-child will do just fine.

The Road to 65, Mile 65: Weirdness Finds Us

Posted by Sagittarian Seeker on February 4, 2015 in Entertainment, Social

February 1, 2015, Longmont, CO- Katy Perry has done one or two songs that resonate with me, and several others with which some of the girls, with whom I’ve worked over the past few years, have sung along. Her videos, though, are mostly flamboyant and of the “all about MEEE” genre. When I visited my paternal uncle on Sunday, after the Winter Summit had finished, he was glad that I had come along- all the more so, as he could turn from the tv, which he had muted during her performance.

We talked of several things- my visit to our ancestral neighbourhood in Rouen, my having gone across the Pacific, from Honolulu to San Diego, and my son’s wise choice in doing four more years in the Navy and Uncle’s dealing with the gradual effects of nearing 90. He is a practical man, who plans things out and addresses issues creatively. So, as Super Bowl play resumed, and the sound was turned back on accordingly, he was a bit perturbed to see the various blunders which took up the second half. It’ll be a while before the question, “What kind of coach orders a PASS at the goal line?” is addressed to Uncle’s satisfaction. As New Englanders, we were pleased with the outcome, but we both have had good experiences in the Northwest, so there were condolence thoughts expressed, as well.

It was, he and I agreed, a surreal game. For the Seattle wide receiver to catch the ball, while sprawled aground, as if it were a greased pig, was kind of like eating bacon ice cream- a bizarre treat that would be an acquired taste. The Patriots’ rookie defenseman’s finding the ball coming right into his hands, behind the goal line, was equally bizarre, but felt more like a triple chocolate, dripped caramel, with peppermint, triple shake-albeit in the dead of winter. Weirdness brings the most delectable surprises, and never when or where one might expect.