Tag Archives: Arizona’s Outback

The Road to Diamond, Day 105: Plenty of Atmosphere, No River

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Posted by on in collaborating, Community, Personal goals, Personal Values, Social, Spiritual, Striving, Travel

March 13, 2025- The warnings were all over the Web: “Atmospheric River threatens California on Wednesday night!” When I woke, this morning, I looked out the window and saw a modest series of puddles and light rain falling, but no surging water. Maybe the dry ground just soaked most of it in. It seems to have been another case of media sensationalism, at any rate.

Other than managing to lose two hair brushes, in the span of a week, I made it to San Diego and back to Prescott, with little fanfare. Three of the four scheduled online meetings went off nicely, though I will catch most of the last one via its recording. I take check-out time seriously, so that cut my viewing time. I had a nice visit with an old friend, yesterday, and caught up with other friends in Ocean Beach during the three days I was there.

Here in Arizona, I noticed the ground in the “Outback”, between Ehrenburg and Congress, was saturated in spots and there appeared to have been a few scattered incidents of flooding, but only in sparsely-inhabited areas. We got a bit of snow in the Bradshaw and Sierra Prieta Ranges, and may get more overnight and tomorrow. I guess it’s better late than never.

So now, I will focus on the Home Front, community safety and environmental matters, for the next six weeks at least. Progress has been made here, on several fronts, so it’s time to build on it.

A Small Time Mariner’s Voyage- Day 1: California Musings

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Posted by on in Travel

October 11, 2014, San Diego- I set out for San Diego on Friday night, actually, from this point in a town called Chino Valley,

AZ, where a few of us played musical instruments and sang as a send-off for what I hope is my last journey out of the Four Corners region, for a while.  I love the journey, but have a hard time with the backlash from those who don’t get that I actually care about them.  The fact that these are family members doesn’t make it any easier.  Maybe once they see that I am staying close to home, and am working as hard as they are, things will get better between us.

Now, back to the subject at hand. My friends, the Brehmers, were hosts at the jumping-off gathering.

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As I drove across Arizona’s Outback, it was notable that two towns with which I am familiar, Wenden and Salome, had been drenched by the remnants of Hurricane Simon.  These towns in the western Sonora Desert are normally bone-dry.  Yesterday and today were different, though.

I got to Blythe, on the Colorado River, and stopped for the night, at Relax Inn.  It was a bit sultry, as the AC had quit, but I slept well, anyway.  This morning, I got up, ate a quick breakfast at Steaks and Cakes, and blazed to San Diego- getting into town around 3 PM.

This weekend, America’s Hometown celebrates Oktoberfest AND Italian Heritage Days, so rooms were at a premium, and scarce.  I got a spot at Premier Inn, on Pacific Coast Highway, near Old Town, and set out for Little Italy, taking my first ride on San Diego’s trolley.  One of my favourite Italian restaurants, Filippi’s, awaited, as did the Chalk Art Festival, stretching from India Street to Amici Park.

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The presence of lilacs, and of Italian cypress trees, adds a grand ambiance to the already bellissimo Little Italy.

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After an especially fabulous meal at the never-disappointing Filippi’s, I ended the evening with a walk over to Horton Plaza, in the heart of downtown.  The shopping mecca now has its own obelisk.

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San Diego is never a disappointment.  The day ahead  would bring me to another city which holds out promise in that regard:  Honolulu.