Its been a wild ride of weather from the moist oxygen-rich air of Maui to the dry winds and high heat of Flagstaff Arizona. Our first week in California was rainy and cold then we got a dose of Chico heat just as we headed east to Bishop. Bishop was hot dry and windy so we left early for Flagstaff traveling through 113 degrees in the Nevada desert. Dave and I have been here in "Flag" for ten days and we'd heard people talk of the Monsoon season - rains in July, but we just couldn't imagine such a shift as we piled on lotion and turned our humidifier on at night to handle the intense dryness and heat of June in Flag. But yesterday it shifted. The July monsoon season is here and the wet air and cool temperatures are sweet relief. Just before the rains yesterday Dave and I rode bikes through Buffalo Park on our way home from 6 AM yoga class.
Buffalo Park is a huge wild park with pine trees and desert prairie and rock formations shaded by Valley Oaks. The park is high on the hills behind town so the views are lovely. We climbed through the rock where Dave boulders now and then. Bouldering consists of short powerful "problems" moves that are very challenging. You only climb ten or twenty feet up and you have a pad below to pad your fall. Hopefully, you also have friends there to cheer you on and help catch your fall if you should take one. Many people prefer bouldering to sport climbing. Dave boulders to build strength for sport climbing. It is done without any rope or harness so its riskier but more convenient since there is no need to pack in a bunch of gear. Here Dave is showing his arching upward salute on the boulders at Buffalo Park.
The park is in the foothills above the historic downtown district where we love to hang out. Here I am busting a move on the boulders overlooking the Flagstaff suburbs.
We went to a wonderful Latin restaurant a few nights ago. A place call Criollo that was voted best restaurant last year. Dave had fish tacos and I had stuffed Relleno peppers. They were filled with black beans, corn and delicata squash, topped with avocado and chipotle salsa. Oh my. After dinner we walked to "The Green Room" a bar that was having karaoke contest. Dave was set to enter and I was sure he would win. We were told the contest began at 9 PM. Late for us, but we were willing.
We got there at 8:30 and started playing. It was one of those bars that has a ping pong table, dart boards, a punching bag and this awesome game where you try to toss large bean bags into a hole in a wooden ramp about 30 feet away. I love aiming games and Dave does too so we whittled away an hour playing. Then Dave tried the punching bag entertaining many onlookers with his dramatic approach. Then we hit the ping pong table and Dave ruled for five games in a row. Here he is in action.
We never made it to the Karaoke. It didn't start at 9 or 9:30 or 10 PM. We turn into pumpkins at 10:30 PM so we headed home to get enough sleep for our 6 AM fourth of July yoga class.
Dave had a really great day of climbing on the third. He met the author of the local climbing guide and they have started a friendship. Dave climbed with him yesterday and was able to send a 12a problem he'd been working on this past week. He is feeling strong and really enjoying collecting new climbing buddies.
Today Dave took a rest day from climbing. We ran our three miles in the morning, enjoyed chai together, then headed to a yoga class at 9:30 AM. Back to the house for big salads. In the afternoon I got a massage while Dave took Strong Heart (our truck) for an oil change and wash. Now we are enjoying an afternoon snack at Macy's Cafe as the big raindrops fall outside. This evening I will take another yoga class (call me crazy) and Dave will play his guitar. He's been writing songs and actually, I wrote the lyrics to a song I hope he puts to music and sings for all of you some day soon.
We are both settling more deeply into the joy of this road trip. The freedom to allow our days to unfold organically and follow the current desires of our hearts and bodies is a luxury we wish for everyone. There was a transition time where we felt odd without the regular call to duty and list of chores, but now we are comfortable and allowing the spaciousness to bring forth our natural creativity, humor, and desire to connect more deeply with nature and the wonderful people of the this planet we share.
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