First Steps Into the Wilderness

Sleeping with the window open and clean air at 6000ft just makes you happy. We are going to take the Jeep out today! And more than just that, we are taking it topless for the first time.

I set of to figure it out and determine that it really is a lot easier than I thought it would be. 8 screws and a crazy electric connector and we are good to go.



I love it when a plan comes together. Especially when the 3 stooges are involved like, Larry, Bob and I!

After a quick lunch at slackers (no better place for a burger for miles around) and we head on up the Sandy Creek Road to see where it goes. It has a spur to Prairie Flat (Like you all have a clue where that is) that even Bob has never seen. WHOO HOOO! Adventure!


The road up from the house starts off pretty tame but soon turns into one big doll head rock fest with some nasty sized boulders in the midst. For some reason the passenger next to me from England thinks I am driving a tad fast. I discover here a grand loophole in the 2009. I can't say anything but nobody said I had to give him a comfortable ride!


The start of the boulder field


We stop off at the first vista and take in a great view. The Jeep is back in its element!


The view up the valley towards Capital Reef National Park with the Henry Mountains in the background

From here we crawl on up the mountain more and more. While not totally technical per se, we are careful in a few spots but have no trouble and a lot of fun.


We come to a cross road that causes some conversation. The road to the left goes up to a road that leads out over the mountain. The problem is that it is no good for anything wider than 50" The jeep is a tad bit wider so we go right. Bob will scout it out to see if we can make a return trip that way later sometime


We are not the least disappointed with our choice as the scenery is spectacular!


Man it great to be with your pals out in the middle of amazing country.


The road is little more than a ATV track here


Did I mention how worthy Torrey is yet? Almost Divine I tell ya!



PHOTO BY BOB PALIN (using my camera because he left his battery at home)
Coming down is a lot of fun too! I did use low a couple of times to play it safe.


The scenery as we get lower down the hill again

We see some signs of Eagle nests and decide to stop and see if there are hatchlings





Alas no eagles today but we did see a crow. Like I said..."Three Stooges"

It is getting later into the afternoon and we all need a lap. This loafing around is hard work when you are in the back country!


I may need to buff a few of these out tomorrow


But lets not push ourselves too hard.

More tomorrow!

Tommy

Torrey...Life on the Farm

Day two finds me feeling wonderful and ready to do....well nothing 

But here on Mr. Palin's Farm we have to keep things growing and today is irrigation Monday!


I am always amazed at how some people just naturally know how to fix things. Bob and I are not those types of people but lucky for him he has Janet! Here we are replacing a bad wheel and a broken handle on the Wheelbarrow. Janet really appreciates all the hands on help as you can tell by her expression.

 
Good as new!

 
Bob hands me a shovel and we work on cleaning out the various canals on the property to make sure that water gets to the new beds. Remember frost is still a threat up here at 6800ft. Sure is pretty though.

The water coming from the source canal is not flowing to proper English standard to Bob and I set off to see where the blockage is. He says this is not for the feint of heart as we will be going deep into the unknown....I ask if I need my gun...he pauses and said no as quarters will be too close for that. He hands me a hoe instead.


Deep in the thickets. I hear things in there that sound otherworldly. But I am too much a man to turn back and we press on. 

 
We find the dam and make quick work of cleaning it out as the other keeps watch for "hostiles". 

 
I am told to not mention the word Hoffa around this newly dug area. Not sure why


We spend a good part of the rest of the day working on watering the rows and gettting ready to plant Onions, taters, and maybe even a few flowers


But man cannot live on manual labor alone. There are 3 great matches this weekend in the Premier League and Bob has them saved. We sit down to watch Liverpool. It is a slaughter


PHOTO BY JANET BORG
Janet captures us in a very rare moment of sitting on the couch and watching football. You almost never ever see Bob and I sitting still, drinking beer and doing almost nothing.

 
It isn't always easy being me. Please don't be too jealous

As it gets on with the day, we hear the familiar rumble of a big KTM which can only mean that the Whips are here!! Let the real fun begin!

 
Larry is just looking for a place to be comfortable. I hope he finds it.


2009 is not always easy for Larry and I but we are going to hold true to our word to not engage in any put downs with Bob

 
One of the many hazards of farm life is the dreaded farmers tan. Luckily Janet is here and has been trained as a Holistic Healer/Herbal Medicine Woman! Of course Larry and I are here to fully understand this to be a private and personal matter. I only took one picture 

 
It is so great to see my two pals happy as we walk to El Diablo for dinner. It is a good day.

 
Walking past the canal this time of day sure is pretty. Rumor is this place may be on the market soon....

 
Torrey has no stop light, no movie theatre, but it has 3 really amazing resteraunts within 40 miles of it and 2 within 10. The Diablo can be walked to. Amazing place. Janet showing off one of their salads.

 
Here you can see that the ribs that Louise is eating that the lamb that Bob and Larry had are amazing.

 
Happy people


For the record we did split dessert.

As we leave I spy a cool Tulip bed that is lit up.

All in all a perfect day. Lets see what happens tomorrow as we are going...somewhere. Check back!

Springtime in Torrey Day 1

I am ready to go. It seems the past few months really have been a roller coaster both in my personal and professional life and I need some comfort time. Worse still, I am finding myself sitting around the house more and more too tired to do the things I love. No other place like Torrey to help fix being a couch potato! My dearest friends are all rendezvousing there over the week and it is time to get in the Jeep, and reset life's real priorities. 

Making time up the hill finds me North of Flagstaff in no time
 
There is a bit of snow on the San Francisco Peaks but the sky and weather are perfect for touring about!

I motor up highway 89A not and through Kanab without the desire to stop. I am still tense but as each of the 500 miles I drive pass, I am getting more and more into the scenery and beauty and less and less tied to the madness of the day. Very Worthy!


I see this old shack and the clouds and the photo Muse returns!! I keep expecting Henry Fonda to come out or Woody Guthrie to be sitting on the porch but alas after a few minutes I move along but am better for having stopped.


I see my first mythical creature along 89 just south of Koosharem. I wish I had a better picture of the Horned Harley Creature but it turns away from my path and I have a purpose in mind to get to Torrey ASAP. I will seek him again though. 

 
Ahh life is good when you see this sign!
 
And even better when you see this!



I pull into Chez Killer and I am immediately greeted by hugs from Bob and Janet. It is amazing to see them again and I am happy, tired though from the trip and little sleep.

So what do we do as avid adventurers who fear nothing!?

 
We bake bread of course! 


Ok it may seem a tad weird but smile with me and just go with it


 
Plenty of work for Calvin to get into so we can go riding this week and I have brough Bob a present from Phoenix

 
A hammock Chair!

 
The bread finishes up and we decide that we better go out for dinner. 


What a great day and as we sit at the Rim Rock I reflect on just how wonderful it is to be with friends. And there is so much more in store too!