On the road-finding our way through darkness

Last Tuesday was election day and Bill and I spent an ebullient day walking in the San Rafael Valley near Patagonia AZ. We chose not to watch the news until the following morning, Nov. 6.

Hearing the news the following morning of who was elected president, we felt our lights dim. I will quote one of our favorite authors, J.R.R. Tolkien, and a scene from the ‘Fellowship of the Ring’ in which Frodo in despair, feels his burden is too heavy to bear, given the hard road ahead.

Frodo: “I wish the Ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened.” Gandalf: “So do all who live to see such times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

So, it was in a state of numb dread that we drove away from our campground at Patagonia Lake State Park Nov. 6 to our home for the next six nights at the Gilbert Ray Regional Park campground near West Saguaro National Park.

Highlights while there?

Visiting with my dad’s brother Orland, 81 years young. He took us for Chinese Food in Oro Valley. Another night we cooked dinner for him at his home.

Being the guest of Lisa Harris to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. And treating her to lunch at, in her words, REAL Mexican Food at Pico de Gallo in South Tucson.

The synchronicity of camping across from a pair of women we connected with in Ojo Caliente last month was a highlight of this part of our travels. They are Natalie Gaza and Wendy Whitmore. The women travel full–time in their vintage red and white Argosy, along with four lady pugs, who can lift their noses and sing the same ‘Ah-wooo’ tune if they want to be let out of their room in back of the trailer decorated in pink and turquoise. We have much in common philosophically with Natalie and Wendy and connected with them on a deep level at Gilbert Ray.

Natalie is a singer/songwriter. Wendy plays drums and writes lyrics for some of Natalie’s songs. Natalie’s recording a new album, and she asked me to be part of a music video for her upcoming record. ‘Stumbling Up’ is the first track on the album. The song is about loss. Natalie’s character in the song recalls her friendship with a woman who died from addiction. I play the ghost of the friend who died as we dance. The song is so poignant about love for people we’ve lost, that I was teared up while performing. Tucson videographer/film maker/audio engineer Melody Murray recorded this segment just before sunset for the upcoming video. Click here to watch some of Natalie’s previous videos, and stay tuned to the release of her new album.

Hiking Gates Pass. Nearby our campground is a hike between a pair of mountains lined with saguaro that leads to an overlook of Tucson. Holy ground here.

Visiting downtown Tucson, and the historic Pima County Courthouse.

Visiting with Holly Rankin at Madera Canyon. We met Holly while camping at Mesa Verde National Park. She happened to be camping right next to us and is friends of our friend Gordy Blair, who lives in Mancos, and plays pickleball with Holly. Holly winters in Green Valley and enjoys riding her E-bike. Her inviting home south of Tucson is filled with art we relate to. She loves the outdoors, adventure, plants and birds.

We watched Broken Arrow, based on the true story of a peace treaty negotiated between Cochise of the Chiracahua Apaches, and Tom Jefferson Jeffords. It received a Golden Globe award in 1950 for Best Film promoting International Understanding. The film is based on the novel, Blood Brother, by Elliott Arnold, which tells the tale of the 1855-1874 war between the Apache and the U.S. Army, and the peace treaty that was formed. Nearly 250 Apaches from Arizona’s Fort Apache Indian Reservation were employed by the studio for the film. An important story about how hard won freedom is, and how easily it can be taken away.

Last night Bill walked around the campground and took this photo of a moon and a saquaro.

At the moment, I’m at the posh Oro Valley Public Library.

Next journey is in Mesa AZ, at the Usery Campground. Take care amigos, we can make it through the days ahead if we trust each other and know we’re not alone in our feelings. Signing off, Bajada Bill and Cactus Kate.