10/09/16 09:28 - ID#60679

On to Flagstaff

After the mesa we headed up to Flagstaff. It wasn't far at all, maybe a half hour by car. It sounds long but it was nothing on this trip.

We didn't have a place to stay when we got to Flagstaff of course. So (e:paul) and I went to Dara Thai, across the street from the Downtowner where he lived before. The food was about $8-9 a dish and made us too full. I had a fried tofu southwest spice dish.



We ended up staying on the same block where (e:paul) and (e:terry) lived, in the Motel Du Beau. It was the first motel in Flagstaff, which is now a motel/hostel. It was way cheaper than a hotel and had laundry, breakfast, a common area, fridge and everything. I liked it a lot. The hotel was also right across the rail tracks from downtown. The trains passed by the town almost every hour in the night but I could sleep through them. The weirdest part was that the shower could take up to 10 minutes to heat up because it was so far from the water heater. Luckily I can take cold showers while it gets warm for Paul.

(e:paul) says it was pretty much the same layout as his old apartment, just no kitchen.







This cafe across the street had a wall of dead dogs. It was depressing and cute at the same time.

Permalink: On_to_Flagstaff.html
Words: 244
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 12:54

Category: hiking

10/09/16 09:22 - ID#60678

Vortices, Brins Mesa and Devils Bridge

The second day in Sedona, (e:paul) and I went to see the famous Sedona vortex. Somehow Sedona is famous with the new agey crystal people for being a spot with many mystical vortexes. Our motel clerk even gave us a map and told us where they'll all be.





It seems like rich Californians definitely outweigh crystal hippies now (or maybe the hippies just have money now). But (e:paul) and I went to a famous vortex site by the airport. It really seemed like an easy hike to me but maybe I'm secretly allergic to vortices

After that we went up a road right in the town to a place called Jordan Pass. It takes you to a trailhead for Brin's Mesa.

The trail starts off in the desert and takes you about 500 feet to a grassy mesa. All along the way (e:paul) and I ate prickly pears. You probably shouldn't since it robs the desert life of nutrients but it they were way sweeter and juicier than anything Basra ate. I hope he gets fresh ones, wherever he is (e:joe,60672)

The mesa descended into a pine forest with a dry creek/wash. You go all the way out to an ATV road, ~3 miles away.

At the ATV road we went a mile south and ended up at Devil's Bridge. The hike is steep but easy up to this stone bridge, jutting out over a valley. It looks way scarier than you'd thing. (e:paul) freaked out a little but it was always at least 5 ft wide always.

We didn't have very much water for an 11 mile hike but we did have coconut water and a few Modellos. So those tided us on the walk back. I don't think we saw anyone else on either direction of the Brin's mesa trail, outside of the first half milk.

Permalink: Vortices_Brins_Mesa_and_Devils_Bridge.html
Words: 332
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 01:06

Category: hiking

10/08/16 10:23 - ID#60677

Oak Canyon

The same day we hiked the west fork of Oak Canyon. After the desert heat I thought I'd want to swim but it was a cool forest with a freezing creek. I loved it.

I can't believe how big some of the smashed rocks are at the bottom. The rock slides here have to be like meteors hitting the earth.

(e:paul) and I thought the sheer cliffs on the side looked like a desktop background while the sun went down.

Permalink: Oak_Canyon.html
Words: 88
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 01:37

Category: hiking

10/08/16 09:17 - ID#60676

Bell Rock in Sedona

Was the first hike (e:paul) and I did in Sedona. It was the first real rock climbing I've done besides something like little rock city.

The sun was super intense on the way up. The rock is rough sandstone so shoes stick to the side and you can walk right up to the rocks that jut out in the middle.

Once we got up there I slipped a little and my stomach dropped. I freaked out, (e:paul) had to coax me to keep going around the rock. I really thought I was going to fall off and die.

Eventually we made it all the way to the highway side of the rock, and tried to climb to the top via a canyon. We kept getting stoned by ledges that were way taller than us.

Luckily this native Sedona guy, his GF and sister came walking by and offered to show us the way up.

It was a lot easier, besides the cactus I got stuck in my hand. We made it all the way to the top, where (e:paul) and (e:terry) had made it last time (e:paul,45458). There's a book you can sign, and we took pictures while the couple did weird yoga moves standing on each other. They almost fell off once, no fucking way would I descend if that actually happened.

The view was incomprehensible. We were so high up, it's hard to believe we actually climbed up all that sandstone.

After being the at the top coming down was nothing. Even when the climber had us hugging the wall on a 4 inch ledge. If the sister could do it while talking on the phone, we could do it with both hands.

After we got down (e:paul) and I went out to lunch at a cheap tamale place called Sedona Tamaliza. I never had a tamale before but it was basically Mexican spiced polenta in a corn husk. For only $5 you got a super spicy vegan spinach and mushroom tamale. (e:terry) would have loved them.

Permalink: Bell_Rock_in_Sedona.html
Words: 356
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 01:34

Category: hiking

10/08/16 09:00 - ID#60674

drive to sedona

To be written about

Permalink: drive_to_sedona.html
Words: 13
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 01:38

Category: hiking

10/08/16 08:59 - ID#60673

Papago Park

Before we dropped (e:terry) off to go home, we went for one real hike up Papago Park, in the middle of Scottsdale near the airport. It juts up in the middle of the flat sprawl, with a zoo and golf course nearby.

It's pretty easy to get up and has a 360 view of endless Phoenix.

Afterwards we ate Filiberto's and dropped (e:terry) off for his flight home. I really missed him, and wished he could have come along ;(

Permalink: Papago_Park.html
Words: 87
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/13/16 11:55

Category: pets

10/08/16 08:57 - ID#60672

Where is Basra?

So last year we sent Basra the tortoise to Phoenix because he was getting too big to keep inside (e:joe,60300).

Since we were around, we went out to see him at the Phoenix Herpetological Society in Scottsdale. It was out by some ranches, in the way north of Scottsdale.

Well anyway, I think we saw him. We sponsored him so they knew what pen he was in but that's all.

Have you ever seen so many tortoises? As soon as they see someone at the fence, they stamped and swarm towards you.


Feedin' time! These tortoises don't give a shit, they crawl over each other sideways like food driven robots. No pathfinding, just a beeline to the nearest green scrap. It makes me think they'd attack you if you went in the pen with colorful clothes on.



Which one is Basra? I don't know. We tried matching from pictures I took. Shell sloped down on the sides, slight pyramiding, curved backside. There were so many that mostly fit the size and shape but who knows how big he is now?

We got a show out of it, too.


I felt bad keeping him trapped inside in Buffalo, but was nervous to send him somewhere random.

It didn't sound good as the other places (e:paul)'s tortoises have gone, but all the tortoises at the refuge seemed healthy and lively. Plus he's outside for the whole year instead of 5 months.

I think he's better off Phoenix. (If he is here?!)

Permalink: Where_is_Basra_.html
Words: 257
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 12:37

Category: hiking

10/08/16 08:53 - ID#60671

Short hikes

A few hikes and walks from Phoenix.

Saturday (e:terry) and I went on a walk for Mexican Señor Taco. (e:paul) and others were eating a fancy meat dinner. It was about an hour walk each way from where the party was, and it was the first commercial building. Mindblowing how long it takes. You could see the lights from Phoenix going on forever from the top of fountain hills. It was a good temperature.



The next day we went up on another hill nearby in Fountain Hills. (e:lilho) was not having it.

It was a short hike through some cacti and crusty old bushes. At the top you could see all the mountains around. To make it a little gayer for us, a rainbow appeared over in a freak rainstorm.

Permalink: Short_hikes.html
Words: 151
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/14/16 12:42

Category: travel

10/06/16 02:13 - ID#60669

Trip to the desert

Last Wednesday we left for (e:hodown)'s surprise birthday in Phoenix.

We stayed with her and her mom. The whole weekend evolved to be likely the most complex suprise party in history. it probably deserved another post but (e:hodown) thought we were there for (e:lilho)'s birthday.

The desert is crazy. It was intensely hot and the sun was the most intense I've ever felt. The biggest vegetation you can see are sagarro cacti up and down the hills and highways.

On the upside we got to eat delicious Mexican food from Filibertos.

We stayed in Fountain Hills which was way out east past Phoenix. The first day there we went for a short hike near the lake where the world's second largest fountain. It used to be the biggest but they built a larger one in Dubai. Of course the biggest fountains are in the desert.

Scottsdale and Fountain Hills are suburban sprawl to the max. Every road is 4-8 lanes and it takes an hour by car to get anywhere. Not my type of town.

Permalink: Trip_to_the_desert.html
Words: 186
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/06/16 07:53

Category: politics

09/27/16 01:23 - ID#60667

Slight exhale

Permalink: Slight_exhale.html
Words: 45
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 10/06/16 07:57