A Place Without Expectation

 It's mid-November and just recently it's started to feel like fall.  I've been trapped in a little bubble of sorts.  Spending the end of October and November in Lake Havasu has suspended time for me, it's always summer here.  I know that heading back to Oregon for a Thanksgiving trip is going to be a rude awakening.  I left on this extended road trip in June, just when summer was beginning and in the past five months I've been living my very own never ending summer.  In this bubble it's difficult to remember that just around the corner is December.  I don't know if it's good that time feels suspended or bad that the year is almost over without me realizing it.   The weather is cooling to a nippy 65-70 degrees during the day and compared to the very recent 95 degree days, this is cold.  It seems all of Lake Havasu is sick this week and everyone talks of the "cold" weather.  It is amazing what a 20 degree decrease will do to your body. I guess this is good preparation for my impeding move north.  Considering Port Orford is known for it's rainy days and 50 degree temperatures, I think this ease into winter is a healthier adjustment.

Enough weather talk.

Wojc and I, in an attempt to really draw out the nice weather and make the most of our last days in Arizona, headed north and went on a hike in the hills.  We had really good timing and witnessed possibly the most spectacular sunset yet.

Will everyone please visit Arizona with me every fall?  I know I sound like a broken record, but it's a truly beautiful spot.

Get Your Kicks

A few days ago I visited an old mining town on the historic Route 66 called Oatman.  It's about an hour and a half drive north of Havasu through a winding two-lane road in the desert hills.  Wojc and I drove an hour or so before dusk which in the desert is a magical time with light reflecting off the red desert land.
Oatman is one of a kind.  It's tiny with a few old historic storefronts selling tourist kitsch and carrots for the burros.  Oatman began as a tent camp in 1915 after two prospectors struck a $10 million gold find.  It thrived and grew to 3,500 people in just a year.  Now it only has a little over a 100 people.  When Oatman was a gold mining town the miners used burros for work.  After the mines shut down in the 40's, the burros were allowed to wander freely and to this day they are protected by the Department of the Interior.

They're cute little rascals and kind of like dogs following you down the street in hopes of a treat.  The little white burro above, while adorable in all its unicorn-esque glory, was pretty pitiful and made me feel slightly sad at the state of their donkey lives. They seemed broken, like they lost their will to live and these wild animals now seem to rely on tourists for carrot handouts.  Seriousness aside, this little village is spectacularly located atop a hill with golden hues all around.  It's kind of surreal to walk through the streets crowded with burros set amongst such a stunning setting.  

The sign above says all that needs to be said about the local residents of Oatman and most of the Arizonan population for that matter.

Since this town exists solely based on tourism, there is plenty of entertainment including "shoot-out" reenactments, horse riding and trailers for those of us who lost touch with our country beginnings.

Next time I have company in Havasu, an Oatman excursion is a must.  It's like walking back in time, which I think all of us could use every now and then.

Day In The Life: Arizona Edition

My days have been slightly open in the past couple of months.  Wait, make that four months since I quit my job at a non-profit in New York.  I worked at that job in social services for two years with a daily commute of two hours.  Let's just say I was a little exhausted day in and day out.  It was my goal when I left my job, and New York for that matter, to decompress and really relax like we did as children in the summer.  I must say, I've been pretty successful in my goal.  

Arizona, more specifically Lake Havasu, has been a home base for me and my boyfriend thanks to a spare vacation home.  When in Havasu a typical day involves walks around the neighborhood.

 Inspecting the local wildlife

Test driving boats on the lake.

Yoga.

Killing two birds with one stone: swimming and reading

Exploring the surrounding hills.

Most importantly: watching the evening sunset.

I don't mean to brag too much but I'm sure it comes across this way.  While I love the area and can't get enough of the desert fall, I am starting to miss getting up every morning for work, dressing up and interacting with all different people for a common cause.  Don't get me wrong, there are downs to unemployment and too much spare time, I'm just trying to make the most of everyday.