A New Look in Jewelry.

We have set up a vendor booth in Quartzsite, AZ for the winter, partnering with silversmith Eric Karas. At left, you see Eric's first piece using gemstones. These are a 21.5 ct pink topaz and 7 ct yellow aquamarine, set in 999 silver, which contains more silver than 925 sterling. These stones are reclaimed from the fire, so they do have cracks. However, they would still be effective for empowering prosperity or successful conception and  childbirth. We are asking $225.

Cougina is also ready to make jewelry once again. We have a tray of newly purchased gemstones, wire, and tools.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

Sleep Setup Review: Big Agnes Big Creek 30 and Thermarest NeoAir Trekker

Since the recent fire, we have had the opportunity to re-purchase all of our gear. Having been forced to rethink everything on our gear list, it seems a good time for a few reviews. I'll start with sleeping bags and air mattresses, as we are so delighted with our setup.

We reordered the same Big Agnes bag, the Big Creek 30. We have what is probably a classic outdoors couple's problem. I (Aggie) can barely stay warm with all my clothes on in a 4-season down bag, and Cougina likes to keep even a cheap synthetic unzipped to prevent overheating. However, we wanted to sleep together, not separated by walls of insulation and ripstop (i.e., separate bags)! Last summer, when Cougina insisted that my pristine Western Mountaineering down bags must go, and wanted to get a $59.95 special suitable for children's sleepovers, this is what I came up with.

Big Agnes: Great Idea, Good Execution

https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Bag/bigcreek

I haven't found a couple's bag that approaches the concept of the Big Agnes. It's a doublewide, modified mummy. That is, the footbox is somewhat narrower than the top, but not a lot. So, it is a compromise between minimal weight (my ideal) and freedom of movement (for C). There are full-length zippers on each side, so that I can keep my side closed, and Cougina can let cool air in on his side. There is an adjustable elastic cord that can draw the head covering over my head, while he leaves his open.

The Big Creek utilizes the same design concept of all Big Agnes bags, in that there is no insulation on the bottom. BA's contention is that one crushes the fill that he lies on, rendering it useless for insulating, and therefore, useless weight. Instead, there is a slot on the bottom to slide in your pad or air mattress. Having tried it, we both like it. When I feel too cool, the sensation comes from above and around, rather than below me. Also, staying put in the bag, rather than sliding around on a mat, adds more comfort than I expected.

It specs out at 4 lb 7 oz, a weight that I can live with. Still more than my two down bags, but I won't feel so badly when C spills or walks on it.

Does the bag really work down to 30 degrees? We were looking for a 3 season bag, because we spend a lot of time in the desert summer where it is quite warm at night. However, we knew some cold nights were coming. Lately, we have been throwing the bag out under the stars. No tent. No clothes. A set of old sheets as bag liners, for comfort next to our skin, and to keep our grime off the bag. (When touring, we cut the sheets to fit the bag and sew them together at the feet with a shaped footbox.) The bag kept us warm enough with temps in the 40s and 50s. Although I got a little too cool toward morning, C still had his side unzipped. For the last few days, temps have been in the mid 30s. C zipped up his side of the bag, and we have both used the head covering part of the time. It has taken both a heavy wool blanket and a lightweight synthetic patchwork quilt (thrift shop purchases) on my side only, to keep me toasty warm. Obviously, we wouldn't carry all that extra weight when touring. Then, I will probably wear underwear on cold nights and perhaps look into a down blanket.

The less-than-perfect aspect of the bag is that the zippers, as you can find other reviewers saying, really take special attention to get tracking and not catching fabric, which is not a fun thing in the middle of the night. Also, the head covering is nothing like the glove fit I had in my single mummy bag.

However, frequently, one of the first remarks in the morning is about how much we enjoy this bag. Most often from Cougina, who really wanted to prefer the $59 bag, but must admit that he is not cramped in the bag, and yet has the feeling that we are "two bugs in a rug."

What completes the setup and makes it so very sweet are the NeoAir Trekker sleeping pads. I will review those next.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Phoenix Rising

As expected, we are recovering nicely from our fire losses, thanks to the support of wonderful friends. We have posted recovery status at CovinCovina Hermiticia...

Phoenix Rising

Thank you for your support in prayers, words, and donations.

BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

Ashes to Ashes

Yesterday, we lost everything that we own, except our bicycles, trailers, phones, and the clothes we were wearing, in a fire. We want everyone to know that Kayla will be posting the Daily OOMPH! for us until we can replace our equipment. We will not have the Tarot class on Monday, October 22, but will plan to resume class next week, on October 29.

Our friends in Quartzsite, AZ, Eric and Diane, had invited us to stay in the immaculate fifth wheel trailer behind their house. We had moved everything into the trailer, and were sitting on the front porch visiting. We noticed the neighbors gathering across the street, but couldn't see what the fuss was about. Eventually, one of them came over and said, "Did you know that you have a fire in your back yard?" The trailer was up in flames, which were even more spectacular before this photo was taken.

One of the neighbors worked for the fire department, and came over in street clothes and dismantled and removed the propane tanks. As Cougina says, he is a true hero. The fire truck arrived in 6 minutes, and they had the fire extinguished 6 minutes later. We are in awe of, and indebted to the Quartzsite firemen and firewomen. (When the protective clothing came off, one of the sweaty beings who had walked up to our fire was female.)

We've found a few gemstones in the rubble, but the ones that are still in one piece are cracked. We found some wire, which can hopefully be sold for recycling. Soft packages of tuna, and one titanium cook pot, have survived. We will be replacing everything else: tent, sleeping bag, panniers, laptop, video cameras, etc.

We are so happy that everyone is safe, and the house on the property was spared.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

Spirit Trees

A Spirit Tree

Over a year ago, we posted about the death and rebirth process here at An Old Man's Journey: What Happens When We Die. We have writtten about one rebirth option, for souls who have completed their paths, in the following post on the Covina Hermiticia blog: Spirit Trees

THINK GREEN
BLESSSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

Across Houston to Cypress: Riding in the Rain

We finally got some cycling in. Our friend and student, Nancy, had invited us to stay out in the pasture at her place in Cypress. (Of course, the house and conveniences were all available as well.) So we got Sabrina to give us a ride about halfway, and started riding on the White Oak Bayou trail from around the northwest corner of Loop 610.

It was great to be back on the bikes. It was raining lightly when Sabrina dropped us off, and continued to rain off and on all day. However,we thought it beat riding in the Houston hot sun by a long shot. The White Oak Bayou was beautiful, and we wished we could take it all the way to the end. If you have spent any time on the bayous in Houston, you know that the city seems far away, even though you know that it is nearby, and that there is an open view of those beautiful local cloud patterns.

After the Bayou, we got onto some busy streets. The height of excitement was when we missed the turn on the Google bike route and went over the 249 overpass at Beltway 8. Oops! We ended up on a major freeway. It was an adventure crossing the entrance ramps to get to the next exit, but we made it safely.

The next adventure was when the thunderstorm kicked in. We were on a two lane road with no shoulder, and school had just let out. We pulled the bikes off on the driveway of an empty lot, put on our raingear, and waited it out. I actually enjoyed being in the midst of the storm and the thunder.

After that, it was pretty uneventful. At one point, someone made a right turn into Cougina that forced him to stop for the vehicle. Other than that, the drivers were friendly and courteous. If you live in Houston, you know how stressed drivers are on rainy work days.

The sleeping barn.

We rode on into Nancy's pasture and relaxed. That's the old horse barn, and the red arrow points to the open space where we pitched the tent: Open on both ends to catch the breeze, but protected from the rain, so that no rainfly was necessary. The barn even had electric lighting if we wanted it. We have been loving it!

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Across Texas to Deer Park

Illiki

We were both really hoping to ride across Texas. The problem was that the Google map showed 70 mi stretches between water and legal overnights, paid or unpaid. With the trailers, in the heat, this was too far for us. We had a friend interested in following us in her car, which would have allowed us to drop the trailers and ride as far as we could each day, but it didn't work out. Therefore, we rented a cute and peppy little Chrysler 200, bought a bike rack, and drove to Houston overnight.

It didn't help when we were informed on the last morning that the motel room we rented for a week at the Belmont motel in Roswell was really only for 6 nights! Fortunately, Avis was able to give us the car a day early with no problems. The Avis manager is an extremely courteous and helpful young man.

We drove straight to Deer Park to stay with Sabrina and Illiki Machek. That's the beautiful and talented young Illiki in the photo. (Too bad we didn't snap the photo when she was decked out on Saturday evening. We got the tired-after-school-and-athletic-practice look, and we like it just as well.) Unfortunately, we didn't get photos of their beautiful home, which has been completely updated and was such a pleasure to stay in. Sabrina made us completely comfortable, and Illiki is a hug master. Sabrina has known Cougina for decades, so there were great stories being told.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Covina Hermiticia Blog is Now Public

The time has come to offer Covina Hermiticia to all who are interested. If you are interested in the Hermetic approach to spirituality, check it out here: Covina Hermiticia.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE

Touristing at the UFO Museum in Roswell

Recognize the humans?

Our mission in Roswell (besides bathing and recuperating) is to locate extra-terrestrial beings. So, it is natural that our first stop was the UFO Museum and Research Center. I have to tell you that, if you were to go through the place, what skepticism you have about the incident in 1947 would probably be reduced.

Testimony of Sat. night bar patron.

Besides the original newspaper articles on display, there are walls full of  signed affidavits from a half dozen or so witnesses and also children and spouses of witnesses. If you click on the photo at left, it will blow up large enough to read the text.

Nurse's story.

The story that is documented is that the rancher who first saw the crash site, while checking up on his animals, took the stuff to the law enforcement office in town. Military personnel came in and threatened him and others to stick to the weather balloon story on threat of death and/or revocation of their business licenses. There are similar stories about the couple who were in Roswell to dance on a Saturday night, the local undertaker, the nurse (left) and physician who were called in to observe the bodies, the owner of the local radio station, etc.

Metallic foil from crash site.

ET Cowboy.

One kind of material that was described by witnesses was a metallic foil that could be crushed into a ball in your hand, like aluminum foil, but sprung back to its original flat shape when released. There is no photograph of the beings, but there is a signed affidavit describing them from an alleged observer. That's an artist's rendering at right, of an ET that has assimilated into the local culture.

Definitely worth a visit if you come this way, and only $5 per adult.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Through Lincoln to Roswell: Long and Hot!

Lincoln Schoolhouse, courtesy of activerain.com

Lincoln Torreon fort.

We did have a good start on this day, with a long downhill, and even the wind was with us, for only the second time on the journey. We cruised through the beautiful historic city of Lincoln, fantasizing about having a retreat center in this quaint, secluded, gem of a town. Aggie fell in love with the Lincoln Schoolhouse, but couldn't snap or locate a photo to do it justice. It had been remodeled as a wealthy person's retreat, but the character was still there.

Lincoln church.

Eventually, we reached Hondo and the terrain shifted uphill and the wind into our faces.  We encountered the last real monster hill, several miles at a 6-7% grade in the full heat of the sun. Feeling our bodies heating up, we just kept at it until we encountered an open gate. It was for power line maintenance at the Chavez county line. Not too pretty, but it worked just fine.

Room with a view ;)

The next day, we had an easy 18 mi ride into Roswell, mostly all a gentle downhill. We were smelling the barn as the horses do, giving it the last little bit and knowing we could soon shower and collapse on a mattress. 396 miles on the bikes!

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Through Capitan to Roadside Rest Stop for Repairs

Great burger place in Capitan.

According to Cougina, it would be an easy day. Once again, uh, not. Once again, uphill and into the wind. Once again, all the land but the one site we found was privately owned. Still, it was another day in paradise. Stopped in Capitan and (after several days of trail food) had a wonderful burger and hand cut fries. Can’t remember the name of the restaurant, and can’t find it on Google, but here’s a photo.

We got into the first real mountainous country of the trip. Not fields surrounded by mountains, but the kind of country where all you can see is ridgeline after ridgeline. This started about the time we entered historic Lincoln (not yet the town of Lincoln).

17 mi down the road, we did find a beautiful roadside rest stop in the Bonita river canyon, and stopped to camp and make bicycle repairs, which Cougina describes as follows:

Clothespin repair.

Clothespin trimmed.

“Unfortunately, since leaving Tucson, I have had a rather constant and very aggravating problem with my rear derailleur. Now, in no way am I claiming that I had Diore XT’s or anything like that. However, I did have the unit overhauled before leaving Tucson, and have been aggravated ever since. The photo shows me actually going so far as to drive a clothespin in to fill the gap, in order to try to achieve the lower two gears on any front ring. Unfortunately, it didn‘t work for long. It’s impossible to carry the proper spacers on the road, so we do the best we can. I’ve been messing with this for long enough to do Ethiopian engineering when necessary, but even that has failed... However, perseverance and determination will always tell in the long term. We are actually considering a hard core ride to our destination in Houston, but it will require some assistance from an unknown friend.”

Man logic vs. woman logic:
     Aggie: But I rode your bike in Tucson, and it wasn’t running worth a darn then.
     Cougina: But I had paid to fix it!
     Aggie: But it wasn’t fixed… Oh well, all the more fun…

As you can see, the camp was beautiful, except for the dead animal whose scent we picked up after dark when the wind shifted. We isolated it to a trash barrel in the morning. More fun!

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Headed to the Top at Indian Divide - Missing Campsites!

Campsite gate.

After three days at Valley of Fire, showered clean and rested, we were planning on a gentle uphill ride: 6 mi on into Carrizozo, followed by another 6 mi or so to the beginning of the next big hill.

Sunset: Bedtime!

We encountered the situation that so often beleaguered us on this trip -- the map shows public lands available for camping all along the way, but the roadside land has been sold and is posted “No Trespassing.”

View of road from campsite.

Cougina was having mechanical difficulties with his bicycle. On top of this were the prevailing strong winds in the face. We started climbing the big hill, got several miles into it, and were still on private land. Late in the afternoon, we came across a private gate, set well back from the road, and waited for dark to set up camp in front of the gate. It was another pretty spot.

C takes a load off.

Next morning, we waited long enough to let the sun dry our gear from the night’s rainfall, and started walking up that big hill. 2.75 mi later, we found the top, and an unlocked gate.

Zinced up and ready.

It was tucked between two subdivisions, but it was secluded public land and made a decent campsite. We had made it to the top of the last of the long hills, and were into the Pecos watershed! The rest of the day was for R&R.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Sneaking a Ride to Valley of Fire

Our camp.

Cougina had always planned to hitch a ride across the north side of the White Sands missile range. It's a 90 mi ride with 40 mi of steep,  shadeless uphill, and only one water resupply. We just couldn't practically carry enough water to do it.

View from our tent where tarantula walked.

Upon arrival at the Valley of Fire BLM campground, near Carrizozo, NM, Nathan and Marsha dropped us off at the best tent site, down in a cave-like protected rock shelter, and then grabbed the best RV site, at the top of the hill with a view in all directions. Not that there was any competition. It was pretty much just us.

Rivers of dried black lava running through high desert didn’t sound particularly appealing to me, but it turned out to be starkly beautiful. It helped that there had been rain, and that there was cloud cover to continuously play with the lighting.

Feral cat family.

In addition to the earth contours,  we watched the mama cat with two kittens, obviously freshly weaned, living at our site, sleeping in the rocks, coming out to hunt and to eat the food we offered. Mama is a skinny but sleek and attractive calico. Babies are a grey tabby and and orange one.

We also watched a tarantula walk down the road past our campsite, but the photo has somehow disappeared.

View of storm from Nate and Marsha's.

Nathan and Marsha absolutely refused to accept any monetary gift in exchange for the ride. So, Cougina bought them a 30-pack. Of course, he couldn’t buy them a 30-pack without buying a 30-pack for himself. We spent the first full day exchanging stories and drinking beer up at their hill top campsite. These two quit their corporate jobs 16  years ago, just left abruptly and went to hike the Appalachian Trail. They’ve been traveling ever since, sometimes on foot, and sometimes in their little RV. They had some great stories to tell, and Nathan even managed to take the stage from Cougina much of the time.

While we were visiting, a storm came up. We went inside their RV, and kept drinking and telling stories. When the storm abated, we had to head down to our camp, empty water from our tent, check that the electronics were undamaged, eat something, etc.

Cougina had a pretty tough time with the door latch, but handled the stairs ok. On the downhill ride to our camp, he watched the speedometer get to 23.86, and then came the turn in the road that his bicycle didn’t make. C headed straight into the fence. Fortunately, there were only 100 yd or so to walk to the campsite. All that he really had was a torn up ear, and a headache for the next 24 hours. This is sort of the moment when I realized that this would not be the last of such interesting episodes. Cougina kept repeating that he would write to the makers of the faulty bicycle tire.

Nathan saw the crash from above, and was down on his bicycle in no time, riding C’s bike back to camp, emptying the water from our tent, and being told to get lost. A half hour later, Marsha was there to return the camera I’d left behind and to check on C.

The wind sock.

These two really don’t want their photo on the net, so I’ll just symbolize them by Nathan's unfailingly accurate wind sock creation.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Hanging Out in Socorro

The Sands, Socorro, NM

Ray Patel

We got a room at the Sands at 205 California Street, $40 per night with tax. It wasn’t bad. Took awhile to air out the perfume smell, but then it was fine. It was clean, especially the bathroom was spotless, and it had a tub. (Aggie loves washing clothes in the tub, and then soaking herself.) Ray was a good host, kind enough to share his cutting pliers with us. That’s him.

As for repairs, the bike shop we had been counting on had shut down the year before, and WalMart was closing out its bike department, so tubes, water bottles, and a 2.5 gallon MSR Dromedary to be overnighted from REI. C lubed the ratchet on his cassette, adjusted the derailleurs (while cursing Ordinary Bikes), cleaned the chains, sanded the disk brakes, and lubed the cables.

REI came through in a hurry, as they always have for us, and our friend Craig sent along a pair of padded bike shorts for Aggie. Whee, that will help!

Dublin, solo cyclist

Dublin's rig.

While this was going on, we met a solo cyclist, Dublin Driskill, pictured. Check out his rig. It’s a lot lighter and more compact than ours. A net bag in front to carry three 2-litre bottles, backpacks for panniers, etc.

Our camel across the desert.

On our last night, just before we headed to San Antonio, NM to sit and find a ride across the White Sands desert, we got a phone call from Nathan and Marsha, who we had met in Datil. They were going to the same place, and offered us a ride in their RV!

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

45 miles to Socorro, NM

45 mi by far beats our previous beat of 26 mi. There was some downhill, but not that much, and we had sun without shade, wind in our faces, and heavy auto/truck traffic most all day. Box Canyon, about 5 miles off on a side route, is pictured. It looked beautiful, but we didn’t have time to stop there, and, anyway, a big storm started brewing from that direction. It caused gusts, Cougina says at least 50 mph, and I agree. I’d rather have been golfing in it than bicycling, and any golfer knows that’s saying something.

Along the way, Cougina ran over a rattlesnake, which tried to bite him. From then on, he tended to ride inside the white line, while Aggie, riding in heavy traffic for the first time, moved from her favorite spot on the white line (less stuff to cause flat tires) onto the shoulder.

When we got to the big downhill, the wind was still gusting, the shoulder was narrow, and cars were whizzing by. Cougina had a problem with the ratchet in his cassette, meaning that he had a lot of drag to pedal against. (That was the reason to make Socorro, to be able to make repairs.) He came through stunningly. Eventually the downhill leveled out, finally, the wind gusts dissipated, and we rolled into town on a gentle decline.

If you’re into endurance sports, you know what it’s like to almost double your previous high mileage -- it’s a death march, and you just move one leg at a time until it’s done, knowing that eventually you will finish. You hope, in return, to be stronger the next time.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Houston Visit, September 23-30

We are very pleased to let you know that we will be in Houston doing readings and jewelry from September 23 through September 30, and possibly a bit longer. As usual, Terri will be scheduling the appointments, and you may call her at any time, 713 871 9959, or email her at terribarnes2008@att.net. There are already quite a few people on the list, so please schedule as soon as possible to get the most convenient time for you. While we are having fun on our bicycle trip, we very much look forward to seeing you in Houston. Please refer anyone who you think may benefit from a reading. We sincerely appreciate your support.

Cougina & Aggie

 

 

OLD TOWN BISTRO - Socorro N.M.

What a wonderful place. We decided to treat ourselves to a wonderful YUPPIE meal and a few drinks. Beautiful surroundings in a starving town. Of course we only have two changes of clothes as we travel, so admittedly we may look a bit on the rough side. We had rented the motel, bathed and washed our clothes, and walked two blocks to the Bristol. The cook came out to chat with us, and at 3:45 we ordered an appetizer and a drink to wait till dinner started at 4. The presumed owner, Donna, refused me a beer, saying that she can smell alcohol on my breath. Is she anti anything else? I did not take a photo, what an ass---e, left and came back to the motel, saved at least 60 bucks... So remember, even YUPPIES can be STUPID.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
COUGINA and AGGIE
http://anoldmansjourney.blogspot.com/

A Meeting with Angels en route to Socorro, New Mexico

The Three Angels

You see the angels at left, and we didn't even have the presence of mind to get their names.

It started when we left a rest stop. While Aggie couldn't manage to get out of the gate, due to a flat tire, Cougina was soon over the top and at the end of a long downhill. (C later said that he hadn't trusted the telepathic message that it was only a flat.) Not  having the tire removal tools, nor, for that matter, knowing how to change one anyway, Aggie started walking, holding up the rear tire so as not to bend the rim. Eventually a passing pickup stopped, and it was these three fine young men who were returning home after an elk scouting trip. Just as they finished loading Ag's bike into their pickup, C came racing up the hill, hell-bent to save her. C soon changed the tire, and we proceeded with our day. More about that later. In the mean time...

Please join us in wishing/praying that these three each get a big beautiful elk this season.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Down to BLM Campground, Datil, NM

Can you spot the library (off left)?

It was our highest mileage day: 22 miles to the BLM campground, mostly downhill, still enough to kick our butts. We encountered the most beautiful country yet. The road to Datil followed a wooded canyon. We stopped frequently just to take it in.

Our campsite.	Cougina, Jack, Rima.
Another stock drive rest stop.	GoToMeeting home.

The BLM campground is another well-kept secret. Tended by Jack and Rima, the kindest people you could meet, who have travelled the world themselves and have their own stories to tell. The camp is nestled in empty, wooded hills, has plenty of good well water, green firewood (which C can somehow get burning), spotless outhouses, and soft tent pads. The big surprise was Wi-Fi and electricity! There is a new log building where we were able to hold our video meeting, even though it had been raining outside. So lovely that we are staying extra days, getting our videos uploaded, relaxing, recuperating, and cooking a big batch of sloppy joes to fuel the ride. The meat came from the little store in Datil that has its own butcher shop for the meat counter and the adjacent restaurant.

Yesterday evening, Jack and Rima even hosted a little evening get-together for Keith and Judy, another couple in the campground, and us. They said it wouldn't be much, but Rima had even made flan in dessert glasses. What a treat for bicycle tramps! Life is very good.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Hermetic Analysis of the Lord's Prayer

Our stats show that most of our hits are for the Hermetic posts, so let me call your attention to this one on our sister blog, HermeticOrderForHumans.com: The Lord's Prayer can be interpreted as following the pathway diagrammed at left on the Kabalist Tree of Life.

http://hermeticorderforhumans.com/2012/08/14/hermetic-analysis-of-the-lords-prayer/

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA

Dreamtown: Pie Town, New Mexico

Pie Town sits at 8000' elevation. It originated, in the late 1800's, Nita thought, as a stopping point along the cattle drive from Springerville, Arizona to the railhead in Magdalena, New Mexico. Cowboys bought dried fruit here, and eventually pies. Indeed, we have been following a route through high, open grasslands all along the way. And, indeed, there are two local cafes which both serve excellent pie. By the way, we're talking 35 residents in town, and 150 in a 15 mile radius of town.

Alyce

Not just Toaster House, but the entire community, is a special sort of place. You know how the magazines do the articles on the ten best places to live in the US? This is one of those places that you hope the magazines never discover.

Tommy

Nita stopped by in the afternoon and told us about the Friday dinner at the Pie Town Cafe. Thus began the expansion of our experience, from the friendliness and generosity of Toaster House, to the friendliness and generosity of Pie Town. We had fried cod with cole slaw and hand cut fries, excellent by any standard. But the food was not as remarkable as the people. The Friday evening dinner is obviously a town social event. There was even a lower priced dish on the menu, such that most anyone could feel comfortable attending. Every table but one was reserved. All he locals were friendly to us, including Alyce, Michelle (our waitress who was handling the whole place, and whose dad came in for a hug while we were there), Ed, , and JY, Joan, and their son Tommy. Tommy later came to the Toaster House with three nice beers, Dominican cigars, fine guitar playing, and interesting conversation to finish our evening in style.



It was all so enjoyable, and we, so fatigued, that we changed our plans and spent another day.

Saturday, we tried the green chile stew at the Pie-o-neer. Great stuff!

Ajo

Later in the day, Ajo came by and regaled us with more good ale, oranges (bless you, Ajo) and stories of his time on THE ICE. He spent 10 years doing technical work in Antarctica.

Cougina magically summoned the energy to drag me to the dance at the community center. (I wanted to get my rest for the next day.) Sorry we didn't get photos! It was a blast, and I didn't want to leave. A country/western band, which was good enough to play an urban bar, IMO, played country favorites, and you know how we love to dance. Plus, we got to meet a bunch of new friendly people.

The striking thing about Pie Town was affirmed by Anna, the post mistress: the residents not only care for each other, but seem to accept each other. If you've lived in small towns, you know how the support and friendship is counterbalanced by gossip and jealousy. It gets revealed even to us as passersthrough. Cougina and I have noticed that, with all the people we have talked to here, no one has had anything but positive words to say about anyone else. Not even veiled neutrality. Just positive.

This is about the nicest thing I can think of that I could say about a place. If it were in our hearts to settle in one spot, I don't think we would need to look further than Pie Town.

THINK GREEN
BLESSED BE
AGGIE and COUGINA