Now that I have net and a pc at the business center, I figured I’d catch up on some stuff. I’ll attach all the photos from the ostrich ranch here. Also some links to the feeding videos. Larakeet Video 1/ Video 2
I first noticed it on Day 7, but today it’s getting even more pronounced. The road is changing the way I think. Time is no longer the marker by which I progress my day and my days. I don’t think in terms of minutes or hours so much as in terms of miles gone. The typical clutter and chatter in my brain revolves around different things now the miles I covered, the distance to the next gas station, how far can I go before the minor aches become a problem. How many miles till sunset? It’s cool, i wanted to do such a long ride for these types of reasons.
I realize a lot of this blog sounds like whining about what hurts. And honestly for those worried, I’m not hurting very much. However, I am very conscious of the fact that I’m doing this solo, and have little recourse if shit happens. So I’m monitoring myself closely. I really can’t afford to do what I usually do, which is push through the pain and fuck myself up for days or weeks. Since it’s on my mind, I talk about it a bunch. But overall, my back hurts less on this ride than it does in my daily life on average.
Solo camping has been similar. I’m very cautious and slow in my movements and planning. I still somehow accumulate bumps and scratches but hey that’s the outdoors. Still I am far more careful then I normally am, way more so than can be accounted for simply be being old and “responsible” whatever that means.
Other funny things, there were tons of these signs in Arizona and New Mexico and a couple in texas with what a very strange warning:
“Dust Storms may exist” or similarly “Dust Storms May Exist for the next X miles” I wonder why dust storms get this special and odd treatment. The warning about falling rock etc are much more simply stated on the same high ways. It seems almost conspiratorial “Sasquatch May Exist for 5 miles” feels more appropriate. Or perhaps metaphysical “Noble Altruism May Exist” although I’m not sure the mileage you can put on that one. For what it’s worth, I do believe noble altruism does exist I’m also fairly certain I’ve only ever practiced selfish altruism, so the jury is out on that one. Other signs instructed you what to do in the event you get caught in one. SO now I know, don’t hit the brakes, pull over, shut off the vehicle, and stay inside it. Guess I’m kinda fucked on that last tip.
ANyway here are unfiltered animal pics 🙂 Enjoy! I enjoyed getting them. And yes I know some are sideways. WOrdpress upload sucks and I am not inspired to spend the time it takes to fix each one. Maybe when I get back I’ll fix it.
