Wandrin Blog

It's been confirmed. I am a loner. That is also in the genes according to a recent read.

The name of the book is “party of one” with a subtitle of “The Loner’s Manifesto” by anneli rufus. The title of the book and the author’s name are in lower case; a loner doesn't want to stand out.

As I read the book, I could see myself as the loner that was being described. Rather than using introvert or isolationist or other such descriptions of the person who spends time alone, this author glories in the word “loner”. With some humor she calls those others -- non-loners.

As I read the introduction to the book, I saw me. A loner enjoys his/her own company. Doesn’t like crowds. Etc. It was a wonderful “aha” moment. For years when I was called (accused of being) the derogatory term “loner”, I would defend my solo status. From now on there will be no defending my loner status. It is genetic (a point the book makes) and nothing I can do about it.

The author explores a multitude of areas in our culture that would try to make the loner something other than his innate nature. The loner needs to accept who they are. They need not heed those messages throughout popular culture to be something they can never be. It is too uncomfortable.



In many high school annuals, there is a caption for the graduate. Mine: “I’m a self made man. If I had a second chance. I’d call in someone else.” Sounds like a loner to me. I had always wondered what that caption meant. When I read the "party of one", I recalled the yearbook's caption and it hit me like a sledge. The non-loners didn't want me to be different; I should be like the rest of them.

The photo from the yearbook is included to point out the bow tie. Of the 45 guys in the class, seven had bow ties. Appears that peer pressure didn't have much effect on me; didn't want to be one of the non-loners.




Today, I am still a loner.

However, there may be a continuum from loner to non-loner. Definitely, I am closer to the loner end of the spectrum. But, how do I explain 30 Hawaiian shirts in my closet if I don't want to stand out. Actually, that is a relatively recent wardrobe change after years of dull business wear drab and beige.

Rainbow's End by Lauren St. John

This is the author's memoir of her childhood growing up on a farm in war torn Rhodesia in the 1970s and 1980s. As a child, farm life, the war and the peril of living is exciting to the young St. John. As she matures and Rhodesia becomes Zimbabwe, she sees the many deaths for what they really are -- genocide.

Nothing has changed. Once again Zimbabwe is in the news once again with killings and warfare. However, today it is tribe against tribe instead of the white versus black or capitalism versus communism.



Way Off The Road by Bill Geist

Written in the same tradition as Charles Kuralt, the author finds the unusual stories in small town America. Since Geist appears frequently on CBS Sunday Morning, I've seen some of the stories appear in video.



The Caliph's House by Tahir Shah

Picking up his young family in London, the author buys a falling down house in Casablanca and spends a year dealing with local customs and culture in the updating and remodeling of his estate.

In past books I have read similar stories set in Mexico, Spain, Italy and Greece. Well written with descriptions and observations, the remodeling process comes alive as the author deals with the Casablanca culture and custom. Most certainly the author will write another book resolving several unanswered questions and the continuing remodeling.

That is my six word memoir.

That is the subject of the book: Not Quite What I was Planning: Six Word Memoirs from Writers Famous and Obscure

I didn't read the book, but just browsed the web site with more information about Six Words.

Creating a six work memoir is not easy. After what seemed to be an hour and with numerous variations on a theme, the best I could come up with was the title of this web log entry.

Nomadic travel and exploring is in the genes.

The following is from an article at World Hum:

Chatwin Was Right About the Urge to Travel

Bruce Chatwin famously made the case for an innate urge to travel, a la nomadism, in his books Anatomy of Restlessness and The Songlines. Now the Economist is reporting that scientists have found a genetic marker that rewards “exploratory behavior” and “novelty seeking.” The paper observes, “One suggestion is that long-distance migration selects for long alleles (see chart) because they reward exploratory behaviour. This might be an advantage in migratory societies because it encourages people to hunt down resources when they constantly move through unfamiliar surroundings.”

During a recent conversation with a friend, I said that I was parked in a Boulder driveway. My friend wondered if I found a house that was in foreclosure.

That does give me an idea. Find a house in foreclosure in a neighborhood where there are no covenants about RV parking in the driveway or on the street. Once parked and if someone comes by asking why you are parked in this driveway, you can honestly say that you are providing a security service for the mortgage company.

This driveway is too close to the Flatirons to see great sunsets, but the sun reflecting off the clouds provided this photo:



This driveway sitting is easy. However, it does come with a commitment -- keeping the plants alive. These are just a few of the flowering plants that want a drink now and then.



As I travel and explore, I see occasional wildlife. In this driveway, it is a daily occurrence. A squirrel is spotted traveling the power lines. The raccoons check out the garbage cans. The deer pasture on the green shoots.

Deer Number 58 (radio collared) is a doe with twin fawns. She appears daily checking out the latest in tender greens. My commitment includes chasing her away from dining on the greens in the yard. She manages to get plenty of dining in spite of my intentions since I frequently head off to do some exploring. Number 58 probably watches me leave and then bounds right into the yard. Try as I might, I have not been able to get a photo of either Number 58 or her fawns. However, the raccoon didn't care about me taking a photo.



There are numerous hiking trails along the Flatirons. My goal is go on a hike everyday -- or at least take a walk around the neighborhood. So far -- it has been every day. During this morning's hike in the Flatirons, I captured these photos:



Until next time, keep the balance...

When traveling in the west, traveling through smoke and haze filled skies makes for less than scenic views and smoky exploring. If your travels and destinations are flexible, check out this Active Fire Map for possible rerouting of your journey.

Right. I don't read fiction. I made an exception when my Boulder driveway host Donna lent me a book by a former co-worker from my high tech working days.

This mystery based in a retirement home is laugh out loud funny and irreverent about life in a retirement home. A short term memory problem of the main character makes the solving of the murder case all the more interesting.

Subtitled: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else

The subtitle says it all. Born into the right family, the family obligatory Yale education, right contacts for the an advertising job out of Yale, the author climbs and enjoys the ladder of success and privilege. Corporate regimes change and Gill is out of job after 25 years. Struggling to eke out an existence, the author takes a job with Starbucks and finds that he is suited and enjoys the the people and the experience.

With his employment at Starbucks, Gill learns what really matters. From Gill's experience, the reader will get an understanding of inside Starbucks, the daily issues and concerns of another segment of the working population.

Note: Movie talk is with Tom Hanks playing the author's role.

A branch of the network of Denver area bike paths passes the Westminster Elks Lodge where Wandrin Wagon is parked. Those bike paths connect most parts of Denver and the suburbs. In recent years, I have biked many miles along these off street paths -- the only kind of bike path I will ride. One year I made the journey to downtown Denver.

Riding the bike is certainly one way to get exercise while seeing the scenery along the rivers, the bridges, fences bordering the path and the frequent graffiti on the structures along the path. Really the graffiti is not much different than a dog lifting his leg to let others know that he was there. Perhaps humans should take a lesson from dogs. Well. Maybe not.

As I was thinking of the bike path, I decided that instead of the bike I would walk a portion of the path. Needless to say, the path goes by much slower. However, there was a positive. That was when I noticed the impressions which were made shortly after the concrete was poured. Tracks are anonymous, but Lori wasn't into anonymity.

There are times that I miss a microwave. Heating up leftover soup is one of those rare times. The thought of acquiring a microwave has been in the back of my mind for several months. As I go through Wal-Mart and other such giant retailers, I see microwaves for $60. They are small and would fit comfortably on the counter -- right where the unused toaster oven sits. The toaster oven could be donated or stored. Then there is the place over the stove that was designed for the microwave which I could be used for the original intended function. However, where would I put the stuff currently stored there.

So why do I want a microwave which I haven't missed in seven years. The only time I can use a microwave is when I have hookups. If I have hookups, I usually have water and if I have water I can do the cleanup for the pots I use to reheat the soup.

Those were the thoughts as I stood in the thrift store looking at a microwave priced at $10.

So I walked out with another Hawaiian shirt ($3) and no microwave.

It was a good day to keep the balance. Okay so it really wasn't balance. Did I need another Hawaiian shirt. Sorry. But that day it was about "want".

Vanity Plates

WRMNDRY -- on an RV - beats tent camping

CNSRVIT -- Probably a Toyota Prius. Couldn't ID as it whipped by.

ONTHLUS -- Even with a driver behind the wheel.

LUVUBYE -- What Mom says when she hangs up the phone!

CYZMUP -- "Size 'em up" on these Iowa plates

And others:

ILUVK9S

XCSKIER

TEE AT 9

GUZHNTR


Other Observations:

Bumper sticker in Durango: EAT. SLEEP. MOUNTAIN BIKE

SILVER TWINKIE -- This Airstream's name is posted on the back. There is a similarity.

Where does this road go? Curiosity is what drives me. Interest in something new and different. Had I known nomadic travel and exploring would be this much fun, I would have never started to work after college. Could I have been that irresponsible. That is an interesting fantasy, but it wouldn't have happened.

My curiosity will take me down that road, but at the end of the day I will come back to an urban place where the Wandrin Wagon is parked. Remembering where I parked my home is a good thing. When I forget, that would be a good day to give up this phase of life.





Off the beaten path... Over these past two months, I have rarely been on freeways. It was the usual two lane roads much of the time going through small towns. While exploring along the way, I took time out to visit with Joyce and George in Cottonwood, AZ. Bill, an NH owner, was also in Cottonwood. Cottonwood proved to be a busy place when I met up with Tom on his way to Colorado. Those visits were followed by a visit with Jamie and George in Pine, AZ.

Once I left those Arizona populated places I was in the Four Corners area. There may have been more people living there 700 years ago than living there today. No planned visits since I knew no one there. However, I didn't expect to see John, another NH owner, when I drove through an RV park in Mexican Hat, Utah. John's a long way from his home in Virginia.

Following travel in the remote Four Corners area and traveling across Colorado, I had the opportunity to park on Lisa and Steve's yard in Durango, visited high school mate Tony in Pagosa Springs, parked on Tom's lot in Nathrop and had a short visit with Jean and Howard on my way through Buena Vista on my way to Denver.

The final approach to Denver...The day I chose to head to Denver was windy. So what else is new this spring. Seems there were a lot of those windy days this spring. Wind makes for an unpleasant hike especially when the dust starts to blow around. It also makes for an unpleasant drive towing a trailer with a strong cross wind.

The 120 miles to Denver required crossing two 10,000 foot passes. My original plan was to stop in Fairplay for a short explore and photo stop. When I stepped out of Silver Slug with my usual shorts and Hawaiian shirt attire, I stepped into a cold gusty wind and snow flakes falling from the sky at Fairplay's elevation of 9950 feet. Forget that. I was back on the road with the heater on.

Silver Slug managed to traverse the up and down road of Hwy 285 as it crosses from one drainage to another. About thirty miles out of Denver, the suburbs begin and the traffic thickens. It's been about two months since I had driven in this much traffic. I am not used to it and wished that I had made this arrival to Denver on Sunday morning. The heavy traffic continues until the road widens to two lanes in each direction and soon it is the down hill run into Denver. Dropping from about 8500 feet to 6000 feet in about ten miles makes for an interesting ride on a winding road that follows a river drainage. When I lived in Denver, I had traveled this road in a sedan. For me it was tough then because I didn't know the road like the locals. This time it was rather scary as Wandrin Wagon was pushing Silver Slug down hill. I down shifted and slowed to a safe speed as I was passed by most everyone.

Soon I arrived at the Elks Lodge and parked. After a short nap, the first thing to do was to head to Costco to stock up on my usual Costco purchases -- salad makings and frozen blueberries, etc. It had been almost two months since my last visit to a Costco. The grazing wasn't great until I came across a sample of ice cream. It sure hit the taste buds.

Exploring was set aside as I began the social whirlwind in Denver and Boulder. Today, this nomad was in Longmont to have lunch with long time friend Rich.

For a week I was parked at Nathop, CO on the Arkansas River with beautiful views of the Collegiate Peaks in the west. Collegiate Peaks because of the names of 14ers including Yale, Princeton, Harvard among others. This would make a great summer place to park to enjoy the scenery, the hiking and exploring.

The Collegiate Peaks:


Over the past weekend, nearby Buena Vista had a balloon festival. The internet information indicated a starting time of 5:30. In the morning. So I was up and headed down to the Rodeo Grounds. I was among the three or four cars there and a single balloon. Over the next hour, the spectators arrived and the balloons showed up. Another hour in bed would have been nice. At 6:30 they started to inflate and lift off. Considering the frequent windy conditions which started early each morning, I was expecting the lift off to be canceled. A lucky day and little wind produced these photos.




Sleep was continued when I returned home.

The Chateau Chapparal at Nathrop was my base for exploring. River rafting is the big draw to this area of the Arkansas River. Standing on the bridge that crosses the Arkansas at the Chateau Chapparal, there are plenty of opportunities to catch photos of the rafters.


Tom owns a couple of sites at the Chateau Chapparal. Tom joined me for the exploring and hiking that filled the rest of my stay. A visit to the nearby well preserved 100 year old town of St. Elmo. This is one of the many structures that are faithfully kept from being recycled by snow, wind and rain.


Other exploring included the Clear Creek and its ghost towns. Another day was a visit to Twin Lakes. Spring was still a few days away on June 10th as these catkins on the willows can attest. That bright shirt has a tendency to detract from the scenery at Twin Lakes. This area is "wow" scenic. At a nearby National Forest campground, the views of the lakes and the mountain back drop would make for an ideal and enjoyable stay. The list gets ever longer -- more to do, see and explore. Next time.








To close this visit, here is a sunset over the nearby peaks.

The scenery was great with mountains soaring to snowy covered peaks. That was the view when I realized that I must be on the wrong road. Highway 285 going north should not be this steep. The word "Monarch" was used frequently on many of the signs. That was when if finally dawned on me that I was on the wrong road heading to Monarch Pass on US Highway 50. Oops.

Right there in the cockpit of Silver Slug was the Garmin Road Navigator -- turned off. When I had left South Fork early that morning, I had considered turning it on for directions to Tom's place in Nathrop, CO. However, it was an easy trip: US 160 east to Colorado 112 to US 285 north to Nathrop. In reality, a map and the real world of roads are a close approximation of each other.

The good part was the beautiful scenery. The bad part was the diesel fuel that was consumed. After crossing Wolf Creek Pass just two days ago, there really was no reason to do Monarch Pass. I didn't get all the way, but pretty darn close.

A lesson learned. Turn on the Garmin (aka Maggie) for directions. It's paid for and it may save a dollar or two in fuel costs.

My last hike in Durango was in the Dalla Park area -- or whatever it was called. This is a recent addition to the Durango park system and the trails connect to Animas Mountain. On all my other hikes in the area, there were the numerous mountain bikes on the trails. That wasn't the case on this trail. Not sure why. More trees -- perhaps. As I hiked the trail, there were two other hikers and a runner.

Due to the amount of trees along the trail, my GPS often lost satellite signal. As a result, I really didn't know how many miles I hiked. Not that it is important; I just like to know. A serious consideration is to get a low tech pedometer as an alternative.


The trail is through pine and gambel oak with an occasional aspen. The only color was from some claret cup cactus on top of rock outcroppings. That was when I came across these shoots coming from the base of a pine tree. It looked like bleached asparagus on first glance.

Time for education for this exploring nomad. Once back at home, I checked several reference books that I carry in Wandrin Wagon. Those sources and a confirmation on the internet identified it as pale coralroot. This is in the orchid family and is a parasite attaching itself to some other plant (in this case a root) to provide nourishment since the coralroot has no chlorophyll of its own.

Learning is fun. Now if only I could remember what I learned.