Southwestern New Mexico. There is so much change in altitude in the Southwest that you can stay comfortable all year, despite your winter hangout being only a few hours drive from your summer place. Considering the price of gasoline, tires, and a new pickup truck (over $60000) -- while the narco-keynesians pay zero interest in bank accounts -- it seems advantageous to concentrate in this area, and abandon the notion of transcontinental "channel surfing with gasoline", which is how the RV lifestyle used to be seen.
And so I have. But there's always pro-s and con-s. This morning I took a stab at a forest access road. I decided to hike since it seemed likely that it would get too steep for mountain biking.
Everything went well. Coffee Girl had a great chance to chase squirrels, while I was delighted with trees-that-have-leaves. (Actually there isn't a technical word for that, is there?) I was a bit astonished with the grandeur of a couple of Arizona Sycamores along the way.
Then suddenly the smoke from the nearby forest fires became more noticeable. Why so sudden? I started getting that yukky feeling that I was digging my own grave if I got macho and stubborn. Back at the trailhead kiosk the Forest Service's notice had said nothing about fire or trail/road closures in my area. But apparently I was getting closer to where the "action" was.
This is a good reason for not getting too attached to the high country of New Mexico and Arizona. Every May and June forest fires are at least a nuisance, and possibly a disaster. It's a good reason not to give up on places that are wetter, such as Colorado.
And so I have. But there's always pro-s and con-s. This morning I took a stab at a forest access road. I decided to hike since it seemed likely that it would get too steep for mountain biking.
Everything went well. Coffee Girl had a great chance to chase squirrels, while I was delighted with trees-that-have-leaves. (Actually there isn't a technical word for that, is there?) I was a bit astonished with the grandeur of a couple of Arizona Sycamores along the way.
Then suddenly the smoke from the nearby forest fires became more noticeable. Why so sudden? I started getting that yukky feeling that I was digging my own grave if I got macho and stubborn. Back at the trailhead kiosk the Forest Service's notice had said nothing about fire or trail/road closures in my area. But apparently I was getting closer to where the "action" was.
This is a good reason for not getting too attached to the high country of New Mexico and Arizona. Every May and June forest fires are at least a nuisance, and possibly a disaster. It's a good reason not to give up on places that are wetter, such as Colorado.
Comments
Is folioferous a word?