The Oasis of my Soul...

[beemerchef]

Are we there yet? NM

Not yet! Extended stay in New Mexico with “sciatica”, meaning leg nerve inflammation.
Good Dr, Bad Dr. That has been the game. Great first visit, disastrous second visit. A Chiropractor. One needs to listen to their body and not follow up “just because”. That has been the moral of the story. There will not be a third visit.

The third visit was riding “Old Faithful” for 240 miles yesterday [against Dr's orders...] and today “I know” we will start again heading North. Everything seems to be falling back in place even if not totally healed which in itself will take some time and yet happy to know it will not keep us off “Old Faithful”.

It was the route to “Pie Town”. A great ride... and a lousy and expensive piece of pie with a cup of watered down coffee. What else can I say? I would be more than happy if they sued me and I could get my $6's back. Sorry but I have to find the humor in all of this.

The “Very Large Array” is always worth a few photos and has an interesting Visitor Center no matter how many times one has been there. Friendly folks in the middle of nowhere listening to our distant neighbors.

Getting ready for our favorite spaces in Southern Utah. We will make it.

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

7th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
www.beemerchef.smugmug.com The Photos

[beemerchef]

Whichever way the wind blows... Utah

Amazing aspects of Life.


As soon as we reach the Valley of the Gods area the downpours won't let us in. On to Moab area then, cooler higher altitudes in beautiful Canyonland with sights of the White Rim Trail and so much more.


Settled, yet my “back” is not. Riding cured it all a bit only to make things worse as the days went on. I figured the Moab “Emergency Room” will be familiar with such, I am sure they get their share of injuries from the many outdoor activities.
Lower discs degenerating, sciatica, X rays did not lie. Riding is curtailed, not much anyone can do besides exercises and anti inflammatory meds.

This was not really how I wished the direction of the winds would blow us. What an irony.

And now almost back into Texas where I will see my own Dr, try to heal, we at least have a space to stay.


I enjoyed the couple past entries with many photos, one being an emotional roller coaster as the aspects of these past months catches up with me, the next one being the beauty and serenity of Canyonland and it's surroundings.

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

7th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
www.beemerchef.smugmug.com The Photos

[beemerchef]

Trying to settle at “The Oasis”, Texas.

The aspect of being here is a bit different this time around and will be as such for a few months ahead.

Life has deviated much since the passing away of my Mother now 6 months ago. Something, for lack of a better word, has changed. An incredible emptiness, a void, a situation unable to yet adapt as the days go on and on without much of a purpose as it was.

Writing a Book, one containing our path throughout these past 7 years has always been on the back burner. Every year it has been... next winter, next summer. That time has come for more reasons than one, it has become the purpose of my “now”. Learning the logistics of formatting in itself has been an education as it will be published as an eBook at first.

I feel as I was born a bit too early to even remotely understand the jargon of the “how to”. Yet, it is now finally understood, under control as they say. I will keep writing my Journal as always, my sounding board for the months ahead while here, writing, cooking, playing with my Buddy Spirit, some rides here and there as the back and sciatica are getting better with the help of daily exercises. Have to keep this body, this vehicle in shape.


My Love for this space keeps increasing always. Silence, isolation, a World detached from it all where we feel having the ability to come through with such project.

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

7th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
www.beemerchef.smugmug.com The Photos

[beemerchef]

A couple weeks later at “The Oasis”, TX

Writing a book.

“The Book” which had been on my mind for the past couple years.

A lonely affair I find out, with the help of a good Friend, a retired English Teacher, correcting not my language but my blatant grammar errors of many.

The perfect space for such a venture where the isolation, silence, beauty of Mother Nature, all is conductive to retrace our past steps of these previous seven years.

Sometimes amazing, sometimes funny, at others surprising myself reading my own words of the lessons learned, the ones learning on how to live on the road, how to cope with grief and emerging from past dark tunnels, how to live with Spirit 24/7, being off the grid , so much which culminates towards these present days for winter times.

Just a personal challenge I always wanted to accomplish, and this time around, as already about a quarter into it and 25,000 words later, it will get done.

Mixing it all up with chores around here, as usual watching the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, taking a weekly ride towards a chosen destination. This is Big Bend after all, these millions of acres will never lack of such destinations.

This is our lives for now, a Journal for these times and the few months to come.

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

7th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
www.beemerchef.smugmug.com The Photos

[beemerchef]

A much needed change on our Journal, TX

The unexpected is always around the corner in Life, and especially while on the road. As mentioned in our last entry “I am here but truly there”. I am realizing I am so totally in the past while writing this book spanning our seven years on the road. After a quick round trip to San Antonio and Del Rio for errands and eye doctor, we are back here at The Oasis for the duration to complete this book which I am one third into it. For my mental health sake, logistics, time, I have to refrain writing our Journal, yet, continue posting it even most likely more often with photos, videos and some quotes I stumble on. They say “a picture is worth a thousand words”. This will be the case as this space is the perfect one to write while going down memory lane.

Being in San Antonio for just one day made me realize how good we have it here. I thought people had gone mad while driving as Kamikazes. The freeways were as spaghetti dropped in a bowl and if it was not for our GPS, I think we would still be there.
The weather has finally turned to cold on us, gray days these past couple ones and while sheltered and pounding on the keyboard, will take it.

Anything but hot.

So, we hope you enjoy the photos, they are were we are!

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

7th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
www.beemerchef.smugmug.com The Photos

[beemerchef]

Half way through writing our book, [yes, Spirit writes also...], this winter has become one of discipline with a calendar and clock. Odd for us to not be moving around, not even into events in Terlingua. Pretty much holed up here and writing and more writing.

While reading our own Journal, the amazement of having visited so many spaces does not stop. If nothing else, I have already decided on many we will return to, most likely seeing it all with a different feel.

A few photos of what is happening here in the skies, a ride cut short to Presidio while instead rescuing a couple who could not find each other for a few hours! It was an amazing experience. Probably as much for them as for ourselves. In and around the Closed Canyon, no water, no hat, he was wearing cowboy boots with leather soles... I still to this day cannot understand how they could loose each other while even calling his name carried by such a strong echo through the canyon.

It might be I have read too many mystery books in the past, the experience was the perfect plot for?... Anyone can take it from there. This would include a wife much younger than him, a 10lb dog which has to be carried because he is a house dog [???] and missing keys for their vehicles.

A bit of snow as usual for one night, some cold front lingering, the usual winter scenario here at "The Oasis".

So, we hope you enjoy the photos, they are were we are!

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

8th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
www.beemerchef.smugmug.com The Photos

[beemerchef]

Happy Holidays and a “2014 Sunsets Calendar”. TX

It was a nice break from the so far 80,000 pages written, having two travelers stop by a couple days ago. Refreshing conversations all with similar interactions with the road, the many met, the experiences, human and physical. The kindness of people present. They have been rolling for two and a half years now. I had coincidentally cooked enough food that morning with our Solar Oven to feed an army. When I saw they were getting ready to open a of couple cans, they were put away quickly. Bad Karma I think it would have been to open those at The Oasis...

It has been a breather to have company and now, through January, by the time you read these words, I will be back into the book. Summer of 2011. Couple more years to go.

There is no doubt, especially reading my own entries, of how much I now miss the road. I can taste it, even if knowing well, it is right around the corner.

I did take some time to make up a 2014 “Happy Sunsets Calendar” as I call it as many have asked me to do so. It is linked on our Journal with also my favorite quote of the year.

Happy Holidays to you all and wishing you a very Merry Christmas.

Till next time.

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

8th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/beemerchef 2014 Happy Sunsets Calendar

[beemerchef]

It is another crossroad of times. TX

Wishing everyone a Happy and Healthy New Year. I hope it is never too late for such wishes.

The weather has been generous here bringing back memories of past fairly mild winters. More memories are plentiful while going through a second edit of “Freedom on Both Ends of the Leash”. Written and expressed language has always amazed me as is the power of words.

It was a fine New Year's Eve spent with friends and cooking all day. The present has been doable, yet, I cannot help thinking of the months ahead coming up back on the road. As I expressed in this new journal entry I have some concerns, such also shared by others criss crossing this beautiful country of ours.

Times have changed these past seven years, and so has a certain segment of society spilling on those lands where the camping is free. The conclusions are certain after discussing the situation more often than once.

I don't know how long we will stay here while we divide our time with the parks near by. The holiday season being over, such parks being the less visited ones in the country, the good sites will be again available to us.

Have a great day! Enjoy the cooking...

Till next time.

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

8th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/beemerchef 2014 Happy Sunsets Calendar

[beemerchef]

Tentative book front cover and excerpts. TX


We are literally coming up for air being in between the second and third edits of our book "Freedom on Both Ends of the Leash". I am realizing we [Spirit also!] have so totally hibernated and as the second edit ended yesterday, I felt as my fuses had blown.

I read today, written by "Anais Nin":

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect"

It has been three months of intense retrospect.

Our editor loves the book, I posted some excerpts just yesterday on our journal and the feedback has been very positive. Myself? an opinion? I don't know... besides finding our past seven years having been interesting mental and physical path with positive choices made.
We live in such a beautiful country, everyone of course has a taste of their own when it comes to the outdoors, we ourselves try to find the desolate beauty which surrounds us.

I want to say "we will be off for about a week"! It does sound kind of strange as being off 24/7, yet in contrast with these past months it does make sense to me as I have no doubt Spirit also agrees.
We are off towards Big Bend National Park. I already know some corner will be waiting for us and the cameras will be put to work again.

As a good friend of ours said the other day "there is no deadline for this book, is there?". My answer was "not really". Maybe another month or so.

We do miss the road and the unknown behind every boulder seen.


Till next time.

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

8th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal

[beemerchef]

Taking a breather between edits in Big Big Bend National Park. Tx

The stages here at The Oasis and in the park are very similar. It is a gift when throughout these winter times one can within comfortable temperatures roam around 900,000 acres only a few miles away. Every fall I tell myself "we are not coming back", and yet, here we are, the space calling us like a magnet. Baja in Mexico would probably the only other region I would consider while still away from the crowds as the plus would be the beaches. Maybe next winter.

It was a fine time at the park, a change of scenery while taking a breather between edit #2 and #3 of "Freedom on Both Ends of the Leash". Some nice riding, meeting travelers going around the world in their Unimog and Landcruiser, cooking on the grill, just being while watching the sun go by followed by the moon right behind it.

Would I ever consider writing at some point Book #2? I doubt it very much. Would I recommend anyone to write one Book? Yes! Absolutely. It is consuming, it demands discipline and for myself an environment of silence and peace unencumbered from any urban aspect. Everyone has a story to tell worthy of others to read.

It is easy and hard all at the same time. It is demanding especially when the contents are non-fiction. Unable to live in the now the mind is constantly hovering over the past dates which fills the pages. Then comes the edits which is what we are going through right now. Can one really write a 90,000 word book without any errors? They say it is possible. I yet have to find out. Soon.

There are times I ask myself "why am I doing this?", other times a sense of accomplishment takes places as all is more of a personal challenge than anything else. One more month! It will then go to the printers. Digitally and physically.



Till next time.

Stay well.

Ara and Spirit

8th Year, the Stars, living under them…

www.theoasisofmysoul.com The Journal
http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/beemerchef 2014 Happy Sunsets Calendar
www.beemerchef.smugmug.com The Photos
www.store.theoasisofmysoul.com The Recipes

www.printfection.com/spiritedoasis T Shirts and more