Three Ways to Paradise

Portal sucked me in, in large part because of the community here. The people are varied and interesting, and all dig living here. In the past three and a half weeks I've done much. I've been living a full life.

I stayed with work on my mind. It was time to put some of my training to use in a meaningful way. I've learned how to use Quickbooks. I've done data entry of four years worth of checks. I've classified it all and generated views that show where money goes when. Moreso, I've gotten folks involved in their business in a way they've shied away from for years. I wasn't working too hard though.

I've caught up on my reading. In Oregon and Northern California, I read The Agony and The Ecstasy. In LA I picked up a small fantasy novel from a friend, and was done before I left Joshua Tree. Between there and here, it was several field guides. Since I've been in Portal, I've read a software manual, a philosophical essay, a mystical guidebook, an historical fiction, and a straight up history book. I've also seen a number movies, though only The World's Fastest Indian and Apocalypto stick with me. I bought 7.5 minute topos maps and a geological map from the USGS. I've studied hiking maps of the area. When I hit the road, I'll pick up Zarathustra. This might be a dangerous book, in terms of inspiration - like watching Dune on acid. I think I have too much of a sense of humor about myself, though, to have any messianic delusions.

Doing something makes one become a something doer. Identity is a bit trickier than that (or it isn't), and self-identity has been a theme of my trip. Saying and doing are a bit different, but I think labeling has its uses. This started in Seattle, with the self diagnosis personality test: Monkey-Robot, Ninja-Pirate. Personally, I'm a Ninja Monkey. So is Ziggy. Also bandied about there was the notion of spirit animal, again self-identified. I thought myself a bear, a mule, maybe a leopard. I never considered the flying animals that have been close to me thruoghout my life. A couple of folks helped me figure this out. Jason, in disclosing that after Kyl his spirit animal was probably a crow, made me realize how just right that was for his curious intelligence and own personal magic. John in Big Sur spoke so reverently of an experience with a loon, and I found myself telling him all sorts of raptor tales. I've thought so much of flying, spending time in the wind day to day to day, happy to be out with the sky again. I followed birds South, and have watched raptors flying. Here I flew. Golden eagle, red tail hawk, kestrel, osprey, elf owl - all are on my totem. So too are the tiger, dragon and crane. And the twin fish of my sign aparently inform my intuition. The Chinese say I'm a fire snake. Perhaps the more metaphors I use, the better I understand myself.

In Apocalypto, before the village is attacked the village elder tells the tale of the animals giving their gifts to man - such a pityful creature was he. The vulture gave him sight, the jaguar fierce strength, and the serpent the secrets of the earth. I nearly finished his tale for him, so engrossed have I been in my Uechi Ryu the last several weeks. I worked first and most on my crane technique, getting my wings back. Tiger and dragon I practiced too, finding them still inside, happy to be tapped again. I'm stronger, limberer, more confident and more alert than when I arrived.

Riding offroad on Ziggy has been a bit of fun, as I get my legs ready to roll again. Unlike time in the ultralight, I have no restraints on Ziggy - sometimes I really do fly. I've ridden a short technical singletrack segment a couple of times, at the limit of the tires' traction. Riding forest roads, I've been through sand, gravel, rocks, washboards, in mud, snow, dust, and water. Ziggy's treads have broken free more times than I can count, with no forced dismounts and only a couple of dab saves. Besides a dusty, bumpy trip down into the valley and back, I've done rides up around Silver Mountain and around the limestone uplift mountains. Going around Silver Mountain was my favoritest, and the most scenic. I like this way to Paradise, screamin down the forest road. The Portal to Paradise road is fun too, with some awesome views. Unless you're coming from San Simon, I'd avoid the washboarding on lower Turkey Creek, north of Paradise.

When this weather passes, I'll hit the road again. I'll camp out at the Sky Gypsy Complex, probably Saturday night. Then I'll zoom across the bootheel of NM into Texas, just North of El Paso. From there, it's about 4 more weeks to Austin. Talk to you down the road, whoever you are.