“No one thinks Las Vegas is real: it is illusion, but visitors willingly suspend disbelief and pretend.” (Hal Rothman)

One constant form of sensory excitement that typically intensifies as Ruth and I visit Las Vegas comes to light in our imagination as we simply walk around aimlessly at our leisure. More recently, the changing image of Vegas to clean up its sinful reputation now seems to evoke more family fun moments for us like a Disney Park experience. Don’t get me wrong though. If we desired to indulge in any personal fetish to dress, speak, or act with no semblance of guilt, Vegas could still deliver.

I can only say, however, that for my birthday celebration, it felt right for me to just “chill”, save money , and find more “low key” inspirations on our stopover in Las Vegas this year. After all, we have more than five weeks on the road to indulge freely if we wish after we leave here. Consider first of all our morning look around “Old Vegas” along the indoor mall of the Fremont Experience to admire its imaginative ceilings of creative abstract expression. Returning to the strip after lunch, a second excursion would take place for us at the Bellagio Hotel Botanical Gardens as our senses heightened to the amazing sights and smells of its most recent floral displays. Crossing over the indoor tunnel for a dinner search along the  Caesar’s Palace Forum corridor, its mystical sky ceiling along our path set the stage for some impressive art and window shop viewing. A night stroll along Las Vegas Boulevard back to our hotel to observe the inspiring “neon sunshine” along the strip would provide a most satisfying end to this memorable day. Tomorrow we finally reach Southern California via a five hour drive along I-15. Enjoy the photos.

“And while I stood there, I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a shared manner the shapes of things in the spirit and the shape of all shapes as they must live together as one being.” ( Black Elk- American Indian)

I’m enchanted by the presence of hoodoos. Yes, those twisted piles of rocks with a grotesque looking appearance stood out prominently in our visit to Valley of Fire State Park during this morning’s road trip visit. I must say I’m a bit surprised by this conclusion as my mind seemed preoccupied today. with our upcoming three day stay along the Las Vegas strip again while my knee aches barked loudly from our recent hikes in Zion National Park.

What then could possibly excite me in visiting some rocky piles as began our latest nature tour in the middle of the South Nevada desert? Yet then my imagination began to work on me as I stared hard at these ancient red rocks along the scenic loop road of the park. What a nice refuge I thought for a bird, bat, or other wild animal hoping to find safe shelter in one of the dark holes that penetrated the exterior of each boulder. How equally comforting might the cave strewn appearance of so many of these rocks have been to Anastazi Indians who once sought shelter under cover to cool off from the extreme desert heat. Would such a private sanctuary offer them as well an inviting home? Giving further thought to Indian leisure time amid this hoodoo landscape, it became clear to me that creating petroglyphs and other rock art seemed to have made their lives more entertaining inside these comforting rock homes.

How enlightening to me as well that I seemed to find hope in the human condition in these fragile rock designs that so stubbornly adapt to this extreme desert environment. For current lessons of natural science now offer hope that our human species can similarly fight for our species sustainable future as we unite to combat global warming and the associated earth climate change crisis. Hmm… A St. Patrick’s day celebration in Vegas takes place tomorrow. That sounds like a nice topic for my next blog. Enjoy the photos.

“A National Park is not a playground. It’s a sanctuary for nature and for humans to accept nature on nature’s own terms. (Michael Frome)

It’s amazing how Grand Canyon and Zion National Park seem so exhilarating in landscape appearance yet by way of different ways. At Grand Canyon , you gaze downward in awe at a cavernous chasm below hoping for a mere glimpse of the raging Colorado River below. Whereas at Zion, the opposite effect occurs along the end of its famed “Scenic Canyon Drive” as one’s eyes extend mystically upward along that massive cliffs that narrowly encloses the slow moving Virgin River below. To stand amid such canyon magic in both cases invited me to contemplate spiritual meaning in life beyond oneself for sure.

No doubt, the mountain Gods provided an excellent welcoming show for us on our two day visit to Zion this past weekend. Accessing the park though the west entrance via our motel in nearby Springdale, we conveniently parked our car in the Zion Visitor Center parking lot each morning. From there, we just hopped on the free park shuttle bus for convenient access to the easy Riverside and Grotto Walks along the canyon route corridor. I particularly enjoyed then those moments of silent meditation along the rock shrouded river as well as the occasional sightings of feeding deer in meadow areas along the way. Keep in mind that several tram stops remain closed due to COVID concerns and popular trails like Angel Falls and the Narrows passageway congest regularly with hiker traffic. 

“The landscape everywhere away from the river is of rock-cliffs of rock; plateaus of rock; terraces of rock; crags of rock; then thousand strangely carved forms.“ (John Wesley Powell)

We’re heading north through the high plateau region of Northern Arizona on our road trip today along U.S. route 89 and into Utah for our final destination at Springdale Utah, west of Zion National Park. Leaving the town of Flagstaff, we entered a mountainous region of dormant volcanic cones and craters. At Sunset Volcano Crater National Monument, we conducted a short walk amid a cinder cone region that remains heavily scarred and blackened by the latest lava blast that took place there 1,000 years ago. Passing east of the Grand Canyon, at higher elevations we stopped to photograph spectacular panoramas of the barren Marble Canyon plateau below dotted by deep river canyons and massive, horizontal mesas. As the Colorado River in the distance slowly came into view, we descended into Page, Arizona for a second time look at the geologic wonder of Horseshoe Bend. Turning west into Southern Utah, we passed through the rugged red rock region of Grand Staircase/Escalante National Park in Southwest Utah but in the interest of time, did not stop for a closer look. Turning onto route 9, our Zion entry would take place via its eastern entrance in late afternoon. Tomorrow , we will utilize the shuttle bus system from the Zion National Park Visitor Center to access designated hiking areas of interest.

“I shall smile when wreaths of snow blossom where the roses should grow.” (Emily Bronte)

I awoke this morning to find myself enclosed in a wonderful snow globe of silent whiteness. So as I continued my intentful gaze outside my motel bedroom in Sedona, Arizona at this first sight of gently falling snow I experienced a sudden urge to see the Grand Canyon again in all of its winter glory. After all, it seemed an easy enough drive via I-17 and I-40 to access the South Rim in a reasonable time frame Unfortunately, I did not anticipate the winter storm that Ruth and I would encounter along the way which would result in slick, hazardous conditions at higher elevations heading north of Sedona. After slowing my vehicle to 30 mph for extended stretches in this slushy road mess, the sight of snow plows coming into Flagstaff gave hope that we would actually see the Grand Canyon today.

So after a brief stop for breakfast on Old Route 66, we took advantage of a break in the weather and resumed our steady drive to the South Rim for arrival at the Visitor Center parking around 12:00 noon. As blue skies improbably settled in at the South Rim overlook near Mather Point, we again greeted the Grand Canyon in all its massive glory now blanketed with beautiful powdered snow. After a one hour visit along the “edge”, we returned safely back to Sedona in late afternoon after encountering several waves of snowstorm along the way. So for my nature lovers who have read this blog, I hope you will take the time to place the Grand Canyon on your travel bucket list. It’s definitely worth your time. Enjoy the photographs.

“The earth has music for those who listen.” (William Shakespeare)

Sedona Arizona has endured as of our favorite travel stops in the Western U.S. over the past several decades. It’s really quite simple for us to enjoy ourselves each time here as we settle into the Village Lodge in Oak Creek outside of town for a few days and begin to notice the colors, sounds, and shapes of nature’s subtle unfolding. Typically, it feels right each morning to just “gear down” with some easy trail hikes while staring wondrously at nearby red rock canyons. As usual, this system has worked for me after today’s hike as I observe that I’m feeling calmer, mentally sharper and significantly more aware of my physical surroundings. I recommend that you thus examine the matter of positive vortex energy of Sedona’s Red Rock canyons for yourself as a convenient excursion destination from the Phoenix vicinity. I hope you enjoy the following photographs from today’s five hour journey including: (1) a riverside hike at Red Rock State Park (2) a bit of self meditation at Buddhist Peace Park/Stupa and (3) a panoramic view of Sedona below from the heights of Airport Mesa.

“To me, baseball has always been a reflection of life. Like life, it adjusts. It survives everything. “(Willie Stargell)

For a man who usually obsesses only about winning and losing baseball scores and statistics daily, the March 2021 return of Major League baseball as a live spectator sport again in my life will no doubt serve as a major accomplishment of this road trip. For it’s been over a year since I saw my last game in person before the Corona shutdown exploded across the world. Yet as a consequence of this enduring pandemic, I seem to have adopted a fresh perspective to simply enjoy the present moment amid the live ballgame experience itself. So it did not really matter as it usually does for me about who won on this sunny Monday afternoon in Goodyear, Arizona. Nor did it matter to me which players stood out in hitting, pitching, or fielding performance. Neither did I seem to be bothered about wearing my mask the entire game or sitting in isolation from others. For I simply “tuned” in my senses to the sights, sounds, and smells of a live baseball game game again on our first Arizona stop of this road trip.

Notice then my random attention to some rituals beyond the game in progress that captured my enhanced attention skills this day. Dutiful ushers roamed the aisles between innings carrying large signs reminding people to wear their masks throughout the game. However, on occasion when the ushers left their positions during the inning action itself, masks disobediently came off in mass fashion. With skillful artistry, groundskeepers raked and watered the baseball diamond and outlying wall perimeters periodically to restore the smooth, orange texture of the field. Meanwhile the outfield grass glistened throughout the game with a fresh green glow. Seating aisles and concourse corridors seemed spotlessly clean with a noticeable absence of food vendors strolling around. Players and coaches in each dugout seemed noticeably fidgety with most of them choosing to stand. Sadly, a lack of player – fan interaction took place as eager autograph seekers perched behind the outfield walls would have to wait for another day. Pod seating intended to separate each group of ticket attendees felt awkwardly lonely for a sport that normally encourages spontaneous social conversation between strangers. As we abruptly left the stadium after a fan quiet “seventh inning stretch”, strong memories of the dull brown desert basin in surrounding Phoenix ignited my strong intention to move on to the colorful, red rock mountainside of our next road-trip destination: Sedona, Arizona.

“And they three passed over the white sands, between the rocks, silent as the shadow.” (Samuel Taylor Coleridge)

Driving south through the arid plateau region of New Mexico on unbusy Highway 54 and 70 to Las Cruces today on our road trip, our daily schedule allotted an hour or so in early afternoon to walk around White Sands National Park. My first impression of this vast sea of sand whiteness from afar convinced me that one wouldn’t want to lose their way around here. Upon learning that the White Sands Missile Range was situated very near to the park further confirmed such foreboding suspicions. For such safety reasons , I understand then why the federal government actually closes the park for public visits on days when missile testing takes place. It seemed shocking to me as well that that the U.S. chose to conduct atomic bomb testing during World War II in close proximity to this special place.

So with safety planted in our minds today, we definitely would adhere to any well defined paths as we dragged our feet in deep sand along the Dune Life Nature Trail. Yet several dunes encountered here seemed to invite directional confusion. So it made sense that I could relieve my anxiety when needed by choosing to plop down on the ground and simply feel the fine grain sand on my body as I scanned for photographs opportunities over this mystical ocean of shifting sands.

The next day, we drove west on I-10 nearby the U.S./Mexican border headed for our upcoming, two night stay in the Phoenix, Arizona region. On the way there, we elected to detour to through the eastern portion of Saguaro National Park in the Sonoran Desert near Tucson. After obtaining maps and walking advice at the visitor center in early afternoon, we then opted to hike for a short while along the Tanque Verde Ridge Trail, hoping to find heavy concentrations of Saguaro cactus plants in the distance to photograph. A distinct feeling of awe for these hardy specimens definitely set in for me then in realizing they can grow up to 70 feet high and survive in this harsh climate for up to one hundred years. Stopping along the trail periodically to take some close up “shots” of these desert environs, I observed the stunning beauty of other species of prickly cacti there. If you ever have more time than we did to visit Saguaro in the future, I recommend you drive the eight mile, Cactus Forest Loop Drive for a more thorough look at this magnificent desert ecology.

So many visitors seem to find White Sands or Saguaro National Park as a thrill seeking adventure. After all, what a challenge it would be to arduously climb the highest sand hill or walk energetically along a long cacti trail? Yet there seems to be a deeper spiritual purpose in being there if one chooses to reflect in stillness about these unique natural paradises formed so beautifully over eons of time. Which option would you choose?

“Walking in Memphis, I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale. Walking in Memphis, but do I really feel the way I feel.”(Marc Cohn)

Moving west from Atlanta on I-20 and I-22, our next destination on this road trip would take place along the Mississippi Delta, birthplace of the blues. After a brief lunch at the Hollywood Cafe in Tunica for a taste of traditional southern barbecue and a glimpse of its star studded musical past, we then followed historic Blues Highway 61 to Memphis, Tennessee. For this one night stay, we felt fortunate to obtain an affordable motel within walking distance of the famed Beale Street corridor. This location also made for a pleasant walk along the river at dusk as well as a brief tour of the downtown district at night. Ending this mile long jaunt on Beale Street at night proved to be the best choice from a photographic perspective as I enjoyed taking pictures of the striking neon presence of entertainment clubs along this three block corridor. More tasty barbecue awaited us for dinner at the Irish Pub , Silkie O’ Sullivan’s that night with a live band performance included as well. On our walk back to our hotel, we spent a few minutes walking through the lobby of the famed Peabody Hotel.

“There’s always something in Atlanta that’s so far from people’s comfort zone.” (Metro Boomin)

If you are looking for a place that combines the “cool” spirit of modern day, multistory life in a big city amid creative designs of urban open space, then Atlanta, Georgia seems to be your kind of place. Yet would Ruth and I want to live here ? Probably not as we no longer desire to push beyond our suburban “comfort zone” to stay continually “buzzed” by the frenzy of faster living conditions evident in Midtown and Buckhead Atlanta’s, densely occupied, urban core.

Yet Ruth and I can continue to appreciate Atlanta’s progressive spirit in “walkabouts” downtown from a touristic perspective. Regrettably, however, these two South Floridian residents felt it impractical to brave the cold weather to amble outside today. Instead we chose more prudently to tour the modernistic galleries of the “High Museum of Art” for a morning dose of Atlanta’s “avant garde” energy vicariously in warmer inside conditions. Ruth also experienced an extra dose of serendipitous enjoyment today as she surprised her friend’s son with a quick wave as he worked at the “High” Art Museum as one of the assistant directors filming a popular television show, “The Resident” that day. Join us in feeling that heavy dose of urban creative energy we experienced from core Atlanta indoors in the photograph set below.