Atheists are perhaps the most unjustly reviled minority in the United States. Often criticized as being nihilists, anti-American, or even devil worshippers, atheists are one of the few remaining minority groups that it is not considered politically incorrect to publically criticize. In Austin, Texas, I attended the National Convention and Continue Reading
America
The Roswell Incident
In the first week of July 1947, a spacecraft containing extraterrestrial life crashed on a ranch northwest of Roswell, New Mexico. Many people believe this. Known as the Roswell Incident, it has been the subject of controversy and conspiracy theories since the 1970’s. What is not in doubt, is that Continue Reading
White Sands
White Sands is not just a missile range but an amazing National Monument with some of the most unique sand dunes you’ll ever see. The 275 square miles (712 sq.kms. or 176,000 acres) of dunes at White Sands National Monument are the largest gypsum dunes in the world. They are are Continue Reading
Gila Cliff Dwelling National Monument
The drive to this national monument in the Gila Wilderness Area is scenic, steep, narrow, twisting and beautiful. Diane was stressed and her arm rest suffered. The mountain highway approaching the monument has steep sections of 10-12% grade for several miles, and large drop-offs with no guard rails. A lower Continue Reading
City of Rocks
After a night camped beside the stables at the fairgrounds in Safford, Arizona we headed east into New Mexico. We crossed a desert where yucca, straight out of Dr. Seuss, dot the roadside, and arrived at City of Rocks State Park in the afternoon. We really didn’t know what to Continue Reading
The Gun Show
In my continuing quest to learn about America, I went to a gun show in Phoenix. For many U.S. citizens, especially those in the Southwest, guns are a key element of the American identify. The right to own and bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Continue Reading
Our Unplanned Route
This trip has been an ambition of mine for a while. Although not officially on my Dreams List, it’s something that I’ve been thinking about for several years, and it will provide an opportunity to fulfill other dreams that are on my list. Initially, I had only the vaguest of ideas. Continue Reading
Taking it on the chin — Mountain Biking in McDowell Mountain Park
Our friends Kevin and Annette flew from Vancouver to Phoenix to visit for a few days. They’re active people, so we planned 3 full days of mostly outdoor activities. On Day 1 we hiked Pinnacle Peak, the ‘Grouse Grind’ of Scottsdale, though it’s not as challenging. That afternoon we enjoyed Continue Reading
Paddy Get Your Gun
While visiting our friends Gail and George in their top-secret desert boondocking location outside Yuma, Arizona, I had the opportunity to fulfill a dream of mine. Something that’s been on my Dreams List for years. Nothing life changing – more of a guilty pleasure kind of thing. Gail and George had Continue Reading
Layed Up In Lynnwood
Because our license plate and taillights were blocked by our new bike cover, we decided it wasn’t safe to proceed. Before we had even made it to Seattle, we were at a standstill. Not a light in sight I spent the morning developing a solution to add some additional rear Continue Reading