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    #46
    Journey into Sobriety...

    DAY 7-Desert Dreams on the Sabbath....

    Hello and how are you?


    Todays trek took me from Idaho, into the Nevada scrub desert. On the way from Pocatello, to Twin Falls, a bit of scenery was enjoyed. At the Twin Falls turn onto the serious desert road, I crossed the Snake River. An awesome sight for sure. The Snake river cuts its wall straight down a 1000 feet (over 300 meters) at the Hansen Bridge. I stopped and took mucho video and pictures. What a sight it was.

    The drive straight down south to the Nevada border, was weird. I got into a strange hypnotic state, where my body was not me anymore, but a remote controlled vessel that I was inhabiting. A semi-Zen state, that lasted for maybe a half hour or better. The energy of the desert always is strange. I was jarred from my weird meditative state by an enormous Nevada dust devil. Mini tornados they are. It slammed my truck, and shook me out of my reverie.

    Onto I-80 which rips through the Nevada mountain ranges, I passed through a tunnel of perhaps a half mile (almost 1 kilometer) that was cut straight through a rock mountain. It zapped my senses, but upon exiting I only had one word. COOL!!!

    The mountain ranges are spread out further, and there is a definite energy from the earth here that is strong. Not so many bugs on the windshield in the desert, as life has a hard time out here without the water. Exact opposite of my humin Tennessee jungle environs.

    Frequent gas stops, as the desert towns are few and far between. I finally arrived in Winnemucca, Nevada. A small northern Nevada town, jammed with casinos of course. I may go down to the casino floor after bit, and play a few rounds of video poker, but gambling is really not my thing.

    As I write this, I am more relaxed than I have been since I started my course of sobriety over 18 months ago. Another psychological impediment has been removed from my boozed out, but healing brain. Here goes?.

    You all wanted to know what the ?adult entertainment? was? Well, Winnemucca is home to about 4 legal brothels. I finally did it sober. I always wondered if I could do the deed completely sober and healthy. Lets just say, I was pleasantly surprised at the results of my physical fitness program. So yes, I am relaxed, and satisfied in the extreme. A nice young lady of about 30 years old was my companion for the last hour or so. If you want more details, move it to PM, and I will try to answer your questions within reason.

    So my journey continues. Tomorrow, I have made reservations in Bishop, CA. It?s a short drive to Yosemite National Park. I have never seen that park, only in pictures, and it looks like an incredible place on this planet. From there, I do not know. Back east I suspect.

    Oh yea, the doggies are AOK. I called my boss this morning, and all is right with hounds. I do miss them though, but it will be a joyous reunion for sure.

    Tomorrow: Goin? to California.

    Neil

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      #47
      Journey into Sobriety...

      Neil,

      You are amazing ! what a fantastic journey you are on, in both senses of the word and what honesty. It must be a relief to feel like another bug has been removed from the system !

      I am riveted, what will the next installment bring ?
      safe driving
      xxx

      Comment


        #48
        Journey into Sobriety...

        Fire Update

        As many of you have seen on the news, the south Lake Tahoe area is burning out of control. The fire started yesterday, and I have been keeping tabs on this development.

        My route today, which I computed last night, will take Route 95 south from I-80. This should leave me well away from any evacuation traffic, as I won't be going as far west as Reno.

        So far no injuries reported, but several people have lost their homes and property to this out-of-control fire.

        I measure a 65 mile (100 kilometer) buffer between my route, and the trouble.

        Just wanted to let you know that my plans have taken this into account.

        Neil

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          #49
          Journey into Sobriety...

          Neil,
          Your trip sounds so amazing. What a terrific adventure for you. You mentioned you went through Twin Falls Idaho. That is my stomping grounds from High School.... We lived on the canyon rim, as the bottom of the canyon is the country club. It pretty dangerous road for intoxicated country clubbers. Yes, the beauty of the desert. I know Winnecuma well from the days my father owned land there. Safe travels....
          Abby

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            #50
            Journey into Sobriety...

            Ahh Neil
            how wonderful it all sounds and so far removed from my surburban lifestyle. I am captivated ( and i was definitely gonna ask if you hadn't told!).
            I've gotta get to those Rocky Mountains before i die...
            Jane
            Jane :heart:

            Comment


              #51
              Journey into Sobriety...

              DAY 8- Sneaking into California, via the Oasis.

              Greetings dear readers of my American odyssey:

              Woke up at the crack of dawn today, which was 5:30 AM Pacific time I think. So now I have two hours ahead of my home time, which would have been 7:30 AM. Ahead, behind two hours, however you choose to look at it I guess.

              A fast start from Winnemucca down I-80, where I head straight south on route 95.

              I never thought much about an oasis. You know, the place in the desert where there is water and green things in the middle of the scrub. Well, Fallon, Nevada is a true oasis I think. As I headed south, I saw patches of alkali salts, and thought, alkali desert where nothing at all will grow. Then rising up, I saw trees and things from the desert floor. It was Fallon. I would guess about a 10 mile diameter circular patch of life. I must do the Google Earth thing, and see what it looks like from space.

              Then a surprise. A discovery of a secret place, that never seems to get much press. That?s why it?s a secret I guess. The Walker Lake State Recreational area. It was a good sized lake, in the middle of all this desert. I only saw one boat on the entire thing, and very few camper vehicles. There were hundreds of places, and many facilities there for vacation travels, but I would say less than 2% of them were filled. Amazing, all that state money to build all that infrastructure, and hardly any users. It was beautiful, as Nevada mountains rose from all sides of the lake. I took several photos and video at a strategic location, and marked the location via GPS.

              Then further on, a massive complex of buildings down on the desert floor a short drive from the Walker Lake. I thought to myself, this had to be a military installation. Indeed it was. It was the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot. Good Lord, it was big. Out in the middle of this barren area, and well hidden from the enemy I guess, but more than that, well defensible. It?s on the maps, but I just never paid any attention. Maybe that?s the way they want it?

              Further on, I stopped in Mina, NV for one more visit to a ?recreational? facility. I already covered that yesterday. The inner beast prevails sometimes.

              Turning onto an almost deserted side road Route 360, where I must have had 4 or 5 miles (7 to 8 kilometers) of road all to myself. It was a hard climb up Route 360 to Montgomery Pass by the Boundary Peak. I see why it was not so much used, but it was a new, excellent road. I scraped just past the 7000 foot (2134 meters) high mark, blasting by a couple of trucks bogged down to a snails pace trying to clear the pass. I love the Dakota truck. It really was made for this country. Full air conditioning on, never bogged down, never even tried to overheat. I just wish it got a hair better fuel economy, but trade offs must be made. I would have been miserable on this drive in the Saturn, even though it gets twice the mileage. Best a vacation be a comfortable and relaxing time.

              The agricultural check station at the California border was closed solid. So I snuck into California without so much as a trace. I think they know that the route 360 road is a tough one, and figure it?s not worth it to keep the ag check station open there.

              So now, I?m in Bishop, California. A small town, about 1 ? hours south of Yosemite. I got an incredible AARP rate at a hotel here, and will lodge for two nights. It has incredible views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I am definitely in California, as the younger residents all have that ?Jeff Spiccoli whatever attitude? it seems. Tomorrow will be the great Yosemite Park exploration. I need some rest pretty bad as well.
              Nevada wore this guy out in more ways than one.

              Tomorrow: Yosemite National Park

              Neil

              Comment


                #52
                Journey into Sobriety...

                Hi Neil, it's really glad to keep reading your travelogue day by day. It's really quite entertaining, and it sounds like you are having a wonderful time. We are all getting such vicarious pleasure from your writing, and it is always good to hear from you.

                I think I might go into mourning when you get home!

                Oh, and I'm sure glad to hear that your pickle is still crisp !


                Happy trails,

                Kathy
                AF as of August 5th, 2012

                Comment


                  #53
                  Journey into Sobriety...

                  Kathy:

                  Actually, now that you mention it...

                  When I got unpickled, my pickle got crisp again. When I was pickled, then I had a mushy soft pickle. :H

                  All the more reason for us guys in our middle years to leave the sauce alone you know.

                  Cigarettes were no good either. Probably a major reason for certain blue pill prescriptions these days.

                  Neil


                  Neil

                  Comment


                    #54
                    Journey into Sobriety...

                    Oh Neil, you crack me up, your " adult entertainment " was what I had imagined it to be, glad you enjoyed it so much that you ended up doing it twice..

                    This is certainly one hell of a trip, and, like Kathy, I too will be sad when you get home, but, as they say, all good things come to an end, still haven't figured out who THEY are yet but they do say a lot of things..

                    Enjoy Yosemite, looking forward to that one..

                    Be safe, Love, Louise xx
                    A F F L..
                    Alcohol Free For Life

                    Comment


                      #55
                      Journey into Sobriety...

                      Headed out to check on my cucumbers!

                      Don't have any idea what made me think of them?


                      Nancy
                      "Be still and know that I am God"

                      Psalm 46:10

                      Comment


                        #56
                        Journey into Sobriety...

                        DAY 9- Yosemite National Park...

                        Hi ladies and gents:

                        YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK!!!!!

                        INCREDIBLE!!

                        There are no words. The hour of digital video, and well over a hundreds of photos I took may only barely touch the soul energizing power of this place. You just have to be here.

                        Words cannot even hope to describe what can be experienced with eyes, ears, smell, and touch. Yosemite engages all senses.

                        I drove all the way into the Yosemite valley to see the famous El Capitan, and the water falls. It makes you feel like an ant crawling the face of this earth. Less than an ant.

                        My GPS logs just about overloaded with data points. The twists and turns, and ups and downs of the road taxed the data storage in my Magellan Meridian device. It was trying to keep up with wild changes of direction side to side and up and down. I lost the satellites a few times because of the rock cliffs.

                        I just cannot describe the place. It is a sensory overload that fills your eyes and ears with too much information as well. It is trees, streams, rocks, mountains, plants, wildlife, and more in a massive assault of beauty on your very soul. Pictures just cannot do it. Video could not do it. All I can say is, you just have to see it with your own eyes. Wild sculpture of Gods own inspired hands is perhaps the best words I can come up with.

                        You just feel the place as much as you see and hear it. It soaks into your deepest gut, and drives in energy of love and beauty. I should have seen this place earlier in my life I think, but today was incredible enough.

                        This is the pure reason to be sober I think. This was living in the most blessed state you can be in. I was inspired, and awed, and overwhelmed. This is the reason to be sober.

                        That?s all I have to say about that?..

                        Tomorrow: Somewhere in Arizona-maybe.

                        Neil

                        Comment


                          #57
                          Journey into Sobriety...

                          Neil, thank you for sharing this wonderful trip with all of us. I had many of the same feelings when I did the trip last summer. Words just don't explain the sights, sounds and the ability to enjoy all of it.

                          Drive carefully, my friend.

                          Hilary
                          Enlightened by MWO

                          Comment


                            #58
                            Journey into Sobriety...

                            Some Photos

                            OK, I finally downloaded a select few photos from todays journey.

                            I had to reduce the quality and color of course to get on MWO photo server, and it really cuts down the impact, but you get the idea.

                            Just click on my gallery number up there in the upper right hand corner of my post to see so far. There will be more, as I sort and process. These were just off my Nikon camera. I took several hundred with the Panasonic still camera on the digital video. I also can extract 640 by 480 stills from the digital video, but that will have to wait until I get home on the desktop computer with the video processing software on it.

                            Enjoy, but again, these photos just cannot capture what I saw today.

                            Neil

                            Comment


                              #59
                              Journey into Sobriety...

                              Neil, you are a wonderful photographer. These pics are amazing. Thank you.
                              Enlightened by MWO

                              Comment


                                #60
                                Journey into Sobriety...

                                America The Beautiful!


                                Thanks for the small peek! Nancy

                                America, the Beautiful
                                By Katharine Lee Bates

                                O beautiful for spacious skies,
                                For amber waves of grain,
                                For purple mountain majesties
                                Above the fruited plain.
                                America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
                                And crown thy good with brotherhood
                                From sea to shining sea.
                                ***
                                O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
                                Whose stern impassion'd stress
                                A thoroughfare for freedom beat
                                Across the wilderness.
                                America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
                                Confirm thy soul in self-control,
                                Thy liberty in law.
                                ***
                                O beautiful for heroes prov'd
                                In liberating strife,
                                Who more than self their country loved,
                                And mercy more than life.
                                America! America! May God thy gold refine
                                Till all success be nobleness,
                                And ev'ry gain divine.
                                ***
                                O Beautiful for patriot dream
                                that sees beyond the years.
                                Thine alabaster cities gleam,
                                Undimmed by human tears.
                                America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
                                And crown thy good with brotherhood,
                                From sea to shining sea.
                                "Be still and know that I am God"

                                Psalm 46:10

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