Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

I traveled to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument alone for the Memorial Day weekend. I brought my camera, a little food, a lot of water and a journal. During this adventure, I took some notes about this amazing place as well as my thoughts. I recommend everyone doing this once in a while (i.e. spend some time truly alone in solitude). You can really learn a lot about yourself. Most of my thoughts are just ramblings and don't have any meaning what so ever, but some of my thoughts surprised me.

May 27.

So here I am, sitting in my underwear sweating to death at 10:30pm. I have finally settled down in my tent and I am going to try this journal thing. The camp here at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (OPCNM) is huge, but for all the 200+ sites it is just me and someone else farther up. I arrived here about an hour before the sun set, ate cold oatmeal, then after the sun set, I tried to find some organ pipe and saguaro cacti blooming...

...I got completely spooked walking around in the dark. My idea of taking a stroll down this primitive path looking for cacti blooms, snakes, tarantulas, Gila monsters, or anything that comes out after dark proved to be just a little to spooky for me. I was just fine for a while but then all of a sudden, I started thinking about mountain lions. Never ever hike alone in mountain lion country, especially in the dark. "Hey! guess what I'm doing?" From then on every little rustle and twig I hit with my tripod nearly gave me a heart attack. I get so scared of the dark sometimes.

When I was figuring out what to cook I realized I forgot matches or a lighter. Idiot! I tried to light a piece of paper on fire using the cigarette lighter in the car but all I could manage was a smouldering mess. I even tried using a few drops of Coleman fuel to see if that would get the spark to kick over. Failure! I actually felt pretty disappointed I couldn't get a flame going.

So tomorrow should be nice I will go drive around and take pictures and try to stay cool. In other words, I will just do whatever I want. It will be a nice break from my Las Cruces life. Yeah I'm having fun but deep down I wish Brianne was here. Sharing these things with someone makes the experience just that much better.

May 28.

Sleeping alone in the desert was new for me. (And when I mean alone I mean alone. The only other person I knew about was that camper about a quarter mile up the road.) After I spooked myself silly last night hiking around in the dark, sleep was tough. I woke up several times thinking something was stalking my tent. Then, suddenly, I heard footsteps! I wasn't imagining it this time! Something was definitely snooping around out there! Unfortunately I was in that paralyzed state where I couldn't move but I was aware of everything around me. Yes, I hear footsteps! No question about it! All I could do, being paralyzed and all, was whisper (gibberish probably), wiggle just slightly, and rub my foot against the side of the tent. The mountain lion that was about to eat me was probably laughing and thinking "how cute, he is having a puppy dream... I hope he catches the rabbit." But really I was not having a dream. I was fighting for the words to yell, and save my life. Then, suddenly and without any warning I snapped out of my paralysis. It began slowly and quietly as my sleepiness wore off but across the quiet desert plain you could hear me yell from my tent "...mmmmmMMMMRRRRRAAAAAA!!!" I don't know why I didn't just yell "Hey!" or "Get" but my wailing seemed to do the trick because I never herd it again.

That first day after I pitched the tent, I placed it on the gravel that had been sitting in the sun for weeks so it was pretty warm to say the least. I read that the ground in OPCNM gets up to 175 degrees during the day. The air was cooling off nicely by my back was sweating profusely from trying to sleep on lava. Hopefully the next night the ground will cool slightly.

There are so many wonderful birds and calls happening right now. A second ago this band (technically a flock right?) went hopping through the brush about a foot from me. They appeared so curious and intelligent. They were small too, like mice with beaks and about the same color.

Well the sun is coming out and I am starting to get excited. I have four cacti I want to see here in OPCNM before I leave:

1. Organ Pipe
   
2. Saguaro
3. Senita
4. Queen of the Night
   

Blast! I got back from hiking the 4.5 mile Victoria Mine trail but I didn't find a Senita or Queen of the Night cactus. The saguaros and organ pipe cacti are everywhere. I wish I could find a Queen of the Night cactus! I probably looked like a homeless man going through garbage cans looking for tin cans, but instead with dead shrubbery and a silly cactus. Its getting hot again so I draped the quilt over the top of my tent to provide me with the only shade in the area. If there's a breeze blowing I'm okay but its pretty calm at the moment. Its only 10:30am and its starting to heat up nicely. I'm sweating just sitting here in the shade. If it gets too unbearable I may go hang out in the visitors center or go for a drive with my AC on.

11:00am. I have been laying down for 30 minutes and it's way too hot to nap. I think I'm going to check out the visitors center.

Got back from the visitors center and driving around. Sleep was impossible! I was just sweating up a storm. As long as I am going to sweat and be miserable I might as well be seeing the sights and taking pictures. The lady at the visitors center said I could either go into Mexico or the off limits area of the park to see the Senita cacti. Neither was an option. Rats! She didn't help much either on suggesting ways to find a Queen of the Night cactus. She did say they were very well camouflaged and looked like dead sticks. Duh, that's why I'm always in the shrubbery getting scratched and entangled with spiders. Check out the pictures I took of one of the Queen of the Night cacti in their garden of you don't believe me.

So the drive was nice. Not too exciting. I didn't really see anything new. I did see a blooming agave though. That was pretty exciting if your a nut like me. Then I started seeing familiar things I saw when I was here with Brianne over a year ago. I sure do think about her all the time. I can't understand how she thinks I've moved on already. How can that be if I'm here alone and every little thing reminds me of her. I think how much she would enjoy this trip. She is such a trooper, one to always jump at the chance of an adventure...

...It's funny, maybe funny isn't the right word, but going on these little trips alone with only your thoughts really lets you see what is important in your life. Take away all the little distractions and you are left with the top most important things in your life. Hey! this is good! I am going to list the top, most important things in my life and then try to rank them:

1. Brianne
2. Triathlon
3. Plants
4. Cycling
5. Running
6. Mom and Dad
7. Quiet alone time
8. Friends
9. Living healthy
   
10. Simple life
11. Pictures
12. Weather
13. Getting this damn fly buzzing in my face to leave me alone
14. Swimming
15. Warm sunny weather
16. Canoeing
17. Being satisfied
18. Traveling
19. Ocean/Waves/Surfing (even though I don't surf I think I would really like it.)
    
20. Dogs
21. Details
22. Waterfalls
23. Music
24. Socializing
25. Getting a masters (I feel I am supposed to say this because I have been brainwashed for so long into believing a masters is EVERYTHING!)

Okay, so I will end there. Some of them are pretty tangible and real like Brianne or riding my bike but others like being satisfied are difficult to describe and rank. Being satisfied is important but how can you rank it compared to something like dogs...

...Whoa! the pop tart I placed on the ground for about 20 minutes while writing is completely covered in ants. Man these guys are quick. Hungry too...

...But I don't have to be an athlete. I don't want to stay in Las Cruces and start training, I want to go see Brianne. But after I see Brianne I will want to start training. It is hard to rank the top three. Can I have all three in a package deal?

Dang its hot! I wish the sun would hurry up and set so it wouldn't be so blasted uncomfortable.

It's 7:20pm and the three bird band is back! This camp robber bird also came by a moment ago and hopped around looking for something to eat I think. It took a good long look at the book of matches (this couple up the road was kind enough to let me have) sitting on my plate, ruffled its feathers, and looked at me likely thinking, "You are boring and more importantly, don't have anything to eat." Then it flew away.

I also took a quick shower in the bathroom. It felt wonderful! But I did feel kind of guilty doing it in one of the hottest and driest places in the world.

May 29

Luckily this most recent night wasn't nearly as scary as the first night. Maybe it's because I talked with that couple down the road for some matches and I at least knew someone knew where I was... or something. But the evenings in the desert are magical. As soon as the sun sets, temperatures cool off, critters come out to play, and the sky changes from orange to pink to purple. Then the stars come out. check out my pictures. I actually got some pretty good shots of the Milky way. I even managed to "catch" some shooting stars and I never even saw a single one. Even when I was looking for them. Goes to show my camera is super bad ass! I awoke about 2:00am to go pee and I could see the Milky Way much better so I said "What the heck", grabbed my camera and tripod and proceeded to take pictures of the sky standing in my underwear. Good thing the border patrol didn't drive by like they did last night when I was trying to "shoot" stars. Yeah! so this truck pulled up right where I was taking star pictures and proceeded to intimidate me with their overly bright flood lights and walkie-talkies while I was just standing in the dark. I politely waved, pretending to be excited to see them, then put my hands on my hips and waited for them to: 1) Drive away; 2) Come talk to me; 3) Come yell me; 4) Come cuff me and take me away at gun point. Luckily they drove away.

Now I'm just sitting here at my camp deciding what to do. I have already driven the entire park and hiked most of it. Finding out that the Senita cacti and Queen of the Night cacti are impossible to find (unless you look at planted ones in the visitors center). My drive and motivation to stick around is dwindling. Plus hanging out in 100 degree weather with no shade or real shelter isn't much fun. Let's just say my tan has never looked so good. Hellooooooooo leather skin!

It is happening again Brianne uses a word to describe old feelings of happiness brought on by current experiences that remind you of of those times. I just ate a bowl of oatmeal and made instant coffee. For some reason that reminded me of the times of camping at Priest Lake, Idaho with Dad. Especially in the morning. I think it is the warm sun and solitude. In the morning those things are really noticeable. Those sure were fun times, hiking up to the rock slides, canoeing up to Upper Priest Lake via the thoroughfare, taking a hike to Frog Pond, going huckleberry picking, riding my mt. bike on obscure logging roads in the mountains, and seeing all the wildflowers. Not to mention the crystal clear water... something I miss sometimes. Even though my surroundings are strikingly different, they strangely remind me of Northern Idaho. Maybe I am homesick. From what Brianne and I have been talking about, I think she would think Priest Lake was thee coolest place in the world. At least Priest Lake back in the 90's before it became a popularity contest. I wonder how it looks now? Probably pretty disappointing with all the boats, jet skies and nonstop noise.

The camp robber bird just came back looking for stuff again and was followed by a woodpecker and then the tiny hummingbird I haven't mentioned yet. All three were were just watching me checking me out. "What's this all about" I said, "are you trying to tell me something?" I guess being alone all the time you start talking to things like they understand. Still no sign of the three bird band by the way. They have visited me every morning and evening since I have been here.

Just got back in a last ditch effort to find a Queen of the Night cactus. I failed again. They are out there somewhere but I can't find any. Thus, I have decided to leave. I have seen the majority of the accessible parts of the park. Even though I really don't want to, I should get back so I can start organizing myself for the defense on June 7.

Driving back will be interesting I'm sure. The border war activity and drug smuggling is out of control right now. I will have to pass through two checkpoints on the way back. I hope they don't interrogate me too much but they probably will. I always get so nervous going through security. I'm a young white male traveling alone in a beat up truck with expired license plates. When they ask me what I was doing I will honest tell them, "I was camping alone in the desert on the border of Mexico officer". I bet I get a lot of crap for that statement. But It's not like I have anything to hide...

A blooming Agave.

The Sonora desert in the Ajo Mountains.

An Organ Pipe Cactus.

Another Organ Pipe Cactus.

Can you find the Queen of the Night Cactus? I couldn't, and didn't...

Back in Full Force!

The power of the 'stache will soon reign again.

The Yard

The tomatoes and peppers on the drip hose. All the plants have green tomatoes on them! The broccoli and dead peas are on the brick wall and if you look real close you can see the watermelon plant in the far left. Oh yeah, that pile of dead sticks is from the oleander that nearly froze to death this winter.


The screened porch. It's not obvious I only water the flower bed is it?


Here is sweet potato experiment I tried. I wanted to see if I could grow one by simply sticking a tuber half way into the soil. Sure enough it worked. And it looks pretty interesting too.


The back yard. Living in a warm climate is pretty nice sometimes. The tomatoes and peppers are in the back right corner. That leaning tree is a mimosa, it has incredibly fragrant flowers that look like pink puff balls.

Twelve Days

I really shouldn't be here right now wasting more time but here I am. I have exactly 12 days left to finish my thesis and 26 days until I defend it. I am pretty stoked to be done and begin doing things I love again. Obviously triathlons are where my attention and efforts will be put to use in about a months worth time. Yes I am pretty excited to be swimming biking and running again. I suppose I am just like every other crazy triathlon nut case out there, completely obsessed. It doesn't help that everyone is always badgering me to train with them and invite me to participate in cool trips and events they organize. Honestly, I am honored and I guess privileged I have so many fans (even if they are all my closest friends). Just the other week, for example, I was sent a personal invitation to attend a local sprint triathlon free of charge! Unbelievable! Unfortunately my schedule is pretty crazy and I am not sure where I will be the next month. Still it was a wonderful gesture.

On a different and slightly more sour note, I have lost two loves in my life. The first one (and of less importance) was my Pinarello road bike. It was stolen off of my back porch a few weeks ago. I had been keeping it inside all along but I rode it a few times and left it on the porch to keep our house a little tidier (not that is matters, our house is always dirty). Well one morning it was gone. I thought it was some sick joke at first. They also took my stationary trainer and my room mates commuter. Not cool! At the very least I hope the people who end up with it realize what a nice bike it is and are enjoying it our on the open road as I would.

My second loss is Brianne. She landed a job in Winthrop, Washington and will not becoming back to Las Cruces... ever! We had a nice little road trip on the way to Washington. We actually drove from Albuquerque, NM to Spokane, WA in one shot! It was the farthest I've ever driven all at once and I hope I don't have to do it ever again. But she is gone and my life is pretty insignificant now. I need to get done already and start living opposed to sitting in front of this computer all day. Only twelve more days.

My beautiful bike, gone, rest her soul.

Spring In Southern New Mexico

Its March and time for spring down here in southern New Mexico. When I remember back to my northwest roots, spring didn't really officially arrive for me until the first week of May. I say the first week of May because that is typically the time we got out last frost (although sometimes it was in July and it even snowed in June once). But here in Las Cruces we are past our last frost for the season which is March 11th. That is pretty remarkable considering where I came from!

So the weather is warming up and the trees are beginning to bloom. Robins are singing now in the evening and things are generally looking up. There are only three days left until spring break and I am getting a little antsy about getting out of town and having another adventure. Brianne and I are once again planning on heading over to southern California to check out some places we have both been wanting to see.

If everything goes according to plan we will stop at Sequoia National Park and see the largest trees on Earth. Then we may head west some more to the coastal area to check out San Louis Obispo where I am interested in living if I can and see the botanical gardens. Finally we will make a stop in Los Angeles to meet Brianne's old friend and possibly see the local sights.

In the next 10 days or so lots will be happening and I'm sure I will find an adventure or two along the way. Then after spring break, there are only 4 weeks left in the semester and then no more classes for me ever EVER again. I should be wrapping up my thesis sometime in the next couple of months and then its time to get back to business and pick up where I left off (triathlon, gardening, mowing the lawn etc...). I am so excited! I can't wait to see what the next chapter will bring.

First Swim Baby!

Yes it is official. I finally made it to the pool to do some actual swimming. The last time I did that was way back in September before the Elephantman Olympic Triathlon. Well, you might be asking the question, "Why in the world did it take me so long to get back into the pool?" There are really a couple of answers I can give you but one big one finally pushed me over the edge. Here are my reasons:

First, I had taken so much time off because I was very tired of always getting in trouble for not completing my work in school. Pissing people off (including yourself) does not feel very good day after day.

Second, I had taken so much time off because swimming is not really that important in triathlons anyway. Okay it is but it isn't. At some of my races I would greatly out split some people in the water only to be destroyed by them on the bike and run. Yes swimming is important but I needed to improve elsewhere.

Third, I had taken so much time off from swimming because I just wanted to run again. I remembered back to my high school days and how much I enjoyed running. I didn't really like racing but I really liked the training aspect of running. It is somewhat of a spiritual awakening to finish a long trail run in the warm glowing afternoon sun.

Last, the major reason I finally went to the pool was because I am tired of just running. It is funny because that is exactly what I wanted when I just started running but now I am pretty tired of it. I know I will never be a super fast runner. I will just have to live with this. I can run a pretty serious pace for a long time but I just can't pound out five minute miles for a stupid 5k. In my mind I wanted and felt like I could run really fast but seeing that I am no closer to doing this now after training my ass off than I was in high school (or even after a 56 mile bike time trial) I quickly lost motivation.

I have learned that my talent for triathlon isn't in fast running or fast swimming or even in fast bike riding. I am just not a fast person. My talent lies in my ability to not slow down when I am very tired. That is something I think I have over most. Rather than focus on one sport to get faster I should focus more on strength and efficiency to make me faster. That is why I think it is time for me to get back in the pool and start mixing things up a bit. Plus I kind of miss my blond hair.

A Trip to Tucson

This will be just a quick little update on last weeks trip to Tucson, AZ. It was the day before Valentine's Day and Brianne was wondering if I wanted to do a relay race with her and we could compete with all the other couples. I agreed and it sounded like fun. We knew we would destroy everyone. After all, I did volunteer to drive so I might as well have a go at the race. Once we arrived at the race start, the relay Brianne and I were hoping to do wasn't exactly what we were thinking. It was your standard multisport relay. For example, one person swims and the other runs. But neither of us wanted to do one or the other so we would just have to do the whole thing separate.

The swim was 825 meters in the U of A's amazing outdoor competition pool with your transition to the run just there on the pool deck in front of your lane. Brianne was in the lane next to me and her main goal for the swim was to lap me. Once we were swimming I felt good and smooth for about the first oh... 75 meters and them my "runner arms" said,

"What the heck are you trying to do to us?! You haven't used us since September! Why should we work for you?!"

And then Brianne lapped me.

After the race both Brianne and I learned we swam an additional 50 meters. The lap counters where yelling at us to stop swimming but it is hard for us to hear them underwater. I was actually just following Brianne because she was ahead of me but she must have been so focused on lapping me she just kept on swimming until she lapped me. And I just kept following. So hahah Brianne, I guess you didn't lap me after all. Oh well.

I got out of the water and actually felt pretty good for not swimming more than a lap in five months. I took the time to tie my shoes, then double knot, and then tuck my laces in just like I've always done. I probably had the slowest transition out of everybody. It took me a couple of minutes and close to a mile to catch Brianne. She was moving pretty good and we exchanged words a couple of times throughout the run course. We finished in front of the pool where we started and were greeted by some sorbet ice cream and cookies. The U of A triathlon club really put on a great event.

After the race Brianne, Abby, and I explored a little bit in Saguaro National Park before making the drive back to Las Cruces. Tucson is such a wonderful city. I can't wait until the next time.