Its amazing what just a little bit of water can do.  From stark desert nothingness, the land is transformed into an oasis of life.  Full of green, and flowers, butterflies, birds, and even water beetles.  People flock to it as well.  Muddy footprints left from someone playing at the water's edge, F + M and A + N marked their union, and cars stopped all along the highway to catch a glimpse of the often elusive fresh water.

We found this place on our return drive home so we just stopped for a little while to snap some photos and make sure it wasn't a mirage.  We all thought how nice, though, it would be to stretch out a hammock and read under the shade of an acacia tree while listening to the ripple of the stream.  Its funny how just a little bit of water can make you want to linger.  

Camping in the desert can be tough.  While you don't often have to worry about rain flooding your tent, in our neck of the woods, or lack there of, it is wind and curious beduins that keep you up at night.  Without trees or much of anything else to stop it, the wind can rattle the tent so strongly that you are sure your will find yourself in Timbuktu come morning.  And if you manage to sleep through the cacophony of thin plastic whipping against itself, headlights and shouting are likely to awaken you.  You can drive off the road, through fields of lava and swear that you are in the middle of freakin' no where, but don't be fooled, other people are not so far off.  So, do not set out into the desert for a good nights' sleep, but do go for the food and fun.  There is nothing like an empty night sky and potatoes roasted on coals.  Conversation with good friends and learning to cooperate in rough conditions.  And most of all, the next day, when you crawl out of your tent and enjoy a barbequed french pastry while enjoying the sunrise and watching the camels off in the distance, you'll know that it was worth it.

The next morning, sleepyheads :)

In pursuit of french pastries.

who was happy I brought eggs :)

Up and over the lava we went like a little crowd of Teletubbies in our brightly-colored gear.  No doubt every beduin within 100 miles could see us slowly snaking our way up the volcano.  I can only imagine their confusion at our purposeless feat.  But we persevered and when we reached the top, we were quite amazed.  With a strong cold wind blowing and loose rubble under our feet, we inched as close to the precipice as we dared.  In front of us, the ground fell away, hundreds of meters below was all that remained of a once powerful geological phenomena.  There was the summit and then nothing.  Nothing but air and a few birds playing in the breeze.  

So, when we realized that it would be impossible for us to circumnavigate the crater, or descend into her depths, we took our photos, planted a Polish flag, and back down we went.

Looking back on these photos from last weekend has made me think about several things.

First, I think that I am wearing zip-off pants in at least 80% of the photos on this blog.  That is eh'em a little bit embarrassing.  Though I will say, that if you're gonna be outside and you don't know if its going be hot or cold, go with the convertible pant.  Shorts and full length all in one.  Efficiency at its finest.  I might have a secret crush on utilitarian wear...

Second, I really don't want to live near an active volcano.  The one shown in these photos last went off in (I think) the 1200s.  Over 1,000 years later and there's still hardly a damn thing there.  Liquid hot magma don't lie.

Last, its funny how in just a span of one week, life can be so drastically different.  Where last weekend I was hopping over Earth's ephemeral crust, huffing and puffing and stubbing my toes, today I am lounging, listening to some folk tunes and baking up a storm.  Different days, different adventures.  I've gotta remember that when things seem scary or dull, overwhelming or boring, something new will soon come knockin' on the door.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the week, I sure am!

Mordor.  No really.

The place looks like Mount Doom, or maybe Mars, and it is certainly many miles from the Shire.  It is formidable both from the areal view and at ground level.  There are hardly any green things growing, just the occasional masochistic daisies, and the ground is crunchy hard lava waiting to collapse on you should you happen to walk over a once forgotten terrestrial lair.  The lava comes in two forms.  Smoothish ribbons that you can picture flowing at thousands of degrees, red hot, covering anything in their path.  And then there is the other stuff.  The sharp knives of pumice that perhaps cooled faster (or is it slower, I don't know my geology that well) and these guys, they are out to get you.  You should avoid them at all costs, walk around these ominous patches, take a detour if you must, sharp rocks are not your friend.  

First a uni-cat and now camels, I couldn't give you megafauna any more charismatic.  We just got back from a weekend camping in the desert.  Its always good to get out of town for a little while and be reminded of how soft your bed is in comparison to packed sand.  We summited another volcano, though, and managed to find both cold weather, rain, and a standing body of water so it was a pretty successful trip.

Hope you're enjoying the weekend :)

Epic Weekend

It was a pretty epic weekend here on the dry side of the world.  Camping, craters, s'mores, full moons, beduins, hiking, and saudi teenagers wanting 5 million photos with the blonde girls.  I hope you had a good one.  More stories to come...

home

While I had a great time in Germany it feels good to be back at home. I think it doesn't matter really where or what you call home, it is just comforting to be back in your own personal space after you have been away from it for a while. This space that supports your day to day routine, where you cook, and sleep, relax, and entertain. Its good to be home.