The Adventures of Fric and Frac: Adventure 417: Fracless Day Seven

Ginny and Judy, Pals.

Long day in the saddle today: 532 miles in a little over eight hours. And every mile was not only worth it, most of it was new. Best of all, the sunlight peeked through the cab window all day long. We watched its rosy fingers climb over the mountains this morning when we left St. George. We enjoyed its glare from the side when we passed through Las Vegas. As we turned across the compass, it followed us like a pet pony, sometimes edging its nose gently as we moved gradually along and sometimes more insistently, making us squint and squirm like faithful evangelists who faithfully hold the straight line even though the way is not clear. And we even enjoyed the sunlight's straight beating heat as we made our way through the stop and go traffic through Phoenix. By the time we were enjoying the back lighting of the near sunset, we were arriving at our friends, the Krals, and then the warmth of the day really began. They welcomed us with widespread open arms, much like the spread of the sunrise over open fields. We had dinner, enjoyed catching up, and even played a card game after dinner. At game's end Judy's eyes became heavy as they do just around eight-thirty. She headed for bed saying, "How can it get any better?" Today's route, a new one, took us South from Las Vegas through Bolder City, over the expanse of the Hoover Dam, and down Highway 93. The desert landscape, though new, is much like every other desert landscape. Judy called it boring, but as soon as I saw my first hillside of Saguaro cactus, I felt refreshed. There's something about that particular life form that speaks to me. Needless to say, I'm glad to be in the desert. We stopped to stretch our legs in Wickenburg, Arizona, which is now known as the "Dude" ranch capital of the West. It's a well done re-creation of an "Old West" town that's famous historically because its chronicled among the battlefields where the expansion of white privilege finally quelled the pride and power of the local Indians. In today's time, it's a tourist town of saddle shops, gun shops, ice-cream parlors, a preserved train station, and little mention of the original inhabitants. Thus refreshed by our Indo-European heritage, we swallowed the irony and pushed on. If I felt any guilt, it wasn't because of that; it's more about leaving my father to fend for his demented self. And even then, I don't feel too much guilt. We talked today. He was playing cards with his girlfriend, Vina. He had eaten, and he sounded comfortable now that he was back in familiar surroundings. I'll send the kids to make sure he's taking his medications, but other than that, I hope he'll make it through the winter. If he makes a serious turn, we'll simply return to Spokane when he needs us. In the meantime, we'll continue to live the blessed life we've been given. It's like Mary Blige said today when she got her star on the Hollywood walk of fame. "God has put my star on Hollywood boulevard, and I'm very grateful." I'm grateful, too, that life is good, especially today.

Boot Camp report: Last chance for alcohol at the Kral's-a little red wine and one beer; a few steps around Wickenburg; excellent, healthy, home grown "vittles" at the Krals (They are exceptional gardeners who bring a car load of food South when they come).

OK, Dudes, rope 'em.

The indian uprising was largely caused by the intrusion of the prospectors hunting for gold. The U.S. government came to the rescue of the settlers after several of the Indian chiefs were murdered, which in turn led the Indians to mount a defensive raid. The uprising ended when the government sent the calvary in. These events happened somewhere in the mid 1850s.