Off to the Arctic

This summer will be hot! Not particularly surprising, but the chart below provides another compelling reason not to be in this part of the world over the next few months:

So we are heading out in a few days for Iceland and beyond… will pick up a tiny motor home in Reykjavik so that we can circumnavigate the island over the next few weeks.

Iceland is called the Land of Fire and Ice – “fire” for the extensive geothermal activity there (we hope for a volcanic eruption!) and “ice” for the subarctic conditions that include glaciers and a permanent ice sheet that covers a portion of the island.

The term “Fire and Ice” always brings to mind a short poem that doesn’t have anything to do with this, but I happen to like it a lot.

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

Robert Frost

Love the meter and rhyming scheme. “They” just don’t write poetry like that any more!

But hopefully this blog will NOT be about the end, but about a new part of the world we have only dipped our toes into before – the Arctic.

The word Arctic is derived from the Greek word “arktos”, or bear – referring to the northern constellations known as Ursa Major (Big Bear) and Ursa Minor (Little Bear). These constellations incorporate the features known as the Big and Little Dippers. The North Star, or Polaris, is part of Ursa Minor and has been used for centuries in navigation to establish the direction of true north.

Perhaps only coincidentally, the Arctic is home to the polar bear, one of the largest land predators in the world.

The Antarctic, at the southern tip of the planet, was named to establish it as the opposite of the Arctic region. It’s also fitting since there are no bears there.

Hope you will follow us as we again seek cooler climes!

Earlier this year we ventured on a road trip west to Rock Hound Mecca – Quartzsite, Arizona. In January and February each year, the population goes from less than 2,000 souls to more than a hundred thousand, virtually all of whom are visiting in RVs and campers. These folks are by and large “mature” retirees – distinguished, however, by their vigor and energy, zooming around town and the nearby hills in ATVs and eating way too much junk food in the local eateries. (They generally will not become a burden on society and their families for another 10 or 20 years!)

They come for the swap meets and rock and mineral shows, as well as the camaraderie of their fellow oldsters! Here is a view of the town from our powered parachute, the big rock show in the foreground and camping areas spread out for miles around:

Henry was in hog heaven buying rocks, participating in auctions, visiting wholesalers, trading stuff and sharing stories and experiences with like-minded rock enthusiasts from around the world – Argentina, Germany, Afghanistan, Mexico and more.

Our camping space was far out of town, where we had space to launch the powered parachute. Raider was along for the ride!

Marfa, in far West Texas, had a fabulous rock shop that provided several days of browsing (and purchasing) for Henry’s rapidly growing collection.

Fascinating and friendly people along the way…..

Cousin Galen and his wife Mary were consummate hosts at their winter getaway in Green Valley, AZ – where we played golf (!) and helped prepare a meal for some homeless folks in Nogales near the Mexican border.

Of course, no road trip is complete without a breakdown of some sort – in this case, a flat tire near sunset along the border…..

Back on the East Texas home front, Henry processed some of his finds in his lapidary shop (wearing the very latest in protective gear):

His wares were displayed (and a few sold) at special Farmer’s Market events in Nacogdoches, here with daughter Ivy and grand Morgan helping out.

Visitors always receive geology lessons……grands Jake and Mallori here.

A long-postponed project realized – installation of heavy iron doors from an old kiln on the barn. Another heritage item preserved!

And that brings us more or less up to date since last year’s journey to South America and Africa. Looking forward to getting out and about again!