Day two of cellular blackout found me doing a little exploration of the surrounding area. I rode several forest roads that branched off highway 67 out of Jacob Lake and each of them had a few nice, dispersed campsites. Several times while exploring these roads I would come to a parking lot where the Arizona Trail crossed. Apparently, the AZT parallels highway 67 through the Kaibab National Forest on its way to the Utah border.
I built a fire in the evening. It has been quite some time since I’ve had a campfire, mostly due to the fact it has been too hot, and partially because I didn’t know if there was a rule against it. With all the rain moving through the area fire danger is pretty low right now.
Hotdogs were on the menu, so what other way is there to eat a wiener than roasted over a fire on a stick? I ate two dogs and enjoyed the warmth of the fire until bugs drove me back inside. Even sitting directly in the smoke from the fire would not deter these tiny nits from diving at my head and neck. They must have been desperate for human blood and held their breath as they attacked.
A lot of my blogs posts end up on some point I have been pondering. Today I have been debating the pros and cons of traveling with a dog and whether I should get one or not. A dog can be a great companion for the single traveler. They can also hinder some of the things I like to do. If I wanted to take a long ride on my bike, they would have to be tied or locked in, if I wanted to tour an attraction, dogs are usually not allowed; if I wanted to take a cruise or fly to Hawaii (granted, this is a stretch), I would have to find a dog sitter.
On the other hand, a dog can be a great companion. I can see myself in rapt conversation with Fido, conveying my opinion on many subjects pertaining to itinerary and activities. But more importantly than deep subject matter like, “Go get the stick!”, when you have a pet it is essential that you become a good listener.
I carried on a lot of intimate dialogue with Wilson on the AT, but man’s best friend doesn’t need or want any of that. They are just thrilled with the simplest of questions: Do you want to go for a walk? Do you want your supper? Do you need to go out and poop?
There are definitely pros AND cons to having a dog along. You hit many of them on the head. I think about it sometimes, that Hanna will have to stay behind in the motor home when I go into museums and stores. But if I’m lucky enough to follow good weather, she should be fine snoozing in there for several hours, just like she does now in the house while I’m at work for 9 hours.
If you decide to get one and ever need temporary care for it, we can work out a deal like I have with the Gibides.
Oh no! You would never fulfill your goal of proving that a man can full time without one.
We spent several days boondocking just off the AZT. We even hiked it a short distance to find a geocache. I really enjoy that area.
You could always get a bird…