I’m fast approaching my two year anniversary living in the Valley of the Sun! This is how I felt on the morning, March 14, 2023.
Oscar : Great, I got that “excited/scared” feeling. Like 98% excited, 2% scared. Or maybe it’s more – It could be two – it could be 98% scared, 2% excited but that’s what makes it so intense, it’s so – confused. I can’t really figure it out.
(Armageddon, 1998)
Happy Arizonary!
The following is collated entries from my first anniversary …
So exactly HOW did I arrive to moving to Arizona? Well, it wasn’t as rash as it seemed from the surface. I was simply decisive, and moved up my timetable from June 2023 to March 2023. [See what I did there?]
Scott and I discussed what to do with his Dodge Charger since he would be driving a moving van with his brother down to Arizona. I mentioned I love road trips! I told’im that I would be available to, and willing to, drive it down from my home in Lake Stevens, WA to Gilbert, AZ, filled with the last of the items that didn’t fit.
Furthermore, we decided that the week of January 9 would be the time frame best for Jami and I to drive it down.
Well … Jami and I broke up on December 26, 2022.
The last thing you wanna do is long road trip with your ex. YEESH. My sister volunteered to step up as my co-pilot, but I suggested I use this time for self-reflection, and healing. The 1,418 mile trip would do me some good.
Some quick boy math told me it was a 24-hour driving job that could be spread across 2-3 days. Perhaps even 4. Since I was ridin’ solo, 8-hour driving shifts seemed reasonable.
I hit the road at Monday, January 9, 2023 at 4:29 a.m. I knew the Dodge Charger approximate range but didn’t know exactly.
I would use the entire trip time to contemplate my life, and it’s trajectory. I also decided to document my time with my GoPro HERO 7.
From my home in Lake Stevens, WA to Gilbert, AZ there are two routes: I-90 E, I-82 E, I-84 E, I-15, etc (23h 12m) OR … I-5 S to I-10 E (25h) However, I had a hidden agenda of stopping by the Four Corners Monument on my way to Arizona since I was riding solo this meant the first route.
Rally Point #1 – Roosters Country Kitchen, Pendleton, OR [January 9, 2023 09:31]
I discovered the range for the Dodge Charger, my stamina, and my buttocks being flatten ended up being 5-hours tops or 300 miles. I had my heart set on stopping in Umatilla, OR. Once I got closer, I decided to keep pushing to a bigger city than that, and use up more fuel.
I rolled into the sleepy town of Pendleton, Oregon at breakfast time. I continued with my country fried steak and eggs vertical tasting of the Pacific Northwest.
For the children, there’s blank butcher paper, and Crayons but for this lone traveler it was an opportunity to express myself creatively. After I ate up, I decided to fuel up. It took me an embarrassingly long time to find the fuel cap door button for the attendant (Oregon will not allow you to fuel yourself)
I was ready to rock out with my 6-hour long #Spotify playlist. No road rally playlist is complete without at least one Chase Rice song!
Just east of Mountain Home, ID, the speed limit of 70 mph increases to 80 mph! I never seen a sign like that.
At this point in my journey the roads have been bare and dry. Fuel mileage is dialed in, and the tunes keep playing.
I felt awesome [as in awe inspiring]! East of Heyburn, ID is the I-86 and I-84 interchange. I-86 continues eastward, while I-84 is southward direction.
Once I raced past Juniper, ID, and towards the Idaho-Utah border the weather and road went completely sideways.
From Pocatello, ID to Salt Lake City, UT it was a terrifying, 3-hour long, white knuckled drive through white-out, blizzard conditions on I-15 South.
Rally Point #2 – Unnamed Motel, Salt Lake City, UT [January 9, 2023 20:12]
In retrospect, I should have researched Salt Lake City hotels that Scott would pay for, booked it, and then simply drove to it. Instead, I simply stopped at the first that had vacancy that was on the cheap (under $100 for the night) As I rolled into the reception area, I witnessed a drug deal happen in the parking lot. The attendant was uber salty, with the words of “$100 refundable cash deposit” was required for the $89 per night credit card rate.
I didn’t have the strength or brainglue to battle this guy. 100 USD was placed into an envelope, sealed and signed by me, and countersigned by him.
My nerves were absolutely frayed, so I briefed dipped out for alcohol. And I backed into the parking stall for a quick exit, if need be. The parking lot lights poured into the room, which I prefer a completely dark room to sleep properly. Then the shadows of the foot traffic in front of room ratcheted up my anxiety.
This was my friends car, AND my only way outta this armpit of the galaxy!
A four hour nap later …
I gave up trying to sleep, and just bounced after retrieving my $100 in cash. I was hungry, of course. I posted up at a nearby, open Denny’s. Country fried steak and eggs, as per my standard. I spied a gas station nearby. I fueled up once more because I was hell-bent on taking a run at the Four Corners Monument in New Mexico. It was on my agenda from the beginning, and I made such good time, I had the time needed for this side-quest.
Rally Point #3 – Spanish Fork, UT [January 10, 2023 02:13]
Hanging above Exit 257B on US Route 6 eastbound to Price, UT there’s a digital sign: Traction tires required, chains advised. I thought, “That’s ominous.” Scott provided chains for the Charger before the trip, and I had them in the trunk.
I started my ascent with snow lightly falling on the road at Spanish Fork. Then a few miles later, maybe even 10-12 miles into it, I was moving only 10 miles per hour on a snow-ice covered road. My 6-hour journey escalated to a 12 hour drive through a snowy hell in a heartbeat.
I passed stranded tractor-trailer rigs, some putting on chains anywhere they could stop and not crash. Passenger cars parked and littered the guardrail area.
Jesus EFFING Christ, this is insanity. Another white-knuckled ride, but this was completely unnecessary. My Geocaching, lizard brain thought this was a great idea. Finally, sensible Carlos wrestled control of this situation! I literally turned around on the inclined road on FAWKING ice.
I slid around a grip, damn-near crashed it into the ditch. After what seemed to be eternity, and crept down the mountain pass, I managed to return to Spanish Fork Pass. I drove until I found dry pavement, and an empty parking lot.
I parked, turned the Charger off, and wept.
I was so mad at myself! That was foolish, and scary. I turned the Charger back on, after 3 songs, I dried my tears, took a deep breath, and started counted my blessings / the good things in my life.
I’m re-routing outta this bullshit. Bitch-In-A-Box [Google Maps] suggested the mountainous route again for the fastest route of 9h 43m. Or I-15 to Las Vegas, NV, then US-93 / I-40 to Kingman, AZ for a 10h 20m grind.
30-minutes extra for NO SNOW, and safer driving, you say? Yes, please!
Rally Point #4 – Lunt Park South Rest Area, Paragonah, UT [January 10, 2023 04:35]
After the adrenaline dump ran its course through my mind and veins, I was very sleepy. I couldn’t keep my eyes open, and found myself in another dangerous situation. I parked at the Lunt Park South Rest Area. I was hungry too, but I succumbed to sleep quickly with 29o F temperatures outside.
Snow and I have always had a tumultous, toxic relationship. Why the hell did I think this would be different is beyond me. I crashed hard for 3 some odd hours in the driver’s seat of the Charger.
Rally Point #5 – Love’s Travel Stop, Las Vegas, NV [January 10, 2023, 10:02]
The advertising billboards were “The World’s Biggest Gas Station”, and “We really are that big”.
I felt rejuvenated after napping in the car, surprisingly. My guess was a hard reset / slept hard with snoring etc. There was more hours behind me than in front of me, so I kept digging.
Rally Point #6 – Dazzo’s Chicago Style Eatery, Wikieup, AZ [January 10, 2023 12:47]
I continued to text message Scott, Sidney, and Charrina on my exodus progress.
I rolled into the town of Wikieup, AZ in time for lunch. I was in better spirits than hours before. I stopped punishing myself for my foolishness at Spanish Fork. It was a sleepy Tuesday afternoon, but I suspect EVERY DAY is a sleepy one.
Dazzo’s Chicago Style Eatery seem to promise excellent deli sandwiches. More importantly, a view of the Sleeping Maiden.
Have you seen the Sleeping Maiden of Wikieup? I have. There are many rock formations that have been given names because they looked like something to someone and it caught on. “Pareidolia is the tendency for perception to impose a meaningful interpretation on a nebulous stimuli, usually visual, so that one sees an object, pattern or meaning where there is none.” Of course, there really isn’t a maiden sleeping in the mountains near Wikieup but if your imagination is vivid, you can see her.
~ The Miner , Kingman, AZ – April 2, 2022
Rally Point #7 – The Sterling Apartments, Gilbert, AZ [January 10, 2023 15:47]
I easily found The Sterling Apartments in Gilbert. I let out a breath of relief. I smiled as I whispered to myself, “Mission complete.”
My soul felt relief.
I’m truly on vacation until my flight back to Seattle on Sunday.
Tourist Time
I started Geocaching with Ron at the first opportunity we had – the next day. He had to work so I continued to kick it up Scott, and Sidney in Scottsdale. It was fun to have no agenda, no itinerary, no time sensitive objective!
January 12, 2023 – Ron, Sidney, Scott, and I met up at Papago Park. One of the many stops is Hole-In-The-Rock.
In 1892, Charles Poston named and claimed “Hole-in-the-Rock”.[1]
Hole-in-the-Rock is a series of openings (tafoni) eroded in a small hill composed of bare red arkosic conglomeritic sandstone. The sandstone was first formed some 6–15 million years ago from the accumulation of materials eroding from a Precambrian granite, long since eroded away. The tafoni are thought to have been eroded by water. An open, shelter-like chamber in the face of the formation communicates with the rear of the formation via a hole eroded completely through the rock. Another substantial opening exists in the “ceiling” of the chamber.
There is evidence that the Hohokam, early inhabitants of the region,[2] used and recorded the position of sunlight shining through the latter opening to mark the seasons—notably the equinoxes and the solstices, which were marked by carving a slick area (metate) in the rock. Other positions were marked with boulders.
The formation is a popular attraction in the park. The openings and main chamber near the summit are easily accessible via a smoothly ascending path that passes behind the hill. It is also possible to climb the face of the hill to reach the chamber. While popular, the trail can be dangerous.[3] The chamber provides a good view of the city of Phoenix west of the park.[4] A nearly constant wind blows through the openings in the rock.
~ Wikipedia
Ron and I noticed that there were several dozen geocaches in Papago Park, with a handful near Hole-In-The-Rock. So we broke from Scott and Sidney to geocache. Lo and behold, we encountered the wife of a local Geocaching celebrity, cschooner. I’ve met geocachers in the wild, but NEVER a Cache Owner! I was geeking out so badly.
Mystery Castle, Phoenix, AZ
We kept the fun train rolling with a visit to an Atlas Obscura suggestion: Mystery Castle.
MYSTERY CASTLE WAS BUILT BY Boyce Luther Gulley over a 15 year period. The mystery in Mystery Castle, is what compelled Gulley to abandon his job, wife, and his one year old daughter and set off to build the castle.
Gully disappeared altogether for three years before turning up in Phoenix and beginning work on the castle. The Castle is said to be held together by a combination of mortar, cement and goats milk, and built from a wide range of materials including stone, adobe, automobile parts, salvaged rail tracks and telephone poles. Despite having 18 rooms, 13 fireplaces and numerous parapets, until recently, the castle had no running water or electricity.
In 1945, Gulley’s abandoned wife and daughter received a call from a lawyer. They learned of Gulley’s recent death, the first they had heard of Gulley since his disappearance, and of the castle he had built, which was now rightfully theirs.
Gulley’s daughter, who died in 2010, lived in the castle and gave tours with her granddaughter for many years.
~ Atlas Obscura
Scott and I rocked this while Sidney waited in the car. The $2 tour was informational and fun. (At the time of this writing the place is closed due to vandalism and summer storms. They probably won’t reopen)
Arizona’s Oldest Geocache – GC57
I managed to coax Scott to drive me out, and hike with me in the Bulldog Canyon ORV [Off Road Vehicle] Area in search of Arizona’s oldest, active, and most Favorite Points geocache: GC57. It’s been in play since September 9, 2000! In the early days of Geocaching, clever names and titles were not invented yet.
Since it was off-road, we parked his Charger outside the permit area, and walked.
I “got my weight up” on the various creatures and plants that could harm us, or kill us. The Top 10 starts with:
- Rattlesnakes – Arizona is home to 13 of the 36 known species of rattlesnakes!
- Arizona Coral Snake – Indiana Jones, “Why does it always haveta be snakes!”
- Arizona Bark Scorpion – While venomous, the sting of a scorpion might not kill but you’ll wish you were dead.
- Gila Monster – I’m thankful I have a stuffed animal, plush children’s toy version of this creature. DO NOT PET IT.
- Africanized Bees – Again, one stinger, not bad. An entire colony attacking you, it might be deadly.
- Brown Recluse Spider – Even in Washington State, we had a fair share of these 8-legged monsters
- Black Widow Spider – The tell-tale red hourglass emblem is the only item you need to identify. I’ve found them under rocks, etc. Be careful, not Charlotte’s Web!
- Tarantula – These are gentle giants of the spider world. Unless you provoke this arachnid, you’ll be fine.
- Tarantula Hawk – Spider wasp, it’s sting is rated at the top of the Schmidt Pain Index Scale (4.0) Schmidt called it “Blinding, fierce, shockingly electric. A running hair dryer has been dropped into your bubble bath. A bolt out of the heavens. Lie down and scream.”
- Blister Beetle – Again, not deadly, but hellish type of bite.
Scott and I learned what “jumping cholla”, (cylindropuntia fulgida) One piece jumped onto his bare leg from wearing shorts en route to the oldest active Arizona cache, GC57. We managed to remove it from Scott, but it did do it’s damage. At least we found the geocache!
To celebrate the find, we zoomed off to O.H.S.O. Brewery in Gilbert [Outrageous Homebrewers Social Outpost] Attached the brewery is a park for live music, which was playing at the time we posted up.
Seattle Seahawks Saturday x San Francisco 49ers
Scott advised me to pack my Seattle Seahawks jersey as he was taking me to Wicked Rain – A Pacific NW Craft Beer Bar for the game. My goodness! The place was as advertised. Seahawks lost to the 49ers, so we won’t dwell on it.
Thinking Out Loud
While Sidney, Scott, and yours truly was chillaxing the night before my departure, Sidney jokingly asked, “So when are you moving down to Arizona?”
I impishly replied, “Sooner than later.”
Grosse Pointe Blank
Debi: Everybody’s coming back to take stock of their lives. You know what I say? Leave your livestock alone.
Well, I certainly didn’t my entire flight home. I counted the reasons that were keeping me in Washington State.
- My house
- My sister
And the list of reasons to leave were more than two. As soon as I returned to work, I downloaded and printed the transfer paperwork. It was my guide post to my future.
Impromptu Intervention – Powerhouse Restaurant & Brewery
I text my good friend, Travail, to meet up with him to retrieve my jacket that I forgot in the backseat of his ride that was currently in the shop. I told him in carries sentimental value, and that I would like it back as soon as possible.
It was after Inventory Night at 747 Woodinville Costco, so it was good time to just chillax.
We didn’t intend it to be an intervention. It was a typical bro-down; catching up. At some point, Travail asked the question that resonated with me, “Well Los, what do YOU wanna do?”
In frustration, I slammed my hand down on the table. “That’s the rub! I dunno what I wanna do. All I know is that I don’t wanna do ‘this’ anymore.”
“What,” Travail pressed.
“Merely existing in my life, being miserable in every facet of my life, that’s what,” I answered. The next day my transfer paperwork was signed with little to no resistance, which I promptly sent to Arizona warehouses.
Four days later (February 4) it was approved, I was headed to 481 Gilbert, AZ as a Night Merch Forklift Driver. I considered the confirmed job transfer as my early birthday present to myself; a new lease on life.
On The Road Again
My last day at 747 Woodinville Costco was Wednesday, March 8, 2023. I was officially on “vacation” as I packed up my life to leave town for the foreseeable future.
My sister and I drove the Millennium Subaru filled with my personal belongings on March 14, down the I-5 route versus the dumpster fire route I took a couple months earlier. We made great time, even though I managed to contract COVID-19 for the first time EVER.
We rolled into Chandler, AZ on March 15, 2023 about 21:00.
The rest, they say, is history. (Actually I’ve documented heavily my first year in Arizona)
Now you’ll understand why I instantly fell in love with Latin phrase Dulcius Ex Asperis … ‘sweeter after difficulty’.
Year 2
Barreling into the summer, Sterling and I bought matching room air-conditioning units from Amazon. Another addition to my room was Ana, the APAP Machine from ResMed. This life-saving machine addresses my sleep apnea.
A more fun addition than form or functionality was (is) my IKEA 6-drawer clothes dresser. Not because it organized my clothes, but rather be the display platform for my LEGO City that I named Bricktopia.
I purchased a bookcase that I thought for the longest time was the Billy style. IT WAS NOT. Oh well. I made due with what I had (have) for displaying my LEGO sets.
Google Maps
I’m less reliant on Google Maps for familiar and more frequently visited places such as Camp Wilde, acupuncture appointments, Planet Fitness locations, Bricks and MiniFigs locations, restaurants that I love.
As of this writing, I’m not sure how I would like to celebrate Year 2. One thing is certain (see what I did there?), I will celebrate!
los, Fil-Am Renaissance Man 