A look back at the decade 2010-20

Seems I often look back, I do love those memories.  As I put together this post I realized that much has happened in the decade 2010-20, many changes, lessons, loss and gain.  For someone who looks at life six months at a time, a decade seems like forever.

Wotans Throne North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Where was I ten years ago at the end of 2009?  I’d been blogging for a year where I met many people who have changed and touched my life.  You know who you are.

Addo Elephant National Park South Africa

If it wasn’t for blogger Joan sharing her love of all things nature in South Africa I might not have started the last decade visiting her amazing country.  Trip of a lifetime.  Then because I love the place so much returned two more times and am ready to go back again.  Maybe 2021, want to go along?  My Dad passed away not long before this trip and so his memory went with me.

Havasu Falls Arizona

Summer of 2010 was the third season I worked as a Park Ranger on the North Rim Grand Canyon National Park.  Explorations continued on the Colorado Plateau camping at Toroweap and hiking Havasu Canyon.  Hard to believe I was posting almost every day.  Where did I find the time?

Greeted 2011 with a new to me bigger 5th-wheel, which I will finally own next decade.  I was still writing about my month in South Africa mixed up with every day life.

A visit to Mom in south Texas along with the realization of her decline followed by a move to Arizona where sadly she died several months later.  Yet in the last months of her life, we finally became friends, respecting and loving each other in a new way.  For that, I am deeply grateful.

Fishtail Rapid Colorado River Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

My return to the Grand Canyon brought me another trip of a lifetime as I was paid to raft the Colorado River, which I blogged about for months.

Annular solar eclipse composite Arizona

Spent most of the winter of 2012 in Yarnell.  Returned for my fifth summer season at Grand Canyon and my first time photographing a solar eclipse.  I attended my first class reunion, 40 years after graduating from high school.  Mostly it was a calm year with life in a good balance of work and play.  Or maybe I was resting up for the next year.

Hyenas Kruger National Park South Africa

Because in early 2013 I returned to South Africa for two months, their summer our winter.  The land and people grabbed and hung on to my heart.

I returned to Yarnell in the spring and left for the North Rim shortly before the Yarnell fire.  I lost a bunch of storage shed stuff while many friends lost their homes.  I moved back to Yarnell in the fall to help with the cleanup, both physically and mentally.

Joan in cave opening along Waterfall trail Tsitsikamma National Park South Africa

In early 2014 I once again returned to South Africa, this time for three months, my entire visa time.  Joan and I covered 5000 miles, visited ten national parks, camped 80 out of 85 nights, and had the best time ever.

North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

I returned for summer at the Grand Canyon, learned to embrace monsoon, and was fortunate enough to see a partial lunar eclipse.

Multnomah Falls Columbia River Gorge Oregon

After returning to Yarnell in the fall, Berta and I took a trip to the Pacific Northwest.  I bought the current slide-in camper and began exploring with my home on the back.

Brown pelicans Corvina Beach Salton Sea State Recreation Area California

Then just kept on exploring during winter 2015 visiting Anza-Borrego, the Salton Sea, and Joshua Tree.

Three Gossips Arches National Park Utah

Now being a two RV owner I had to make two trips for my eighth season at the North Rim.  Well worth it when I can take comforts along during summer jaunts.  However, didn’t take it when Bill and I visited Hovenweep, Natural Bridges, Canyonlands, Arches, and Capital Reef in the fall.

View from RV of cemetery Kanab Utah

Then spent a cold, snowy winter in Kanab, Utah in the 5th-wheel.

Death Valley National Park California

In early 2016 I used the truckcamper for trips to Valley of Fire, Death Valley for Superbloom, Mojave National Preserve, and Quartzsite.

Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

I became a semi movie star in a film student’s documentary about my nomadic lifestyle.  I’ve recently added a link to that seven minute film on the sidebar.

Back to Grand Canyon for the summer and in the fall moved to Kirkland, Arizona, only 15 miles from Yarnell, so I could help Berta after her knee surgery.  Wasn’t sure about living near the railroad tracks until I shot sunset at the end of the line.

Crested organ pipe cactus Sonoran Desert Arizona

Winter of 2017 I split between living in the 5th-wheel in Kirkland and traveling in the truckcamper.  I like that combination and wish it wasn’t so much hassle to move both these RVs.  One trip out took me to the southern Arizona desert at Kofa National Wildlife Refuge, Darby Well Road BLM, and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

Old Tom Arch High Sierras Alabama Hills California

Another jaunt went west to Valley of Fire, Death Valley, Alabama Hills, Manzanar National Historic Site, Fossil Falls, and Mojave Trails.

Sunrise Angels Window North Rim Grand Canyon National Park Arizona

Returned to Grand Canyon for my 10th season.  Little did I know it would be my last.

Kelso Dunes Mojave National Preserve California

In the fall I had the 5th-wheel towed to and stored in Kanab, Utah while me and the truckcamper went to Yarnell, Mojave’s Kelso Dunes, Death Valley, and Alabama Hills.

I returned to Kofa for the January 2018 lunar eclipse.

Then back in Yarnell the end of February Berta was diagnosed with brain cancer and the world took a different spin.  I promised to help her as long as I felt able.  In mid-May she went to her daughter’s in Portland, Oregon.  And in July she passed away.

I not only lost my best friend in the whole world but I lost my job too.  I stayed as caretaker for Berta’s Yarnell home.  Paid to have the 5th-wheel hauled to Yarnell.  Then I stayed for the summer followed by winter in one of the deepest pits of depression I’ve ever been through.  Grieving is a bitch, as I’m sure many of you know.

Swamp Canyon Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

I did slip off once in the summer to Bryce Canyon National Park where I was encouraged to apply for the following summer.  A day trip to Flagstaff for fall colors.  And in November took a friend to his home town of Winslow, Arizona.

Full moon Hoodoos Bryce Canyon National Park Utah

I lost that same friend to cancer in early 2019.  Followed by a job offer at Bryce for the summer.  So I had the 5th-wheel hauled to Utah and was settling into learning about the wonders of Bryce Canyon when I fell in mid-August and broke both my wrists.

Sunset Congress Arizona

Between surgery, healing, and PT, that’s taken up the rest of the year either in Cedar City, Utah or Congress, Arizona with three more PT appointments left.  Progress in mobility and strength continue.  I’ve made 1.8 of my two PT goals, using my big heavy camera and dumping the camper’s tanks (and you don’t want to know about that one).

As you can see by all the links included I’ve blogged about most of this decade 2010-20.  A decade full of ups and downs, and lessons in life.  Now, it’s time to look forward.

Happy Holidays!

My stockings are hung on the rearview mirror
in hopes that Santa can find me this year.
The life of a nomad keeps me on the run,
it’s really a life that is full of fun.
But it often means I don’t know where I’m at,
and Santa sometimes has a problem with that.