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Tag: full moon

27 April 2022

Headed northward from Yuma Arizona to boondock

01 DSL_1056lewfbr moon clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2I happily headed northward from Yuma returning to a favorite landscape to shoot April’s full moon over Easter weekend and the clouds beckoned me to stay just a little longer.

I’ll be honest, I won’t miss the noisy camp near Yuma, but I will miss Gayle.  She’s slowly recovering from her dental work in Mexico but staying nearby for a while longer.

03 DSL_0906lewfbr Palo Verde tree sunset BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2Palo Verde sunset

After shopping in Yuma I headed northward and less than an hour away to my next camp (where I took a 360° video), a favorite place, the BLM adjacent to Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.  Not many people out there so really lots of peace and quiet guaranteed.

04 DSL_0896lecwfbr desert Kofa Mts moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ azb g-2I sat outside in the welcomed afternoon shade of the truckcamper.  Set the camera on tripod and the moon snuck up on me faintly and not yet full.

05 DSL_0936lewfbr desert mt wave clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ npfb g-3Unusual Wave clouds

Still struggling with autofocus on the Nikon so after some googling I took the polarizing filter off, not an easy task.  That filter also reduces light so now I have to think differently when shooting in Manual.  Bumping up the shutter speed is a bonus for hand-held shooting as I’m not very steady and usually too lazy to use the tripod.

06a DSL_0994lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-24:53pm

06b DSL_1034lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g6:29pm

Photography is all about the light and I love watching changes on the land throughout the day.

07a DSL_1053lecwfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

07b DSL_1050lewfbr Kofa Mts moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ fb g-3

07c DSL_1080lecwfbr desert Kofa Mts sunset clouds moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ mss g-2I think the focus improved and some of that night’s moon shots were better. Sadly, clouds were low on the horizon so I once again didn’t catch it until above the clouds.

08a DSL_1110lecwfbr Saguaro sunset clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

08b DSL_1105lewfbr Palo Verde tree moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ fb g-2I woke at first light to pee and stepped outside with the camera for sunrise and saw the moon setting behind the Palo Verde tree. Score. Then went back to bed.

09 IMG_20220416_160443863lecwfbr truckcamper desert Kofa Mts BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-3After processing photos all morning, I went outside to read and enjoy the view.  Then, about 4pm got a bug to move camp.  Not far, just down the road a bit, to a place I camped this winter.

10a le photopills-ar-8PhotoPills Augmented Reality usually out of calibration

10b DSL_1113lewfbr desert Kofa Mts BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2Would it rise here or…

10c DSL_1126lewfbr Kofa Mts BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2…maybe here

Time for a different moon rise view.  Then I speculated on where the moon would actually rise almost 30 minutes after sunset.

11a DSL_1196lewfbr Kofa Mts full moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

11b DSL_1210lecwfbr Kofa Mts full moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2It would be very dark and that’s when I struggle the most shooting the moon, even using the tripod.  That night was no different.

12a IMG_20220417_173737934lewfbr sitting in shade desert Kofa Mts BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-3

12b IMG_20220417_190526009lewfbr Ocotillo Chocolate Mts sunset BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-3Easter Sunday, very quiet and found no eggs.  However, I did wear a summer dress to nature’s cathedral.  That could have had something to do with the 91° day.

13 DSL_1243lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2The next day reached 96° yet the cloudy skies begged me to stay.

14a DSL_1246lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

14b DSL_1249lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2One minute later, changing light

I just can’t resist the light and shadow play across the landscape.  I told myself to get to work on the next blog post, but instead spent a good part of the day outside just taking in the views.

15a DSL_1251lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

15b DSL_1254lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2

15c DSL_1256lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2Five minutes later

Amazing what just a few moments in time will do to change the scene entirely.  Though I took lots of photos, I also wanted to imprint this image on my brain knowing I’d not be back to the Sonoran Desert again until winter or at least fall.

16 DSL_1263lecwfbr desert Kofa Mts reverse sunset anticrepuscular rays BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ g-2As much as I prefer warm to cold I honestly can’t envision living with daily highs consistently over 100° all summer long.  A true bonus of wheelestate.  Don’t like the weather then move.

I spent the evening watching way too many RV-people videos.  So many just record themselves talking and even while driving. Is that interesting? I could talk forever doing that.

18a DSL_1272lewfbr Ocotillo desert Chocolate Mts Palm Canyon Rd BLM Kofa NWR AZ-Enhanced yt g-2

18b DSL_1273lewfbr desert Kofa Mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa NWR AZ gHonestly, after the previous day I was ready for cooler weather. Only supposed to be high 80s in Congress about two hours northward.  So even though the clouds invited me to stay, I hit the road and took video along the way.  Driving this route over 20 years I’ve become familiar with the small towns along the way, so I chatted about that.  The loud Mexican music drew me into Agila’s Tuesday market especially for produce and I found a little treasure.  Also grocery shopped in Wickenburg and had lunch at my favorite fast-food joint before headed northward to camp Congress.

19 DSL_1278lewfbr desert Date Crk Mts sunset clouds Cemetery Rd BLM Congress AZ g-2I planned to spend only a few days before continuing northward again and return to my Skull Valley home.  But the overnight lows still hovered just over freezing further north so I didn’t rush off.

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Arizona, Kofa NWR, Places I've been, United States, Yuma boondocking, full moon, photography, RV life, Sonoran Desert 24 Comments
29 March 2022

Shooting the moon over a Sky Island in the Sonoran Desert

desert Black Mt moon rise BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo ArizonaWhen it comes to shooting the moon, I try to get the camera out at least two to three days before the official full moon to get a rough idea where the moon will rise over the horizon.  One of the reasons I chose this particular camp was the near location of a mountainous ridge, or Sky Island, to the east.  Plus lots of dense Sonoran desert vegetation.

solar shower bag sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZBob rolled out of camp after over a week of visiting including following me to the BLM camp south of Ajo.  Sure enjoyed his company and all the places we explored.  Being that day’s high was predicted for 82° I decided to hang my solar shower bag on the camper’s ladder and heat water to wash my hair.  By afternoon I enjoyed a delightfully warm outdoor shower without shooting the moon at my neighbors.  Not sure a low flying jet pilot didn’t get an eyeful as I towel wrapped, but I didn’t really care.  It swooped low and punched it over the camper to roar down valley. Shook the earth, air, and me. They do fly low doing maneuvers, but this seemed excessive.  Turkey Vultures soar higher.  Seeing them tells me Spring has sprung in the Sonoran Desert.

desert Black Mt moon rise BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

desert Black Mt moon rise BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

desert Black Mt moon rise BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZI set up the tripod even though I’d be shooting the moon before it was entirely full with ambient light making it easier to shoot just before sunset.  Mountain ridge made a nice horizon line.

Saguaro desert Black Mt moon BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZLife is short and mostly BS, so follow your dreams and reach for the moon

Surrounding Saguaro also provided a nice foreground.

A10 jet Warthog over camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Turkey Vulture bird soaring BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZMore military flyovers the next day but not quite so low.  Called an A10 jet or Warthog.  They go so fast.  When I hear one, it’s not coming, it’s already been.  What does the wildlife think?

helicopter above Black Mt Bates Well Rd Ajo AZA helicopter circled the nearby mountain ridge several times then did a touch and go.  Guess it’s all about learning maneuvers.  I get the idea of practice makes better as I feel that way every month when I’m shooting the moon.

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZSo I set up again the night before official full moon and at first there was still a little post-sunset glow.

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Black Mt moon rise camp Bates Well Rd Ajo AZThen as it got darker I found it more difficult to even see if the camera was in focus, which it is so often not in limited light.  One of my nearest neighbors could be heard howling at the moon along with the coyotes.

Gaelyn by camper BLM 8115 Ajo AZAnother 82° day had me sitting outside reading and thinking, wearing the only summer dress I brought along.  With my birthday only a week away I wondered where I should be.

yellow Creosote flowers BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZFlowering Creosote bush

I messaged Joann about returning to her Congress camp and she was just coming down with a head cold so that was a no go for me.  I wished her virtual chicken soup and best vibes for healing.  I thought about returning to the Quartzsite area, but reality said to stay right there, or at least close by.

Saguaro cactus sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZPaul, a Grand Canyon friend, was camped just down the road and leaving the following week.  So I decided to stay in place over the weekend, go to town Tuesday, and join Paul before he moved on.

full moon rise over mt BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

nose rock Black Mt BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ(Nose where above moon rise happened)

moon reflection inside camper BLM 8115 Ajo AZDidn’t set up the camera for shooting the moon as it was too late and dark.  Took a handheld shot out the door and a phone shot in reflection.

Turkey Vulture roosting BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Turkey Vulture roosting BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

Turkey Vulture roosting BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZI’m not always awake for even a colorful sunrise yet enjoy whatever I get from my main window view.  One morning I saw a rather dark spot on a dead tree top maybe 1000 feet away.  As the early morning rays struck, the spot became a Turkey Vulture roosting on a guano covered snag.  It hung out for 40 minutes, preening and stretching wings with the light dancing around different parts of its body.  I wondered if perhaps there was a nest nearby.  Bob had told me they lay only two eggs directly on the ground.

Cholla desert BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZLater in the morning, one of my neighbors, the BobCats, stopped to say goodbye as they’d run out of propane in the night and were headed back to their Phoenix area home only a couple hours away.  They gifted me an extra gallon jug of water for my birthday.

Cholla desert sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZI spent a large part of the day inside at the computer writing, processing photos, and editing videos while watching the clouds drift around.

glowing desert sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

glowing desert sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZ

desert mt sunset BLM Bates Well Rd Ajo AZThen outside for a wonderful sunset.  So hard to stop taking photos of an ultra worthy coloring to the late night sky.

wave clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZ

snag desert mts clouds BLM 8115 Ajo AZLeft and down from center for the snag

The next day’s clouds were also outstanding and with temperatures in the high 60s and little wind it seemed a perfect day to go for a walk and maybe find where that Vulture snag rises from.

Cholla cactus desert mts clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZBut no hurry as I’m not particularly an early morning person and the clouds lingered.

cracked mud orange Globe Mallow flower BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZAfter lunch I headed out avoiding the nickel-sized Globe Mallow breaking through the parched desert dirt.  Then I felt a few raindrops hit my thirsty skin.  Arizona 12 foot rule, that’s 12 drops per square foot.

desert animal trail BLM8115 Ajo AZIt wasn’t easy to find a trail through the dense growth along the dry washes avoiding spines from the Mesquite and Palo Verde trees plus Cholla cactus spines strewn about.

snag BLM8115 Ajo AZI managed to work back and forth crossing two dry washes before I stood at the base of that white-colored Vulture snag.  It was much more impressive from camp.   Didn’t find a nesting site. I ended up taking more video with the phone than camera photos.  I only got one thorn snag that drew a little blood on the back of my hand on an hour and a half walk.

desert Black Mt rainbow clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZAfter my walk the clouds increased and temperature dropped and brought a little more needed rain.  Petrichor, with an added essence of Spring creosote bush.  Then came the best gift of all as a rainbow seemed to fall from mammatus clouds only to disappear behind the nearby mountain.

desert mt clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZ

desert sunset clouds BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZIt didn’t last long but the clouds continued with sweeping shapes until a colorful sunset took over the show.

Turkey Vulture on topped Saguaro cactus desert BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZHard wind kept me inside the following day.  Sometimes I question my sanity hanging out in the Spring desert but it sure beats 25° nights at my Skull Valley home.

Cactus Wren bird BLM Bates Well Rd Why AZFortunately, with wind on the nose of the truck the camper door could still be open and I do enjoy not only a great view but saw—and even better heard–my first of the season Cactus Wren.

Chevron fuel prices Ajo AZ

tacos lunch Ajo AZAs I was finished shooting the moon and needed water plus a few supplies, I went to Ajo and included a lunch treat.

truckcamper BLM8115A Why AZThen returned to the Sonoran Desert and drove a bit beyond my previous camp to visit with Paul and settle into a new camp where I’d be joined for my birthday celebration.

bumper collection BLM8115 Ajo AZ

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22 February 2022

Sun and Moon over the mountains from camp Kofa

Ocotillo desert Chocolate Mts sunset clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaPart of the February Geogypsy Journey—that nobody attended except me—included watching for the full moon over the mountains.  Clear nights are best for the moon, clouds make colorful sunsets, and dust is different.  Wind tends to blow during the winter in the desert Southwest so the days and nights are uncertain.  Yet even a cold (to me) 45° night in the desert feels better than below freezing with snow.

Sierra cat on pillow Palm Canyon Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaEnd of a long day

After watching the early rising moon for several clear afternoons, moving a little further south on the horizon every day, I hoped to see the full moon over the mountains with the rugged ridgeline of the Kofa Mountains.  I’ve seen it before, and you may have too if you’ve seen my photos or been there yourself.

desert Kofa Mts moon Palm Canyon BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaClear sky at sunrise hits those same rugged Kofa Mountains, just a little further north than the current header shot so the light is different again.  I believe early February would be better for that.  A good reason to make the February 2023 Geogypsy Journey: Sharing the Kofa Light nature experience centered around that full moon rise on the 5th.  (More coming on this around August/September or ask.)

desert Chocolate Mts sunset clouds Palm Canyon BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaBy afternoon the temperature reached almost 80° and a light southern breeze kept the camper comfortable.  I sat outside reading and watching the world, eye caught by a soaring Prairie Falcon.  Noticed the moon about an hour before a pleasant sunset.

desert faint Chocolate Mts dusty BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThat wind persisted over night, increasing in strength, and blowing against my door from the SSW, opposite what the usual winter wind does.  At first it was just rudely obnoxious.  By early afternoon the camper was rocking and soon came the dust.  First the Chocolate Mountains to the west disappeared.

desert Kofa Mts dusty moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaBy dusk, moon over mountains was looking pretty fuzzy.

Ocotillo desert dusty sunset clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaAnd sunset was a rather eerie blur.  The temperature suddenly dropped about 30° so I oven heated the house with pizza for dinner.

12v receptacle wiresThe next morning, clear blue sky still carried a haze of dust particles, yet the stillness was a creepy contrast to the night before.  An afternoon light wind eventually blew the dust away.  I played electrician when the hot wire on the 12v socket simply fell off.  The solar panels are making lots of power and keeping the battery fully charged every day.  What good when I couldn’t access the power?  I had already tried to tape the connection but no go.  I do not have the right connectors to replace the one that’s obviously not holding a solid connection.  Spare parts are important to carry.  So I stripped back some of the plastic insulation to expose more length of wire and wrapped it around the post on the back of the socket.  Viola!  It ain’t pretty but it works until I get the right connectors in town this week.   I’m a half-ass MacGyver.  I do have to be extremely careful not to bump it when plugging and unplugging the inverter that makes 12v DC into household 110v AC to charge my laptop.  Another thing I want to change, the inverter should have a power switch to reduce that stress on the socket system.  I don’t really know.  Maybe I’m wrong.  I’m not really an electrician but I’d like to see the entire set up more solid.  Perhaps an inverter could be hardwired.

AR moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaIn the afternoon I took a walk to look for a potential location to shoot the moon over the mountains, and maybe a Saguaro in the foreground.  Between the PhotoPills app I never entirely trust, and a backup compass bearing, I get a close idea to where the moon should break over the horizon.  Sometimes, it’s close to right.  I set the tripod where I wanted to shoot from, within sight of the camper where I returned for dinner.

desert sunset BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaMoon rise occurred about 30 minutes after sunset, noticeably clearer than the night before.

desert mts moon rise Palm Canyon Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaWith the limited light I always struggle to clearly manual focus the camera when auto focus doesn’t work.

Kofa Mts full moon rise Palm Canyon Rd BLM Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Kofa Mts full moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge Arizona

Kofa Mts full moon rise BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaThe series isn’t bad, of course I want better, but gives me the challenge to try again next month.

desert Chocolate Mts Earth Shadow moon setting BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaAt sunrise east over the Kofa Mountains, I managed to catch the setting moon over the mountains and Earth’s Shadow to the west, the Chocolate Mountains.  Such a wonderful name.  Sometimes the first morning light makes them look dusted with confectioners sugar.

As I began to process the moon photos my laptop tells me the drive is full.  My D5600 camera takes 24mp photos, times almost six because I shoot in jpg and RAW, plus bracket every shot and all that equals huge file sizes that fill disk space.  I backup everything twice on external drives so it was time to move photo files before I could process more with Lightroom.

last light desert mts clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI’m kind of camped at the end of a line and isn’t easy to find.  In almost two weeks here, only two vehicles have come by then turn around and left.  But on weekends, the main gravel Palm Canyon Road can be like a freeway.  People fly in all kinds of vehicle from two-wheeled to 12, kicking up a trail of dust that thankfully blows away from me, most of the time.

Sierra cat inside camper BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaNot like my little house on wheels isn’t dirty enough with dust, dirt, and cat hair.

desert Mesquite tree truckcamper Chocolate Mts sunset BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaIt’s about time to shop, dump, fill, and do laundry.  Timing mostly revolves around propane needs to maintain fridge, stove, and heat.  Have RVer company coming this weekend so need to get chores done before hand.

desert Kofa Mts dusty reverse sunset clouds BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaHazy view

Must be getting itchy feet as I’ve been studying the road atlas—a real paper version—for routes this summer.  Starting with the Cascade Mountains north to the Pacific Northwest and then east through the northern states for a mid-September arrival in the Chicago suburbs for my 50th high school reunion.  I’m not good at specific date plans so reservations are rather difficult to digest.  I figure if I stick with routes through/near federal and state public lands I can boondock much of the way.  I’ll be staying off interstates as much as possible.  What we used to call “blue-lines”, now those are the freeways on maps.  I’m not about go fast to get somewhere and would rather enjoy the journey.  I hope to visit with some of you along the way and will share my route ideas soon plus am open to suggestions.  Side trips can be arranged and I like to friendock if you have space for my truckcamper.

desert Kofa Mts full moon BLM Palm Canyon Rd Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaPhone shot of the full moon over the mountains

In the meantime, I’m thinking about a different set of mountains for full moon rise in March.

(Hope you enjoy this palindrome date on Tuesday 2-22-22.  The next time all of these conditions align in the same way is in the year 2422, 400 years from now.  Don’t think I’ll be here. But if you read this then, please leave a comment.}

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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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11 lessons looking back 2013 - “A great post -- made me think, made me smile, made me want to cry." ...Sallie

Wildlife video Kruger National Park - “Gorgeous, this makes me want to go straight to South Africa now.” … Ayngelina

Living nomadically & connecting to nature documentary - “What an experience you had and gave to the "crew." Sometimes I think you don't realize how unique and inspiring you are.” …Alan

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1. Prioritize the well-being of nature over photography. 2. Educate yourself about the places you photograph. 3. Reflect on the possible impact of your actions. 4. Use discretion if sharing locations. 5. Know and follow rules and regulations. 6. Always follow Leave No Trace principles and strive to leave places better than you found them. 7. Actively promote and educate others about these principles

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Sites I follow, read & recommend

  • A Full-time Life
  • A Yankee in Belgrade
  • Bob's Eyes
  • Box Canyon Blog
  • Camels and Chocolate
  • Dawns bloggy blog
  • In the Direction of Our Dreams
  • Jane in her infinite wisdom
  • Janie and Steve, Utah Trails
  • Kathie's Birds
  • Las Adventuras
  • Memorable Meanders
  • Oh, The Places They Go
  • On the Road Abode
  • Port Elizabeth Daily Photo
  • Stillhowlyntravels
  • Take to the Highway
  • Technomadia
  • the good luck Duck
  • Travel with the Bayfield Bunch
  • Wandering Earl
  • Wheeling It
  • Yogi's Den

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