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AZ & Flying Diamond
  • Uncle Woully

AZ & Flying Diamond

It was supposed to be the time to build a shed. It will be a social visit to Chuck and Kathy and a week of playing music with my friends, Ethan, Bob, Sandy from CB at Wocnis' house, pick up tools in Texas and the long drive back to Colorado. Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 3, 2023
    Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Long drive to AZ

    November 3, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    I drove away from Crested Butte in the evening as I was not able to sleep and figured I would sleep in the car on the way down which is what I usually do because I really like driving at night.

    I took two naps along the way for about an hour each and drove on after a good cup of coffee in the morning all the way down to Flying Diamond airpark where I arrived at sunset. The sunset drone flight is a nice start for getting started making this land mine. There is work to do, but the course is action and the timing of it are uncertain.

    I called the building department of Pima county and found out that I need a permit for the no permit required shed after all. You don't need a permit to add the shed if the main residence already exists. This is different than I was told at first. Apparently it depends on who you talk to. Now I will need an RV permit as that will cost less than building a 1500 square foot house.

    Why can't you just do what you want to do? Build a 500 sqft tiny home? I'll start with the hangar then and maybe a bigger shed/tiny home since I'll need a permit anyway.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    The lot and Chuck and Kathy time

    November 4, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    I woke up after a solid 8 hours sleep in the car where I'm snug as a bug in a rug, I hear a tractor but it's not a tractor, it's an airplane and it takes off and I managed to get a video of it. Then it hits me, I'm standing on my own land. This is my private airstrip, how cool is that! Let's get that hangar and airplane going!

    I walk around the lot again for the third time now and I look to see what the best location is for a hangar. After flying the drone and taking a lot of video of the land I site both the hangar and the shed.

    Jill is switching from being nice to "I'm getting lawyers" . It's always been one of her traits to switch from nice to nasty and back. I do not want to lose this land, this is my sanctuary and hideout. So I won't be building until I have some kind of a certainty with how this paperwork plays out. Which means that I need to drive back and deal with it, ugh.

    I go to Chuck and Kathy's for dinner and we have a great time talking about my adventures on the Camino and comparing them to their adventures as well as hearing chapters from the book Kathy is writing.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Busy day Sabino w/Chuck

    November 5, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Chuck and I walk the dog and talk about my experience meditating in the Camino. Chuck is mostly a realist but he listens. He is going to usher at church and I'm off to the airpark to meet with Bob, first I get in a nice conversation with Kathy, she is clued in, she writes about it.

    At the airport I met with Bob my new neighbor who is down from Seattle we also meet with Ron who is a character from the Wild West with a gun on his hip and we try to figure out how to get rid of the CCRs because they're so restrictive.

    Then I talk with Bill my neighbor on the other side and we have for more intelligent conversation about the limitations and what can be done which is not much. But apparently I'm okay to stay a few days here and there without being a permanent residence and they won't give me a hard time about it and that makes all the difference for my goal for now with the land as small building.

    I drive back to Chuck and we go hike in sabino canyon he shows me a back trail that is very nice and has great access to the back reaches. Then we go pick up some Mexican food that takes a long time to come out but we're sitting and having beers at the bar. All is good.

    We rushed through dinner at his house for me to be able to pick up Ethan in time, unfortunately the train gets delayed in the last 4 miles and it takes an extra hour of waiting. Ethan and I reconnect and we drive to Wocnis' house.

    I'm tired from all the driving around Tucson it's kind of nuts. I'm not used to it.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Hanging with TPW

    November 6, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    We have a project with Ken to lift up a giant flower pot which Ethan and I help him with and get done.

    Ken and I drive to Tucson, it takes a half hour drive one way to go get groceries and medication for his wife Melinda, who had her fifth operation this year.

    Ethan and Ken are interested in seeing my land and we decide to go. I'm able to bring three heavy boxes with us in the car and we stash them there. Another 2.5 hour drive. I'm spending too much time in a car it will be hard to get used to these driving times here.

    We have our first session playing together again. It feels good to be back on the bass with my group.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    More time at Wocnis'

    November 7, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Ken and I get up early, he gets on his e-bike and I am on my mountain bike and we go for a ride in the sahuaro Park west of Tucson it's absolutely incredible for sunrise.

    We brought coffee with us and as we're sipping a man from Florida is taking pictures and starts talking to us. He mentions that every shout he takes with his camera is like a momentary meditation. Interesting thought because I had just made my own realization that it would be impossible to meditate while taking photographs. Taking pictures is a form of chasing something but it's also a form of creation and in that sense you could be in the zone.

    We're doing a good job hanging up with a cup of coffee on the back porch and then we go to lunch at the sky Rider Cafe which is at the Marana airport.

    It feels really good to be on the bike and get exercise it is so critical for me. It also helps me with Ken to discover this place, this is my new home. It is still going to be strange and it will take time to settle in.

    We have a ditch project at Ken's and we help him get that all cleared up it's kind of fun to work hard in the sunshine a couple of beers later and we are playing music again.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Third day at Wocnis'

    November 8, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    There is some talk about making a fire with all the rubble in the yard but it requires a permit and there isn't that much room to do it safely. Instead we drive down to Bob's sister to pick up a big roll of green grass carpet. We also do a quick shop and we drop off Ken's bicycle at the shop which allows me to grab a CO2 cartridge that had been stolen out of the back of my bike bag.

    We end up doing our lunch at In-N-Out Burger.

    I'm really tired in the afternoon because I'm not sleeping well in that room there is a weird energy in there. I called that building department again because I can't make heads or tails out of their website and this time I speak to Wil Schuiteman who is patient and helps me really well putting together what I'm trying to accomplish so now I have a good plan and supposedly I can actually build a shed without a permit and without having a main residence. I think I better get it in writing and have it recorded at the county so when the satellite picture comes in with changes that they won't give me a hard time like they are giving Ken about his sheds right now. I also called the flood control department and get some bad news that I need to have my culvert engineered. I'll probably need to talk to his boss to make sure that they understand this was probably engineered before and I will also need to get documentation of that from Ned the prior owner.

    We start our music session at the standard 5:30 and we play a great set, good solid playing by everybody, truly enjoyable.

    Off to bed but sleep doesn't come even though I am pooped tomorrow night I'm going to sleep in the car just to see if it is different.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Fourth day at Wocnis'

    November 9, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Ken and I set off for another bike ride, early one and it is colder than last time. I actually wear two T-shirts and a wind jacket. The desert can be chilly. We ride, stop and drink coffee, talk, and go to the another stop, this is a special spot. On the way back we have the rare sighting of a Bobcat in broad day light. Wow.

    Back at Wocnis' Ethan and Sandy are jonesing to go to lunch. We barely take a break and all four are in my little Honda again. We try the stock yard cafe but it is closed so we go to the more upscale Bisbee Breakfast Club. The conversation is all about the old west and the experiences of the grandfather's of Ethan and Ken. Gun fights and other wild west stories.

    I try to call the Pima county building department again, but I can't get through.

    I spend some of the afternoon in the hammock I set up in the back between two trees. I'm starting to see how I'll be spending my afternoons in Arizona...

    After I get through, I start on the documents required for a zoning permit that will allow me to have my non permitted, ie non inspected shed, recorded in the Pima county documents. I'm finding that flood control is a powerful department in AZ county government. Ken is running into issues with them with his accessories.

    No music for Bob tonight, but the others didn't rally so we skipped it and sat in the kitchen talking with the heat on. AZ cold snap.

    Cherakauwa national monument is a place to visit in South Eastern AZ per Wocnis' for the CCC work done there.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Fifth day at Wocnis'

    November 10, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    I slept a bit better. The room has a weird vibe that I can't figure out but it keeps me from peaceful sleep. Coffee, sit and chat in the morning sun. The conversation between these long time locals of Crested Butte tends to revert to old time memories. My history there only goes back 27 years and I learn a more about life back in the 70s in that little town.

    Ken makes fantastic breakfast burritos for lunch. His bike is fixed so the bunch goes on another 2 hour outing to Tucson. Quick Walmart and pot store for Sandy. Basically we're spinning, just waiting to play music and hanging out. I try to be productive with my shed permit but I'm at a stand still. I'm looking at some RVs in case I will need one to satisfy the county. I hang in the hammock and finish reading my book. I never read and I'm getting used to sitting still and having time to do this.

    Ken takes us to Saguaro National Park West where we ride our bikes in the morning so Sandy and Ethan can see it. It's way more fun on a bicycle. That's how it is, life is better on two wheels than on four.

    It's Friday night, our music night, and we play a session but it's cold out and it's over too soon. The acoustics are more difficult outside. However, I did completely lock in with Ken and that is a first and it's exciting. By 8 we're snacking in the kitchen on pizza and other items. I eat too much again. Off to bed early.

    The Picture Rocks neighborhood is a back water on the other side of the western range that borders Tucson. The land is flat and there are not many views. The nearest food store is 25 minutes away just like it is for my location. There are a lot of planes flying overhead. This is the corridor I'll be using too as it avoids the jet traffic on the other side of the range. I get more used to Tucson and surroundings and it starts to become clear that I picked a pretty decent place as my foothold in the area, and I have friends here.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Last day at Wocnis'

    November 11, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Sandy jumps in the car with me as I drop Ethan off at the train station, he's going back to Alpine, TX. Then we drive to my land that Sandy hasn't seen yet and I need pictures of the culvert and measure it for the zoning permit. I'll have another take on my shed location and pick Sandy's mind on the layout. I'm sticking with what I have figured out. It seems to make sense.

    We also drive by an RV that's for sale and on the way stop at a cotton field. I had never seen one before and walked on to see the plant up close and fell the raw cotton.

    I'm starting to look at a good size for an RV and I might have to spend a bit more but I still get something a lot nicer that fits the 28ft width or the hangar if the county won't allow the non permit shed without a main residence. We'll see.
    Nice dinner by Bob and we played in the kitchen to stay warm. Missing Ethan but Wocnis' really got going and was having a good time. I was pooped. It's been a great week. Tomorrow I'm hanging on the lot again and I can go ahead and submit the zoning permit.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Wocnis to Flying Diamond

    November 12, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    Another great ride with Ken and this time Sandy joined us on the same track we did before. Fun times cruising around even if the work out wasn't very challenging.

    It's car packing time, and a shower. Sandy Ken and I are still sitting on his back porch yacking and I'm trying to get the zoning permit for the non permitted shed dinner online, but the website must be down for the weekend. Saying the goodbyes and I'm off to my land. I still can't figure out what to do, it's such a mess that I can't just live there.

    The light bulb good off and I am clear on one thing, the purpose of this parcel at the airpart is for me to fly. So a hangar is the end goal.

    While walking the land again, it is clear also that there are too many possible ways to build that hangar and they depend on rules that are still changing, supposedly. Also it's too expensive to build even the lowest end hangar when factoring in an RV. It would be best to get it right instead of as cheap as possible. Let's make some money, wait and see what it can look like and then make the move next year or even later. For now build the shed and don't even ask, they could turn it down. If they come and say that I broke the rules then I can can lean on Wil Schuiteman of the county saying it was ok to proceed. I can then still get the RV permit.

    I sit on the lot and watch the sky. I see lots of shooting stars and imagine what it would be like when it is warm out on the rooftop.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Flying Diamond to Sawyers

    November 13, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    I spent a lot of time on the lot looking at the different locations for the shed once I figured out that the hanger was not going to happen until much later.

    The best location for the shed is on top in front, it's high visibility which I feel is a bit of a drawback but it is high better for water better for cell service and better for the views that I like and the solar gain. Maybe I'm talking myself into that location.

    With that in mind I cut some bushes back located the shed exactly where I want it and I went off to get my trailer hitch package installed and then the trailer at Lowe's.

    I meet up with Chuck and Kathy and we have a nice Mexican dinner on their rear patio outside in perfect Tucson weather. We get to catch up after a week of events. It's great to have old friends.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Sawyers to Silver City

    November 14, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    I have one week before I need to be back in Crested Butte for Thanksgiving because Oliver is coming into town and I want to be there for that.

    I really want to start on the shed and get things going now that Pima county verbally gave the ok on it being non permitted on vacant land. I'm clear on what I want to do for the design.

    But I have tools at Ethan's and I need to go get them so I drove to Silver City and along the way rode a small piece of the Continental Divide trail. That was a nice steep uphill for about a thousand vertical feet and gave me a good sweat for about an hour. Quite the view from up there, it goes on for hundreds of miles.

    I spent the night in Silver City and will all day tomorrow, riding the trails here.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Silver City Trails and the drive

    November 15, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C

    I woke up from a deep slumber parked in a neighborhood. This always works in the Honda and I'm snug as a bug in a rug, what a great place to sleep.

    I park at Walmart because their lot of under video surveillance, it feels relatively safe for my stuff. I go ride through town and then Boston Hill. It's old mining land pock marked by pits. It has been reclaimed for recreation with many zig zag mountain biking trails. It's really well done with fun sections of swoopy trail. It has been a while since I got a good workout of more than an hour. 3 hours and a good sweat, needed! The fall colors abound and I am happy to get some fall feeling, I missed it completely in CB, while I was in Europe.

    I speak with a guy in a bike shop to get Intel for my next ride. He lived in Crested Butte for 5 years while I was there, but I had never met him. Weird conversation that should have gone to taking about when he lived there and what we might have in common but instead veered to "why he left Colorado and why he likes it in New Mexico". He was looking at the downside of things. I've been there too, but I didn't have the energy nor was it really the place at his work for me to bring him up.

    I buy food at the Walmart and set off to ride a bit more in Fort Bayard. Nice flowy trails, home of the Tommy Knocker 100 endurance bike race. My gears skip and I realize that I have chain stretch and worn teeth on my cassette. After ten years of riding, is time to update the components. I still early and it's ok, I'm actually a bit tired from the morning ride.

    Good time to set off towards Alpine in mid afternoon. Almost to El Paso, I stop to stretch and buy a $1.79 truck burger, it's actually edible. I send a picture of it to Oliver, he has all my burger pictures. I drive again and notice the poor folks going the other way, hopelessly stuck on the I10 freeway due to a major, what looks like, fatal truck accident. Not shortly thereafter I get stuck in a similar situation and I drive across an unauthorized piece of dirt with tire tracks in it to hop across a curb and free myself from eternal waiting. I take a nap in the parking lot of the outlet stores and wait out the wait while sleeping.

    Night fell, I get back on the road, I take the 375 loop to circumvent El Paso. The negative energy from this city is palpable and leaves me stunned, why?

    I'm generally stumped by all of it. I no longer connect in the old way to what they call civilization or luxuries, none of it makes sense anymore. I have a long way to go to learn how to become connected with the Power in challenged energy fields. It's easier in nature. Maybe it's simply not meant to happen in 'civilization' is a clear sign that's not where it's at. How many millions of people are trapped in these city lives!

    I camp in a picnic stop along Texas hway 181, quiet, dark and not even cold. Snug as a bug again. Happy with little.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    At Ethan's - Alpine, TX

    November 16, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Beautiful sunrise over the mountains north of Fort Davis. I visit the impressive MacDonald observatory from the outside on the way and enjoy the changing colors. On the way up the hill I catch another sighting of a Bobcat. He stood still in the tall grass, and I instantly made out the characteristic ears and the dark spotted coat. I stopped and he knew he was made and took off in a long jump. Never seen one and now twice in a week.

    I meet up with Ethan, lots to talk about, it's show and tell time, how he built his house and all about Alpine. I'm amazed how roomy the house is at 2000sq ft. I also get to realize again that he has a load of things to take care of and how he gets sucked into all the 'house projects'. Which is exactly what I don't want.

    Ethan has some tumbleweeds to burn so we set to the task. Of course we didn't ask for permission from the town so in no time a helicopter flies over and the cops are right on us to extinguish it. Border patrol last night and cops this morning, I probably have a record for unauthorized burning in the town of Alpine Texas.

    I pick up some peppermint from the town park and plant it in the corner of Ethan's back yard. Should be a good spot for it. I also get to see my first ever Pecan tree, my favorite nut.

    Ethan and I played music for an hour and covered some of the great songs in our book. The accoustics are superb in his high ceiling house. Fun to hang here. Alpine is a lot like Gunnison, I can see how he feels comfortable here. We're playing lots of loud music during dinner, TYA one of my faves.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    At Ethan's

    November 17, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    I'm not sleeping all that well with the lights that come on at night and the upcoming visit with Oliver in CB. Ethan's telling stories of old CB again. He has so many of his fly fishing days and he goes into detail. I listen.

    We have one tiny project to work on, it's a beautiful warm day and we get out for a bike ride which is going very well all the way up a road that goes deep into a canyon. It's a good 2 hours of exercise which I needed. After a shower we head into town for the arts fair which I remembered and I'm glad I'm getting Ethan out of the house he would have just stayed home. We wander around the activities in town. And we return home thinking we'd play some music but Ethan gets tired and he still has his cold. He sits down with his iPad in his chair this must be what he does every evening.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Drive back to my airpark

    November 18, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Ethan made pancakes. So we still have Valero burritos and the new coffee shop to discover. It will be next time. I Loaded up the tools and took off again on the freeway. I got home in the dark. I walk around a bit to shake off the drive and decide that the back spot is going to work well. This leaves the front by the runway for a hangar and a house when I'm ready for it. I have no idea what it will look like.Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Cabin - Site excavation

    November 19, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    I had a great night sleep on my lot again. It is incredibly peaceful here the cicadas are chirping away the stars are overhead, Tucson is way in the distance and occasionally he hear a dog bark far in the distance.

    I picked the site which is in the middle of the lot closer to the road which leaves space for a house and hanger to be determined later on.

    I went to harbor freight for a small tool to start picking away at the dirt. After a few hours and closer to sunset I managed to have a fairly flat surface, that I shot with the leveler, and lo and behold I'm within 4 inches from lowest to highest corner.

    That's a great start for my new cabin build.

    On a whim I decide to start driving to CB instead of staying overnight and working some more. I'll have a bit more time in CB and I hope that I can sit down with Jill too figure out the split.i need to get that behind me.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Long drive back to CB

    November 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 -4 °C

    Ethan thought the best road to take from CB is over Saguache, those are the lowest passes and the least amount of climbing.

    So I decided to drive it in the other direction to scope it out from Tucson to CB.

    Well there are a few really decent hills in the southern end of New Mexico and the road is kind of long straight and boring so I don't think it's ideal and I'd rather drive over Kayenta but that has a big downhill after Flagstaff.

    No matter what, the little Honda will have its work cut out to pull that small trailer with a construction tool load down to Tucson.

    I make it back to Crested Butte, after a few detours of not paying attention where to turn. I must have been pretty out of it and definitely wasn't listening to Google's Betty to give me directions. But I got to see the Rio grande again by Taos, lots of memories in that location of adventure races and the car rally in the Morgan plus 8.    Read more

  • Uncle WoullyAZ & Flying DiamondTraveler

    Thanksgiving weekend

    November 23, 2023 in the United States

    I'm in Crested Butte over Thanksgiving with Oliver and Jill, many days all in one post.

    Jill is picking up Oliver in Denver and I'm in the garage cleaning up my car sorting through my tools getting everything set up so I can dash out of here ASAP.

    That night I notice big gunk in my lungs. I'm down with something. I wasn't thinking of Ethan's cold and so I thought it was the fumes from all the chemicals to clean the windows.

    On the first day Jill was being the general again pushing everybody around as she likes to do, which is such a pain intrusive as hell and just unpleasant. There is a little derogatory talk as well but less than usual.

    We have a lot of our friends over for Thanksgiving dinner which is thankfully later in the day and it's a wonderful time to reconnect, however, I am totally under the weather and in my own space quietly listening to all the rambunctious talking.

    Jill must be trying to be nicer and what was really working is us playing Yahtzee and watching NCIS during which I usually fall asleep. Oliver was very happy to be home and starts to value having a place to come back to. You have to leave something in order to realize what you left behind. He did a great radio show that I got to listen to. He's one of the best DJs you can imagine. It made me feel really good and a little proud to hear him and it pulled back to the old times. What a pity that Jill is who she is because how beautiful life can be.

    I drive Oliver to Denver and he flies back to college for 3 weeks to wrap up his semester. I drive back and overall it's not a difficult drive.

    I'm trying to finish up the takeoff for my shed that was redrawn yet again but now this is the final version. Unfortunately Lowes has a very poor website and it takes me seven tries, the whole day, no results, and I got really enervated. I am now so incredibly far away from my inner peace. I'm right back in civilization chasing things and trying to get things done that aren't working and this is absolutely a confirmation of just how bad it is in our daily lives. It is really important to cut out time for yourself and your inner peace when you're stuck in the 'city'.

    And of course all this enervation brings back the cold except at this time it's pneumonia and I suffer from the coldest chills, I've never been this cold inside. I take hot baths and I have to hang out here much longer than intended which feels very strange. Amazingly, Jill is not being nasty. I guess I should have talked to her a long time ago to let her know how things feel on my end. We have never done many constructive things together but this time we are working together, it's on the divorce papers. Go figure. But it's a good thing, we're moving forward.

    I engineered a way to have the entire roof of the shed flip up a few feet and if I did that construction then Eric's vision of Wouter's house would come true. For the little use I will get from the shed it's probably more work than worth it, but just for Eric I would do it.

    Tonight I think I might have gotten the sweat that breaks the cold and hopefully in a day or two I'm on the road with a full trailer. Off to the next adventure!    Read more

    Trip end
    November 20, 2023
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