The decking is finished. At least stage 1. I need to put some planters around the back and train some climbing plants to make a decent backdrop.
Back to Day 14 of my road trip 4 years ago. It didn’t turn out the way I expected.
Recently people have been talking about renaming streets. This street in Holbrook could certainly do with renaming.
It was named after a gunfight that left the floor of the saloon covered in blood.
I headed south to a place called Show Low. Today it is possibly most famous because George Takei has a holiday home there, but back in the 70s it was the scene of one of the most famous alien abduction stories, one with a lot of witnesses. It was made into a film. Anyway I was just passing through on my way to Salt River.
Salt River is at the bottom of a steep canyon road. The scenery in the area really appeals to me.
From there I was aiming to drive to Phoenix and stop off at the Alice Cooper burger joint, but when I got to Globe this all changed. There was major reconstruction ahead, with blasting work meaning only a short steam of traffic was allowed through every 30 minutes or so.
As a result I decided to miss Phoenix and cut back north west. As I drove I cam across a place called Tonto National Monument. It was a cave based dwelling on a hill overlooking a lake. The flowers on the cactus was worth going there for alone.
From there my aim was to go to Arcosanti. I finally made it, but it was late in the day, and it was getting dark (more later).
There is a quick video that tells you more.
The reason it was getting dark early was that there was a massive fire nearby. This is what it looks like when you get close to a big fire – thankfully I got through to Flagstaff before it got too close to the road I was on.
Some thoughts for today – I was chatting to a relative the other day about where we came from. Our generation have very different lives to our parents and grandparents. It certainly isn’t because we are better than them, or harder working than them. Neither is true.
As far as I can tell it is simply about opportunity – an opportunity that our parents and grandparents supported – probably without even thinking about it. In a sense it is the American Dream in action, or maybe even the Old Labour principles of creating a world where people are able to achieve their best irrespective of where they came from. Sometimes I am not nearly thankful enough for the opportunity they gave me.
One branch of my family came through a village owned by Robert Owen, and I thought it might be good to finish with some of his quotes on the subject. Worth looking at his writings if you want to explore a better world.
Is it not the interest of the human race, that every one should be so taught and placed, that he would find his highest enjoyment to arise from the continued practice of doing all in his power to promote the well-being, and happiness, of every man, woman, and child, without regard to their class, sect, party, country or colour.
Society may be formed so as to exist without crime, without poverty, with health greatly improved, with little, if any misery, and with intelligence and happiness increased a hundredfold; and no obstacle whatsoever intervenes at this moment except ignorance to prevent such a state of society from becoming universal.
It is particularly recommended, as a means of uniting the inhabitants of the village into one family, that while each faithfully adheres to the principles which he most approves, at the same time all shall think charitably of their neighbours respecting their religious opinions, and not presumptuously suppose that theirs alone are right.
Women will be no longer made the slaves of, or dependent upon men … They will be equal in education, rights, privileges and personal liberty.
Robert Owen