Just How We came to Such a State as This Without Really Trying......Part 13

(the final leg of the trip to Coyote Howls)

What we noticed when we left Jacobs Lake is that I felt better and better going down from 8000 feet to 4000 thousand feet to the desert floor. I could breath better and felt almost human again. It was a nice feeling after being so sick.

Another thing that we noticed as we traveled was the big change in the terrain. Going from high desert like in Utah with sage brush and cooler weather to scraggly bushes and trees and barren sandy land.. Also we seemed to be traveling from one Indian reservation right into the next. went through Hogans and regular houses occupied these areas and sometimes stores where you could buy Indian art. It was so unusual and in many ways so foreign to me but so very interesting.

The wind came up as we neared Flagstaff.....which involved a very high climb up to 8000 feet but we did not make it even to the bottom of the mountain. The wind was was so strong that we feared it would blow the trailer over..so we decided to stop for the night. We pulled off on a road that was on BLM land but next to another Indian Reservation. Pete wrote Greg on the cell phone that we could not make it up. He wrote back..seemingly irritated .that he was going on to Sedona.

It was a peaceful night...even with wind and I slept for once...after many months of not sleeping.

In the morning....we made the climb to Flagstaff...as the wind had stopped and found our way to the nearest Walmart. I was however having difficulties breathing but was still determined to go in and get a few supplies that we needed. I did not make it to the front door....I collapsed because I could not get my breath. We also knew by this time that I was suffering from what they call altitude sickness and I needed to get down to a lower level in a big hurry as people die from this all the time.

Pete got me into the truck and moved at top speed out of Flagstaff and down the mountain as quick as one can with an old trailer attached to an old truck. The lower we got the better I could breath. The last part of the trek down was a very steep incline that was very scary and we had to slow down and put on the breaks which got steaming hot. That was a scary few minutes. When we reached the bottom a RV was pulled over on the side and we stopped as well to cool off the breaks. We saw a woman crying and we asked what was the matter and if we could help. She came over sobbing even more and I put my arms around her, She told us between sobs that her rig almost gone over the mountainside the one we had just come off ourselves...We waited with her until she was okay to drive …..that could have been disastrous but someone or something was surely looking out for her.

Pete had decided by that time that we were not going to Sedona..which was 6000 but with the problems I was having with high altitudes did not seem like such a good idea. Instead we were going to head right for coyote Howls. We had not planned on going there till the first of November because it would still be hot but we really did not have any choice now...we had to go. The elevation would be at about 1500 feet and much healthier for the condition that I had. We text Greg what we were going to do but he did not answer.

So we pushed on all day...not stopping ...just getting there as fast as we could. We went up through some low mountain passes which were not such a problem..we passed through Phoenix which is a city that I did not care for and also through tiny Gila Bend at 700 feet and very hot...and on and on till we came to the town of Ajo.

My first impression was not so good....could not see the beauty of it at that time as I was still somewhat sick...and on we went to the the village of Why and then to coyote Howls.

The office was closed when we got there but this older gentleman (close to 80) was sitting there and he told us that there was an open spot right by his place...just follow him. So we did...he rode his bicycle to the spot (we are now in) and we followed...He helped us back in and well here we were. So very hot...but we knew that we would have to put up with that for awhile...just to get out of and stay out of the higher altitudes.

The story with Greg unfortunately does not end here .... Guess who showed up a few days later.

Yes he did. He picked a spot where he could see us but we could not see him. I was not too happy with him showing up and really not too friendly towards him and nether was Pete. We could not believe that he would follow us here. But here he was ...again...

He told us that friends should help each other (referring to money) and do things for them.( I too believe that way only if they are truly your friend.)..but this guy was not...our friend . He hinted around that we should pay for his stay here or to stay on our property with us and we could pay the hundred extra dollars. ..that is the way it sounded...but we did not offer either.

One evening as we prepared to go take our evening showers up at the shower stations...he appeared...having seen us get ready to go.

He said that he was really depressed and that he had almost stepped on a snake laying in the road as he hurried to get over to us. (I have not seen a snake here yet) and I said if it had been a rattler .he would be laying on the ground by now..so since it did not even offer to bite him that it was just a big ole harmless bull snake. Then he went on to tell us how broke he was (yup sure believed that one)..and that he was lonely and we said that there are always lots of people in the club house...lots of ladies..spend some time there. No he did not want to. We also told him of a band that played at the club house on Friday and welcomed anyone who wanted to play (as he claimed to be a musician )..he would not seriously consider playing with such low lives. None of them could play as well as he could as he was a professional and they were only amateurs. I then suggested that he do so some sketching as he also claimed to be an artist....no he could not do that either...he needed very expensive art pencils and a 3000 dollar computer to do that.

I was really wondering about him by this time..did he tell the truth about anything.?

We went up and did our showers but when we came back was gone but rode in on a bicycle we were borrowing from one of the neighbors. The thing is he did not ask. Pete told him that he could not take it as we were responsible for it. He wanted to use it whenever he felt like it. Pete told him to go ask that neighbor if could borrow it as well but he did not want to do that. He said things have changed with you guys (yes we realized what a scoundrel he was) but Pete said of course they have we are staying here and Kristina is sick and my first concern.

He left not coming over at all after that and in another week that passed took off without a goodbye and we have not seen him since and we are glad about that.

We felt that he wanted in our place to snoop...for money..checks even the imaginary gun we said we had. there are things that I will not mention but this was a man we were glad to get out of our life. Amen.

It has been more than three months since moving here and that our friend Greg left and life has been good..in fact we just got asked to host Coyote West (this is coyote East) for free space ,utilities and quite a nice amount of money. Things have gone so well here and we have made so many new friends...I love it here and doubt will ever leave.

Love Kristina ...but will continue blogging about life here in coyote Howls and many other things