I was actually on my way across a parking lot and into a Circle K in Tucson, hoping to hit a restroom before the two-hour trip back through the Tohono O'odam Indian reservation (read: no services). But this Circle K didn't have a restroom. :( So we got back on the road, and quickly had to get on the freeway that I assume is a loop around western Tucson. We didn't really have any time to see the city, this was a quick day-trip to buy a cargo trailer for our frequent moves. While on the freeway, trouble reared its head again in the form of overheating. As I drove my poor husband crazy asking whether he thought it was mechanical problems (the motor had been missing since we got to town) or the outside temperature or running the A/C or a combination, he was babying it trying to get to the point where we got off the freeway and on the lower-speed 2-lane.
I should mention that we were driving the 1992 Ford Ranger that we bought for $1500 in 2006, that has reliably moved us from Salt Lake to Chinle, and from Chinle to Ajo already. We had been discussing the fact that it seems to have a towing package on it and, with the bigger engine that was available that year, it should even tow up to a 21' travel trailer. Towing an empty 6' x 10' cargo trailer should have been a piece of cake.
After a very hot 5 or 10 miles with no air conditioner, as it had started blowing hot air, we finally we got to Hwy 85 and turned west, dropping our speed in the process. We limped through the outskirts of Tucson and were beginning to despair of finding a service station where he could add water to the radiator when we found--you guessed it--another Circle K. This one, fortunately, had a restroom. Unfortunately, the radiator wasn't low on water (which would have been an easy fix) so now we were going to have to travel the rest of the hundred plus miles home at 45 miles per hour, or forego the A/C all the way. Did I mention that it was 108 in Ajo today? A little cooler in Tucson and presumably across the res, as it's a bit higher, but still triple digits.
Before we settled into a rhythm that allowed for the greatest possible speed (almost 50!) while still being able to run the air, we stopped again about half an hour beyond the Circle K to let the engine cool off and went into a trading post to stay cool ourselves. I had been noticing an intriguing maze image with a man-like figure at the top, that seemed to be the central symbol of the Tohono O'odham much like the Kokopeli figure has come to symbolize the Anasazi. I first noticed it on a window sticker as we filled up just inside the reservation on the trip out, and it had been catching my eye all the way across. Here in the trading post I found jewelry, baskets and pottery all bearing the same image. The links for the image are too long to work here, but here is what I found by searching the name of the symbol, i'itoi:
Life and Choice, depicted in this common symbol, "the-man-in-the-maze" was originally created as an illustration of an emergence story by the Tohono o'odham or Papago Indians of the Central Valley in Arizona. The little man is named "U'ki'ut'l" in their language. It has been adopted by other people because it is significant of life's cycles and eternal motion and also of the choices we are confronted with. The right choices lead us to a point of harmony with all things, no matter how hard or long the road taken. This symbol is especially utilized by Hopi silversmiths as a way to showcase the quality of their technique.
Look up i'itoi to see this captivating image. As we are trying to travel light these days and I'm unable to wear silver jewelry anymore, I purchased a mug with the image on it rather than a strictly decorative item. This has some practical value as I drink hot tea year round, which certainly raises some eyebrows around here when I order it with my restaurant meals.
Back in the ailing pickup, we discovered it was now missing on more than one cylinder, but we had to press on. Budd eventually discovered that if he ran around 47 or 48 mph, he could keep the air on, but we were almost back to Ajo before he figured out how to make it cruise at that low speed. Luckily there wasn't too much traffic, although we did have a few exasperated people piled up behind us from time to time. There were no shoulders, so they had to wait for a straight stretch to pass.
We finally dragged ourselves in to Ajo around 5 p.m., grateful to have made it without breaking down in the middle of nowhere.
Now that we're all set with a way to move, we have finalized our travel plans--as much as we can call anything final--and will be heading toward Salt Lake by way of Grand Junction mid-week after the holiday. With luck, Budd's new background check will be finished and he'll start work at Timpanogos Cave again on the 12th. If my lucky penny still isn't working, it will be the 19th before he's back to work. The plan is two weeks at TICA, then on to Lakewood, CO for a short assignment there. After that, who knows?
Meanwhile, while we wait to leave, I think that pickup needs to go to the doctor...
Anyone who enjoyed Julie and Julia or likes fashion, check out my new addiction, a blog at http://newdressaday.wordpress.com. (Sure hope that works! Well, it doesn't, so you'll have to cut and paste.) The premise is a young woman who, finding herself unemployed at about the time she saw the movie, decided to do something similar to motivate herself and keep her spirits up. She decided to use her love of vintage clothing and her sewing talent to create a new outfit every day for a year, with a budget of just $1 a day! Most of the outfits she has created are darling and some are amazing. Her commentary is fun, too, and somewhere along the way she got a new job. I've decided I want to be her when I grow up...the girl seriously goes out somewhere fun every day. I started at the beginning of the blog, sometime last September or October, and have been reading a month's worth of posts each day to catch up. I'm up to the beginning of May and have decided to subscribe so I'll get emails about the posts each day once I catch up.
In fact, I think I'll go read May right now...
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