Monsoon-Musings-Bob Davis Podcast 1066

Monsoon Musings

Late summer means the Monsoon season out west and that means it’s time for some Monsoon Musings. In my case that means midnight between downpours. Up in the mountains in Monsoon-Musings-Bob Davis Podcast 1066.

Monsoons Are Not Created Equal

Firstly every year out here is different when it comes to the Monsoon.

Bad Monsoon

Secondly this is a bad Monsoon.

Above all it seems like every afternoon the thunderheads come up and the downpours start.

Spectacular Storms

Certainly the storms are more spectacular in the deserts down toward Phoenix.

Utah Monsoon

However I am in Utah.

And Utah has its share of summer storms.

Flooding

For example it doesn’t take much rain to produce flooding and a lot of mud.

Campsite Flooded

In fact my campsite was flooded when I recorded Monsoon-Musings-Bob Davis Podcast 1066.

Stay On The Black Top

On the other hand that is why nomads avoid sandy and dirt roads this time of year and park on the black top.

Reflections

But it’s a great time for reflections.

Musings

Monsoon Musings.

In the same vein I have been up in Salt Lake for a lot longer than I would have liked.

Consequently I have a few stories from my truck stop and Walmart parking lot stays.

In addition I had a chance to scout the whole area for great campgrounds.

Bryce Canyon

Finally I headed up to the Bryce Canyon area and camping at King’s Creek in the Dixie National Forest.

[Editor’s Note: Of course I called it King’s Crossing in the podcast!)

Dixie National Forest

To clarify this campground is about nine thousand feet up. When it rains there it’s cold.

Fog!

And foggy.

Red Rock Road

Therefore I was happy to get back down to the desert near Red Rock.

Two Takeaways

To clarify there’s two takeaways from this podcast.

Desperation In The Truck Stops and Parking Lots

Firstly I don’t think I have seen this many homeless and desperate people in the truck stops and parking lots in my travels.

And Utah has services and plenty of room for broken down car dwellers.

Nomads Have A Dream

Secondly it’s been my experience that nomads have a dream.

That is to say many nomads dream of a piece of land somewhere in the mountains.

Or beaches.

Forests too.

In short we talk a lot about what one would need for the perfect off grid ‘cabin in the woods’.

My Heart Is On The Road

But on the other hand my heart is not in those discussions although I don’t mind having them over a fireside steak and a piping hot cup of coffee.

My Cabin In The Woods

In conclusion Mobile Podcast Command is my cabin in the woods, mountain or beach.

Gratitude

And I am very grateful to stay on the move.

Sponsored by the Independently Owned And Operated Refueling Station in South Minneapolis 36/Lyn

Monsoon-Musings-Bob Davis Podcast 1066

 

Death-Valley-Solitude-Heaven-Bob Davis Podcast 999

Death Valley Solitude

Above all the lessons you learn on the road is the value of solitude, especially in Death Valley. The trip out of LA to the park and much more in Death-Valley-Solitude-Heaven-Bob Davis Podcast 999.

Questions About My Experience

Certainly people ask questions about what life is like as a nomad.

First of all one of the best questions came from a good friend recently.

What lessons have you learned on the road?

Secondly I had to really think about that one.

Bustle Of The City

Subsequently I spent a week with friends and family in the LA area. Mobile Podcast Command needed service. Between having six or seven people in the house and three kids it was hectic to say the least.

Seeking Solitude

Consequently rather than head up the Pacific Coast I sought the solitude of Death Valley.

Hub Bub Is Good

To clarify I’d just say I think travelers need the normalcy and hub bub of family life every now and then.

So Is Solitude

However I have come to rely on the solitude this life brings. I’ll share why in Death-Valley-Solitude-Heaven-Bob Davis Podcast 999.

Enter Death Valley

What better place to enjoy it than in the vastness of Death Valley.

Desert Meditation

These days the more time I spend in the desert the more I value the whole thing as a sort of meditation.

Rock and Hot Wind

To sum up I don’t need incense and chanting. I just need to see rock, sand and feel the hot wind.

Modern Life?

Moreover it seems to me that much of what we take as the essentials of modern life is pretty much nonsense.

Conversation

Especially conversation.

Mountains and Canyons

For example, gossip, politics, movies and TV shows all pale in contrast to the view into a Death Valley canyon from a mountaintop.

Deep Conversation

Most importantly it makes me wonder why conversation isn’t deeper.

Search For Meaning

How important certain people are to us.

What the meaningful things in life really are.

Why People Seek Out The Wilderness

In addition I used to wonder why so many Van life and nomad people seek out the wilderness.

Now I know.

Learning Something About Solitude

Further at the edge of these mountains and throughout my nomad travel experience I’ve learned something about solitude.

Pleased To Meet You

In conclusion the thing I’ve learned is you meet yourself on the road.

Everyday People

And, above all, some amazing everyday people.

Sponsored By Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Death-Valley-Solitude-Heaven-Bob Davis Podcast 999

 

Happy-Nomad-New-Year-Bob Davis Podcast 974

Certainly we can all agree this New Year is a Happy Nomad New Year. In addition saying goodbye to 2020 and heralding 2021’s arrival takes a different tone. Join me from Organ Pipe National Monument for Happy-Nomad-New-Year-Bob Davis Podcast 974.

Most importantly if you’d told me last year at this time I’d be on the road permanently in a twenty year old ambulance I wouldn’t have believed it. But here I am!

Firstly this moment calls for a more sedate and perhaps philosophical tone.

Secondly I’m down here in Arizona at a campground. There’s not a lot of social interplay going on.

Meanwhile I am live from Organ Pipe National Monument. Local Arizonans told me this used to be the most dangerous park of all. Well, the Ambassador explained the origins of that moniker. I’ll fill you in during Happy-Nomad-New-Year-Bob Davis Podcast 974.

On the other hand there’s a lot to think about this New Year’s.

Most importantly a blanket ‘thank you’ to clients and supporters of the podcast, especially since I started traveling full time.

But there’s also the undeniable feeling we’re living through one of those epochal changes.

Therefore a new time line. Even more, new ways of thinking.

To sum up it feels like heavy attachment to any one thing, or way of thinking, makes this journey even more difficult.

In the same vein this has been a theme in my podcasts for a while now.

For example the shift away from political talk to travel and other topics. I’ll explain how fresh and freeing it feels to me not to discuss topics that won’t win anyone over and will do nothing but divide listeners and subscribers more than they already are.

However I don’t let go of those subjects lightly. In short I am not a light talker or thinker. And despite all the talk of 2021 having to be ‘amazing’ just because 2020 was ‘so bad’ seems a little silly to me.

Certainly I hope things get better but there are no guarantees. Truth is it could get worse. We just don’t know.

Meanwhile the park is settling down. People are starting their fires. Kids being called back. Hikers are back from the trail.

In conclusion given the fact that there won’t be any big celebrations as it previous years, hanging here at a National Park inside Mobile Podcast Command, seems like a great idea.

Finally, happy New Year.

Sponsored by Lacroix Law Real Estate Attorneys

Happy-Nomad-New-Year-Bob Davis Podcast 974