Archipelago Apr ?24-25? Ohio-Pennsylvania-NJ-New York

Archipelago Apr ?24-25? Ohio-Pennsylvania-NJ-New York

     Autistic  Archipelago   

beg

Apr  24- 25  

weekday? April ??

Archipelago Apr ?21? South Dakota-Minnesota-Wisconsin

Archipelago Apr ?21? South Dakota-Minnesota-Wisconsin

     Autistic  Archipelago   

dono. 

Apr  - 21 ?  SD-MN-WI

weekday? April ?? 

I'm starting to go faster driven by...
 From Sheridan Wyoming, to Gillete on 90 but somewhere after got out on 16 unplanned actually went by then got out exit later was just 1 mile came back and took 16.

Went past Newcastle, crossed to South Dakota and camped out at Black Hills National Forest.
It's a tiny pocket but beautiful and teaming with animals. But I didn't see elk, only tracks and droppings. Huge.
Great undisturbed night. Walked on trails there until dusk.
It's 6:45 and I'm stopped on 16 by the road looking what next.

Just before Jewel Cave Monument National Park, on a left was a trail, Saying something about the cave, i stopped there and decided to go for it. It was still real early and briskly cold. Went for about an hour and actually passed the cave without noticing, went for some time and decided to turn, as I went back I saw it from the distance, climbed in, and fell but did on second attempt. My ribs are hurting.
Then I went to jewel Dave, than to Rushmore, then badlands and now it's 5pm and I need to get to Missouri before dark.
So I'm camping out at cedar recreational area on a river left of Chemberlain, really just out of town.
Office was closed, didn't see any instructions, will deal with it as it happens.
Picked a tent spot right at the river, backed in to the bank, open hatch and now sitting looking at the water as the dusk is setting in.
But first I went a bit further trying to find a spot away from the campsite, not that it's bad. Found a spot but didn't like it, roads are black mud, and you walk in mud, this isn a fertile soil!
But it is dirty and sticks to everything, soles sides, etc.

I like colors of the river. Pic before too late.

Was too late, lights on the other side came up, pretty but not the same.

So I'm getting bold, picked the best side away from everybody a hideout of sorts by 3 large trees on the bank, and a fireplace next to a table and bench, went in and got driftwood,semi dry and some ki dli g,
. Something about the storm coming has entered my mind, from somewhere
As dark set but just before I started fire, I see a truck heading my way. Sure they come behind me on a road and s,ow down, I turn and look at them but can't see through the window in the dark, they stop, I am sitting on a bench half turned looking at them but not really seeing. 
Are you fishing, finally a man says.
No, I say after a short pause and get up and start walking towards them, I see the man at a wheel. 
What, I say, you not allowed to fish here? I walk straight up to the truck to his window, and looking at him. 
No, he says kind of apologetically, we just want to know what you are doing, we are managing the campground.
Ah, I say, I'm looking to spend a night here, and I look straight at him smiling my crooked grin.
He looks away. Sure, he says. We'd check it in the morning says a woman next to him. I glance at her again, she was looking at me all the time, but now she turns her gaze off. They are uncomfortable. I knod, OK, I say, and wait for them to go. Then I go back, and start my fire.
It's actually not bad to have them watch my ass here kind off protected area and do as you wish.
The night was cold and at one point wind started to reach in, I got out tarp and covered my bag. 
Woke up in the morning, early 6:30
Snow was everywhere including on my Turp and goi g heavy.
Time to go. I packed my stuff.
Couldn't find the key that was in my pocket, got a spare, it got to be something inside, but with the mess from mud and snow and cold and yall it's not time to look for it. I'll find it later somewhere, still it bothers me.

I drove out, in heavy snow, there was nobody on the road went back first to chamberlain to fill out, but couldn't figure out how to with this station. Was it petco? First the card had to be put different way, next it wanted me to push a start button, which was nowhere to be found.
I had to leave and drove away and then got out at the next place and filled up.
Snow was heavy and I was the only one on the road for a while, then a few cars showed up, it was messy and dangerous.
I kept going because there was nothing else to do. 
Drove to Minnesota and kept driving 90 E. To Albert Lea. Stopped on a way to eat somewhere and got to a place just like I wanted.
Will donate here, and will continue driving through with the storm out of Minnesota to Onalaska, Wisconsin on Mississippi river.

Albert Lea population 17,967 - Jul 2011
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
I took a pic of the librarian but not her boss, a real nice lady in ranger clothes, I got the name of the boss but not the name of librarian whose picture I took.

Anyway Continued from Albert Lea on and on and sent a msg to Venia from the road asking if he might be by some weird chance in visconsin tonight, since I'm passing through Madison. He was and was planning to be there at 7 pm, just time for me to get there. 
He suggested we meat for dinner at Weary Traveler.
Showed me Madison at night. Interesting town!
he tried to find a sleeping place at a friend, he was spending night with Amy.
It was after 10 or was it almost 11 when I drove outnof Madison on 90'E looking for a spot, just looking...
Then I see Kegonsa state park not far off. Just followed the signs off the road and got there. Nobody was there, the camp was closed but there was a parking lot dark and quiet, and I popped the hatch and slept there.

Weather still bad. Raining interminably, I have nothing to do but drive home, still decided to go local roads, after Janesville got off on R-14 and went on it for a couple of hours. Country is a mix of new England and long island, becoming a sprawl the further in went toward Chicago.
Eventually I got tired of it. Almost ate at Sammys near Dead Wood, a town before it that I don't remember, but there was a nice loop there withna family restaurant, and people in it, so I stopped for breakfast.
Never stop mat Sammys, I got stomach ake afterwards, and it wasn't tasty at all. "farmers choice" was my mistake.
Got of 14 somewhere around Engin and got on 90 again, it started to rain real bad, bad I drove through and through Past Chicago and decided tongo to the shore. Went to Indiana Dunes National Seashore off 94 to 12 to a state park. But when I got there not long after it started to rain again.
Sent an email to Doug Cline in Akron Ohio if he wants to meet me next day, that is today. Wed, April 24, it will be for lunch.
Drove through eain some 350 miles there across michigan ornrather it was Indiana - it's right below Michigan, the wayb90/80 goes.
got to akron in a dark, circled looking for the state park withna campground named Portage Lakes State Park., a weird place, got there after circling, and slept at the campground. Left at 6:30 and went to the lake where there is access. I was all marsh at the campground around the lake.
But there was an interesting tippy.

Anyway going to drive and eat breakfast.













But we need better!

Archipelago Apr ?23-24? Illinois-Indiana-Ohio

Archipelago Apr ?23-24? Illinois-Indiana-Ohio

     Autistic  Archipelago   

dono. 

Posting from Albuquerque (backtracking)

Apr  23- 24 ?  

weekday? April ??

It was after 10, almost 11 at night when I drove out of Madison and got on I-90 East looking for a night spot; I had no idea where to stop; I didn't even look at the map - I felt something will come up; I was just driving and looking at the road signs, hoping something comes up soon...

Then I see a sign for Kegonsa State Park not far off, and I got off and followed the signs in the dark, and somehow got there. The campground was closed for the winter as usual, but after driving in the dark through some construction site inside the state park , I got into a parking lot all dark and quiet, next to a children's park; the place was so remote that I knew that I will not be bothered by anybody here, so I just parked there in a corner, popped the hatch door and slept there in the back of the car. 

Weather was still bad when I woke up in the early morning. There was a nature trail next to the parking lot going around the lake. I could hear ducks in the distance: I got up and went on it for a while, thinking to get to the lake, but it started drizzling again. I went back and drove out but then spotted another road going to the lake and decided to check it out. It got me to a small parking lot right on the lake, and I stopped and looked at the map trying to decide where to go next, and watched the lake and the ducks, and a lonely fisherman for a little while.

It was raining interminably, I had nothing to do but drive home, but still decided to go by local roads, after Janesville got off on R-14 East and went on it for a couple of hours. The country here looks like a mix of New England and Long Island, changing from rural into a sprawl the further it went towards Chicago. Eventually I got tired of it. I was looking for a place to eat breakfast, but nothing was coming up, that looked right. Then finally I'm in a little town that looks right and there is a nice loop there with a family restaurant, and people in it. Seems nice but when I got in I wasn't sure. The name of the place is Sammy's. Don't eat there. I got stomach ache afterwards, and it wasn't tasty at all. They had a weird menu that threw me off as well; the 'farmers choice" that I ordered was my mistake. I drove on R-14 for a while longer and got really tired of it and got off it somewhere around Palatine via R-53, Illinois and back onto I-90 E again.

It was raining on and off until then but it started to rain real bad, and I felt just like driving out of it, so I kept driving on towards Chicago and I didn't like the whole scenery of it, so I   I drove through and through Past Chicago and decided tongo to the shore. Went to Indiana Dunes National Seashore off 94 to 12 to a state park. But when I got there not long after it started to rain again. Sent an email to Doug Cline in Akron Ohio if he wants to meet me next day, that is today. Wed, April 24, it will be for lunch. Drove through eain some 350 miles there across michigan ornrather it was Indiana - it's right below Michigan, the wayb90/80 goes. got to akron in a dark, circled looking for the state park withna campground named Portage Lakes State Park., a weird place, got there after circling, and slept at the campground. Left at 6:30 and went to the lake where there is access. I was all marsh at the campground around the lake. But there was an interesting tippy. Anyway going to drive and eat breakfast. But we need better! 2. is

Archipelago New Mexico-Arizona

     Autistic  Archipelago   

The problem is that we

Overdevelop Theme

And loose perspective, and time,  

And may even  get lost  

As far as  what is important  

As we rush into the future 

In our thoughts, 

The future that we like 

But rarely happens 

Because we spent too much time 

There 

And not in Now. 

How to be in Now? 

The problem is ...

Continuing from: Archipelago 14-21 Texas - New Mexico

Posting from Home  (backtracking) - Notes from the road

April 8-10 Arizona

The morning after the last night (4-8-13) in New Mexico, I drove out from the Bluewater Lake State Park north towards I-40 and then took I-40 towards Gullup thinking maybe to go to Window Rock; a mechanic at the car service raved to me about it. 

This is how the country looks pretty much there from I-40 on a way to 491...

And so I got off I-40 onto 491 and then to 264 and got to Window Rock and drove around but didn't stop anywhere; I couldn't figure out where to stop to touch it, and ended driving further north to Fort Defiance.
 

Fort Defiance - Just drove around looking... It was a strange place; an Indian town of a defying kind, that gripped your soul; I felt it was like us - holding on in defiance of the present - for the ashes to rise; things that will change everything; back to before, when we too were God's children. 

An old church stood at the turn of the road - beautiful and forbidding; it halted me in remembrance; not welcoming me; I wanted to understand; It saw me as I asked for ourselves, when I stopped and without stepping out, I looked and took its image; the act of forbearance that was between us; perhaps... 

I drove past it and kept driving past the office of Indian Affairs to nowhere that wasn't mine, and then turned around and went back the way I came; on a way back, just at the point of leaving I suddenly saw - It was saying something to me;

I felt it, but could not understand the message, I felt sad and torn. 

I drove...


Going back to I-40 by way of 264 via St.Michaels to Ganado; these roads are not much traveled, there was nobody I could see in front nor behind me, even as I slowed to look at the woods; 264 there goes through the woods, and you can pull to the side of the road, but the woods are fenced by the barbed wire, so you can't really go there except by trespass; 

I drove through and then it changed to kind of desolate as I got to 191 and drove it south to I-40. I was looking to go to Painted Desert, which is where the Petrified Forest National Park is. 

I got to the park as the wind started to rise; stopped at the  visitors center, and when I got out the wind was already gusting making it hard to walk. 

Drove through the park in high winds, stopping here and there and walking around, taking in the sand storm and the pictures with both my phone and the fish-eye (my fish eye camera got messed up as well at some point there - a foggy spot on the pictures I took, probably some sand got blown by the wind into it). This sand storm was something else -  it was like a living creature - it saw you and rushed charging at you from far. 

Some pictures: 

Looking at strange reflections

Got out of the park at the other end and continued by 40 west, planning to drive to Flagstaff but decided to check out Holbrook. Holbrook is a strange dusty town; stranger than strange. I wanted to stop at the library but it was closed. 

There was a visitors center nearby and for some reason I decided to stop there. It was strange as well. The door you had to pull hard to open. Then a dark hall and a few steps up an older dude waiting for you. I've asked for a map, and got one, and then he tells me that the road to Flagstaff is closed due to high winds until tomorrow. Any parks around where I can sleep in a car, I asked. Not really he said, you may try the city park but be aware of thiefs. Do you have any valuables in your car? he asked. Nothing but dirty clothes and an old sleeping bag, I said. You may try it, but you may check this out, he said giving me a broshure with cheap motels; there were a couple for 25 a night. He showed me on a map how to get there. It was on Hope street. Be carefull parking there, he said. 

I said goodbye and left; it started to rain a snowstorm was coming. 

I drove to Hope street looking for a hotel. There were 2 that I decided to try. The first I rang up but nobody came; I went to another it was open but nobody was there. I was about to leave when a woman came out. She was an indian woman, I thought, Hopi I thought right away, although I've never seen one before. I asked for the room, she said she had one. I asked price and she said $30. I showed her a broshure that showed it at $25. She looked at me and said $30. We looked at each other and I knew that she was a witch. OK I said, let me look at the room. No, she said. It's a room do you want it or not. OK I said, I'll take it. She gave me paperwork, I filled it, got $30 and she took the key out, and we exchanged it. I went upstrairs to the room, it was on a second floor and walked in. It was a run down place, even worse inside than outside, but I didn'tcare. I plugged my computer in to check mail and I wanted to write down, this post, but I saw that my glasses were gone. I couldn't find them anywhere, and I thought I had them just before. I must have used them to fill out the paperwork. I went down to the office, but she was gone. There was not a trace of her and she didn't come when I rang. I went outside thinking maybe I dropped them somewhere. I had a strange recollection of that moment when we exchanged key and paperwork, it was as if there was moment when I was gone, and I knew she took it from me then. But I didn't want to believe it and thought maybe I left it in the visitors center, so I drove there, and asked the guy there; he remembered me having glasses and looked around but they were not there. Where are you staying he asked. I told him. He looked at me with strange look. Good luck he said.

I went back to motel. She still wasn't there, but there was a strange group of people that looked like a thievery bunch, they followed my path to the room; I got concerned for the car, leaving it at night there, but it was what it was. 

The loss of glasses bothered me a lot, I knew she got them, but what bothered me most that she got me so easy. How she's done it. Because I thought I was above it. 

--- So here is where I got tired and went to sleep --

In the morning I got out, the storm was over, the road open, I went to the office and returned the key. I asked her if she saw my glasses. She looked at me and smiled, I smiled back. I liked her that witch, she was probably my age but looked young and ageles, she was stocky and strong, and she liked me. That was her trophy, and I've got a lesson in return.

=========== from short notes -----

 In the morning went to flagstaff, got there about noon  

Went for a hike in the mountains 2.5 miles but it was up to the lookout point. Good hike. 

Went to library but got out. 

Got out of flagstaff around 6pm - ate pizza in pizza hut, i like that pizza. On a way there was a most spectacular sunset! 

 Drove to the Lake Havasu, drove to the state park, there was a gate but was open, it was a self pay $20 a night, you had to put envelope into a slot on a pole there but there were no envelopes; drove through but didn't go to a campground instead drove to a state park parking lot; wasn't too bad but not great. 

Went to sleep at about 10 but woke up at 3 and had hard time sleeping afterwards.. Pulled out of the park - was concerned not to get caught there, didn't go looking for showers; this place is small and just concrete mostly everywhere. Instead got out of the park and drove to marina next to it and am sitting there facing the lake as the sun came out. Swallows flying all over having breakfast on insects.

 NIGHT APRIL 9-10 

 I need to figure my next destination. And that is not trivial - do I go inland or to the shore? I think INLAND. I HAVE 20'days and need to cut in. I do want to get to Seattle, but will I? I'm missing them and him especially. 

 Commercial and residential infestation


To lake Isabella, 58, 395. 14, 178. What a road 

it's been a while - Archipelago days and nights

Echolalia   Production It is clear that I will not be able to write down most of what happened after I left Albuquerque, even that it is reverbarating into my present by the universal law of Echolalia, where nothing is lost, and convergence of different reverberations of events of the past, get restored through a magnificent reincarnation by yet another mysterious force in my memory. Or perhaps not only mine.

It is is a real phenomena, and it brings me to the Introduction about the Water and the Memory, and the Theory of Mind that I was supposed to write 3 years ago, when I started this blog.

I will attempt it now, but before I do, let me post out the few drafts that sat ther for 3 years awaiting my return.

Arhipelago 14-21 Texas-New Mexico

 Journeying   Autistic  Archipelago   

Safe Haven

Posting from Home  (backtracking) 
Notes written in Holbrook, Arizona

Continuing from: Archipelago 11-14 Mississippi-Louisiana-Texas

Mar 31 - April 8 TEXAS - NEW MEXICO

Sunday, March 31 - Easter Sunday. 

Dawn finds me driving towards El Paso. I'm starting to like the country. It's a whole different deal from the leg towards Austin. One day I'd like to spend more time here...

My camera stopped working. I think sand at Rutherford Beach got in, it also got bumped a bit at one point and the shutter didn't want to open afterwards, but then some time later it grudgingly worked. Now it is dead. I've recharged the battery, but the shutter still doesn't open...

Got to El Paso around 10:30am - gained an hour on the time zone change. I decided to continue and get to Albuquerque today, but I also wanted to see El Paso and perhaps leave "Loud Hands" there. It won't be in a library this time; I didn't have time for that. This was Easter Sunday and I wanted to stop at the church. I looked it up - The Cathedral Parish of St. Patrick, the mother church of the Diocese of El Paso. 

It was just about 3 miles away from the place where I entered El Paso when I looked it up on my Ipad; I punched Cathedral into my phone's GPS, but didn't notice that it picked Cathedral Drive instead; ended up driving on a loop to the outskirts of the city, and then back, but missed the turn coming out, and was sent back to the loop I just traveled, which was being repaired sending me 7 miles off and had to drive back again. Eventually got to the Cathedral just after the Mass; people coming out; I went in and sat dawn on a side bench, as people congregated outside.  

What did I pray for? I don't know; I think it was Faith, I need faith; how can I ever change things for him if I don't have Faith?

I came out as people started coming in for the next Mass - there were people coming in, greeting people that were still outside from the previous Mass. It was sunny and warm;  I sat down on a stone bench outside, in a corner where it was out of the way, looking at people greeting each other all dressed up. This was Easter Sunday, Day of Resurrection.

Then I took a book (Loud Hands - I had it in my little backpack) and placed it in a converging corner where the bench ended and the wall rose.  I took a picture of it discretely with my phone and walked away and then, before driving away, I took a picture of  the Cathedral. 
I wished for the book...

I thought about it some time before, regarding where The Church stands in regard to Autistic people; I thought it viewed us as a diseased people; but then it itself is in transition, searching for redemption. 

I don't go to church, but sometimes I like to go there, between the sermons, and sit where I want, and look and listen to its sounds, undisturbed, and maybe wishing for a miracle of a kind - a priest who would open his heart and understand.  A true priest, can do miracles... One priest, just one true priest...

I got in a car and drove towards New Mexico. Entering New Mexico on 25 is a sight to behold! I had no camera any more, but the habit of recording that I have developed during this trip was wanting out. I opened the note book, and started to write in it without looking, while driving; just recording there, where I would've snapped a picture on a way.

Mile 68 - Oh my God; Behold Your Creation! 
73- Truth or Consequences -75   
76 - Road into the Sky 
79 - Mirage  
<-- 86, 87 -->  Ravine 94 , 101, 102 - I draw mountains on both sides 
107 - Nogal Canyon

Mile 117,  some 90 miles from Albuquerque; I needed to stop for gas; and then there was a truck stop; 

To fill up you have to go inside to pay. I walked in; it was an interesting place; had it's own character; there was a shelf of books on a right just as you walk in, and the place opened like a doubled up train car with a partitioning wall in a middle; this wall wasn't solid and had openings on a window level so you could see from one side to the other somewhat. The owner was a middle-aged man; I knew that place was his right away - same character of content... 

I gave him my credit card, went out, filled up, came back, paid, and went to the bathroom - on a way out I looked at the books - they were really interesting; there were some good many books there, I thought - some 8 or more rows with at least 10 books in a row - but I didn't count, it might be different. I asked him if he sells them; he said yes, and I also let people (customers) read them as well, he said; I saw that already myself - there was a woman at one of the tables lining the side wall, drinking something and reading; the place was also a diner of a kind. 

I'd like to leave you a book, I said; It just came out. OK, he said, and added after a short pause - I'll trade you; Take any book you like. OK, I said and went to the car and brought "Loud Hands". This was better than library, I thought - it'll be read. I gave it to him, he took it, sat down and opened it.  I can take any book? I asked. Yes, he said. My hand went and took a book from the shelf; it was - "York: A Slave's Journey with Lewis and Clark, by Brad Phillips".  

I looked at other books; each different, there were many interesting titles, but I didn't switch. Later on, while reading it, I thought how strange it was that I took that book and not any other book - it was as if it was there for me. The things there - the culture and the vocabulary of the slavery, and the inability of the best people of their time to understand, no matter the many proofs to the contrary - it was as if it was describing what is happening to us. The best people of their time - Jefferson himself, fathering and justifying the axioms of suppression and segregation.

I kept driving towards Albuquerque; I had a friend there - A True Friend  - going back to the time we were growing up...

NIGHT 14-20  IN SAFE HAVEN  - at a friend's house in Albuquerque, NM

I'm out of Albuquerque next Sunday, April 7. What was I doing there for so long?

[Took showers, slept in bed, ate home made food. 

Fools day went without recollection 
Met my friend's extended family
Had an overload 
But was able to safe face; I think...

Went for a hike in the mountains with oldies

Met Ian and his family
Got jealous a bit but in a good way
Went to Autistic meet-up and 
Met different people
Some content and some distraught

Serviced my car

Read Ian's book and the Slave's Journey
Worked on my notes - didn't finish, 

But had to go... ]

Parting shots Saturday night, April 6, from a park in Albuquerque, taken by my smart phone.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Got out of Albuquerque on Sunday, April 7 just after Noon. Didn't get far. 

Got off I-40 to 412 and drove some 18 Miles south to the Bluewater Lake State Park. 

This shot of a small native village is on a way to the lake taken by smart phone ->

And this one from my Fish-Eye camera that I've mounted on my dash - some place on a way there 

Got there around 3 pm+. There was a ranger at the entrance to the park and an $8 fee. I didn't have change so we drove to the office but it was closed; he opened it and went in but couldn't find the change there either.  Asked me to pay in the morning if I decide to stay overnight. 

I parked by the water and went for a walk in the surrounding woods, hills surrounding the lake - decided to stay. The lake is not large and not very exiting, but it's a rarity in NM - it's a lake! 

A lot of local native people there at day time, and a handful at night. 

NIGHT 21   April 7-8 

Slept on a shore in a car with popped hatch - head out facing the water - that would be  straight down from the rocks in this photo  --->

It was a good night, and not a bad place - a decent place really, a good place for a few days...

Here are a couple of pix of the lake by the Fish-Eye.  Gives a different perspective. Somewhere there between the two is my own - the way I see it.

Enlarge and take a good look at the soil there; 

Yeah...

Paid $8 in the early morning to a nice smiley middle aged native woman; made use of their facilities - shaved, washed and was on my way still in the early morning driving back north to I-40 and then towards Gallup.

From I-40 got off to 491 and then to 264 - heading to Window Rock and Fort Defiance.

Crossed to Arizona somewhere there ...  (to be continued)