Jack Burns Lives!

Hayduke left a comment about my Arizona post that’s worthy of further discussion:
Why do we want to travel quickly for long distances?
Where do we stop feeding our desires and begin living our ideals? We only live on this poor beat up and much abused earth thing one time. No going back and doing it over. [...]

I loathe air travel. The whole experience from check in to claiming luggage, assuming you were lucky enough for your luggage to show up. Once you arrive at the airport, every stage of the process seems stressful and demeaning. But if you want to travel quickly for long distances, it’s still the best [...]

The dream vacation is set. Marathon, Texas, population 450.
Why is Marathon the dream destination? Because there’s really nothing there. A hotel, a few B&B’s, several art galleries, a book seller, a good bar, a couple of eateries, local train service and miles and miles of open space and hiking through west Texas and Big [...]

Little River, Great Smoky Mountains
When I left East Tennessee seven years ago, it was a year too late. I was excited to be headed west, not quiet as far west as I wanted, but anything west of the Tennessee River seemed like an improvement.
Most of my reasons for leaving were business and financially related, although [...]

Back to my favorite place, Ridgway, Colorado. I simply can’t stand it any longer. The call of the mountains and the forest is too strong.
Right now, Ridgway looks a lot different from the above photo. It’s cold and snowy, with nighttime temps in the teens, daytime highs in the low 50’s. You can see what [...]

I recently returned from my first trip to New Mexico, where I did a little “Abbey touring.” Like Ed, I was impressed by the landscape and horrified by everything else. Swarms of humans, dependent on government teat and the weapons industry. And the Albuquerque Chamber of Horrors is doing everything it can to recruit [...]

Pics are here.
So, the big California trip is nearing an end. As I peck, tap, tap, tap…I’m trapped on a missile moving at 500 miles per hour with several dozen other tourists, peering over the edge into the abyss, contemplating my recent journey into the Shasta Nation. NorCal.
An inaugural trip for everyone but me [...]

Utah.
Sunday morning.
Most of my neighbors back in Dixie are getting ready for church. Dressed in their Sunday finest, they’re preparing to meet the Lord in one of his multi-million dollar houses of warship and write the checks that are necessary to keep the devil at bay and Repugs in power.
Gawd help ‘em.
I’m also preparing for [...]

Part One: The San Juan’s
There’s more than a sufficient amount of material that’s been written about the canyon country of Southeastern Utah, so as I started thinking about how I would present my own experience, I was frankly at a loss.
What can I possibly say about the area that hasn’t already been said? Is it [...]

photo:seema jain
This Friday I leave for the West once again, and this year’s journey, like all the previous ones, is holds special significance.
Each year I pick a place that has some geographical importance or to visit people that are dear to me. Every journey yields its own rewards and lasting memories.
This year’s trip is [...]