12/19/02:
Still just hanging out in western Arizona. Spent some time in Lake Havasu City where they've moved the original London Bridge. Move down to Quartzsite and stocked up on paperbacks. The last week or so has been in the Bouse, Vicksburg and Wickenburg areas, camping out in the desert.
Right now I'm camped off Vulture Peak Road in Wickenburg. Lots of Saguaro, cholla, ocotillo, barrel and prickly pear cactus. Saw my first tarantula the other day while camped near Vicksburg. He was only a little guy, may 2 1/2 inches including leg span. He just came moseying on by while I was sitting on the camp chair. Took a couple of pictures but only one came out because I was too close.
12/31/01:
Been camped on Plomosa Road between Quartzsite and Bouse. Nice and quiet and nobody around at all except the occasional ATVer. Haven't been doing anything exciting at all. Trying to run everyday for an hour but haven't really been able to do more than 2-3 days in a row before taking a day off. Mental block more than anything physical.
Been wandering off into the desert for an hour or two at a time. Lose track of the campsite in a hurry with the hills and washes, etc. No special navigation techniques. I try to stay between some mountain peak or other feature in front and behind me and reverse the process on the way back. Works kinda OK. Most of the time I end up beyond the campsite on the way back. Then I follow the GPS direction the rest of the way. I always know where the road is and use it as a last resort on finding my way back.