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Winter trip- New look at old places- Part I

Link to part II: http://www.barefootwalk.net/2024/03/winter-trip-new-look-at-old-places-part_20.html
It is a privilege to be in wilderness. I have learned in a hard way, not everyone can enjoy being outside. I think the cliche of "if you want you will achieve it" is insanely overrated. Of course we can always provide examples to support this idea. Laziness on the other hand is underrated and I understand many will find excuses to skip this opportunity or moan and groan "life is unfair". That is the point, the way we feel is correlated with the reality of the world but very often it is by no means correct explanation and merely useful unless for feeling good or sad. Anyway, after this rant I put a report of the journey I took this Christmas. This was a repeated path and the main difference was, I was a little more relaxed but more lost than ever. I also visited a few new places and they were actually some of the most beautiful places I have visited. The weather was cold but not as extreme as last year. So, overall I enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

December 2023
In the beginning of this journey, I had very mixed feelings. I was well prepared. 



The most important update of this year was the bed extension. I will talk about it later. It performed well and gave me really significant extra room, but near the end of the journey I was tired of moving it around, so it will likely retire and I will replace something lighter.

Our first day was a ling drive from Georgia, through Alabama and to Mississippi. I stopped in Tuscaloosa to get oil filter for White Dwarf and the rest was long driving.

Busby campground was as nice and as busy as always. The morning was cold but we enjoyed a short walk around the campground. My plan was to drive as fast as possible until New Mexico and Arizona.
The next day we made it Louisiana and Corney Lake.



This is one of my favorite campsites at this time. I can imagine it will be very crowded in warmer weather but at the time it is quiet. 
Another night in Lake Winnsboro, TX and a quick drive to my favorite Lake Hubbard.



The temperature was just perfect here. 


The joy of cooking!



The next stop at Muleshoe Wildlife Refuge was very cold and scary looking clouds moved in just as we arrived.








From now on we were at higher elevation and it would get colder until we make it to Arizona.
I made it to New Mexico the next day and the historic Billy The Kid road and surrounding areas. This is nice area surrounded by mountains. 





I love these dispersed mountain ranges in the middle of a desert. These high deserts are some of the most magic places I have seen. In my last trip, the heavy snowstorm passing through Continental Divide prevented me from driving through Gila Wilderness, and I had to turn all the way south and take I10, this time however, the weather looked more promising and I made my attempt, and I am glad I diid. Such a unique beautiful place! but very very cold, although this was apparently a warm weather for this region at this time! What a beautiful treat.

Beautiful and majestic ponderosa pines!

The next day, I tried to warm up and I drove to Arizona. Warmer days are ahead!


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