9.12.2012

desert dwellers

last saturday ruben and i headed out to the desert for the day. little did we know that a big adventure was in store for us!
download-3
download-4
download-5
download-6
download
download-7
download-1
 after getting a couple beers and lunch at pappy and harriets, we decided to take a drive. we turned down a dirt road and after a mile or so saw an abandoned, crumbling rock house that looked like a cool place to explore. well...suddenly the hard dirt road turned to deep sand and just as ruben said that we needed to turn around we got stuck. we have been on many an adventure when we wished our 2 wheel drive truck was 4 wheel drive. we certainly know it's limitations and have pushed them but this time we were out of luck! so there we were, in the middle of nowhere, no cell service, 100 degrees and no water. after several failed attempts at getting the truck out, we decided to start walking. we had passed a house on our way in and decided to go there and see if anyone was home. as we turned a corner along the road leading to the house we came upon a big iron peace sign...i was relieved. we reluctantly knocked on the door and as we waited for an answer we noticed what an incredible home it was. thankfully the man that answered was very nice and willing to help. after he towed us out he invited us back for a tour! i was DYING to take pictures but did not have the nerve to ask. he, his wife and daughter had built separate buildings/bungalows for each room. there was a bath house, library, kitchen/ living room, bedrooms, each connected by colorful cement pathways. when we entered the reading room there were all sorts of pictures with various presidents and ruben asked him what he did for a living. we were shocked to find out he was a retired secret service agent! he honestly looked more like a biker or as he said like he had been in prison for 20 years (he had facial tattoos. the lesson here of course is never judge a book by it's cover). one of the buildings was built into the side of a massive rock. inside, the rock was incorporated in the living space. it was seriously cool! i could go on and on but i fear my descriptions just aren't doing it justice. 
we thanked him from the bottom of our hearts for his kindness and help and headed back home. the end :D



♥anne

p.s.- the talented and stylish nicole of flaming hag folkwear is having the most generous, magical giveaway! make sure to check it out and enter here

11 comments :

  1. gorgeous photos dear! but next time do get ruben to catch your beauty in gunnies. Happy for your travels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, he did capture me that day. Unfortunately I looked more like beast than a beauty :) I couldn't bring myself to post any of the pictures. I'll have to try again because that was the second time I wore that outfit and the second time I didn't get a picture in it.

      Delete
  2. Wow!! Such an adventure - sounds like you could write a book based on it :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. rad, that's a real desert adventure alright! that house sounds mind blowingly cool....my personal desert dream! i'd want the bathhouse to have a huge skylight that looks up at a trillion stars, and of course an adobe library with floor cushions in earthy tones. you luckies that you got a tour!!! what a fun getaway for you guys and i'm glad you werem't stuck forever :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the shower was huge and did have a skylight! it was built around the existing rock. it was awesome!

      Delete
  4. Awesome!!! Sounds scary and fun- like riding in the back of a pick up through a major city strip! hahahha xo

    ReplyDelete
  5. That almost happened to Lucas and I on a trip in the southwest years ago, scary, and there were no houses nearby, luckily our subaru was all wheel drive and we were able to get it out of the sand. That second shot of Ruben totally captures it, I had already imagined the whole scenario even before reading on. Well, ok, maybe not the part about the freakin' amazing magical desert compound that sounds like something out of a really cool indie film or MY DREAMS!

    ReplyDelete
  6. whoa! Missa's right - sounds straight out of an Indie film. What a fun adventure. I wish I could see that place, but I'd feel odd asking for pics too I suppose.

    Glad you got to visit P & H's - it really is the BEST. Also, happy you guys made it out safely. The desert is a scary place to be stranded. Especially when it's 100+ degrees :o

    ReplyDelete
  7. awwwwwwwwwww man, i bet that is one experience you've dwelled on since. your photos are beautiful, i love them. they have movement and feeling girl. you did good. xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. mmm, your photos are wonderful. we spent time around there (and at pappy and harriets, LOVE) a couple springs ago. you really captured the essence of the place. and, it's funny to say it, but i'm glad you got stuck! i think those situations often resolve with magical adventures. except when they don't. ;) ruben is a hottie, and i totally get your comment to milla...sometimes, the camera is just not lovin' on ya. although in your case, i do find it hard to believe. xo

    ReplyDelete
  9. what an adventure!!!! i am so sorry about you and ruben getting stuck... but then, all of this magnificent experience that you got to witness, would have never happened. i bet that house was just amazing. it sounds incredible. :):) just so incredible.

    ReplyDelete

thank you so much for stopping by. please feel free to leave a comment! i love reading them :)


anne