June 22, 2006
Taking off for New Mexico in about ten minutes. The five day forcast here for highs is: 111, 111, 111, 111, 111. The five day forcast for New Mexico and Arizona is: fires, fires, fires, fires and more fires. I'm heading up through Payson, and on to Pinetop-Lakeside where I'm meeting with a Lutheran pastor, Rev. Guenther, who knows all of the Apaches up there and his father knew Mickey Free. He also has a "jacuzzi full of original photos" and his wife wants me to get them out of there so she can use the hot tub. Looking forward to seeing that (the photos, not her in the hot tub).

After the Apache preacher visit, I'm off to the ghost town of Mogollon, where there are two fires raging. Tara Jones wasn't sure last night if I can get in, but she said to come on over. I also want to meet with Henry Martinez in Reserve, to see his progress on the Elfego Baca museum, but they have a fire near there as well and I may have to detour. My goal is to make it to Moriarity, New Mexico tomorrow night for the Single Action Shooting event End of Trail at Founder's Ranch. Going to be a long two days of travel and I doubt there will be much chance to post, so I'm doing it now.

I'm still irritated about that damn Hell to Pay painting, and wish I could have redone it, but I probably need to be philosophical about it.

"Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly."
—St. Francis de Sales