During our 3rd or 4th desert exploration with friends Sue and Dean (Dean is the unofficial Desert Tour Guide), and this time with two other couples, the eight of us were having a blast.  Some miles out, what almost became my permanent underground dwelling was an abandoned mine shaft.  

A thick board which spanned the hole in the ground and upon which I was standing to take a photo, gave way with a resounding ‘crack!’ and I was on my down what was estimated to be 200 feet to the bottom.

 

It’s obvious I lived to tell this tale and that is due to a perfectly placed small shelf just the perfect size for my perfectly ‘small’ butt.   The two met with a thunderous ‘thunk!’ about 20 feet down amid a shower of dirt, small rocks and the shock of my onlooking companions.

 

“I’m okay guys!”  quavered out of my mouth and prompted seven terrified faces to appear over the edge above me.  Almost in unison I heard the words, “Don’t Move!”  As if!  My feet were braced against the opposite wall, butt firmly planted on the shelf, left hand still had a death grip on my camera (unconsciously), fanny pack had been ripped off my waist but was sitting on a ledge beside me, camera lens cap beside my right shoulder, sun glasses still on top of my head and eyeglasses still on my face!

Helping hands - Dean & DB

 

 

 Above ground the scramble for some kind of rope was ensuing as I took stock of my body parts.  Toes and fingers wiggled…whew!…eyes, mouth and ears all still functioning….yippee!…all bones intact. 

Even though there was a rough wooden ladder clinging to the wall behind my head, the assumption that it was at least as rotten as the board I had stood upon was voted Most Appropriate Decision 2009 thus far. 

Therefore DB lowered a rope which I was directed, on no uncertain terms, to tie around my waist and double knot.  Between the rotten ladder and the rope with two guys on it, I had my shaking feet once again on solid ground within minutes.

 

 

Thanks to a member of our party, the retired rescue fireman, we have pictures of the event. Ironic, what? “Fireman Mans Camera as Others Perform Rescue” would make an entertaining headline. And if you click on any of the pictures they will enlarge for better viewing.

 

 

Here you see one of the bruises gleaned as I bumped and scraped my way down. Another one of equal beauty and size blossomed on my butt but is deamed inappropriate for public viewing.

About 3 dozen slivers have been dug out of various depths of skin while the soreness and stiffness set in during the next couple of days.  A few trips to the chiropractor have ensued but the bottom line is I am no worse for wear. My favorite sweater was worse off with several holes torn in it. Sue, a seamstress extraordinaire, took said sweater and mended it to perfection. Thank you, my friend!

Except for the fact that knowing that anyone with even one functioning brain cell would know standing on a board that had been baked in 120 degree desert heat for over 100 years ‘would likely not be safe’ . DUH!!

Footnote: A few days later there was an article in the Yuma Sun telling the tale of another person who had also fallen down an abandoned mine shaft out in the surrounding desert.  Apparently there are hundreds of them in Arizona. Lesson: Give them a very wide berth!

 

And it’s partaay time!  Here’s our group celebrating anything, any excuse to gather, gab and gorge on food, etc. This time it was for my successful ending of the English Course.

 

 

 

 

Another ‘first’ for us in this ever-unfolding land of summer is the succulent, cool, scrumptious, DEE-licious date (the fruit, not the occasion) shake. Ho-boy, I could have one every day and easily grrooow to twice my size.  They are definitely meant to be a once-in-a-while treat.

 

 

 

 

 

Yuma Yoga Class 2009

Likewise the winding up of my yoga class for the 2008/9 season.  All these relaxed, peaceful, happy faces belong to this group of dedicated students of Lynn’s own unique brand of ‘Yoga for the Wisdom Years’.

 Due to the lingering horrendous winter weather at home, we are delaying our departure from this perennial summer land until March 22. With some visiting along the way that should put us on our home RV site at month-end with fervent prayers that the accumulation of melt-freeze-melt-freeze ice has disappeared.

 

 

During travel time, we will be offline on the Internet

Stay tuned!  My departure day to Nepal is May 1st and when next I post it may be from there.

I leave you this time with a picture of one of the hundreds of darling little bunnies that live in this RV Park.

Wee Peter Cottontail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers!  Lynn

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