Wheeling through the West by: Carin Aichele

A quick overnight stop at a slightly out of Phoenix State Park evolved into a multi-day stay and an up close and personal exchange with a ghost. You read that correctly, I had my first conscious and witnessed interlude with a ghost.

Gunfights, Gold, and Ghosts near Apache Junction, AZ

wall. Looking closer, I saw an RV parked on the other side and assumed that this was most probably someones home. Very suddenly, two people approached on my left from a wide open area. I wondered how I had not seen them. The events of the next few minutes still leave me spellbound. I said hello to the strangers. After 2 or 3 minutes of conversation confirming the RV as their home, I saw the ghost. I looked to my left thinking it was a dog or a cat, but mentally could not give form or name to what I was seeing. Turning away thinking it was just a shadow, the ghost came right up to me. It began swirling around me and as it did, I looked left, right, up and down in that mildly frantic sort of way. It went between my legs, came back up to eye level, rolled and tilted right to left. This lasted for a minute or so. Looking at my two new friends in a state of bewilderment, the woman said: seeing a ghost? I said: yeah, I think so. They then told me that they (the ghosts) had been very active the past few days. I dont know what the message was in my experience, nor do I know who the ghost was in terms of a person or animal or other being whom I have known in my life. I do know that it happened and the result for me is a heightened state of curiosity and wonder.

realized, there was no wind. Some Indians believe that evil spirits are the source of the loud rumblings. Pima and Apache Indians believe the earth maker sits in these mountains waiting to judge them so they will not cross the range. Aztecs believe that the range is the ancient home, Retiring from architecture, as I have, and or contains the access-way to the beginning. I appreciating the art of buildings that emerge from believe there is something extraordinary their environment instead of irrespective of it, I happening there. was headed to Scottsdale, AZ to experience Frank Lloyd Wrights Taliesin West studio. I recall After a long day of hiking and experiencing conversing with the park ranger as I arrived near petroglyphs, rock formations known as Fat Iron sunset and shared with her that I was just staying Peak and Weavers Needle and encountering for the night. She invited me to be open to the other hikers similarly awed by their exchange with delights of the area. My extended stay the Superstitions, I was inspired by the nevercommenced with a sunset photography shoot ending beauty of the sunset. I took my cameras from the roof of the RV: 360 degree views of and went to the nearby Ghost Town of Goldfield. mountains glowing pink, orange, purple and A weekend visit to Goldfield includes free yellow. I awoke to unobstructed views of the gunfight shows with scoundrel cowboys trying to resplendent colors of an Arizona sunrise steal the Wells Fargo strong box, gold panning reflecting off of a mountain that invited curiosity. I with your kids, horse-back riding on the Apache hung my hummingbird feeder just inside the door Trail, and some good ole cowboy fun for of the RV and had several twittering friends come everyone. Being late in the day and with all the in to feed. Without hesitation, I altered my not set shops closed except the saloon, the town truly in stone plan to be in Sedona by a certain date felt ghostly. I walked tireless of the stunning new and encountered a not surprised park ranger photo op I incurred turning every corner. The when I paid for several additional days. Dolce town is a photographers delight at sunset as the and I spent most of our days hiking on buildings and mining relics are awash with Superstition Mountain. There is much lore and golden light. Carrying my camera stirs in me a new myth about the Superstitions and my experience way of seeing things. I observe with more pause indicates some truth to it. My first moment of and look past the obvious. I saw in the distance a pause about the Superstitions occurred while at wall that caught my eye. It was specifically night in the RV, I began hearing a loud, rumbling constructed to enclose something and with sound. It started quietly and erupted into a intention, had various openings that invited bellowing thunder. After thinking it was just the particular views of the distant Superstitions. wind, my sense of wonder kicked in when I Magnetized, I walked purposefully toward the

The interaction leaves me questioning my understanding of life, why we are here, where we go next and the potential that we are far more expansive than we comprehend.

BIO.
Carin Aichele has embarked on her new life living in her RV towing a jeep with 3 bikes, a kayak, snow shoes, a tennis racquet, and a golden retriever with intention to travel the USA and Canada. She will continue writing articles for Living in the West as she journeys inside & outside of CA. She is underway with her first book incorporating spiritual healing testimonies combined with creative photography. She will also be writing a book about her travels. With a spinner for direction and one for distance, Carin will be regularly traveling to the destination as directed by the spinners, writing about the experiences of going into the unknown with curiosity and childlike wonder. Carins website is live for your perusal at: www.sublimetravel.net. Her blog is on the follow me! tab. Carin may be reached at cga.sublimetravel@gmail.com

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LIVING In The WEST

March 2013

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