I think Prescott has it’s own unique Vortex.  Over the past few weeks I’ve come across so many travelers here.  And I’ve yet to meet one that hasn’t loved the area completely!

If that isn’t a vortex, I don’t know what is!

Today I took my friends out to Granite Basin Rec Area.  We did a fun and short hike out toward Granite Mountain.  We enjoyed a casual stroll in warm but comfortable temperatures.  Water breaks happened often, but they’re necessary.  And they give you an opportunity to look around and take in where you are.

Our hike covered several miles, many rock formations, and one ant mound that I stood in the center of.  The ants let me know pretty fast where I did not belong!  Ouch.  Big red ants.  The bites weren’t like the fire ants in FL, but they still hurt all the same!

Along our walk, rock formation after rock formation continued to catch our attention.  In the distance, on a wonderful outcropping, we were all treated to 3 climbers haning out on top of a monument to their own achievemet.  I’ll look forward to setting on the same spire myself in the near future.

Unfortunately, I didn’t take many photos.  I opted for a ton of video today instead.  So keep your eyes out for the next podcast here.  I promise, it will be a good one!

After we completed our hike we returned to the parking lot in Granite Basin.  I’d shared with my friends that a fun climbing spot was moments away.  So, we took the tour.  Emma really loves the rocks, and loves the fact that she can get up them with ease.

We spent another 30 minutes hanging out in the practice area Bob & I climbed a few times in the past few weeks.  I showed them where I cut my fingers, and where I’d had a good time remembering how to climb.  It was all good!

In the end, as we made our way back to the vehicles, Emma asked Rich about staying one more day.  And it looks like the answer is yes.  So, for one more day I get to show my friends around the “Vortex” that has taken me in, and has a firm hold on me.  Prescott, AZ!  Glad they’re staying for another day, and tomorrow will be a day of introducing my friends to some rock climbing.  I’m banking that Emma will be a fantastic climber in no time!

For more on their own take regarding the Prescott experience, check their blog and enjoy!

You’ve been warned….. if you love many outdoor opportunities and you come to Prescott, you’ll be here longer than you planned.  Heck, I was only going to stay for a week!

Yes, a few more photos from the Peavine trail.  Sorry gang.  We took another ride along the trail yesterday.  No matter how many times you do it, the ride is still fun.  Rich, Eleanor, & Emma came along for the ride.  Emma and Eleanor cut it short.  Emma was still a little tired from all the playing on the rocks on Saturday.  Can’t blame her, I’m still sore too!

Rich and I continued our trip along the Peavine.  He was riding the little Birdy bike he’d picked up last year at the International rally.  For a little folding bike, it did good on the trail.  I was pretty surprised.

Of course, Rich took tons of photos along the trail.  I skipped most.  I’ve got hundreds from along the trail, not to mention the Dells, Granite Basin, etc.  :)  Yes, I still love this place!

Today should be a mellow day.  I’m tired, and I think that my friends want to tour around downtown Prescott.  Good!  A restful walk in town is just what I need.  Plus I need to pick up some more Jelly Bellies.

Now I’m off to pester Rich & Eleanor.  I’m out of sugar, and can’t have my decaf without a little sugar you know.

Yesterday left me truly exhausted! A cycle ride in the morning, walking the Dells in the afternoon, and visiting with friends late into the evening (past my bed time at least).

Several weeks ago I was invited to attend the Yavapai Trails Association’s Second Annual Trail Rally Fund Raiser. Teams for the event consisted of one mountain biker, one hiker, and one horse rider. I signed up, and yesterday was “the day”.

The event took place at Pioneer Park. Just a short drive from where I’m staying. In total, 17 officially registered teams took part in the even. Not bad. And there were others who showed up to support the event who weren’t on any teams.

I wasn’t the only person “new” to Prescott. I met several other recent transplants, probably all with the same idea in their minds. A good way to meet other people who enjoy the recreation opportunities in the area. Fun!

For my part, I rode my bike for team number 9. A very short, and very fun loop ride through the park. Mostly our track remained on a wide trail, and only near the end did we get some single track riding in.

The temperatures climbed pretty quick. Don’t know how much water I drank, but it was a ton. And I was so glad to have put the SPF 50 on. Otherwise I would have cooked for sure.

I returned to Point of Rocks by 11:00 a.m. Rich, Eleanor and Emma were up and about, ready for the day. Eleanor was heading to Fry’s to really restock their Airstream. Emma and Rich were ready to take a walk in the Dells. Another gatorade, refill of my Camelback, and I was ready to go. Brent and Kendall also came along to take a look around the Dells.

The walk out was good, and everyone enjoyed themselves. I provided the tour of all my favorite spots in these rock formations. And the group got to see one climber working route Bob and I did a few weeks ago.

After our touring was completed, back to the Airstreams. Brent & Tiffany with their 30 footer, Rich & Eleanor with their 30 footer, and me in my 25.

Today I think we’ll be doing a ride along the Peavine Trail. Rich had asked about it, and thought Emma might enjoy the ride. Should be a fun easy ride, and it will allow them another take on the rock formations in this area. I’d also love to take them by Granite Basin, and Thumb Butte, but we’ll just wait and see what they’re up for. Sure is fun to show friends around a place you enjoy!

Ah, it went quietly for so long.  The Digital RV’s photo gallery is neglected no more!

I take so many photos while traveling, and now while stationary in Prescott.  This morning I decided to utilize the tools I set up so long ago, and add to the gallery.  There are now several new galleries, and more going up as I type.

The Prescott, AZ Gallery 

Climbing Arizona Gallery 

The Sedona Gallery

I’ll be adding more galleries over the next few days.  Many neglected photos that never made it to this blog.  But no worries, you can see them all at my main gallery by clicking this link.

Please keep in mind, I created the Photo Gallery for all to use.  If you’ve got some photos you’re itching to get up, swing by the gallery page and sign up!  It’s free you know.  Just go to The Digital RV Photo Gallery page to sign up (you don’t even have to be a Digital RVer….)

The blog has been “lacking” the last couple of days.  From time to time it is nice to step away from the computer.

I haven’t been feeling my best the past couple of days, but figured out the offending agent.  Last weekend I did a little shopping, restocked supplies, and got a new brand of vitamin C.  Sitting here in the Airstream the other night I noticed something on the label of the bottle from across the room.  Contains Milk.

Ah ha!  That explains the really upset stomach, and the old feelings of a brick in my gut.  It didn’t take long to affect me, and has been taking days to clear out the uncomfortable old feelings.  But I’m certain I have my explanation.  Plus, now that it’s warming up here there’s a little more in the air again, and I’m noticing it.  Spring has sprung, and with luck the stuff floating in the air will dissapate shortly.

I’ve also been lying low the past few days doing some new web work, and putting together a large tutorial on podcasting with Wordpress.  It will be ready for the public soon.  Best of all, the piece is informative and easy to follow for anyone starting out podcasting with Wordpress.

Finally, my buddy Bob has departed Arizona.  That’s a real downer.  He’s an interesting guy, and he’s always ready to go do something.  Fortunately I think Andy has the climbing bug, so we’ll see if he and I can get a regular routine of a few days a week.  The last climb Bob and I did left me sore, feeling as though I’d torn something in my right arm, and exhausted.  I’d like to climb it clean by the time he returns to Prescott.

This evening Rich, Eleanor, & Emma will be pulling in.  Spoke with Rich several hours ago, and they’re near Tempe.  Apparently they’re going to the Ikea there today to get some ideas.  Ah, home ownership’s demands already begin to weigh on the Airstream Life Tour of America!  Be sure to pop by his site and leave a comment to the effect that he’s now a weekender once more…… 

Tomorrow Bob will be heading out back to MN. But before leaving he wanted to take one more crack at a climb here in the Granite Dells that annoyed him previously. Initially he thought it was only a 5.8, but re-reading the guide book, Prescott Bouldering by Bill Cramer, we found it was a 5.9. More explanation for why it was annoying.

Around 2 p.m. we took a quick walk into the Dells, and got ourselves unpacked and ready to go. We got under the climb (which is a lead climb) and took another look. Long distance to that first bolt! Oh, and the name of the climb? Perfect Idiot. After playing on it for a while I could see why.

Before we got under way I taped up a few fingers. Over the past week I’ve made quite a mess out of two finger tips. The rock here is pretty jagged. Sure, climbing on rock you’ll get scraped up, but this place seems to have some extra jagged stuff. Go figure.

At least this time I didn’t leave any extra skin or blood behind on the rocks. Can’t say the same for Bob. After he climbed, and I started in I noticed a ton of bright red blotches near the first bolt. Sure enough, he’d been bitten pretty good.

After the first ascent we figured out a way to rig up a top rope scenario using a pair of bolts the next climb over. Doing this one was a bear, and we both fell several times. So, with the top rope set up after the first lead we had the opportunity to abuse ourselves some more trying to work out the best approach. Sorry to say, a best approach was never settled on, but we did both get worn out searching. Something to work on again!

Where are the pictures of me you ask? Well, when it’s just two people, and one is on belay, I’d really prefer the belayer is at the ready, and not working out a snapshot of me. On easier spots maybe, but on this one there weren’t a ton of great places to hang out and rest a spell. Ah well, maybe next time!

So, last climb in Prescott for the next few months for Bob. If I’m still here (working on it), we’ll climb again in October. Ah, there goes my climbing partner. I’ll have to start bugging Andy now, or searching in town. Shouldn’t be too hard to find folks though!

As seasons change migrations occur. Birds flying north and south, snow birds driving north and south. This week Bob will be heading back to MN to get some fishing in over the summer.

Today we’ll be doing one last small climb here in the Dells. There’s one route Bob has been wanting to do as the last time he took a shot at it things didn’t work out so well. We’ll try to turn that one around for Bob. Here’s hoping I’m up to the task as well, it’s quite the strange climb for a 5.8

I’ll definitely miss my new friend Bob. Without him I wouldn’t have started climbing again. You’ve got to have a climbing partner, and I haven’t met too many people here yet. So, he helped jump start the process, and now I know a few other climbers too. Thanks Bob!

On to other items…..

The issues that happened with DigitalRV yesterday have been resolved. Didn’t take too long. Just a little frustrating when a simple process fails. But the outage lasted less than an hour.

Also, another post has gone up at the Digital RV Podcast. If you’ve wondered what type of equipment and software you really need to create a podcast, this one is for you! If you’re like me, you’ll be really surprised how little you need to make your own podcasts. Since you’re reading this website, you have almost everything you need already.

Finally, I got a really interesting invite to a gathering of local bloggers in the near future. That should be some fun! Looking forward to meeting more of Prescott’s residents!

I get RVTravel’s newsletter on a regular basis.  The other morning I popped it open and gave a glance through as I always do.  Part way through I noticed that a new blog, “The Digital RVer” was listed.  Peaked my interest.  I wondered if they’d linked to the Digital RV’s blog page.

As it turns out, wasn’t a link to the Digital RV.  Instead it’s a new listing for a blog via RVTravel’s web site.  I haven’t known what to make of it so far, but thought I’d post about it as several friends in the RV community have reacted very strongly regarding it.

For more than a year now the book, The Digital RV, has been in print.  Honestly, it’s the first book I know of dedicated to introducing RV’ers to the concept that being a DigitalRVer may help save space, and add to your next journey.  The book isn’t written for the high end computer savvy folks, rather as a primer to get RVers thinking about what today’s digital technology can add to their RV’ing experience.

There have been Digital RVers out there for quite some time.  And there are more RVers out there who aren’t yet.  That’s why I put the book together, and put the Digital RV site up in the first place.  To share information, encourage folks to consider the whole new set of options available to them, and get them talking about possibilities.  For the talking part, the blogs I regularly update, and Digital RV Forum have been kept up for well over a year.

So, in the end I’m not too bothered with a blog having such a similar title.  But I thought I’d post about it, get reader comments, and give everyone a friendly reminder, The Digital RV is still available.  Second edition is coming soon, but first edition is still rolling out too. 

Alright, weigh in if you like on the topic in the comments here.  Nothing wrong with a little friendly competition.  Think most folks have been bothered because the titling is just a touch similar to The Digital RV.

Guess I’ll need to focus more on the new service offerings at the Digital RV as well.

Sitting here at the Raven Cafe this morning getting some work done.  Higher speed connection here is GREAT!

Decided to upgrade the Wordpress installs on Digitalrv.net, the Digital RV Podcast, and the Digital RV Blog.  Well, started into the FTP upload with my webhosting company, and there were issues.  Not with Wordpress, that software is pretty bomb proof.  But suddenly I got a message that the server was out of space, and files couldn’t be written.

What’s that mean?  Digitalrv.net is currently “offline” while I wait for a response from my web hosting company regarding the server space issue and FTP failure.  Let’s hope this doesn’t take too long!

Many other things have been happening here in Prescott beyond the site seeing, rocks, etc. Still really digging in to jobs, contracts, and what else I can do to remain in the area. My best prospect is a contract, but it isn’t in this area. I have 2 or 3 weeks before a final decision is needed, so scrambling to find more to do here. If I can’t find something local, I believe I’ll end up taking the contract.

So, in the interest of remaining in Prescott I decided to launch a few new services from The Digital RV. The service offerings were posted over the weekend. The idea came up after working with a regular client on their Wordpress installation, and I decided to list the services after discussing it with the client.

In addition to a few service offerings, I’ve also started as an independent rep for a Voice Over IP company. While I was a little uncertain about it at first, the recent Vonage issues, injunction, etc., have encourage me that other VOIP businesses will do well. If you’ve been thinking about using VOIP in your home or business, check it out. Might be something for you as well.

Finally, I’ve been told over and over again the past few weeks that the Prescott area could do with more good network / computer consultants. There are a few small businesses in the area, but not enough. Recently fixed a new friend’s computer while chatting (15 minutes) and she then explained that she’d had a consultant over for 2 hours who failed to find the issue I found so quickly. Currently I’m trying to figure out how one goes about starting such a business in an area they just moved to. One more interesting possibility.

Bottom line…..the scramble to make sure I remain in Prescott has begun! Yes, I like it here that much!!! Haven’t you seen the photos? You’d like it here too.