Number 285 Was a Challenge (5 Photos)

On our way into Las Vegas our plan was to stop and hike at the Red Rocks Canyon. That did not work out as weekends are reservation only not just for the drive but for which hike you wish to take. So we decided to save that for Monday morning before 8 when no reservations are required. Since it was too early to check in we opted for the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. That is a lot to get on a sign. I got the location in the GPS and we set off for north LV. About a mile or so from where we thought the turn might be, the road was closed. We are still in a neighborhood so we took the detour except it had no outlet from the gated development. Turning around we tried to find a street that would lead there, no luck. We finally stopped a man walking and he gave us directions. Good thing we ignored them, he was not close. I kept poking around streets, lots of them dead end then we found one that led to some folks working and I got out to ask them where we might go to get to Tule Springs. Turns out it was them. Actually staff and volunteers working a clean up for a trail. The park is new, authorized in 2014 and we met the first Superintendent working on the team, Derek. He directed us over some rock piles and into the washes that comprise a large portion of the park. We took a few photos, walked a mile or so, but, again, it is early days, no VC and not much to do yet. Unless you wish to volunteer. Apparently they do that right as they were the number one park of all NPS units for volunteers. We met some of them and they gave us a patch and a magnet with the logo. It was a fun experience and we enjoyed chatting with Derek who is headed to Fayetteville soon for a Reserve stint.

One of the enthusiastic volunteers

work truck retuning from the trail.

BREAKING NEWS ---ALERT---BREAKING NEWS

We interrupt this somewhat chronological travel blog to bring exciting news to all. Bird Species Number 397 has been spotted. And it is a very special long-sought bird, a Burrowing Owl. Four of them to be precise. Found in a large lot managed by the Audubon Club here where three small colonies of these birds were threatened by encroaching housing and the owner has put it trust to the club. Anyway this was my second serious attempt this trip and about five efforts in the past with no results, but today. Yay. I might get a second post up for Monday or two Tuesday but I was excited.

Unprepared

Actually in two ways. First, I was not prepared to take nighttime star photos. No tripod, no experience and not sure of much. But we were sitting on a rock near Zabriskie Point waiting for the night sky and I could not resist trying. Obviously I got “something.” I was also unprepared for the number and intensity of the stars. Cindy could see them better and earlier than I but as the night deepened, they sprang out everywhere, horizon to horizon.

“The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.” Psalm 33:6 NLT

Welcome

Well, Death Valley is not actually too welcoming! Imagine crossing in a wagon on this and much more as this is the main valley but there are three more just inside of the park! We entered from Lone Pine, CA over ridge after ridge along Route 190 in the Northwestern edge and out on 178 the extreme Southeastern point. We were in the park about 140 miles, it was 98 degrees and dusty. On road out we passed one car coming toward us in 50 miles. The roads in and out were spectacular driving. I loved it even in the clunky rental.

Hiding Behind These Rocks?

400 movie and television shows that were filmed in the Alabama Hills at the base of Mt. Whitney just a couple of miles from the town of Lone Pine, CA. I will post more on this place but we were captivated by the area and the little town. Movies ranged from Tom Mix westerns around 1929/30 to Iron Man and Man of Steel. John Wayne made a score of movies here and we stayed in the same hotel as he did. You can stay in his old room or in the historic section of the hotel. We opted for the 1960’s wing that was recently redone. Very nice. We did spend time in the old hotel lobby and ate an amazing breakfast this morning that we picked up up across the street and enjoyed the courtyard all to ourselves. Today was a long day in Death Valley, we drove more than 150 miles just in the park. It is big. More tomorrow.

Manzanar War Relocation Camp

A euphemism for what was done to the Japanese Americans living - sometimes for generations in the Western portion of the United States when war was declared after Pearl Harbor., This camp housed 10,00 people in decent but not ideal housing but it was still a form of prison. They grew 80% of their food! That is the Sierra Nevada range and Mount Whitney in the background the highest in the lower 48 states at just a bit over 14,500. I don’t think the beautiful scenery was any compensation to those folks who were not treated fairly. Many left the camps by joining the army!

Faded (2 photos)

We detoured on our fall trip to see the town of Vivian, LA. It is in the northwest corner of Louisiana a stones toss from Texas. The town, much like this mural to promote pride in the local high school is well past its glory years and most of the town was empty or faded. We met some nice folks, however, and that is sort of why we were here. Our friend, Janet’s (of Rusty and Janet fame) father was born here leaving home about 70 years ago not to return except to visit. Stan was a gem of a man, solid Christian, clever, a builder, an engineer by profession, a master gardener and just a delight to be with and we wanted to see where he was from. And the place where character was forged. These towns may appear faded but the legacy of small towns and farms and villages endure in the people who called them home. We could use a lot more people like Stan Davenport.

Open roof arenas are nothing new to Vivian.

The Winding Path

We leave today on our next trip. In fact when this posts, 6AM, we ought to be in the TSA line or the boarding area of the Raleigh Airport - no trailer this time. Travel is great therapy for me. I love the new, the unexpected things you find, the interesting places and often more interesting people you meet, and the fact that you cannot see everything to the end, like this beautiful path at the Campbell Folk School. You wind and twist but the whole journey is a unique experience. Sometimes not exactly what you would choose, occasionally frustrating, but always rewarding and learning. This trip will take us to several National Park sites, most of them new to us. As usual we will be posting every day with a two day delay, new posts from this trip will begin on Thursday this week. What is very different about this is that on Friday the C2C2C Westward leg actually begins for Geof and Kellen with a short drive in the evening to Wilmington, NC so the trip can begin wheels on the Atlantic Ocean beach. Posting for that leg will also be every day as well with posts from Kellen, Geof and maybe me if they send me any photos - and will start, I hope, on Sunday but Monday for certain. So two places to check each day. Thanks for coming on the journey with us.

If you are interested, we will visit five parks in CA, 1 in NV plus three state parks and two NWR, 3 to 5 in AZ and I hope to get a couple with Kellen.

Afternoon Refreshment

This Creole plantation dates back to the early 1700’s and was a working farm until 1980’s when it was acquired by the National Park Service. If you were on the porch enjoying an adult beverage here it would not be a mint julep but a combination of bitters, rum, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce and lemon served with a sprig of mint. Make mine a lemonade instead.

Update to yesterday’s post. First, I hope you had or will take the opportunity to watch on YouTube Suchet’s reading of John. Excellent. I was also told by Dennis (www.thewanderinglensman.com) that David is an avid and accomplished photographer. I knew all brilliant people shared something:)

Along the Road

We spotted this sign - unmarred, on a fence in Western North Carolina.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5: 8-11 NLT

Rejoice in the meaning of this Day

A special note on an excellent way to spend part of your Easter:

The actor, David Suchet, best-known for playing Agatha Christie’s fictional detective Hercule Poirot, (brilliantly I may add) will read the Gospel of John from Westminster Abbey this morning at 11:00 EDT. The recording will be available on the Abbey’s YouTube channel at 4.00pm (BST) on Easter Sunday. David said: “I count it as a great privilege to be filmed reading St John’s Gospel in the iconic Jerusalem Chamber of Westminster Abbey.” David became a Christian reading from a hotel Bible, how appropriate that he shares his talent in this way. You can find extensive readings from Suchet on YouTube.

Famous

This old sign in rural Louisiana has been or was in the process of being repainted - hence the ladder. I liked the line about “Giant, Powerful.” That was a different ethic then.

John C Campbell Folk School.

In a remote part of the Western Carolina mountains is this famous school for teaching folk art and folk ways. I hope to take a class here someday, when they resume, on carving. We walked the grounds late afternoon one day this fall but with no students on sight it felt pretty deserted. I found this gourd sitting on a wooden rail that was near one of the garden spots.

Might get to see the inside someday.

A Giraffe Plays an April Fools Joke

Nope, nothing here, nobody here but some trees. Snicker snicker.

Media

This station is now a part of the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site. This corner is where the media established itself during the protests and riots that surrounded the nine black students attempting to integrate this school in Arkansas. Still active as a high school the visitor center across the street from and the station on the corner by the school are well worth a stop. The display in the VC was particularly well done. A part of the school is open for tours but was not operating due to the Covid restrictions.

Burning Off

It was a very foggy morning along the Mississippi delta in Louisiana. The sun rose in a thick bank of fog but quickly it took shape as the sun chased the fog from the plain.

En pointe

You have to be careful where you step in Marietta, GA!

Bay Sunset

Along the Alabama coast not far from Mobile at a state park on the water we got to see this glorious sunset.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Walking on Waterfall

Once again we are in the Glen at Watkins Glen, NY. If you look carefully you will see stone steps leading up from the creek level - this is the trail you follow - and on the left edge of most of the steps you can see the rainwater coursing down the stairs.

Crabtree

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway you will find Crabtree Falls. You should stop. It is not right on the parkway so lots of people miss it but what a treat. It is a hike to the top and you start at the bottom so be prepared and - for sure- pay attention to the signs. Someone dies here almost every year or two. We were short on time this day so only did a platform on the lower falls. The water was intense have a huge summer storm that passed through the area a few hours earlier. This is a tiny shot of the power of water.

Sputter

There are 10,000 thermal features in Yellowstone NP and about 300 are geysers. Most of those are like this one, more of a sputter and splash than tall eruptions. This one had been spewing out 120+ degree water for much of the morning thus the area was bathed in a light, foggy mist. And it smelled, well, sulphuric is a safe description.