Wednesday, August 17 — we left Berkeley for Palmdale via a trip down 395.  A fire in San Luis Obispo had 101 shut down. Thinking  Rt 5 would be hellish, we took the back way over Sonora Pass, Rt. 108,  perhaps to return to  Deadman Campground where we saw the Jay -and-Tanager family.  Don’t care much about that Essex Street house from this distance, considering the option of finding a vacation home out here.   Steve caught a fish at Boulder Flat.  Dardanelles, Sonora Pass, Nikon 20/100.

8/18  Owens Gorge, Dead End Road.  rose hips, bay leaf, thistles, trout, blue heron.  Little wild rose bush I want to get some of in the rainy season.   Alta Vista, Pine Creek Road, tungsten and vanadium, spring water, poplar trees.

8/21, Steve’s Birthday in  Palmdale, leave Marty and Elsie’s at 12:20 PM.  We had cake and party last night.  Hell bent for petroglyphs, Chalfant CA, Rt 6, Tungsten avenue.  6 PM Sunday, Petroglyph, CA, Red Rocks Canyon petroglyphs, Petroglyph Road, Hieroglyph Road.  Chidago Canyon Petroglyphs– wacky, scary rocks and topography.

Minolta 36/400 roll, roadside scenery, stamp mill, 395 North.  Whether to visit or retire here, I know this is where I am meant to be.  I feel it every (?) time I pass through, suddenly I am calm, at peace.  Chipmunk Flat, Fales Hot Springs, Mono, Owens, Diaz Lake, Independence, Lone Pine, the snow zone, high desert rat.  My hair is getting good in the back, mustard tank top, yellow and red roses on yellow pants, grey aerosol slip-ons.  bright, but yellow dirt- proof outfit that cost $17.  Camping at ________________________

8/22  lunch at Mammoth Lakes drive-thru, Caution- Orange reflectors, Lee Vining, Mono Lake Committee Store :  Trees c1950 by Donald  Culross Peattie

There is an enormous list of places to come back to in October, when the moon is full again.  Recall my first visit to Death Valley with Patricia.  Columns of the Gods, Pigeon Flat walk-in campground, the Dardanelles Motel.

8/23, 4:25 PM, Tuesday.  Stanislaus River,  Knights Ferry Mill converted to hydroelectric in 1899.  Covered bridge and flour mill were destroyed in the Flood of 1862.

Pros/Cons

Donell Lake overlook, about noon.  65 MPH on these narrow winding country roads is not my idea of a good time, ok?

The Desert is God / It can get too fucking hot

Something primal calls to me here / Arizona?  i don’t think so

Night blooming cactus, never a walmart

Incredible sunsets, magic pink light, desert perfume, bats on cactuses* moonlight, starlight, the dark at night, solitude, art, the mountains as my muse, (can I grow apples?)

 

SEPTEMBER 13,  Steve and Bones went to Anchor Bay, or Pt Arena.  Abalone Season!

Photo tips- tortoisy new colors-in-optics glasses like the green ones