Our Location: BLM, Ogilby Road, Winterhaven, CA
(All pictures taken with my phone)
Another quiet night but again I was up and down, sleeping for a few hours, awake for a few hours, and you get the picture. Riley woke me when it was going on 8 AM. I’m always awake long before then but I guess the restless night kind of kicked my butt and slept later than usual.
 |
| Off on my morning hike. |
 |
| I walked past that rig on my way in but it was gone on my way out. |
The sun wasn’t really shining as it was behind some cloud cover for a while but before long it started shining quite nicely. Around 9 AM Riley headed toward Ogilby Road for her walk and I headed in the opposite direction a few minutes later. Riley walked to the road yesterday as well and so knows the way. We are parked not far from where we parked with the nice front yard so she’s walked it many times not just once. I felt quite relaxed knowing she would find her way easily.
 |
| The sun's rays as I look up from the bottom of the wash. |
 |
| A closer look at the other hills in the area of Ogilby Road. |
I headed off cross country on a diagonal to where I knew I wanted to go. Since we arrived here the first time we’ve been seeing this bluish type area way back behind us, tucked in among the other hills and I’ve never made it back there. Today it was my destination. I had a general idea of which direction to head and pretty much walked right to the spot I was looking for, a wash that would take me farther back toward this mystery. As I hiked along the wash I encountered a jeepish type vehicle way back in the wash, over some very, very rough spots. This fellow and his dog were tucked off to the road side and how he managed I have no idea.
 |
| I followed this wash back to the bottom picture. It is from the mining and simply dumped here. The rain has made it appear wavy and interesting looking from a distance. The top left picture is a mine shaft I think. The top right picture is the wash I walked in order to get back to this interesting pile. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| A pour concrete floor, and either a very old pour concrete or perhaps stone floor of some kind on the top of one of the washes back near the bluish pile of stones. |
The bluish mystery hill is a tailings pile or what we call tailings, crushed stone of sorts, comes from a crusher and is fine but back home it can get muddy when wet. Here I’m not so sure it would. I could see where water has run down causing drifts in the stone which gives it an amazing pattern when seen from far away. The mystery is solved, I now know.
 |
| Can you see the trail up the side of that pile? |
 |
| I'm guessing these may all be tailing piles in the area. |
I wandered over to American Girl Mine Road area, not quite to the road but I could easily see it from where I was, I also checked out a few places to park for another time in the area. Once again I headed back across country toward home. I was just coming down the wash and could easily see the Igloo and was just about to call out “Hello the Igloo” (Which we always do when one of us is approaching so as not to startle the other by simply stepping into view or opening the door) when my phone chirped with an incoming message from Riley. Instead of sending a text back I simply called out “Hello the Igloo” as I walked up the edge of the wash. The time was 11:45 AM. I’d been gone almost 3 hours. Time does fly when I’m out hiking.
 |
| Different colours here. |
 |
| The mysterious blue hued pile we have been seeing for some time. |
Riley managed a nap this afternoon, I remained outside trying to stay tucked out of the slight wind reading my Kobo. After a bit though I came inside, made myself a salad before lunch. It was a nice day both inside and out but too chilly for shorts outside and I didn’t want to put long pants back on.
 |
| The pollution or haze over the dunes looking toward Mexico. It's a long way home from here. We are past and the right of the little white spot you can see out there. |
The rest of the day was spent just reading, relaxing and doing this post, editing pictures and so on. Not a hugely exciting day but one we enjoyed very much. Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit.
 |
| More colour in the desert. |
Until next time… take care, be safe,
Deb
You always feel good after a long hike. Interesting things can be found in places where you figure it is the middle of nowhere. You wonder about the challenges and excitement in the old day when they were putting the concrete in place.
ReplyDeleteI agree Peter. How they could have gotten the concrete back there is amazing. I mean it's a perfectly smooth piece, not rough or course, just rough enough not to be slippery. The second piece is more weathered, rougher and a different colour. From the elements, or the gravel or what I don't know.
DeleteI always feel better after a long hike and I've been lazy this fall/winter and haven't been doing my usual 4 miles so yesterday was a good start to get back to it.
Take care, be safe,
Deb
The day we went to the Valley of Names we came back down a deep wash that was just wide enough for the Jeep. I think the wash you were following is the one. If it is and you had followed it a bit farther you would have encountered a deep open pit mine. Now I have given you another mystery. By the way don't try following the wash in your vehicle because we almost didn't make it in our Jeep. I love the picture of the suns rays. Enjoy your stay.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lorne. I don't often take the Dogsled in places where little jeeps can go, he's too big and I don't want any more desert pin striping than necessary. I don't believe your post gave much in the way of direction as to how you arrived there but I will be looking up the Valley of Names on Google to see if there is a way in for us.
DeleteThe sun rays were an accident, I was trying to take a picture with my phone and I couldn't see the screen very well and that is what came out. LOL. I liked it though. I had a few others with some rays as well but didn't post them.
Take care, be safe,
Deb
Sounds like a wonderful day doing what you like to do, Explore. Days don't have to be exciting to be enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteIt was a nice day George. We don't expect the days to be exciting, we like them to be quiet. For all of those people that read my ramblings I like to do something a little interesting once in a while. LOL
DeleteTake care, be safe,
Deb
Looks like a great day..beautiful pictures! Nice that Riley has her own routine and likes her hike also. Can't imagine finding concrete out there, interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe had a great day Shirley, thanks. We like our alone time and Riley is getting more comfortable here and so she will venture a bit further each time.
DeleteThe concrete was a surprise to say the least. I have no idea why they would put it there, not a big piece but I guess big enough for a shed or a very small shack of some kind. Although there were two pieces not side by side but not close enough to be floors in two rooms. It was odd.
Take care, be safe,
Deb
There is a good road to Valley of the Names. You get the road out of Winterhaven. It's about 11 miles out of Winterhaven.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elva. I appreciate the information very much.
DeleteTake care, be safe,
Deb
As usual I forgot to post my name. Above comment from Elva Shaaon
ReplyDeleteA great place for a desert ramble alright.
ReplyDeleteJB, we are enjoying the area for sure.
DeleteTake care, be safe,
Deb
Doing a quick catch up we have had no signal. Sorry to read about the troubles you had and glad it is fixed.
ReplyDeleteIf you Google Valley of names you will find a way in with the Dogsled.
Take care and stay safe.
Thanks Deb. Elva Shannon also told me I can find a good road in from Winterhaven. I appreciate the information.
DeleteTake care, be safe,
Deb