I just can't get there from here, new neighbours, birthday wishes....

Our Location: Near American Girl Mine Road, BLM, CA

 

 

 

A nice night for sleeping and we both slept well, I think the hike up Pilot Knob may have contributed a bit to that wonderful sleep. 

 

 

  The first sunset of 2020, taken January 1st,  here in southeastern California.

 

We decided to go for separate walks this morning, Riley left first while I stayed behind to have something I haven't eaten for a very long time, eggs and toast.  I just had a craving this morning.

 

 

 It was just so yellow in the western sky.

 

 

I started out heading toward the power lines and met up with Riley just as she was heading home from her walk. She continued home and I kept my feet going toward the big black Cargo Muchacho Mountains. 

 

 

A truly amazing sunset on the first night of the new year, don't you think?

These sunset photos are exactly as they came out of the camera, I did nothing to them. 

 

 

I have been meaning to check out a strip of tailings that I can see each time go back toward the power lines and today  I thought I would do that. It was a really good idea and I headed off cross country in the most direct route I could take. Coming upon a very deep wash I realized I had tried this before and like before couldn't find a place to cross the wash. Alas, I had to turn around and head back home. Close but yet so far. Next time I'll take the truck and start from a different point, one that is too far for me to walk to from the Igloo. 

 

 

 Almost looks like ripples in the sky.

The last shot of dazzling colour before it starts to fade...

 

 

 

 And so ends the first sunset of 2020 here in the southeast corner of California.

 

 

I walked a bit over 4 miles in less than two hours but it wasn't easy walking. This particular area is filled with a lot of rough ground, large stones, dips, washes, troughs, large stones or did I mention that already? 

 

 

 

 I wonder if we need a lawn maintenance company to trim the grass?

 I did not know the inside of an Ocotillo root was hollow.

 But as you can see, this one is certainly hollow.

 

 

Back home Riley and I pulled our chairs out and enjoyed some sun while reading. The wind was a bit chilly and continued to get stronger and stronger as the time went on. Before we headed inside however a cute black Jeep made it's way toward us and behind it came a big motor home, The Stinger Bee. Deb & Tom from Celebrating the Dance arrived and set up not far away. We knew they were coming from our visit yesterday and are happy to have them as neighbours. 

 

 

 Do you see that lighter coloured line back there? That's my goal for today.

 I used the zoom lens today and so it looks much closer than it really is. It was over two miles to the wash that I couldn't cross and I still was a distance from being able to reach the lighter stones.

 

 

The strong winds had us bringing in the big slide as the awing was taking a beating in the wind. About an hour later we had once again put the slide back out and the winds died down as the afternoon continued. 

 

 

It is deceptively close with this lens. 

 

 

Interesting how those little nubs are all so straight, isn't it? 

 

 

With the wind at their backs, Deb & Tom blew in for a visit/happy hour and before we knew it the sun was down and sunset was over without a photo being snapped of the visit or the sunset. The time flew by as I knew it would, a few laughs, a few stories and some wonderful conversation. It was a nice afternoon. 

 

 

Again with the lens, it's deceptive. The coastal mountains and the Imperial Dunes in the background you've often seen in my photos but usually the photo is taken from the general area of the Igloo. In this photo the Igloo is between the Dunes and the power lines. When leaving the Igloo and walking to that power line it's about a mile. I am probably a half mile past the power lines and about 1 1/2 miles from the Igloo. 

I am still a long way from the mountains. I would love to find a path that would get me higher up into those mountains but today I won't even make it to the bottom of them. 

 

A birthday wish for my nephew Jason. He turns a big 30 today. Jason & his lovely bride Leah were mentioned last January in my blog when they travelled to British Columbia for a month long sledding holiday. An event they will repeat this year I believe. Happy Birthday Jason. 

 

 

 Standing on the edge of a very deep wash I can see where I want to get to but just can't find a way through the wash. So I had to turn around and head back home. 

 It's hard to get a good photo of the wash as the sides and bottom are covered with growth in most places and very steep everywhere.

I want very much to hike back there and have a look around just because I want to know what's back there. Another day I guess, or maybe next year. My time here is getting short and I haven't too many days remaining to do this hike. 

 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed the visit. 

 

 

 Pretty deep and steep.

No way I could climb down or up that stuff. 

 

 

Until next time... take care, be safe, 

 

 

 Like a beckoning finger it stills call to me even though I'm almost home. Thanks to the long lens I can almost touch it , almost but not quite.

My last photo of the day. 

 

 

Deb