Tuesday, March 08, 2011

ANOTHER DAY IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK:))

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The winds packed in their dam shenanigans sometime during the night but I’m sure they only left to regroup & regain their strength.  I’m sure they will return as soon as they can get themselves blown up to maximum speed again!!

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THE BARKER DAM RESERVOIR

Despite all my grumbling about the refrigerator not working Monday night Kelly somehow worked some magic stuff with the electric & propane switch & my glass of milk was cold again this morning.  We are wondering if the Sunday night heavy wind gusts could have snuffed out the unit’s pilot light.  We’re not convinced it is the end of the problem but for right now things are cold again & we have our fingers crossed.

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Watching a local news channel this morning we were relieved to see the wind advisories & warnings have been lifted.  Looks like there was damage around as well with power lines blown down & some big 18 wheel trucks  blown over on their sides.  From Keys View Monday I could see huge clouds of blowing sand & dust at the northern end of the Coachella Valley floor 5,185 feet below.  Some roads were closed as well due to blowing sand.  Where we live in Ontario, roads are generally closed to blowing snow, but down here it’s blowing sand.

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Decided since we didn’t have a refrigerator problem to deal with today we would head back into Joshua Tree National Park.  We are morning people so like to get our drives & hikes in before hotter afternoon temperatures.  Nice lighting in the morning for photos as well.  I only met photographer GORDON WOLFORD one time while boon docked near Why, Arizona a few years ago but I often think of Gordon’s early pre-dawn desert sunrise dedication to his professional photographs.  Wished I had a tenth of his dedication, expertise & determination.  If you want to see some great photos just check out Gordon’s PHOTO GALLERY.

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THE BARKER DAM

A reader has asked why the flag was at half mast at the Ranger Station in Monday’s Blog.  We wondered that too so Kelly asked.  A  Park Ranger was killed while traveling between two of the Parks last February 28th.

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It was with interest that I ready Randy’s blog this morning over at the ROADRUNNER CHRONICLES.  Randy, a daily blogger has decided to cut it back to maybe two or three times a week.  He mentions about some other bloggers winding things down as well.  It once again brought up the old question of why some of us blog daily, or at all.  I probably have done half a dozen posts about this over the last few years but my thoughts of course are always in a state of evolvement as things change.  I, like many other bloggers started out to record events for family & friends but that quickly changed when I realized a lot of those folks didn’t read it anyway.  A lot of bloggers say they blog for themselves & if that interests others then that is a bonus.  Those were my thoughts as well at one time but with the readership growth my focus has changed.  And, I am very happy about that change. 

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Because I like to write I might continue the blog as some form of record keeping but it certainly would not be the blog it is today.  All the comments, emails & kind words from people we meet has spurred me on to making the blog more interesting not only for me, but the readers as well.  The blog readers are now my main inspiration every day for spending the amounts of time I do on the blog & I thoroughly enjoy that.  People are actually enjoying something I am doing & for me at this age & stage of the game it gives me a purpose & puts a focus on each & every day. Gives me great pleasure to be in a position to do something constructive & creative for others.  Bottom line…..it is the readers I enjoy putting this daily blog together for now. Thanks for ‘making my day’ guys:))

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CHATTING UP SOME FOLKS ON THE BARKER DAM TRAIL

Note to Nina….yes, I am using the optimized image feature in my Nikon D90.  Have tweaked the saturation & sharpness features & am still honing the exposure level to where I want it.  Check out KEN ROCKWELL'S site for your D80:))

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THIS IS TRULY A LAND OF MAGNIFICENT ROCKS

Despite a bright sunny sky the air was cool this morning with a slight breeze as we headed the Jeep back into Joshua Tree.  The Barker Dam one mile nature loop was our first stop.  What a beautiful hike this is & anyone can do it.  This trail has a lot going for it.  A valley of Joshua Trees, water, a dam, petroglyphs, many birds &  large boulder formations which in many cases are easy climbable for some of us older folks.  Snow covered Mount Jacinto was visible through the Joshua Trees on one section of the trail in that valley.  If it’s your first trip to Joshua I would sure recommend a nice morning walk on the Barker Dam trail.  About 80% of all the photos I took today were on this walk.  What a great place to get up close & personal with a Joshua Tree:))

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CAN YOU SEE THE HIGH WATER MARK ON THE STRANGE ROCK

Our next destination was not far down the road & it was called Hidden Valley.  Again it is a mile loop that travels around the inside rim of a large valley completely surrounded by high rocky peaks & granite formations.  This is where you will see many rock climbers with one of the world renown climbs being called by hikers, ‘The Great Burrito.’  But, this valley has a notorious history & it is here back in the late 1800’s where cattle rustlers brought stolen horses from California & rustled cattle from Arizona.  It is easy to see why because this valley is completely hidden because of the surrounding huge jagged rock formations of tumbled boulders.  Again, a beautiful trail not to be missed.

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THAT ROCK FACE IS CALLED ‘THE GREAT BURRITO’

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THIS IS HIDDEN VALLEY WHERE RUSTLED CATTLE & HORSES WERE ONCE BROUGHT TO GRAZE & REMAIN HIDDEN FROM PRYING EYES

The splendid sandstone colored granite rock formations remind me so much of hiking in Utah which is another favorite State of ours.  A couple fellow bloggers have commented with childhood memories of scrambling on some of these very rocks when they were children.  Maybe a few spots will be remembered in my photos.

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SEVERAL OF OUR READERS MAY VERY WELL HAVE SCRAMBLED AROUND ON THESE ROCKS AS CHILDREN

Kelly’s knee was beginning to act up & an old surgical procedure on my left foot was giving me some problems so we called it a day in the early afternoon & were back to the rig shortly after 2.  All & all we just had ourselves a great 3 hours in the Park. 

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A COUPLE LADY ROCK CLIMBERS CARRYING LOTS OF GEAR    

Our blog Followers list continues to grow with the addition of Joshua Lee & EXPLORE SAN DIEGO.  Linda rolls in next with BECAUSE WE CAN & Mike comes aboard with SIHA TANKA.  Siha Tanka by the way is an Indian Lakota Sioux name meaning, Bigfoot.  And, a fellow by the name of David joins us as our 244th blog Follower.  A big welcome from the gang over here at the Bayfield Bunch:))

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THIS SURE IS MY KINDA COUNTRY:))

Kelly has become increasingly busy with her Deer Park Lodge phone so she spent a long time catching up on things after our hike today.  It’s a busy month for people booking their summer vacation reservations at Deer Park & Kelly does all those reservations from way over here in the great American Southwest.

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A RARE PHOTO OF KELLY & I TOGETHER….SELF TIMER

We have decided to roll out in the morning heading north for parts unknown.  Several destinations in mind but we won’t know until after we get there if we have actually got there.  Oh ya, our refrigerator is working fine now.  Must have been that pilot light being blown out by the wind.

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BARKER DAM REFLECTIONS

GROANER’S CORNER:((  There's one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor's.

27 comments:

  1. I really like your Barker Dam Reflections picture. Joshua Tree is a place we would like to go back to. Maybe next year. And as one of your followers, I just want you to know how much I enjoy your blog, your pictures and your writings. Thank you.

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  2. You have some beautiful photos in tonight's blog, but then all your photos are superb!

    I was in a winter storm a few years back and had to detour south through Texas because of snow, ice, and high winds. The aftermath of that storm and the sight of big semis hanging over hillsides and overpasses is a memory that will always stay with me. Be careful in that wind!

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  3. glad to hear that the fridge problem is solved and your milk is cold again!..you know, you really should take more shots of you and Kelly together..those are 'real keepers'!!!
    Whenever we are somewhere and we feel the need for a photo op of the two of us together, we usually ask a random stranger!..works everytime..although the self timer does the same thing!..have a safe journey tomorrow!..can't wait to see where you 'land next'!!

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  4. Oh how I love those boulders. A big "thank you" for posting all the photos. I still have a photo of myself and my sister in the shadow of one of those big rocks - taken over HALF A CENTURY ago. I wrote about it in one of my older blog posts. My how time flies. I am glad you are writing for your readers 'cuz we'd sure miss you if you stopped!

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  5. "A reader has asked why the flag was at half mast at the Ranger Station in Monday’s Blog. We wondered that too so Kelly asked. A Park Ranger was killed while traveling between two of the Parks last February 28th."

    Thanks, Al. We know a Ranger there, but didn't hear about a death.

    Pat

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  6. Al,
    I have to say that I love the photos you take and the dialog to go with them. You have a nice cadence to your writing and the picures are crystal clear. That being said, I also wanted to thank you for taking me "home" everyday you're in the Southwest. Emjay

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  7. Al & Kelly,
    I love your stories Al and your pictures. You inspire me everyday :)
    Now as I have to fly to Houston for a few days, I will be missing my morning reading :(
    Be safe, and I will look forward to where ya'll be when I get back.
    phxmtngir

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  8. nothing worse than sour milk... hope it was just the pilot light.

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  9. SURE LOVED JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL MONUMENT, AND YOUR PHOTOS ARE FABUOUS! NICE TO SEE YOU AND KELLY TOGETHER IN ONE...
    OK, WE GOT OUR SPOTS PICKED OUT IN THE MOTORHOME TO SIT...LET'S GET THIS THING ROLLIN'!!!

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  10. Your Joshua Tree photos bring back some fond memories, Al, as do your comments about the wind out there. I remember being camped nearby in Twentynine Palms and swear the wind one day had to be hurricane force. Guess things haven't changed.

    As to my getting out for sunrise photography, that's due more to insomnia than dedication. :)

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  11. Al -- As one of your faithful readers, keep it up! As long as you're having fun doing the blog, I'll keep enjoying every entry. Yours is among the first 3 websites I check with my morning coffee.

    It's hard to decide which is better -- your writing or your photos...

    Renee

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  12. I do enjoy traveling with you through your pictures. Thanks for continuing to blog. Really enjoyed Joshua Tree National Park.

    How about some Grand Canyon stuff if you really don't know were to go. I will visit there in my next life!!! :) Looking forward to see where we are going next!!!

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  13. Happy to hear your blogging gives you as much pleasure as you give to others. Reading it and seeing your wonder photos is like being there.

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  14. You wrote " If you want to see some great photos just check out Gordon’s PHOTO GALLERY." I think all your followers already knew where to see some great photos!

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  15. As you can tell by all the comments, we are all happy you enjoy us as much as we enjoy you! I want to take pictures like you do when I grow up. :)

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  16. As you can tell by all the comments, we are all happy you enjoy us as much as we enjoy you! I want to take pictures like you do when I grow up. :)

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  17. Barker Dam is absolutely the best hike in Joshua Tree and it is different each time you go there. In 2006 we went to Barker Dam in March; the dam was overflowing. When we got back to the truck about 2 PM, it snowed in the parking lot. In 2007 also in March the lake was only about a quarter filled and the temperature was high 80s. In 2009 yet again in March the lake was completely dry. The desert is never the same twice.

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  18. Al, great post as usual, and you certinaly are satisfying your readers. We have but one question: you said the Barker Dam Trail can be done by anyone. Would that include folks in wheelchairs and mobility scooters? Suzy made it around the base of Devil's Tower in Wyominbg, with just a little pushing help. We'd sure enjoy another accessible trail!

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  19. Great shots as usual! And cheers for the Ken Rockwell link -> I discovered him a few years back and his site helped me enormously w/ my D80. Great site!! Can't wait to see your next post. Nina

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  20. I enjoy reading your blog. It is informative and well written. The photos are great and it gives me reason to get slogging along toward seeing some of these places in person some day.

    Giving pleasure to others is good. Knowing they appreciate your time and effort is better.

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  21. I really enjoy looking at your pictures and reading your comments. I will probably never be able to do what you are doing but I can live my traveling dreams through your blog.

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  22. Really nice pictures again today. We just have to get to this area.

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  23. Many times over the past months I have read your blog and thought "why did I ever leave the southwest?" Now I remember -wind & blowing sand.
    I love that country but not in spring time.

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  24. The D 90 seems to fit in your hand really nicely! Things seem to happen for a reason, and perhaps the breaking of your old camera was designed to push you into owning this nice new piece of equipment.

    We of course are the recipients of your work her on the blog, and we appreciate your efforts to make it so interesting.

    Rod

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  25. Great Blog Al! Why would I want to click on another site to look at photo's,,,,? Yours are the best!! Carry on my friend..

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  26. About blogging daily, I think that is too much like a job! And I'm retired. I only blog when I have a good story to tell. So cut it back and enjoy it more!

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  27. Thanks for the welcome and the link too! :) Nice blog! Looks like you are having lots of fun on your journey.. Joshua Tree is a very special place, and not just because of the name ;) I've been camping there before and went to 29 Palms Oasis.

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