Eastern Mojave Vegetation Field Notes (Continued)  
 

Tom Schweich  
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Contents
Literature Cited 		 When I first read the field notes of Annie Alexander and Louise Kellogg, I was fascinated by the descriptions they wrote about the places they went and the plants and animals they found there. By publishing my field notes on the Internet I hope to follow a little bit in their tradition.

 

 

   

2005

 
 

Literature Cited:
- Reynolds G, Epstein W, Terry D, Rodriguez E., 1980.

Other articles: Field Notes Coll No. 357 Coll. No. 362  

 Searching the Web for Phacelia crenulata found the following:

1: Contact Dermatitis. 1980 Jun;6(4):272-4. Related Articles, Links

A potent contact allergen of Phacelia (Hydrophyllaceae).

  • Reynolds G, Epstein W, Terry D, Rodriguez E.

    The major contact allergen of Phacelia crenulata (Hydrophyllaceae) has been identified as geranylhydroquinone. A maximization test of geranylhydroquinone showed this to be a potent sensitizer comparable in degree to poison oak/ivy urushiol. Comparative patch testing on humans with urushiol established that the phacelia allergen does not cross-react with poison oak or ivy.

    PMID: 7398286 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    •  

       

    Thursday, 24 March 2005.

     
       

     

       

    Sunday, 17-Apr-05

     
      Today we drove to Atascadero from Alameda

    Other articles: CA Hwy 25 at Monterey Road  

    		 At Monterey Road in Gilroy, we left Highway 101, and followed Monterey Road to its junction with Highway 25. On Highway 25 we passed through Hollister and Tres Pinos. We drove through Barado County Historical Park, but saw nothing to make us stop. After re-entering Highway 25, we passed by the San Benito County Fair Grounds.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 25 Paicines
    Full Size ImageThe Blossom Hill Winery.  

    		 At Paicines we looked at the winery building footings to see if we could see some that were being shifted by the San Andreas Fault. We didn’t. Later, I learned that this was the wrong winery. We should have stopped at the Almaden Cienega Winery near Hollister.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 25 67700
    Full Size ImageHummocky terrrain across the San Andreas Fault.  

    		 I stopped to take this photo as a good example of hummocky terrain resulting from repeated landslides. It is likely that the sliding occurred during frequent earthquakes along the San Andreas Fault.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 25 67850
    Full Size ImageSmall valley parallel to San Andreas Fault, looking north toward the Bear Valley Fire Control Station.  

    		 Between Willow Creek and Pinnacles the road climbs westerly out of the San Benito River canyon and away from the trace of the San Andreas fault. However, this little valley is itself very linear and aligned with the San Andreas Fault. It passes the Bear Valley Fire Control Station, and then descends gently past Schmidt Ranch to Pinnacles.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 25 67900
    Full Size ImageSmall valley parallel to San Andreas Fault, looking south toward the Schmidt Ranch.  

    		 Looking the other way, down the valley, and to the southeast.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 25 at CA Hwy 146 68065
    Full Size ImageShutter ridges along the San Andreas fault.
    Full Size ImageSag pond along San Andreas fault.  

    		 We started to drive into Pinnacles National Monument, but when we learned that you have to park outside the park and take a shuttle bus in, we decided to skip to monument for this trip. Instead a few miles south we stopped along the road for lunch. Here we had a good view of some shutter ridges and a sag pond along the fault.

    Other articles: Old Hernandez Road at San Benito Lateral  

    		 A little further on, we saw a road to the east signed “San Benito Lateral.” We took it and soon came to a fork with Old Hernandez Road and __________ Road. We took Old Hernandez Road as it led south, the general direction of our travel.

    Full Size ImageLooking downstream (north) on the San Benito River, just south of the former townsite of San Benito, Old Hernandez Road.      		 About 1.6 miles (2.0 km) east of the San Benito townsite, Old Hernandez Road climbs up onto a small bluff. From this vantage point we can look back toward the townsite. This photograph is looking down river. The pinkish trees along the river are tamarisk.

    Other articles: Old Hernandez Road at Sulfur Spring
    Full Size ImageCold sulfur spring along Old Hernandez Road, San Benito County, California.  

    		 We saw this spring along side the road. Thinking it might be hot or warm, I walked up to check the water. However, the water was cold, even though it smelled moderately of sulfur.

    Full Size ImageCows by the San Benito River on Old Hernandez Road.      		 At first it was paved, but soon it became dirt, and at one point we had to ford the San Benito River. This ford was a bit deeper than we thought, and we were surprised when the nose of the 4 Runner dipped into the water. Regardless, we made it through, and up the bank on the other side.

    Other articles: Old Hernandez Road at End of Pavement
    Full Size Image"Road Closed" sign on Old Hernandez Road.  

    		 When we reached the pavement at the other end, there was a “Road Closed” sign. But it must have been intended for people traveling in the opposite direction.

    Other articles: Coalinga Road near Old Hernandez Road
    Full Size ImageCoalinga Road looking west from Old Hernandez Road.  

    		 At Coalinga Road, we looked east …

    Other articles: Coalinga Road near Old Hernandez Road
    Full Size ImageCoalinga Road looking east from Old Hernandez Road.  

    		 … and west.
      From Old Hernandez Road and Coalinga Road, we back tracked a few miles to Highway 25, and then continued south through Bitterwater.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 25 at La Laguna Vieja Rancho

    Locations: Bitterwater Lake. La Laguna Vieja Rancho.
    Full Size ImageLa Laguna Vieja Rancho, at Bitterwater Lake, along California Highway 25.  

    		 Just south of Bitterwater, in Bitterwater Valley, is Bitterwater Lake. I'm guessing someone thought the water was bitter. Gudde (1969) notes at least fifty locations, lakes, and streams in California with a reference to bitterness of the water. "Amargosa" also refers to bitterness of the water, although modern Spanish uses "amargo" or "amargado" for the adjective "bitter." The location of Bitterwater Lake is also occupied by La Laguna Vieja Rancho.
      At the end of Highway 25, where it dead ends into Highway 198, we jogged over to Peach Tree Valley road and continued south on that one.

    Other articles: Lewis Creek Road 30000 31000

    Locations: Lewis Creek.
    Full Size ImageHill in Lewis Creek canyon.  
    Full Size Image
    Lewis Creek, sediment load exceeds the capacity of the creek.
    We found a road called Lewis Creek Road. It was a dead end, but we went a few miles up to the first ranch.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 25 88800

    Locations: Peachtree Valley.
    Full Size ImageView north in Peachtree Valley on CA Hwy 25.  

    		 We returned to Highway 25, where it swings west of the fault through Lonoak.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 198 near Peach Tree Road 20120 Peach Tree Road 10010

    Locations: Peachtree Valley.
    Full Size ImageLooking west on California Highway 198 in Peachtree Valley.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking southeast in Peachtree Valley.    		 Full Size Image
    Looking east along California Highway 198.
     

    Other articles: Indian Valley Road 10000 Peach Tree Road 90000 Field Notes 20040418090
    Full Size ImageIntersection of Peachtree Road and Indian Valley Road.  

    		 The stopped for this photo at the intersection of Peach Tree Road and Indian Valley Road.
      The fish is still hanging in the oak tree on Indian Valley Road, although weathering a bit now.

    Other articles: Indian Valley Road 60000 Field Notes 20040418105
    Full Size ImageView of farm in Indian Valley.  

    		 In Indian Valley the hills were still a lush green, compared to last year when they were beginning to turn brown.
      Across the Salinas River from San Miguel, we thought to take River Road all the way into Paso Robles. Unfortunately, it is closed, or so the sign says, so we had to detour via Estrella Road and Airport Road.

     

       

    Monday, 18-Apr-05

     
      Today we stayed around the Atascadero – Paso Robles area.

     

       

    Tuesday, 19-Apr-05

     
      Today, we drove to Zzyzx from Atascadero.

    Full Size ImageThe hot spring on 19 April 2004.      		 Got coffee at Jack’s, took a photo of the hot spring.
      In Paso Robles, we crossed the river on 13th Street that becomes Creston Road. We followed Creston Road until it becomes La Panza Road, where it crosses Highway 41. From La Panza Road, we joined Highway 58, and continued on to Shell Creek.

    Other articles: Shell Creek Road n. of Shell Ck at Shell Creek tree s. of Shell Ck

    Locations: Shell Creek.
    Full Size ImageTree along Shell Creek.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking north along Shell Creek Road.    		 Full Size Image
    Looking south along Shell Creek Road.
    At Shell Creek, we stopped to look at flowers. There were a few left, but most have dried up.

    Other articles: California Highway 58 28495 28505

    Locations: San Joaquin Valley.
    Full Size ImageLooking west from California Highway 58, Cymric Oil Field on ridge.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking northeast toward Buttonwillow along California Highway 58.
    Back on Highway 58 we proceeded through McKittrick and over the Elk Hills, home of our government’s strategic oil reserves (if there is any oil there). In Bakersfield, we stopped at the Albertson’s for food, and then attempted to stop at a park on the Kern River. I have seen this park on the west side of Highway 99. We got off the freeway at California Avenue. But it was too late. There was a railroad between us and the park. We sat in a shady spot of a nicely manicured corporate parking lot, and had lunch there.

    Locations: Desert Tortoise Natural Area.
    Full Size ImageCheryl at the Desert Tortoise Natural Area.  

    		 We proceeded to California City, where we got gas (for the car), and then continued to the Desert Tortoise Natural Area. It was cool and quite windy there and, while we took several trails, we saw no tortoises. From the desert tortoise Natural Area, we took back roads to Twenty Mule Team Parkway, which eventually led us to US Highway 395. Between the “golf ball” and the prison, we stopped once to look at flowers, which were nice, but not spectacular. At California Highway 58 in Kramer Junction, we turned left and continued through Barstow on US I-15.

    Other articles: Interstate 15 at Afton Cyn Rd
    Full Size ImageCrucifixion Thorn (Castela emoryi) in the central Mojave Desert.
    Full Size ImageCrucifixion Thorn (Castela emoryi) in the central Mojave Desert.  
    Full Size Image
    General view of location that Crucifixion Thorn (Castela emoryi) is found.
    We exited US I-15 at the Afton Road Exit, drove north to see the Crucifixion Thorn. It grows on the edges of some playas that are perched in the small hills there.
      We had dinner at the Mad Greek in Baker, and then returned to the Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx.

     

       

    Wednesday, 20-Apr-05

     
      Today we collected in the Mesquite Mountains.
      It is 5 miles to I-15 from Zzyzx, 7 miles on I-15 to Baker, and 44 miles on I-15 and Kingston Road to Winters Pass.

    Other articles: Kingston Road 87000
    Full Size ImageView of Shadow Valley, the Mesquite Mountains, and the Spring Mountains.  

    		 As we came over a rise on Kingston Road, we were treated to an excellent view of Shadow Valley, the Mesquite Mountains, and Mt. Charleston in the distance.

    Other articles: Kingston Road at Winters Pass Hills Field Notes 20 Apr 04 Coll No 341

    Locations: Goldhammer Mine.
    Full Size ImageEriophyllum wallacei in wash near the Wilson Pass Hills, Mesquite Mountains.  

    		 We stopped on Kingston Road, opposite the Winters Pass Hills, and walked over to south slopes of Winters Pass Hills, elevation 990 m (3500 ft) looking for Lilac Sunbonnet (Langloisia setosissima ssp. punctata). I had collected some here last year. However, there were none to be found. Here and there, I found some tiny bristly plants that I assumed were emerging L. setosissima. I'm thinking that the 20th of April 2004 was just about perfect in terms of a full bloom of the species. However, this year, the 20th of April 2005 was much too early, because the early Spring was cool and cloudy. As a comparison, on 24 April 2005 we found Lilac Sunbonnet in full bloom at the Goldhammer Mine, which is 100 km (62 mi) south, at elevation 675 m (2280 ft), which is 215 m (1220 ft) lower in elevation.

    Locations: Winters Pass.  

    		 From Winters Pass we walked about 1 ½ miles south along a ridge, climbing to 1250 m from 1175 m in the process. We stopped at the base of the limestone hills. Collections 440 through 450 were made along this ridge.

    Full Size ImageDesert Snow (Linanthus demissus) in the Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 440 from the Mesquite Mountains.      		 440  Linanthus demissus (A. Gray) E. Greene, growing in open areas, common.

    Full Size ImageSpiny Desert Olive (Menodora spinescens) in the Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 441 from the Mesquite Mountains.      		 441  Menodora spinescens. This plant was in bloom and fruit, so it was a good find for collecting. 3

    Full Size ImageBlackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) in the Mesquite Mountains, California
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 442 from the Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 442 from the Mesquite Mountains.      		 442  Coleogyne ramosissima. One bush, many flowers, Common. 3 labels.

    Full Size ImageCollection No. 443 Phacelia fremontii from the Mesquite Mountains      		 443  Phacelia fremontii Torr. Growing around and under a Joshua tree.

    Full Size ImageCollection No. 444, Gilia cana, from the Mesquite Mountains
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 444, Gilia cana, from the Mesquite Mountains
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 444, Gilia cana      		 444  Gilia opthamaloides (?), widely spaced growing in open areas.
    Aliciella leptomeria (A. Gray) J.M. Porter. Sand Gilia.

    G. cana (M.E. Jones) A. Heller Desert Gilia, Showy Gilia

    Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. On the ridge east of Winters Pass, approximately 500 m from Kingston Road. 35.6916°N, 115.6984°W. WGS1984 Elev. 1182 m. Growing in gravel on southeast facing slope.

    Coll. No. 444, keyed 11 Jan 2013, characters observed: Annual from stout tap root, green, photosynthetic; Leaves alternate, largest 1 cm. wide, oblanceolate, pinnate-divided; Inflorescence open, not coiled, not unrolling, parts in 5s; Pedicels 1-3 mm., axillary pedicels > calyx; Calyx lobes 5, 3 mm., tips pointed but not bristly, lobes fused by thin translucent membrane; Corolla tube (purple) 6 mm., + throat (yellow, wider near mouth) 3 mm. + lobes (5, equal, truncate acuminate) 5 mm = 14 mm.; Ovary 1, entire, style clearly attached to top; Stigmas 3; Stamens 5, alternate, = corolla lobes, all fertile; Filaments free, fused to corolla at base of lobes; Seeds not gelatinous when wet (per Aliciella).

    The seeds must have been gelatinous when wet, and I did not recognize it, as I have been advised this is a Gilia and not an Aliciella.

    Other articles: Kingston Road just s. of Winters Pass
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 445 from the Mesquite Mountains
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 445 from the Mesquite Mountains  

    		 445  Pectocarya platycarpa (Munz & I.M. Johnst.) Munz & I.M. Johnst. Broad-Fruited Combseed

    Other articles: Kingston Road just s. of Winters Pass
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 445.1, Pectocarya heterocarpa  

    		 445.1  Pectocarya heterocarpa (I.M. Johnst.) I.M. Johnst. Mixed-Nut Combseed.

    Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. On a ridge east of Winters Pass, approximately 600 m from Kingston Road. 35.692°N, 115.6972°W. WGS 1984. Elev. 1183 m. Found in Coll. No. 445, of P. platycarpa.

    Coll. No. 445.1, 20 April 2005, characters observed while keying: Annual, to 10 cm., densely branched at base; Pedicel, in fruit, partly fused to one nutlet; Calyx bilateral; Sepals unequal, upper 2 > others; Style 1, simple, attached to receptacle; Stigma 1; Nutlets 4, mature spreading widely, margins, basal nutlet margins less ornamented than cauline,

    Other articles: Kingston Road just s. of Winters Pass
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 446, Eriogonum maculatum, from the Mesquite Mountains.  

    		 446  Eriogonum, growing in loosened soil adjacent to a large shrub, perhaps dug up previously by animals.

    Eriogonum maculatum A. Heller. Spotted Buckwheat.

    Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. On the ridge east of Winters Pass, approximately 700 m from Kingston Road. 35.6926°N, 115.6963°W. WGS 1984. Elev. 1190 m. Growing in gravel on southeast facing slope.

    Coll. No. 446, 29 Mar 2012, characters observed while keying: Annual herb; Leaves basal and cauline, bracts present, but not as obviously dark as some collections; Involucle peduncled, smooth (not ribbed or angled), puberulent, lightly glandular; Stipe 0; Perianth lobes not alike, basal lobes inflated; Stamens included.


    Full Size ImageColl. No. 447, Chylismia claviformis × brevipes, from the Mesquite Mountains
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 447, Chylismia claviformis × brevipes, from the Mesquite Mountains
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 447, Chylismia claviformis      		 447  Chylismia claviformis × brevipes (Torr. & Frém.) A. A. Heller. Browneyes.

    Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. On the ridge east of Winters Pass, approximately 800 m from Kingston Road. 35.693°N, 115.6954°W. WGS1984 Elev. 1192 m. Growing in gravel on limestone ridge in, and adjacent to, small shrubs.

    Coll. No. 447, keyed 11 Dec 2012, characters observed: Annual, to 40-45 cm, day blooming; Stem 5 mm diameter, not wand-like, spreading hairs and few glandular hairs proximally, to glabrous distally; Stipules absent; Leaves mainly basal, pinnately lobed with large terminal lobe; Inflorescence from distal lobes; Sepals 11 mm, tips free in bud, remaining fused in pairs when flower opens, deciduous after flowering; Hypanthium 6.5 mm.; Petals 11 mm x 16 mm wide, yellow; Anthers 8; Ovary tip projection 0; Style 13 mm, exceeding anthers; Stigma 2 mm, ball-shaped, exserted; Fruit to 50 mm x 3.0-3.5 mm wide, wider toward the tip, 4-chambered, ? Row(s) per chamber; Seeds 2 mm x 1.2 mm wide, glabrous, not hair-tufted, ovate, flattened. Keys easily to Chylismia claviformis, but not to subspecies.

    11 Oct 2013: Per Andy Sanders, this collection is a hybrid between C. brevipes and claviformis -- the large yellow fls. and very elongate frt. are brevipes characters.


    Full Size ImageSun Cup (Camissonia sp.) in the Mesquite Mountains.      		 These flower buds on the Camissonia were extremely hairy.

    Full Size ImageCollection No. 448 from the Mesquite Mountains
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 448 from the Mesquite Mountains
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 448, Oxytheca perfoliata      		 448  Oxytheca perfoliata Torr. & A. Gray. Very small, red, growing in open areas.

    Full Size ImageBeavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris) near Winters Pass in the Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 449 from the Mesquite Mountains.      		 449  Opuntia basilaris, flowers. Occasional, not common.

    Full Size ImageCollection No. 450, Tiquilia canescens var. canescens, woody crinklemat, Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 450, Tiquilia canescens var. canescens, woody crinklemat, Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 450, Tiquilia canescens var. canescens, woody crinklemat, Mesquite Mountains.      		 450  Tiquilia canescens (DC.) A. T. Richardson var. canescens, Woody Crinklemat, found growing out of flat-lying limestone outcrops, at the highest point of our walk

    Full Size ImageCheryl relaxes amongst the Blackbrush in the Mesquite Mountains.      		 We went to the top of the first hill at the end of the ridge. Here we took a short break, and then headed back to the car.
      Also observed:
    • Calochortus flexuosus
    • Echinocereus engelmanii
    • Ferocactus cylindraceus
    • Ferocactus polycephalus
    • Opuntia erinaceus
    • Opuntia ramosissima, at lower elevations, near the Winters Pass Hills.
    • Purshia glandulosa, at 1250 m, the highest elevation we attained.
    • Thamnosma montana.
    • Yucca brevifolia
    • Yucca schidigera

    Other articles: Kingston Road near Excelsior Mine Rd

    Locations: Clark Mountain.
    Full Size ImageView of Clark Mountain from the north.  

    		 Our way back to Zzyzx the afternoon sun lit up the Kingston Range and Clark Mountain.

    Locations: Soda Springs Desert Studies Center.
    Full Size ImageCheryl relaxes on the lanai at Five-Star Zzyzx Hilton.  

    		 Back at Soda Springs Desert Studies Center, we cleaned up a bit and relaxed. Then, being basically lazy, drove into Baker to have dinner at the Mad Greek.

    Locations: Soda Springs Desert Studies Center.
    Full Size ImageCheryl relaxes on the lanai at Five-Star Zzyzx Hilton.  

    		 Back at the Soda Springs Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx, we cleaned up a bit and then relaxed on the lanai of our luxury hotel …

    Locations: Soda Springs Desert Studies Center.
    Full Size ImageView of Soda Lake from the Lanai at the Zzyzx Hilton.  

    		 … while watching the sun set over Soda Lake …

    Locations: Soda Springs Desert Studies Center.
    Full Size ImageA typical room at Soda Springs Desert Studies Center.  

    		 … then we dressed for dinner at the Mad Greek in Baker.

     

       

    Thursday, 21-Apr-05

     

    Other articles: Field Notes 21-Apr-05 at end of old road

    Locations: Mesquite Valley. Sandy. Spring Mountains.
    Full Size ImageMimulus bigevovii on limestone scree, Mesquite Mountains.  
    Full Size Image
    View of Mesquite Valley and Spring Mountains, from Mesquite Mountains.    		 Full Size Image
    Unknown species, Phacelia? On the top of the Mesquite Mountains.
    Today I went back to the Mesquite Mountains, while my wife stayed in Zzyzx. Took the road we used yesterday to its end, and then climbed the mountain right behind it. Found the balloon attached to a Joshua tree. It was a “Happy Birthday” balloon. From the top of this first hill, it was necessary to descend to a saddle. I chose not to attack the cliff face directly, but to skirt around the hill to the saddle. This was very difficult walking as it was across the limestone scree. However, the buff-colored limestone seemed to have an extraordinary number of plants. Chief among them was Mimulus bigelovii. Once across the scree, it appeared that I could ascend the back of the hill as far as a small spur. Then from there I could scramble up a chimney formed by a fault to the top of the second-highest peak. From the second highest peak, it was an easy walk on open limestone slopes to the highest peak. From below, I was quite concerned about the wind on the peak. However, the wind was quite calm at the very top. At the top were Purshia stanburyi, an Atriplex, probably A. canescens, and a single tiny Phacelia.

    Full Size ImageCollection No. 451, Gilia aliquanta ssp. aliquanta, from the Mesquite Mountains
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 451, Gilia aliquanta ssp. aliquanta      		 451  Small white Gilia, in the saddle on buff-colored platy limestone.

    Gilia aliquanta A. D. Grant & V. E. Grant ssp. aliquanta. Puff Calyx Gilia.

    Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. In saddle, 2.75 km east of Winters Pass. 35.6901°N, 115.6723°W. WGS 1984. Elev. 1304 m. Growing in a buff-colored limestone gravel.

    Coll. No. 451, keyed 11 Jan 2013, characters observed: Annual, from stout taproot, to 15 cm.; Leaves basal and cauline, Basal leaves, pinnate lobed, sharp pointed, hairs non-glandular; Cauline leaves, different, terminal leaflet > lateral leaflet; Pedicel 1-8 mm. (with open flowers); Calyx 2.5 mm., nearly glabrous, some purple color (faded), fused membraneous, puffed (hard to see on pressed surfaces, look on unpressed sides of calices); Stamens = corolla lobes; Seeds >1 per chamber, light brown (greenish), gelatinous when wet.


    Full Size ImageUndetermined species found in limestone outcrop on east side of Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 452, Phacelia perityloides var. jaegeri from the Mesquite Mountains.      		 452  Small Phacelia, in the saddle on buff-colored platy limestone.

    Other articles: Kingston Road near Winters Pass
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 453, Nicotiana obtusifolia, from the Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageDetail of Coll. No. 453, Nicotiana obtusifolia from the Mesquite Mountains.  

    		 453  Nicotiana, on steep southeast-facing slope, among large dark-colored limestone boulders.

    Nicotiana obtusifolia Martens & Galeotti. Desert Tobacco.

    Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. In dark limestone boulders, on a steep, southeast-facing slope, near top of Mesquite Mountains, 2.9 km eastnortheast of Winters Pass. 35.6957°N, 115.6719°W. WGS1984 Elev. 1397 m.

    Coll. No. 453, 21 Apr 2013, characters observed while keying: Perennial herb to 50 cm; Leaves, ±clasping (on the verge of sessile), definitely none petioled; Calyx, bell-shaped, sepals fused 8 mm + 5 lobes 6 mm × 8 mm dia., lobes equal; Corolla, 18-20 mm, limb 12 mm, open during day.

    Other articles: Kingston Road near Winters Pass
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 454, Galium stellatum from the Mesquite Mountains
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 454, Galium stellatum  

    		 454 
    Full Size Image
    Coll. No. 454, Galium stellatum
    Galium, on west-facing dark limestone slope, near top.

    Galium stellatum Kellogg. Starry Bedstraw.

    Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. Among boulders in dark limestone, west-facing slope, near top of Mesquite Mountains. 35.6965°N, 115.6721°W. WGS1984 Elev. 1409 m.

    Coll. No. 454, 21 April 2005, characters observed while keying: Perennial, to 30 cm.; Stem, woody, 10 cm. or more; Leaves, whorls of 4, widest below middle, sharp at tip; Inflorescence, crowded; Corolla, 4-lobed; Fruit, 3.0-4.0 mm., incl. hairs, hairs dense, straight, white.

    Other articles: Kingston Road near Winters Pass
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 455, Hedeoma nana ssp. californica near top of Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageColl. No. 455, Hedeoma nana ssp. californica, from the Mesquite Mountains  

    		 455 
    Full Size Image
    Coll. No. 455, Hedeoma nana ssp. californica    		 Full Size Image
    Coll. No. 455, Hedeoma nana ssp. californica
    Scroph(?), same place as Galium. I believe this to be the same scroph I saw at Aztec Tank.

    So much for field guesses, this one turned out to be:

    Hedeoma nana (Torr.) Briq. ssp. californica W. S. Stewart. California Mock Pennyroyal.

    Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. Among boulders in dark limestone, west-facing slope, near top of Mesquite Mountains. 35.6947°N, 115.6721°W. WGS1984 Elev. 1409 m.

    Coll. No. 455, 21 April 2013, characters observed while keying: Perennial herb, woody at base, to 13 cm., (subshrub); Stem 4-angled, recurved short hairy throughout; Leaves opposite, petiole 1 mm. + blade 4.5 mm. × 2.5 mm. wide, ovate, short hairy, margin entire, abaxially glandular; Inflorescence axillary; Bract, 1 mm., hairy (not spiny); Pedicels 2 mm.; Calyx 4.5 mm., tubular, 3 lobes > other 2, in fruit, lobes variously curved but not converging, throat ±open; Corolla, 2-lipped, 7 mm.; (Style, should be unequally 2-lobed, but unable to see); Stamens 2, staminodes 0; Anthers, fertile sacs 2.

    Other articles: Kingston Road near Winters Pass
    Full Size ImageOrobanche cooperi in the Mesquite Mountains, my Coll. No. 456.
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 456, Orobanche cooperi, from the Mesquite Mountains.  

    		 456 
    Full Size Image
    Coll. No. 456, Orobanche cooperi, collected near the top of the Mesquite Mountains.
    Orobanche, same place as collections 454 and 455. Keyed out to:

    Orobanche cooperi (A. Gray) A. Heller. Burro Weed Strangler.

    Mesquite Mountains, San Bernardino County, California. Among boulders in dark limestone, west-facing slope, near top of Mesquite Mountains. 35.6965°N, 115.6721°W. WGS1984 Elev. 1409 m.

    Coll. No. 456, 21 April 2005, characters observed while keying: Non-photosynthetic parasitic herb to 12 cm.; Root attachment unknown; Inflorescence dense, 2.0-3.5 cm. wide; Pedicel 5 mm.; Bractlets, 2, 8 mm., narrow; Calyx, fused 5 mm. + free 6 mm. = 11 mm., divided ±equally; Corolla, 20 mm., constricted at middle, lacking a ring of hairs at base of filaments; Anthers, sparsely hairy; Stigma lobes 2, thin, recurved.

    Other articles: Field Notes 21-Apr-05 at summit of Mesquite Mtns
    Full Size ImageLimestone slope in the central Mesquite Mountains.  

    		 From the top of the mountain, I returned to the south, passing by the east side of the ridge. When I reached the saddle, I turned west along the old road to Winters Pass, where I left the car. From this valley I could see the buff-colored limestone where there were so many different species of plants.

    Other articles: Kingston Road near Winters Pass

    Locations: Mesquite Mountains.
    Full Size ImageView of Mesquite Mountains summit from Winters Pass.  

    		 Back at the car, I put my collections into the press and then, after looking back at the peak where I had been, I drove back to Zzyzx.

     

       

    Friday, 22-Apr-05

     
      Papers in the Research Center

     

       

    Saturday, 23-Apr-05

     
      Saturday was cool and windy.
      After the papers were presented, we went on a short field trip. The original plan was a field trip to Salt Springs to see Emmet Harder’s mine. However, there was some sort of desert run event that left Baker and traveled north on the same highway we needed to use, CA Hwy 127. As an alternative, we shifted some of Monday’s stops to Saturday, i.e, the Valley Wells smelter, and the arrastres near Halloran Spring.
      At the Valley Wells smelter, we looked at the foundations and tried to guess how they processed the ore. We also noticed the “dug-out” shelters that were dug by the smelter workers under the caliche layer. Some rooms were as large 12 feet across, and carefully squared. The opening was covered by wood, and some had holes in the roof for a stove pipe.

    Locations: Valley Wells Copper Smelter.
    Full Size ImageView of the Valley Wells, area, Clark Mountain in the background  

    		  

    Locations: Valley Wells.
    Full Size ImageDugout dwellings at Valley Wells.  

    		  

    Locations: Valley Wells.
    Full Size ImageDugout dwellings at Valley Wells.  

    		  
      At Halloran Springs we parked and walked up to the arrastres. There were two. One still had an iron post in the center. There was little evidence or ore to be processed, nor did we know from where the ore was brought.

    Other articles: Halloran Springs Road at Halloran Springs

    Locations: Halloran Springs.
    Full Size ImageArrastre near Halloran Springs.  

    		  

    Other articles: Halloran Springs Road at Halloran Springs

    Locations: Halloran Springs.
    Full Size ImageArrastre near Halloran Springs.  

    		  

     

       

    Sunday, 24-Apr-05

     

    Locations: Mountain Pass.
    Full Size ImageView of the Unocal processing plant at the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine  

    		  

    Literature Cited:
    - Reynolds, Robert E., and Ted Weasma, 2005.

    Other articles: Zinc Mine Road 10200

    Locations: Mollusk Mine.  
    Full Size Image
    Mollusk Mine in Mountain Pass.
    Also known as the Mescal Mine and the Cambria Mine, the Mollusk Mine produced high-grade gold and silver ore with antimony between 1882 and 1888. The ore was processed at a 10-stamp mill at Mescal Spring.

    Other articles: Zinc Mine Road 16000

    Locations: Striped Mountain.
    Full Size ImageStriped Mountain in Piute Valley.  

    		 Striped Mountain to the south.

    Literature Cited:
    - Reynolds, Robert E., and Ted Weasma, 2005.

    Other articles: Kessler Peak Road 40000

    Locations: Silverado-Tungstite Claims.  
    Full Size Image
    Silverado-Tungstite claims
    Silver was shipped from the Silverado Claim before 1900. The Tungstite skarn is along a dolomite/granite contact containing epidote, garnet, and scheelite (calcium tungstate); it was prospected until 1951. The four rock ruins were apparently housing and an assay building. Also nearby is rockwork probably associated with an old regional freight road.

    Literature Cited:
    - Reynolds, Robert E., and Ted Weasma, 2005.

    Other articles: Kessler Peak Road 40000

    Locations: Silverado-Tungstite Claims.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking down the main shaft of the Silverado Claim.
     

    Literature Cited:
    - Reynolds, Robert E., and Ted Weasma, 2005.

    Other articles: Kessler Peak Road 45000

    Locations: Standard No. 1 Mine.  
    Full Size Image
    View of the Standard No. 1 Mine Camp.
    The Excelsior was located in 1896 and produced copper with gold and silver between 1902 and 1908 from a skarn that contained magnetite, chalcopyrite, and scheelite. Before 1905, ore from the Standard No. 1 was hauled by wagon to a smelter at Needles. Rail service was established to Cima in 1905, and ore was then hauled by 16-horse-team wagons to rail cars bound for smelters in Salt Lake, Utah.

    Literature Cited:
    - Reynolds, Robert E., and Ted Weasma, 2005.

    Other articles: Kessler Peak Road 47000

    Locations: Evening Star Mine.  
    Full Size Image
    View of the Evening Star Mine
    The Evening Star Mine was the only producer of tin ore (cassiterite, tin oxide) in the eastern Mojave Desert. The mine was in production between 1939 and 1944.

    Locations: Death Valley Mine.
    Full Size ImageView of headframe at Death Valley Mine near Cima, California  

    		  

    Other articles: FAQ Death Valley Mine

    Locations: Death Valley Mine.
    Full Size ImageView of Cima Dome from the dump of the Death Valley Mine.  

    		  

    Locations: Death Valley Mine.
    Full Size ImageInclined conveyor belt at the Death Valley Mine.  

    		  

    Locations: Death Valley Mine.
    Full Size ImageNew headframe at the Death Valley Mine.  

    		  

    Locations: Goffs.
    Full Size ImageGoffs School House.  

    		  

    Locations: Goffs.
    Full Size ImageDennis Casebier gives an overview of the Goffs Schoolhouse and MDCHA  

    		  

    Locations: Goffs.
    Full Size ImageCollected equipment at the Goffs Schoolhouse.  

    		  

    Locations: Goldhammer Mine.
    Full Size ImageBird eggs in a shaft of the Goldhammer Mine.  

    		 The field strip stopped at the Goldhammer Mine, to attempt to learn how the ore was processed and what the remnants of the equipment was used for. Unfortunately, I got distracted by the bird eggs in one of the mine shafts …

    Other articles: Field Notes 20 Apr 04 Coll No 341

    Locations: Goldhammer Mine.
    Full Size ImageLilac Sunbonnet (Langloisia setosissima ssp. punctata) at the Goldhammer Mine.  

    		 … and by the abundant Lilac Sunbonnet (Langloisia setosissima ssp. punctata) growing in the gravel around the mine. This was as good of display for this species as I have seen anywhere, and the mine would be a good stop for wildflowers in any good year.

    Other articles: Kelbaker Road 25000

    Locations: Vulcan Iron Mine.
    Full Size ImageView of the Vulcan Iron Mine from Kelbaker Road  

    		  

     

       

    April 25, 2005

     

    Other articles: California Highway 58 36800
    Full Size ImageThe 4Runner with 100,000 Miles.  

    		 As I was descending into Bakersfield on California Highway 58 on April 25, 2005, the 4Runner turned over 100,000 miles at General Beale Road. We got off to buy some produce and to take this photo.

     

       

    May 1, 2005

     

    Locations: Mount Diablo.
    Full Size ImageMount Diablo as seen from Tilden Regional Park.  

    		 We hiked up the Big Springs Trail, nearly to Vollmer Peak, then took a shortcut to the ridge for this view.

    Locations: Bear Valley Reservoir.
    Full Size ImageBear Valley Reservoir, seen from Tilden Park.  

    		 Looking a little farther to the left (north), we could see Bear Valley Reservoir.

     

       

    Friday, May 13, 2005

     

    Other articles: California Highway 140 45000
    Full Size ImageSierra Nevada from near Merced.  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 140 28000

    Locations: Bear Creek.
    Full Size ImageBear Creek along California Highway 140.  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 140 27900

    Locations: Bear Creek.
    Full Size ImageCalifornia Highway 140 descends the canyon of Bear Creek.  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 140 22020
    Full Size ImageChinese Houses (Collinsia heterophylla along Highway 140 and the Merced River.  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 140 22010
    Full Size ImageMerced River below El Portal  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 41 Inspiration Point

    Locations: Yosemite National Park.
    Full Size ImageView of Yosemite Valley from Inspiration Point.  

    		  

    Locations: Yosemite National Park.
    Full Size ImageWe get wet at Bridalveil Fall.  

    		  

    Locations: Yosemite National Park.
    Full Size ImageYosemite Falls above a full Merced River.  

    		  

    Locations: Yosemite National Park.
    Full Size ImageCoyote in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park.  

    		  

     

       

    Saturday, May 14,2005

     

    Full Size ImageCheryl makes it to the top of Vernal Fall.      		  

    Locations: Yosemite National Park.
    Full Size ImageLunch at the Silver Apron, above Vernal Fall.  

    		  

    Full Size ImageTom on the bridge above Vernal Fall.      		  

    Full Size ImageCheryl on the bridge above Vernal Fall.      		  

    Locations: Yosemite National Park.
    Full Size ImageNevada Fall  

    		  

    Locations: Vernal Fall. Yosemite National Park.
    Full Size ImageVernal Fall from above.  

    		  

    Locations: Vernal Fall. Yosemite National Park.
    Full Size ImageCheryl and Tom at the bridge below Vernal Fall.  

    		  

     

       

    Friday, 27-May-05

     
      We left home on Friday in the early morning, making good time until we left Barstow.
      Then there was an accident on I-15 between Barstow and Baker that had the highway jammed up for about 10 miles and about an hour. However, we still got to Baker in time to get a placard for the car.
      We had an early dinner at the Mad Greek Restaurant in Baker. I had a chicken giro while my wife had the more authentic lamb giro.
      From Baker we continued up the I-15 to Cima (Kessler Springs) Road. This is the road that goes from Valley Wells in Interstate 15, past Kessler Springs and the Kessler Springs Ranch, to Cima, where it joins Morningstar Mine Road and Kelso-Cima Road. Other sources refer to this as Cima Road, as does CALTRANS.

    Other articles: Kessler Springs Road near Evening Star Mine

    Locations: Evening Star Mine.
    Full Size ImageThe Evening Star Mine as seen from Kessler Springs (Cima) Road.  

    		 From Cima Road, we could see the Evening Star Mine. I have driven by here many times, and perhaps seen the headframe from the road, but it wasn’t until this year’s Desert Research Symposium that I went up to the site of the mine.
      We drove in to the Mid Hills Campground arriving at about 630 PM -- plenty of time to set up the tent before dark. We got our favorite camp site (#24) up near the top of the campground, and behind a small hill that gives shelter from the wind. The weather was very nice, about 80-85 in the daytime, and 55 at night.

     

       

    Saturday, 28-May-05

     
      Saturday, I measured my plot in Salvia dorrii.

    Full Size ImageTag showing location in Salvia dorrii plot.      		 At the Salvia dorrii plot, we stretched the measuring tape and then added plastic tags to the centerline stakes where I have found S. dorrii. This should help me measure faster and more accurately in the future. Confusion about my position in the plot has caused data problems in the past.

    Other articles: Salvia dorrii 210110
    Full Size ImageMy plot at LoboPoint  

    		 After putting down the tags, I left the tape in place and climbed the mesa rim to the south to take photos. my wife went out and stood in the plot for the photo to provide scale.

    Other articles: Salvia dorrii 210111
    Full Size Image(Large-size Photo) My plot at LoboPoint  

    		 This photo is large-sized (1.2 MB).
      While on the rim, I collected a little Phacelia that I think is P. perityloides. There were five or six specimens of this plant, and several of them were growing out of cracks in the rocks where there was no soil.

    Full Size ImagePhacelia perityloides var. jaegeri at Lobo Point.
    Full Size ImageCollection No. 458, Phacelia perityloides var. jaegeri      		 458  458 Phacelia perityloides
      Then came measuring the plot. This went a lot slower than I thought it would. Replacing the numbers on the stakes was the main thing that slowed me down.

    Other articles: Salvia dorrii 2312313620050528
    Full Size ImageWhite 136 on May 28, 2005.  

    		 Stakes that had been recycled previously were given new numbers. For example, for the stake that is recorded as “xW036,” the “x” tells me that I have used the stake before, probably in another plot. So I renumbered this one to be W136.
      This year I also started using clear acrylic stakes, instead of the fiberglass stakes. After several years in the field, the fiberglass stakes begin to shred glass fibers. They are difficult to handle without getting the fibers in my hands. Probably it’s better not to introduce the glass fibers into the environment where they might cause similar irritation to some of the small animals.
      There were just 13 live Salvia dorrii, down from almost 100 maximum from before. All live S. dorrii were in bloom except for one small plant. No seedlings survived the recent years’ drought.
      Later, relaxing in the tent before going to sleep, I found myself wondering why we hava a noun “drought” to describe the lack of rainfall, but no simple word for the opposite condition, a period of plentiful rainfall.
      While there were no new seedlings, every live plant, except one, had flowers. The flowers should produce seed that should produce seedlings next year, if we get one more year of good rain. This leads me to believe that Salvia dorrii does not store reproductive capacity in a soil seed bank as does Frasera albomarginata. Instead, reproductive capacity is stored in mature, live plants through periods of drought.
      Some of the very mature Salvia dorrii have split stems, and only one small branch of the large plant is still alive.
      After measurement, I took photos of the live plants, then coiled up the tape and finished.
      For lunch we drive into Lobo Point, where we had a leisurely lunch. I think my wife has hummus and pita bread and I have ham and cheese on crackers, while we shared some pistachios and carrots. We also read our books and relaxed a bit.

    Full Size ImageKeckiella antirrhinoides var. microphylla at Lobo Point.      		 I walked up the hillside to find the Keckiella. It was in bloom. Then I walked across to a specimen of Horsebush to see if it was blooming. It wasn’t yet. The Symphoricarpus was in bloom, and the Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa) was just beginning to set seed. Wright’s buckwheat was beginning to grow flower stalks but not flowering yet, just like at at home.
      From Lobo Point we went to Pinto Mountain to see one of the plots of Frasera albomarginata. There were many Frasera albomarginata in bloom at Pinto Mountain. In my plot, there was one plant in bloom, two plants still alive from last year, and one new plant this year. I measured and photographed my plots, and then we walked back down to the car. The Cliff Rose was setting seed while still flowering.
      We returned to camp, and cleaned up a bit. After attitude adjustment hour, we had a fine dinner of Frito-Pie: Chili over a bed of Fritos (corn chips), with grated cheese on top. It felt good to lay down when it got dark and a little cool. Tonight, I finished The Dive from Clausen’s Pier.

     

       

    Sunday, 29-May-05

     
      Then Sunday, we went to Wild Horse Mesa and measured the Frasera albomarginata plot there.

    Other articles: Wild Horse Canyon Road on the road
    Full Size ImageGopher snake on Wild Horse Canyon Road.  

    		 On our way south on Wild Horse Canyon Road, we came upon this Gopher snake sunning itself.

    Other articles: Wild Horse Canyon Road near Wild Horse Mesa
    Full Size ImageJuniper with dead outer branches beginning to sprout inside.
    Full Size ImageSingle-Leaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala) on the north face of Wild Horse Mesa.  
    Full Size Image
    Single-Leaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala) on the north face of Wild Horse Mesa.
    The road to Winklers Cabin was nearly washed out, but I was undeterred, and we drove to the usual trailhead.

    We walked up the old road. Since vehicles cannot drive on the road, it is becoming more faint every year. At some point it will just disappear completely. I just wonder whether other people will be able to find the old roads and trails, and follow them up to the rim of the mesa. Or, perhaps, now that we have a national park, no one does that any more, and it doesn’t matter.

    I could not see any water in the Guzzler. Perhaps it has sprung a leak.

    On the way up to the experimental plots, we passed a Juniper that had nearly died. This year, all the outside of the large shrub is still brown, but it is growing from the inside, and live green foliage can be seen inside the brown dead foliage.

    The Single-Leaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala) was in bloom this year.


    Full Size ImageMeasuring Frasera albomarginata on the north face of Wild Horse Mesa.
    Full Size ImageMeasuring Frasera albomarginata on the north face of Wild Horse Mesa.
    Full Size ImageView from the north face of Wild Horse Mesa.  
    Full Size Image
    Some Frasera albomarginata on Wild Horse Mesa.    		 Full Size Image
    General view of my Wild Horse Mesa plot.
    From my plots on the north face of the mesa, we got a good view of upper Wild Horse Canyon, and the Mid Hills beyond. Many of the junipers in the middle ground that are brown have died from years of drought.

    The experimental plot had 41 new seedlings this year, with 48 plants surviving from last year, plus three plants from prior years. Outside the plot, many Frasera albomarginata were blooming, but none were blooming inside. I'm not sure why this might be: except perhaps my repeated visits have affected the growth of the plants.

    Also seen in bloom were: Atriplex canescens, Calochortus kennedyi, Dalea searlesiae, Fraxinus anomala, Galium cf. parishii, Linanthus (blue), and Penstemon eatonii.

      After we came down off the mountain, we decided to return to Lobo Point for lunch. I took a few photographs around the area, then we drove to Hole in the Wall.
      At Hole-in-the-Wall, we talked to a couple from England, who were visiting for the day. They were on a combined business-pleasure trip that started in San Diego, and would end in Las Vegas the next day. There were quite a few more people at Hole-in-the-Wall, and I am reminded of a previous observation: since the area became a national park, there are more people on the roads and in the campgrounds, but fewer people in the back country.

    Other articles: Black Canyon Road 17490 17500 17510
    Full Size ImageRunning water in Black Canyon, looking north.
    Full Size ImageRunning water in Black Canyon, looking south.  
    Full Size Image
    Insect larvae in running water, Black Canyon, May 29, 2005
    Returning through Black Canyon, north on Black Canyon Road, we were surprised to see a large stream running in Black Canyon.

    There were also a larvae of some sort clinging to the rocks in the water. Perhaps, these are mosquito larvae, or perhaps the larvae of the little biting flies.

      So far we haven’t decided about tomorrow. I’m thinking of exiting through Macedonia Canyon, and then trying to enter Mormon Canyon before going on to Saint George.
      Tonight, I started The Shadow of the Wind.

     

       

    Monday, 30-May-05

     
      Monday morning after breakfast we packed the car and attempted to leave the Mid Hills area by way of Macedonia Canyon.

    Other articles: Macedonia Canyon 17500 20500

    Locations: Macedonia Canyon.
    Full Size ImageWashout in Macedonia Canyon  
    Full Size Image
    Washout in Macedonia Canyon
    In the middle section of Macedonia Canyon, the road was washed out, as you can see in the photo. This washout was more than a half mile in length, as the incised streambed, up to 2 feet in depth, meandered back and forth across the former road. I had heard that there was some difficulty in the canyon, but figured that someone surely would have blazed a new trail down the canyon. Not yet, though. So we took some photos and drove back up the canyon.

    Other articles: Ivanpah Road 19980 19990

    Locations: New York Mountains.
    Full Size ImageThe New York Mountains as seen from Ivanpah Road.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking north on Ivanpah Road.
    For Plan B, we left the eastern Mojave by way of Lanfair Valley, and Ivanpah Road, joining Interstate 15 near Stateline, Nevada. Stopped in the vicinity of Purdy for a photo or two.

    Other articles: Ivanpah Road 19970

    Locations: Castle Peaks.
    Full Size ImageLooking north east to the Castle Peaks.  

    		  

    Other articles: Ivanpah Road near Barnwell.

    Locations: New York Mountains.
    Full Size ImageNew York Mountains, as seen from the east on Ivanpah Road.  

    		 Stopped again at Barnwell (Manvel) for a photo when the area is green. Formerly, my only other photo of Barnwell was taken in the depths of serious drought.
      We bypassed Las Vegas, keeping both hands on the wheel, and looking neither to the right nor left, and headed up the Interstate to St. George.

    Other articles: Interstate 15 Virgin R RA Virgin R Gorge

    Locations: Virgin River.
    Full Size ImageVirgin River in its gorge, near the upper end.  
    Full Size Image
    Virgin River Gorge Recreation Area, Washington County, Utah
    While driving through the Virgin River Gorge, I watched for a place to stop and take an interesting photo. Unfortunately, there are very few places to stop, and many places are signed "No Stopping." By the time we stopped here, we were nearly through the gorge, and there wasn't much interesting to see here.

    Stopped for lunch at a picnic area in the Virgin River Gorge Recreation Area.

      Then we drove the remainder of the way into Saint George, and then came on in to town. We made the mistake again of getting off at Bluff Street and having to drive up through the town to Saint George Blvd, where the main part of town is. We're staying at a Best Western where we've stayed before.
      We had dinner at a good restaurant in Ancestor Square, about two blocks away, called the Painted Pony. Then we went to the supermarket to buy supplies for the next few days. Before returning to the motel, we drove out to a housing development west of St. George called Kayenta. There the houses have large lots, they are all single story painted in earth tones, and the landscaping is as natural as possible. It's very pretty, but also probably very expensive.

     

       

    Tuesday, 31-May-05

     
      Our plan for Tuesday was to Toroweap on the north rim of Grand Canyon -- 90 miles of dirt roads -- not to mention stalking the wild Frasera albomarginata on Mt. Trumbull.
      Well, we didn't make it to Toroweap. After a fine breakfast at the Bear Paw Cafe in Saint George, we went to the local BLM office for information. The lady told us not to try the road we were thinking of, but to try a different one that entailed 40 miles of highway, followed by only 61 miles of dirt road. She also warned us about flat tires, and all manner of pestilence.

    Other articles: Mount Trumbull Loop 88000
    Full Size ImageVermilion Cliffs as seen from Mt. Trumbull Loop Road, near Pipe Springs, AZ  

    		 So we headed out that way, got gas at Pipe Spring, then turned south. At 14 miles of the 61 miles total, I felt a heavy vibration in the back. When I stopped --- we had a flat tire on the right rear. Oh bother! Well, we jacked it up and changed the tire, but what to do now? Deciding a second flat tire in the absence of a second spare would put a crimp on our day, we returned to Saint George.

    Other articles: Utah Highway 59 at Hurricane Cliffs

    Locations: Hurricane. La Verkin.
    Full Size ImageHurricane as seen from the Hurricane Cliffs on the east.  
    Full Size Image
    Hurricane, Utah, looking southwest from a pullout on Utah Highway 59.    		 Full Size Image
    La Verkin and the Hurricane Cliffs.
    There is a place to pull off of Utah Highway 59 and overlook Hurricane. We stopped here briefly on our way to Big O for tires.
      We went to Big O and got four new tires. While we waited for the tires, we went next door to Jimmy Johns Worlds Greatest Gourmet Sandwich Shop, where we shared a turkey sub.
      But now it was 300 PM. Did we want to try the 3-4 hours of driving to Toroweap? Well, we decided no. Instead we headed north, up the I-15.

    Other articles: Interstate 15 28390 at Kolob Cyns 28410

    Locations: Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park.
    Full Size ImageCheryl and Tom at the Kolob Canyons Overlook.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking southwest along US I-15 near Kolob Canyons.    		 Full Size Image
    Fort Harmony and the Harmony Mountains across US I-15.
    We stopped for a while at Kolob Canyon, where the attached photo was taken, a unit of Zion National Park, and then finished the drive into Cedar City.
      So we're at the BestWestern Cedar City. The motel doesn't have high speed Internet, but I'm picking up a signal from somewhere. My laptop says it's a good signal, and it's running at 54Mbps. Who knows where it's coming from.
      In keeping with the theme of the day, we had a lousy dinner. After finding the first two of our choices closed, one permanently, and one not open for dinner, we cruised another and decided it looked a little weird, and then settled for the restaurant attached to the motel. This was called the Cedar Creek Restaurant and it seems to be run by a very serious young man named “Cody.” The waitresses were pretty perky, and we had lots of free refills of iced tea and water, but the lettuce at the salad bar was pretty bad. We had soup instead, a creamy chicken with wild rice and sodium, which tasted good but probably near toxic levels, and the rest of the meal was nothing to write home about, so I won't. We lied, we asked for a box to put our leftover food in, then left the food in the motel parking lot garbage can.
      Well, as for Wednesday, we're headed north and west to US Hwy 50 near Great Basin National Park, settling there, in Ely, Nevada, or maybe Eureka, Nevada. We are expecting improvement in both experience and attitude.

     

       

    Wednesday, 1-Jun-05

     
      This morning we went to the Mountain Grill for breakfast. The pancakes were pretty good, but the coffee was watery. This set the theme for the day for both of were a bit foggy-brained for the day.
      Heading north on Interstate 15, we came under increasing cloud cover. We had read about floods caused by heavy rains in the Salt Lake City area, and wondered if we would encounter rain as well.

    Other articles: Utah Highway 21 ... west of Milford. ... west of Milford.

    Locations: Pine Valley Mountains. San Francisco Mountains.
    Full Size ImageView westward of the San Francisco Mountains from near Milford, Utah.  
    Full Size Image
    View south from near Milford.
    At Beaver, we got gas and headed west on Utah Highway 21. Past Minersville, the highway turned north toward Milford. Here we waited a while for the Union Pacific blocked the only highway crossing in town. While waiting I counted four westbound trains stacked up in the siding. It looked like three westbound manifest trains, and one container train waiting to be the next to move, while a single eastbound train blocked the mainline, and the highway, then slowly moved east out of the way. As Utah Philips says, “It takes UP to spell ‘stupid.’”

    Other articles: FAQ Bee Hive Charcoal Ovens Utah Highway 21 at Frisco Mine. Frisco … near Frisco.

    Locations: Frisco. San Francisco Mountains.
    Full Size ImageBee Hive ovens at the Frisco Mine, Utah.  
    Full Size Image
    Frisco Mine workings.    		 Full Size Image
    Plaque for town of Frisco.
    From Milford the highway turned west again and climbed into the San Francisco Mountains, and the mining town of Frisco. Here, we got off the highway, and looked around for Frasera albomarginata, which we could not find. The road to Frisco is blocked be some pretty substantial gates, and we decided not to use the informal bypass that jumps the ditch, so after driving by the cemetery, we returned to the highway and continued west.

    Literature Cited:
    - Hintze, Lehi F., and Fitzhugh D. Davis, 2002.

    Other articles: Utah Highway 21 59000

    Locations: Wah Wah Mountains.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking west across Wah Wah Valley to the Wah Wah Mountains.
     
      After crossing the Wah Wah Valley, the highway climbs into the Wah Wah Mountains. I had read about these mountains in the GSA Bulletin, but could not remember the topic at the time.

    Literature Cited:
    - Hintze, Lehi F., and Fitzhugh D. Davis, 2002.

    Other articles: Utah Highway 21 at Wah Wah Summit at Wah Wah Summit

    Locations: Wah Wah Mountains. Wah Wah Summit.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking west through Wah Wah Summit.    		 Full Size Image
    Looking north into the Wah Wah Mountains from Wah Wah Summit.
    We pulled off the highway at the summit, and I looked around a bit for Frasera albomarginata. Didn’t find it here either, though I did find some typical associates, such as Petrophyton caespitosum.

    Other articles: Utah Highway 21 west of Halfway Summit

    Locations: Snake Range.
    Full Size ImageLooking west into Nevada from Utah.  

    		 Utah Highway 21 drops off the west side of the Wah Wah Mountains, and turns northwest through Pine Valley to Garrison, Utah, and the Utah-Nevada border.

    Other articles: NV Highway 487 near Utah border

    Locations: Snake Valley. Snake Valley.
    Full Size ImageThe beginning of Utah Highway 21  
    Full Size Image
    The beginning of Nevada Highway 487, south of Baker.
    After passing Garrison, Utah we crossed into Nevada from Utah just south of Baker, Utah.

    Other articles: Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive 30000

    Locations: Snake Valley. Wheeler Peak.
    Full Size ImageJeff Davis and Wheeler Peak.  
    Full Size Image
    View of Snake Valley from Mather Overlook.
    At Baker, Nevada, we turned west and climbed into Great Basin National Park. Stopped at the visitor center, then headed up the ------ road.

    Other articles: Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive 20000

    Locations: Great Basin National Park. Wheeler Peak.
    Full Size ImageEnd of the road on June 1, 2005.  

    		 Deciding it was too cold for lunch at 10,000 feet, we returned to Upper Lehman Creek Campground, where we had lunch beside a small rushing branch of Lehman Creek.
      Leaving Great Basin National Park, US Highway 50 climbs over Sacramento Pass, then crosses Spring Valley.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 50 71500

    Locations: Snake Range.
    Full Size ImageLooking east at the Snake Range from the Schell Creek Range.  

    		 Climbing through the Schell Creek Range to Connors Pass (elevation 7,723 ft, 2353 m), we could look back and see Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park. After descending the west side of the Schell Creek Range, the road heads northwest to Ely, Nevada. At Ely, we got a motel room at the Best Western Main motel.
      Knowing we had a place to stay the night, we left town by Highway 6 south bound for the White River Valley.

    Other articles: Nevada Highway 318 above White River Valley

    Locations: Egan Range. White River Valley.
    Full Size ImageView southeast to Lund and the Egan Range, Nevada.  

    		 I wanted to visit some places in the White River Valley because Douglas Post collected several species of Frasera here. Twenty-four miles south of Ely, we turned south on Nevada Highway 318. In 1998, we briefly visited Hiko at the southern end of this highway. However, this trip we would not get so far south. At its north end, Highway 318 passes by Preston. There is a motel and coffee shop here that look decent.

    Other articles: Nevada Highway 318 at road to Adams-McGill Res.

    Locations: White River Valley.
    Full Size ImageGap Mountain Camp with southern end of Egan Range in the background.  

    		 We continued through Lund to Gap Mountain. Here we turned west to Gap Camp. I had seen this camp on the map and wanted to know if it was a real camp ground. The camp looks to be a former hunter’s camp of little cabins and trailers. However, there is a BLM sign stating the camp is closed due to lack of maintenance funds. Perhaps, the BLM owns the camp and could lease the cabins if they were maintained.
      We drive across the dam of the Adams-McGill Reservoir, watching the baby coots and the yellow-headed blackbirds. Of course, I was so busy trying not to drive off the dam while looking around, I failed to take a photograph of the dam or the lake. It turns out the largest of four reservoirs in the Kirch Wildlife Management Area. The other three are Dacey Reservoir, Hay Meadow Reservoir, and Tule Field Reservoir.

    Other articles: Nevada Highway 318 at Gap Mtn

    Locations: Gap Mountain.
    Full Size ImageGap Mountain as seen from Adams-McGill Reservoir.  

    		 Looking back east we could see Gap Mountain without a large cloud shadow on it. Also to the north (left), Gap Mountain Camp could be seen.
      We did a drive-by of the Hot Creek Campground. It looks livable, there are a few large cottonwood trees, that give some shade to the lucky camps. I think you would really want to fish or hunt here, to justify camping as well.
      While most maps and brochures refer to this campground at the Hot Creek Campground, it also has a sign referring to itself as the “Dave Deacon Campground.” Dave Deacon is the new and preferred name.

    Other articles: Nevada Highway 318 near Hot Creek Springs

    Locations: Hot Creek Springs.
    Full Size ImageHot Creek Springs with the southern Egan Range.  
    Full Size Image
    Hot Creek Springs with Gap Mountain in background.
    We drove a half-mile or so to the Hot Creek Springs access parking lot. Here we learned of the presence of the rare White River Springfish in Hot Creek. We walked a few yards to the stream, and could see a lot of little fish in the very clear, and aqua-colored stream. The sign at the springs says:

    Endangered Fish Sanctuary

    This spring is inhabited by the rare White River Springfish, one of the few native fishes of this area. This sanctuary will help to insure its contunued unmolested existence. Unlawful to remove any fish from this water or to introduce any species

    Nevada Dept. of Wildlife.

      I tired to take some photos of the fish, but all I got were some very nice “art-sy” shots of ripples in pretty aqua-colored water.
      From Hot Creek Springs, we drove past the settlement of Sunnyside, back to Highway 318. We were looking for White Horse Pasture, where Douglas Post recorded collecting Frasera gypsicola.

    Other articles: Nevada Highway 318 near White Horse Pasture

    Locations: Egan Range. White Horse Pasture.
    Full Size ImageThe Egan Range as seen from White Horse Pasture.  

    		 North about 10-12 miles, we passed an apparently abandoned settlement that I would guess to be at the site of Emigrant Springs. While the DeLorme Atlas suggested that one should turn west here, we saw no open gates that we felt comfortable driving through. Instead we continued north another half-mile to a road signed for Wells Station Summit and Currant.

    Other articles: Nevada Highway 318 near White Horse Pasture

    Locations: White River.
    Full Size ImageThe main channel of the White River in White Horse Pasture.  

    		 We drove out just past the main channel of the White River, then turned around and drive back, getting out several times looking for anything that might be a kind of Frasera. At this location, there was no flowing water in the White River, only a stagnant puddle that was associated by the excavation made to install the culvert. There was also a stream depth gauge with a satellite uplink, stranded in the dry section of the river bed. There was no sign of any plant remotely resembling a Frasera.

    Other articles: Nevada Highway 318 near Emigrant Sprs.

    Locations: White Horse Pasture.
    Full Size ImageThe Egan Range as seen from White Horse Pasture.  

    		 From this location in White Horse Pasture, I could see the trees of the abandoned station at Emigrant Springs, with the Egan Range, in the vicinity of Shingle Pass, well lighted by the afternoon sun.
      To the northwest the resistant cliff-forming limestone of the Egan Range were also well-lit by the late afternoon sun.

    Other articles: Nevada Highway 318 near Hardy Springs

    Locations: Hardy Springs.
    Full Size ImageHardy Springs, Egan Range in background.  
    Full Size Image
    Collection No. 459.    		 Full Size Image
    Collection No. 459.
    However, to the southeast were some trees and perhaps a spring that we followed a small road to. Later, I learned that this is one of the Hardy Springs. There is a corral here, and one spring with a good flow. Here I found one plant with leaves that might be Gentian Family but I’ll have to compare them to herbarium specimens after they’ve dried.
      From Hardy Springs, we got back on Nevada Highway 318, and then US Highway 6, for our drive back to Ely, Nevada. Our next door neighbors at the motel turned out to be a couple of bikers, with big Harley hogs. When we pulled they were cleaning their bikes from the day’s run. They told us they had come from Modesto. One of them was stopping to visit relatives at Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and the other was continuing on to Greely, Colorado. Then he would return to Glenwood Springs, and they would ride together back to Modesto. They were a little concerned about the weather and likelihood of rain while crossing Utah. We didn’t do anything to help allay their fears, noting the floods in Toole, Utah, the previous day.
      For dinner, we went to the Silver State Restaurant, across the street from the motel. I had a grilled chicken sandwich, with a salad substituting for the standard French fries. The sandwich was very tasty, but I did not realize it would come with some sort of cheese. I should have pressed the waitress for a hamburger with a chicken breast instead of following her suggestion that I get the grilled chicken sandwich. At least the iceberg lettuce that came with three carrot shreds as the “salad” was edible here. my wife had the hamburger, which she said was very good. For dessert, we each had an ice cream cone. Oh … if they only had a Starbucks in Ely …..
      After dinner, I fired up my laptop and looked for a wireless Internet connection. I found two, one of which had a nice strong signal, but neither would let me connect, so I shut off my laptop and read my book, The Shadow of the Wind, (La Sombra del Viento) instead.

     

       

    Thursday, 2-Jun-05

     
      This morning, we got up fairly early (6:30 AM) dressed, and went over to the Silver State Restaurant for breakfast. I had my now-usual stack of pancakes with an egg on the side, with a strip of bacon donated by my wife from her breakfast. Unfortunately, we had to suffer though another watery cup of coffee this morning. Oh please, someone teach these people how to make a real cup of coffee! We heard one of the morning waitresses say that she had worked in this restaurant for 32 years. Maybe it’s time to change the grounds in the coffee maker.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 50 west of Ely

    Locations: Gleason Creek. Robinson Canyon.
    Full Size ImageRobinson Canyon, east of Ely, Nevada.  

    		 After breakfast we talked with the bikers for a few minutes, and wished each other good luck and safe journey. Then we got in the car and headed west on US Highway 50. A few miles west of town is the mining town of Ruth, where we pulled off the highway. On the road to Ruth, I noticed a sign directing us to the Overlook of the Liberty Pit.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 50 at Nev SR 44

    Locations: Robinson Mining District.
    Full Size ImageThe Deep Ruth Shaft in the Robinson Mining District, near Ely, Nevada.  
    Full Size Image
    The Liberty Pit of the Robinson Mining District, near Ely, Nevada.
    We turned here, and followed the road … further … and further; until we were sure we had missed something, and then turned around. On the return trip, we could see the overlook, and soon found the gate, and small sign directing us that way had we been paying attention. We stopped at the overlook for a few minutes, but not too long as the breeze was quite chilly. The pit is impressive, great big hole, but we did not see anyone really working on a Thursday.
      We returned to the road and drove into Ruth. It’s a cute little down, with many houses built just the same, like a company town. The Mackay School of Mines from University of Nevada at Reno has a field station here, and three van loads of students were forming up for a day in the field.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 50 West slope, Egan Range

    Locations: Jakey Valley.
    Full Size ImageLooking west across Jakey Valley to the White Pine Mountains.  

    		 Returning to the highway, we went northwest over Robinson Summit and crossed Jakey Valley, where we could see the White Pine Range.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 50 West slope, White Pine Range
    Full Size ImageLooking west across Newark Valley to the Diamond Mountains from the White Pine Range.  

    		 Crossing the White Pine Range through Little Antelope Summit, and down the other side we could see Diamond Peak and the Diamond Mountains.
      We stopped in Eureka for gas, and a Bio-Break, then continued on, as I have previously explored much of Eureka, and my wife did not have anything she wanted to see here.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 50 near Eureka

    Locations: Ruby Hill.
    Full Size ImageRuby Hill, in the Eureka Mining District.  

    		 I stopped along the highway for a look back at the Eureka Mining District at the north end of the Fish Creek Range.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 50 58500 58700

    Locations: Big Smoky Valley. Toiyabe Range.
    Full Size ImageLooking south into the Big Smoky Valley from near Hickison Summit.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking southwest, up at the Toiyabe Range, from US Highway 50.
    Past Hickison Summit, US Highway 50 crosses the north end of the Big Smokey Valley.
      … and then crosses the Toiyabe Range. It’s just one mountain range after another … after another.
      I tried to take a couple of interesting photos of Austin from above, but from that vantage point the town is mostly trailers and junkyards. Of the three towns on US Highway 50, Ely, Eureka, and Austin, the latter is most up in the mountains, and constrained by the canyon slopes, and the highway. The canyon at Eureka is a little wider and more open, while Ely is situated at the mouth of the canyon.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 50 near Middlegate
    Full Size ImageThe Shoe Tree  

    		 On our way from Austin to the Earthquake Faults, we used Highway 50, instead of dropping down to Nevada 722, as we have done the last few times. We did stop at the Shoe Tree for a photo, then continued on to the Earthquake Faults.
      There are hundreds of shoes in this tree, and it looks like people climb up into the tree, and hand large bunches of shoes from it.

    Other articles: Fairview Peak Road 10400 U. S. Highway 50 at Fairview Pk Rd

    Locations: Fairview Peak.
    Full Size ImageBLM sign at the earthquake faults.  

    		 Just west of Fairview Peak, we turned south on the earthquake road. There were several earthquakes in this area in 1954. I had read about this place in a couple of geology books, and field trip guides.

    Other articles: Fairview Peak Road 15000

    Locations: Fairview Peak.
    Full Size ImageMain scarp at Fairview Peak earthquake fault.  
    Full Size Image
    View from the top of the earthquake fault scarp.
    After reviewing the BLM introductory sign, we drove up to the “Main Scarp.” This was in a pretty little valley with lots of wild flowers. Here, the earth moved 2 meters vertically and 3 meters horizontally for a total of more than 5 meters (15 feet).
      The scarp is still very visible, and I took a photo from the top showing my wife at the bottom.

    Other articles: Fairview Peak Road 14000

    Locations: Fairview Peak.
    Full Size ImageView north from Fairview Peak Road.  

    		 From here we drove a little further south, looked at some scarps, then back north a little way to have lunch.
      After lunch, we headed back to US Highway 50, and then west through Fallon. We stopped at Verdi for gas, just as the rain began falling. It rained pretty good from Verdi to Truckee, but by the time we passed over Donner Summit, the sun was out.
      Dinner was a cheeseburger at In ‘n’ Out Burger in Auburn. We drove by our former property in Lincoln to see what the new owners have done with it. They have finished a garage, and leveled a pad to build a house. However, for the time being they are living in a trailer.
      From Lincoln, we drive home to Alameda.
      My Trip To Cerro Gordo. Mi Viaje A Cerro Gordo

     

       

    Friday, July 15, 2005

     
      Steve Keire, a friend from work, and I left Friday morning. Driving south on the Interstate 5 highway, we stopped for lunch supplies in Bakersfield.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 178 11700

    Locations: Kern River.
    Full Size ImageLower Kern River  

    		 We stopped briefly for lunch in the lower Kern River canyon. It was still very hot here, and strewn with garbage, so we did not stay long. We continued up the canyon, and past Lake Isabella, which was quite full and then over Walker Pass.

    Literature Cited:
    - Clark, Marin K., Gweltaz Maheo, Jason Saleeby, and Kenneth A Farley, 2005.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 178 at Walker Pass

    Locations: Walker Pass.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking south across Walker Pass.
    Stopped briefly at Walker Pass, to read the memorial plaque. On previous trips I have recorded the text of this plaque.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 178 near Walker Pass

    Locations: Walker Pass.
    Full Size ImageView east from Walker Pass into Indian Wells Valley  

    		 We reviewed the trail signs on the north side of the highway, and looked at the vegetation and the view, mostly, I think, thankful that we had passed into the region of our destination.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 178 near Walker Pass
    Full Size ImageSteve inspects the weather station in Walker Pass.  

    		 There is also remote weather station on the south side of the highway. It has a radio-frequency antenna, and not a satellite communications antenna. So, I don’t think it is connected into the ROMAN (Real-time Observation Monitor and Analysis Network). There is a Walker Pass RAWS, but it is about two miles west of Walker Pass, near a mountain top.

    Other articles: CA Hwy 178 at Soldier Wells

    Locations: Robber's Roost.
    Full Size ImageLooking south to Robber's Roost from Soldier Wells.  

    		 Robber’s Roost was on our right-hand side as we drive down the east slope of Walker Pass. We turned off on a little dirt road, at what I now think was Soldier Wells, through an unlocked gate and across the slope toward Robber's Roost.

    Locations: Robber's Roost.
    Full Size ImageLooking south to Robber's Roost from Soldier Wells.  

    		 Robber's Roost was used by the robber Tiburcio Vasquez from about 1850 to 1874. He and his gang robbed stages and freight wagons carrying gold ores and bullion from the mines of the Eastern Sierra to Los Angeles and Bakersfield. As a defense against his robbery the Cerro Gordo mines made 300 pound silver balls that couldn't be carried on horseback.

    Locations: Robber's Roost.
    Full Size ImageOoops …  

    		 It was a good little road, but there were no recent tire tracks. The reason why there were no tire tracks on the little road became obvious when we arrived at Robbers Roost. In the middle of the road was a red stick. On our side it said nothing. But the other side, "Route Closed." After taking the photograph, we drive around the sign. There was no way I was going to drive all the way back to Highway 178, and then try to find a route that was not closed.
      Steve and I climbed to the top of Robber's Roost. The rock is granite and it is highly faulted.

    Locations: Robber's Roost.
    Full Size ImageView from Robber's Roost toward Freeman Junction.  

    		 There are good views from the top of the rock, but spotting a stage down at the location of present day Highway 14 would be difficult unless one had a good telescope, or unless the stage was raising a cloud of dust.
      We drove back to the highway, being careful to travel only on open routes.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 395 55090 near Owens Lake.

    Locations: Bartlett. Cerro Gordo. Owens Lake.
    Full Size ImageLooking across Owens Lake to Cerro Gordo.  
    Full Size Image
    Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company at Bartlett, on Owens Lake.
    From Freeman Junction to Lone Pine, we stopped once just south of the abandoned chemical plant of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company at Bartlett to look across Owens Lake to Cerro Gordo.
      At Lone Pine, we got the last rooms in the Lone Pine Hotel, and then went out for dinner. The Lone Pine Hotel was used by many movie stars in the 1930's and 1940's when westerns were made nearby in the Alabama Hills. It was very hot when we arrived in Lone Pine, but cooled off rapidly when the sun went down, as the elevation is over 4000 feet.

     

       

    Saturday, July 16, 2005

     

    Other articles: California Highway 136 near SPRR Xing at SPRR Xing

    Locations: Sierra Nevada.
    Full Size ImageMt. Whitney and the Sierra Nevada as seen from CA Hwy 136  
    Full Size Image
    Former Southern Pacific Crossing of CA Highway 136
    Saturday morning, we set off for Cerro Gordo.

    Our first stop was the location where the former Southern Pacific railroad tracks crossed California Highway 136. I had intended to stop at a wide spot in the road to take a photograph of Mount Whitney in the strong early morning light.

    This was also a good place for a panorama showing the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain front towering over the Alabama Hills.

    The wide spot in the highway turned out to be the former crossing of the standard gauge Jawbone Branch of the Southern Pacific. The railroad is gone now, but it used to go from Mojave through Inyokern to Owenyo, where it connected with the Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge railroad.

    The Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge was formerly called the Carson & Colorado, as it started near the silver mines of Virginia City and was originally intended to go all the way to the Colorado River. Since Steve and I both worked for the railroad, we said a little prayer for this abandoned branch railroad line, and moved on.

    Locations: Swansea.  

    		 Our next stop was in the little town of Swansea. This historical plaque at Swansea reads:

    Other articles: California Highway 136 near Swansea
    Full Size ImageLandmark for Owens Lake Silver-Lead Furnace.  

    		 Owens Lake Silver-Lead Furnace The Owens Lake Silver-Lead furnace and mill was built here by Col. Sherman Stevens in 1869 and used until March 1874. James Brady assumed its operation in 1870 for the Silver-Lead Company and built the town of Swansea. During the next five years the output of this furnace and another at Cerro Gordo was around 150 bars of silver every 24 hours, each weighing 83 pounds. California Registered Historical Landmark No. 752
  • Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the Eastern California Museum Association. November 5, 1961.
    •   At one time boats took the ores from the mines across the lake from Swansea. A steamboat named the Bessie Brady was built in 1872 to carry Cerro Gordo silver from Swansea across Owens Lake to Cartago, and on her return she towed barges of charcoal back to Swansea. This charcoal was hauled up the grade to Cerro Gordo for use in the silver smelters. Eventually the small community of Swansea was virtually destroyed by a catastrophic storm that delivered rocks and water down the mountainside.

    Other articles: California Highway 136 near Swansea
    Full Size ImageFormer Southern Pacific section house in Swansea.  

    		 There were the remains of a section house, still painted in Southern Pacific orange.

    Other articles: California Highway 136 near Swansea
    Full Size ImageFormer Southern Pacific stock car in Swansea.  

    		 And a narrow gauge stock car.

    Other articles: California Highway 136 near Swansea
    Full Size ImageTwo towers of the former salt tram visible from Swansea.  

    		 From Swansea we could just barely see the remains of two towers of the salt tramway to Swansea from the Saline Valley.
      The next stop was Keeler on the shores of the Owens Lake. Now the lake is completely dry, as the water from the Owens River is all sent to Los Angeles.

    Other articles: California Highway 136 15985 15990

    Locations: Keeler.
    Full Size ImageFormer depot in Keeler.  
    Full Size Image
    Former depot in Keeler.
    We photographed the Keeler Depot, which now looks to be a private residence. Later we learned that the railroad tracks were on the opposite side of the depot, an area not a thicket of tamarisk trees. We also read the plaque, thoughtfully placed by E Clampus Vitus:
      Keeler End of the Line From Mound House, Nevada, narrow gauge rails of the Carson & Colorado Railroad reached this site in 1883. Cerro Gordo and other mines faltered. The rail line fell on hard times, so plans to extend the line to Mojave were abandoned, leaving Keeler as "end of the line." Dedicated May 12, 1973. Slim Princess Chapter E Clampus Vitus Inyo County Board of Supervisors

    Other articles: California Highway 136 16010

    Locations: Keeler.
    Full Size ImageSierra talc plant in Keeler.  

    		 After a brief visit to the Sierra Talc mill, we crossed the highway to Cerro Gordo Road.
      Cerro Gordo

    Cerro Gordo discovered by Mexicans in 1865 was at $17,000,000 Inyo's wealthiest mineral producer. Silver, lead, zinc, water, and supplies all went by mule train, tram, the "Bessie Brady" boat across Owens Lake, and Remi Nadeau's mule teams to build the pueblo of Los Angeles. Dedicated June 14, 1980. Slim Princess Chapter No. 395. E Clampus Vitus

      At the Cerro Gordo Road, there is also another sign here reading:
      Private Property Visit Cerro Gordo by reservation only. 760-876-5030

    Other articles: Cerro Gordo Road 59990 65000
    Full Size ImageThe Cerro Gordo Road works it way up the hill.
    Full Size ImageLooking toward Cerro Gordo from the vicinity of the Sunset Mine.  

    		 We called the owner of the town of Cerro Gordo to make sure we would be welcome. Visiting the town is by reservation only, as it is privately owned. Steve had made several attempts to call and write to get permission, but did not receive a response. Anyway, when we called, the owner said to come on up to the town. The road is dirt, narrow, and quite steep. It took about a half hour to travel the 8 miles, and having the low range gears in the 4Runner made pulling the hills much easier.

    Locations: Cerro Gordo (Town).
    Full Size ImageGeneral Store in Cerro Gordo.  

    		 The owner met us when we arrived in the town, gave us a little orientation, telling us where we could go and where we could not. He also unlocked the buildings so we could look inside.
      Steve and I started pretty much up the hill to the hoist room and the main shaft.

    Other articles: Cerro Gordo Road 49800
    Full Size ImageLooking into Saline Valley from Cerro Gordo  

    		 In the pass between the Owens and Saline Valleys, we looked at the remains of a furnace.

    Locations: Cerro Gordo Mine.
    Full Size ImageHoist House, Cerro Gordo Mine.  

    		 We then walked over to the main shaft hoist, or "head frame." I tried to look down into the shaft, but the owner (wisely) had a very heavy, locked gate around the shaft. When we talked to him, he said that he got his water from the 700 foot level, i.e., 700 feet down into the mine, and he had been to the 900 foot level. I think the deepest shaft is 1100 feet.

    Locations: Cerro Gordo (Town).
    Full Size ImageCerro Gordo from a ridge to the southwest.
    Full Size ImageSteve wanted me to think we were going just a little way up this road ….  

    		 From the head frame we started slowly walking up the road to the top of Cerro Gordo. It was about another 1,000 feet of climbing to the top, and took us about an hour. Following the road, we came to a peak with a lot of telecommunications equipment. This peak was about 9125 ft elevation, but it was not Cerro Gordo Peak, which is just to the north at elevation 9188 ft.

    Locations: Keeler. Nelson Range.
    Full Size ImageKeeler from Cerro Gordo.
    Full Size ImageThe Nelson Range east of Cerro Gordo.  

    		 From the top we had good views of the Owens Valley, Keeler, Owens Lake, and the Sierra Nevada, but we could not pick out which peak was Mt. Whitney.

    Full Size ImageTwo guys on top of the hill.      		 Looking the other way we could see the Nelson Range, a little bit of the Saline Valley, and the Racetrack in Death Valley National Park.

    Locations: Racetrack.
    Full Size ImageThe Racetrack from Cerro Gordo.  

    		 The Racetrack (http://www.schweich.com/geoidxR.html#CARacetrack) is the dry lake where the big rocks move mysteriously, leaving furrows behind, except that no one has ever seen them move.

    Other articles: Cerro Gordo Road 50100

    Locations: Cerro Gordo (Town).
    Full Size ImageSteve has lunch on the porch of the American Hotel.  
    Full Size Image
    Inside the American Hotel    		 Full Size Image
    Inside the American Hotel    		 Full Size Image
    Front of the American Hotel.
    After hiking down from the top of Cerro Gordo, we had lunch in the shade of the front porch of the American Hotel. We looked into the buildings a little more, talked with the owner for a while, and the left, driving very carefully down the hill.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 395 51990

    Locations: Independence.
    Full Size ImageSouthern Pacific #18 in Independence.  

    		 We drove to Bishop for the night, stopping a few minutes in Independence to look at the steam locomotive on display. This was the #18 from the SP narrow gauge. The sign said that the locomotive was being restored, and would soon be moved to three miles of re-constructed track a little bit east of the town.
      We had dinner at a nice restaurant in Bishop, called Whiskey Creek, where my wife and I have eaten several times before, and then walked back to the hotel for the night.

     

       

    Sunday, July 17, 2005.

     

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 395 in Bishop
    Full Size ImageJack's Restaurant, breakfast was pretty good.  

    		 Sunday morning we had breakfast at Jack's Cafe, an old cafe in Bishop, and then drove to the Laws Museum.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 395 in Bishop
    Full Size ImageAn older house in Bishop  

    		 We walked from our motel to downtown for breakfast. Along the way, I noticed this older house set back from the main street of Bishop. It still looks pretty good, though at one time it must have been someone's beautiful Owens Valley mansion.

    Literature Cited:
    - Turner, George, 1967.

    Other articles: Silver Canyon Road Laws Railroad Museum U. S. Highway 6 in Laws
    Full Size ImageThe train at the Laws Railroad Museum.  
    Full Size Image
    Front of the Laws Museum.    		 Full Size Image
    Locomotive #9 at the Laws Museum    		 Full Size Image
    Laws Depot
    We stopped for the morning at the Laws Railroad Museum & Historical Site #953. It is operated by the Bishop Museum & Historical Society.

    The town of Laws was also a stop on the Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge, and the museum grounds were donated by the railroad to the county when the railroad stopped operating. They have the #9 locomotive and six railroad cars on display here, plus a lot of old railroad stuff on display. As you might expect, talking with the caretaker, it came up that both Steve and I had worked for the Southern Pacific. We got the secret behind-the-scenes tour that took four hours, and included looking at every bolt, nut, and spike in the entire yard.

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 6 in Chalfant Valley

    Locations: White Mountains.
    Full Size ImageThe White Mountains as seen from US Highway 6 in Chalfant Valley.  

    		 From Laws, we drove north on US Highway 6 through the Chalfant Valley. The July 1986, magnitude 6.3 Chalfant, California, earthquake was the largest of a recent series (1978–present) of moderate-sized earthquakes near the Long Valley volcanic region of east-central California

    Other articles: California Highway 120 near Benton Range s. of Benton Hot Spr.

    Locations: Benton Hot Springs.
    Full Size ImageBenton Hot Springs.  
    Full Size Image
    Looking toward Montgomery Pass through Benton Valley.
    At Benton, we turned west through Benton Hot Springs on California Highway 120.

    Other articles: California Highway 120 at Tuolumne Meadows

    Locations: Tuolumne Meadows. Yosemite National Park.
    Full Size ImageTuolomne Meadows.  

    		 The highway passes by the south shore of Mono Lake and joins US Highway 395 south of Lee Vining. We got gas in Lee Vining and then started up to Tioga Pass on Highway 120. We stopped for lunch east of Tioga Pass, and then drove home the usual route through Yosemite, Oakdale, Escalon, Manteca, etc.

     

       

    Thursday September 15th

     
      We had a little bit of trepidation this morning because Delta airlines declared bankruptcy yesterday. However, when we got to the airport, there was no sign of any financial problems. Our ride to the airport was waiting out front of the house before the requested time, and we were ready a few minutes early, so we left the house just before 7:00 AM and arrived at the airport at about 730 AM. After waiting in the wrong line for a half-hour, we were directed to the correct line. The wait was quite short, and we were at the gate an hour and a half before flight time. We went to the cafe at the end of the concourse for coffee and a roll. We also got a couple of bananas and another roll because the ticket agent said there would be no food on our flight to Atlanta. As we were getting on the flight, it already seemed as through it had been a long trip, but we were only 3 hours into an 18-hour trip.
      The flight to Atlanta was uneventful and smooth. They did serve some food, a little box of cheese, crackers, and some drink, so it turned out that our extra food might not have been necessary. The flight arrived at Atlanta a few minutes late, and our flight to Madrid left from the farthest concourse from our arrival concourse, so by the time we rode the shuttle train and walked to the gate for the Madrid flight, the airplane was almost loaded.
      From Atlanta, we pushed away from the gate on time, and left Atlanta, flying essentially parallel to the North America coast line, until we passed Labrador. We must have flown directly above Hurricane Ophelia. However, the flight deck did not announce it, nor did we notice any particular turbulence as we passed over North Carolina.
      The flight was nearly full, and the gentleman behind me was so large that I could not recline my seat. This made sleeping difficult, while sitting bolt upright. Maybe I slept about an hour, during the movie, but otherwise, was awake the entire 8 hour flight.

     

       

    Friday September 16th

     
      Friday morning we arrived in Madrid on a pleasant but hazy morning. For some reason, passport control and baggage was really fast, no delays, and we were out of the airport and into a taxi quickly. Took a taxi to Atocha, and bought AVE tickets for the 1100 AM AVE to Sevilla. my wife got a little confused and asked for "ida y revuelta" meaning going and scrambled, instead of "ida y vuelta" going and returning. The ticket clerk paused a second, but figured out quickly what we wanted.
      Having the tickets in hand, we wanted to call my daughter and tell her which train we would be on. I bought a telephone card in the news stand. First, you scratch off the stuff hiding the secret code on that card. At the telephone, you have to call a 900-number, the Spanish equivalent of an 800-number, then put in the secret code, like a PIN, then the phone system asks you for the number you want. By the time we called my daughter, it was time to get on the train.
      Security to get on the train is a little tighter, with all baggage x-rayed, and a separate ticket check. You have to load your own baggage on the AVE, and we were a little late, so there was little room for our baggage. I put mine on top of someone else's baggage, and we had to leave my wife's bag hanging out into the aisle a little bit. Then we found our seats. The trip passes quickly, especially if you're tired and keep passing out (going to sleep actually). But at Cordoba, per my wife's request, I checked our bags, and found that some space had opened up sice people had gotten off the train there. So I was able to re-arrange the baggage more neatly, and not on top of, or in front of, anyone else's bags.
      At Sevilla, my daughter was waiting for us in front of the station, and she drove us home. She had just picked grandson up at school, so he and my wife rode in the back seat.
      Shortly after we got home, son in law arrived home from work. We had some bean soup that my daughter had made, then took a siesta. I set the alarm clock, because I did not want to oversleep and then not be able to sleep later. We took a little walk in the neighborhood. my daughter and son in law put grandson to bed, then we had a snack and went to bed ourselves.

     

       

    Saturday, September 17th

     
      This morning we had breakfast and went into Sevilla. my daughter was mostly looking for a birthday present for the little girl of a friend. We went to a toy store near Plaza Burgos. son in law and I also looked at routers for their home network. However, their DSL has a USB modem, and I'm just not sure that anyone makes a router with a USB WAN connection. We may look somewhere else later in the week.

    Full Size ImageRafa salts the sardines while they cook.      		 This afternoon we joined my daughter and son in law's neighbors for an afternoon barbeque. They had gotten some sardines at the local supermarket and were barbequing them. The sardines were a little bigger than we think of sardines. They were about 8 inches long. The cook dipped then in olive oil and then scattered salt on them while they cooked. They were really good. son in law also made a tomato salad. And my daughter made some dipping sauce for the barbequed chicken, using a recipe from the Canary Islands: cumin, garlic, paprika, tomato and vinegar.
      For a while I played soccer with "Ale," short for “Alejandro,” the three-year-old neighbor boy, and took my turn supervising grandson push things around the neighbor's back yard.
      Today's weather was cloudy in the morning. It was comfortable walking around in Sevilla, with a little breeze. This afternoon, when the sun came out, the sun was quite strong and hot. Later in the afternoon, though, the angle of the sun, and the natural haze in the air softened the impact of the sun.
      After a brief attempt at a siesta, we got up, then took a walk around the neighborhood. my daughter took us down to see the new school. It's about four blocks away, on the other side of the Mas Supermarket.
      Now, my daughter and son in law have put grandson down for the night, and I think I'll download the pictures from the camera and see what I've got.

     

       

    Sunday September 18th

     

    Full Size ImageCoffee in the Parque del Alamillo
    Full Size ImageOutdoor café in Parque del Alamillo.
    Full Size ImageIan heads down the path.  
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    General view of Parque del Alamillo.    		 Full Size Image
    Ian sits in the dirt at Parque del Alamillo.
    This morning we went to a park near the Guadalquivir River. It was called the Parque del Alamillo, which refers to a little alamo that was nearby. This is a relatively new park and is spread over quite an area under the trees and around a lake. It is on the west side of the river, across from Sevilla, and adjacent to the Sevilla Olympic stadium. grandson was asleep for a good part of our visit so we walked around the lake. He awoke when we were getting coffee. Like many Spanish parks there is often a bar concession somewhere in the park with tables and chairs, and an opportunity to sit in the sun or the shade and relax. They have all kinds of drinks, from soda, to beer, to coffee, so that most tastes can be accommodated. From there we went over to a little playground to let grandson play for a few minutes. But the playground was really for bigger kids, and there wasn't much that grandson could do safely by himself. From the playground, we though we would let grandson walk on the path. However, most of the time he had other ideas, preferring to get off the path and out under the trees to see what he can find in the dirt.

    Full Size ImagePoetry reading in the park.
    Full Size ImageIan plays in the park.
    Full Size ImageRelaxing in the park during the poetry reading.      		 On weekends there are many activities in this park. In one area, an arts school for children was decorating tiles to be fired later. In another, there was a poetry recital. Sponsored by the Junta of Andalucia, the work of several local poets was published in a small book that was handed out free, and then the poets were reciting their work to a small gathering under the trees. We sat on the grass and let grandson play for a while while listening, and then moved on.
      It still seems a little strange that a "junta" could be a good thing. When I was in high school, maybe when your ideas of the world are being formed, there was a lot of talk about "military juntas" in Latin America. They were bad things, and often referred to simply as the "junta." "The Junta of Peru today did ..." this and that, in a voice to tell you it was a bad thing. So you begin to associate "junta" with something that is not a good thing. However, in Spain the governments of states, such as Andalucia, Extremedura, etc., are referred to as "Juntas." So the government of Andalucia is known as the Junta de Andalucia. But it's a good thing, and they seem to do lots of things to improve people's lives, whether it is to sponsor a small poetry reading, build housing, or provide social services.

    Full Size ImageLittle train in Parque del Alamillo.      		 In another area, there is a little train, like the Golden Gate Live Steamers in Tilden Park. They have a pretty good oval of track, and one little live steam engine, with two diesel engines. People were getting rides around the oval, while others were working on some of the facilities. It looked like a club of railroad enthusiasts who had this location in a small corner of the park.
      We came home, and I watched grandson play outside while son in law cooked lunch. He prepared Salmorejo and Fish. The Salmorejo is a little like gazpacho, but with maybe a little more garlic, and it's pureed. The fish is called "merluza" that we would call "hake." It is a very mild white fish.
      After siesta, my daughter and son in law and grandson went to a first birthday party for another child. The child's mother is in my daughter's yoga class.

    Locations: Bormujos.
    Full Size ImageDowntown Bormujos.
    Full Size ImageOutdoor café in Bormujos City Park.  

    		 my wife and I took a walk around Bormujos. We headed west through the old town, past grandson's school and the Bormujos library. Then up toward the main street. There must have been an important soccer game going on because most of the bars were full with people crowded around watching the television. We stopped at a small bar and had a cafe con leche, sitting out on the sidewalk, enjoying the shade. It was a little warm in the sun, even for being very late afternoon. From there we walked over to the hospital, and checked the view west toward Huelva. But the sun was low in the west, and very bright. This would be a good view point for a clear early morning.
      Now we are at home, my daughter and son in law and grandson have come home, and grandson is having his cereal.

     

       

    Monday the 19th

     
      This morning after breakfast, my daughter dropped grandson off at his school went on to her yoga class. It was quite cool this morning, 15°C or about 59°F, with a pretty good breeze from the east to west. The high temperature today was forecast for 30°C, 87°F, in Sevilla.

    Locations: Bormujos.
    Full Size ImageView west from the terrace of the Hospital San Juan de Dios.  

    		 my wife and I wanted to go out for coffee. We were the only people wearing a sweater. Everyone else was out in their shirt sleeves. I think they must have known that the sun was quite warm, and that doing anything, even walking to to coffee place, was sufficient to keep one warm. Needless to say we arrived at the coffee place, called "La Rana" or "The Frog" quite overheated. We ordered cafe con leche, and the waiter stood there for a few moments, as though he expected use to order something else. We were a little slow on the uptake, my wife could see some pastries, but didn't want those. We didn't see a menu, so we did not know what to order. Later we knew the thing to do was to ask if they had "toast" as in "¿Hay tostada?" We think the answer would have yes, and then we could have asked for tomato, or ham, or maybe something else on the toast. So maybe next time, we'll get it right.
      On the way back from the coffee place, we stopped at the local bank, BBVA, to get some money. But the ATM rejected my ATM card, saying that the card was defective. This made me a little bit nervous, as the card could be defective, or the ATM unable to read it, or perhaps it was rejected by our bank, under some sort of anti-fraud measure. Just to be sure, I walked to downtown Bormujos. There, I tried another bank's ATM. I think it was the Bank of Andalucia. It had no trouble with my ATM card, and it had no trouble dispening money. So perhaps only BBVA was having trouble with their network, or perhaps only that ATM had trouble with my card. Maybe we'll give it another test in a day or so.
      After my daughter came home from her yoga class, we went to the market. We loaded up on groceries. There is a MAS Supermarket near her house, and a larger market called Mercadona in the center of the town. We went to Mercadona. They have a fish market, and will custom cut meats like a Deli counter, but nearly everything else is pre-packaged, including the chicken and the beef. Many of the brands we are familiar with are available, such as Lays potato chips, and Post cereals, but the varieties are fewer, and there are many local products. At checkout you have to unload your cart and then bag your own groceries.

    Full Size ImageIan, Rachel and Cheryl at Ian's School.      		 From Mercadona, we went to grandson's school to pick him up. He was just coming out of his classroom to play in the outside area. We picked him up, looked in his classroom a few minutes, and then came home.
      my wife and my daughter collaborated on lunch. They made Merluza "Hake," steaks this time, breaded and browned with onions, and then simmered with green beans.
      After lunch, son in law had a quick siesta, and then my daughter and son in law went to a movie in Sevilla while we watched grandson. We played in the house, played in the yard, got good and dirty, then had a snack, and went for a little walk. grandson fell asleep on the walk, and we had to wake him up so that he would be able to go to sleep later. my daughter and son in law had coffee after the movie, and then came home. They, all three, are upstairs now, giving grandson a bath and getting him ready for bed.
      For our bed time snack, we had an empanada that my daughter made. It was bacon, dates, and bleu cheese between a kind of flaky crust. my daughter got this recipe from someone in her yoga class. It was very good.

     

       

    Tuesday September 20th

     

    Locations: Sevilla.
    Full Size ImageCalle Sierpes.  

    		 This morning we went into Seville. my daughter has a cold, so she decided not to go with us for the day. When it was time to take grandson to school, we dropped him off at his school, and then my daughter drove us into the city center. We walked past Plaza Nueva, and then onto the main shopping street, called "Sierpes." We bought a few souvenirs, and then had a coffee at a cafe. We tried for the toast with tomato puree here. Ordered "tostada con aciete y tomate." But when they brought the toast, it had thin slices of fried green tomatoes, instead of the tomato puree. That has a little disappointing.

    Locations: Sevilla.
    Full Size ImageMain street of Sevilla.
    Full Size ImageCasa Robles, C/ Alvarez Quintero 58.  
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    City walls in the Barrio Santa Cruz
    From there we went back another shopping street to the cathedral and the Barrio of Santa Cruz. Here we found a small group of milenery stores, and my wife browsed a little bit. We also found a restaurant where we had accidently eaten the first time we visited Sevilla. It's was called Casa Robles, and when we walked in, we had no idea it was one of the most expensive restaurants --- and best restaurants --- in Sevilla. Also, in Arturo Perez-Reverte's book The Seville Communion, he has his main character eat dinner at Casa Robles. Anyway, we took a photo and moved on. It was a little difficult getting around in the Bario Santa Cruz because of so much construction. Of course the street are very narrow, and in a couple places a workman had to escort us by the construction.

    Full Size ImagePlaza in Barrio Santa Cruz      		 In a plaza we rested and had a coke (and also used the bathroom), and then we made our way to the bus station at Plaza de Armas. When we arrived at the bus station, there was a bus just leaving for Bormujos, but the driver would not take our money, and we had to get a ticket. So we had to go back to the ticket counter and get a ticket. We missed that bus, but caught another just a few minutes later. Busses run every 20 minutes, and the bus ride from Sevilla to a corner near to my daughter and son in law's house takes about 20 minutes.
      Back at the house, we had some Peruvian Chicken that my wife had made, and then a siesta. This afternoon, we tried to find a place to stay for the weekend, but the places we called were full, or wanted a minumum three-day stay. We can stay at Julio and Pamen's house in Santa Maria. Julio is son in law's brother. But we thought we maybe wanted to stay a couple of nights at the beach. Maybe we can still find something.

    Full Size ImageIan plays in the garden.      		 When it cools off everyone comes outside. grandson likes to play in his back yard, especially in the dirt in the vegetable garden.

    Full Size ImageTaking a walk in the neighborhood.      		 This evening we took at walk. It is pretty comfortable as the sun is going down. grandson insisted on getting out of his stroller and walking with us. It slows us down, but he likes to look and touch stuff.
      I think this is all for tonite. May not be able to e-mail for the next few days, but I'll try to keep my journal up to date.
      For dinner (after I wrote the above), we had Tortilla Espanola and "melon." The common melon here is called Piel de Sapo, or "toad skin" melon. I really like it. It has the internal appearance of honeydew, but a little stronger flavor, getting close to a cantelope. For the Tortilla Espanola, which is made with egg and potato, I had mine a la Americana, meaning with catsup. I believe this may be near to a sacrilege, putting catsup on a spanish tortilla. However, as Utah Philips said, "It's good, though."

     

       

    Wednesday September 21st

     
      After last night's journal entry, we decided that going to the beach was maybe not a good idea because so many of us have colds. This is OK, as our visit is primarily a family visit. Also we are having a little trouble finding a place to stay on the beach south of Cadiz. So today we stayed home.

    Full Size ImageIan goes to school.      		 This morning after breakfast we took grandson to school. We met his teacher again, and the director of the school. Afterwards we walked another block into Bormujos and had a cafe con leche. my daughter and my wife had orange juice.
      There is a central market in Bormujos, but only a few stalls have vendors. There was a fish market and a vegetable market. We looked at some salmon, but it did not look too fresh, so did not buy any.
      my wife also stopped at a millinery store in the town but I don't think she bought anything. Back at home, my daughter and my wife did a couple of sewing projects, while I cleaned out some old IBM e-mail. I guess it is ... .... well, not nice or fun ... but satisfying in a way to look over things I should have read when I received them a few months ago, give them due consideration (often very little), and then finish up with an empty e-mail in-box. It will also be nice to go back to work, with all my e-mail and not have a huge in-box that has to be read right off the bat.
      Anyway, we went to get grandson at school at about 130 pm, then had some lunch when son in law came home from work about 300 pm. We finished off the Peruvian chicken that my wife made yesterday.

    Full Size ImageIan plays in the Bormujos City Park      		 After siesta, to which I am becoming very accustomed, in the afternoon we played with grandson, and then walked to a park nearby in downtown Bormujos. grandson played in the sand, and rolled down the grassy slope with help from his daddy.

    Full Size ImageIan rolls down the hill in the park.      		 After we got home, I changed into shorts t-shirt and went out to get my exercise. By now, it was 830, the sun was going down, and the temperature maybe about 80 degrees. This was the first time I felt like exercising since I got sick before our trip. I started by running over to the hospital, then down to the university, over to the restaurant, and then back up the hill to son in law and my daughter's house. Took me about 25 minutes, and felt pretty good, so I must be about healed from whatever that was I had.
      grandson has now had his bath, and my daughter is putting him down, I think son in law and my wife are cleaning out the dishwasher. In a few minutes, we'll have our late meal, usually around 1000 pm, and then go to bed.
      More later.

     

       

    Thursday September 22nd

     

    Locations: Bormujos.
    Full Size ImageNew houses on a street in Bormujos.  

    		 This morning dawned a little cloudy, but no rain is forecast. We were awakened by the nearby construction. They seem to start working seriously as soon as it gets light. This is now about 800 am. At the end of my daughter and son in law's street they are digging out the dirt for the foundation of a new building. This started last week, and the area is now almost completely dug out. That building will be some apartments (or flats). On the other side of it is a partially built building. They are pouring the third floor now, and working pretty fast. Construction seems to start, as I said, as soon as it gets light, and continues at a pretty good pace until about 200 pm. Then they must take a long lunch until about 400 pm and work until 700 pm. my daughter says that in the summer, they stop work for the day at 200 pm, as it is just too hot to work in the afternoon in the summer.

    Full Size ImageEl Corte Ingles in San Juan de Aznalfarache.
    Full Size ImageInside El Corte Ingles.      		 After breakfast, we took grandson to school, and then went to the El Corte Ingles in San Juan de Aznalfarache, near Maireina. Maireina is the next town to the south. Then San Juan de Aznalfarache is to the east, between Maireina and Sevilla. This is a huge department store with a lot on inside, as well as outside, covered parking. Also inside the building was a Hipercor. This is more of a discount department store, more on the order of a K-Mart. The stores are open to each other, but if you go from one to the other, it is expected you will seal your purchases in large plastic bags to prevent the merchandise from getting mixed.

    Full Size ImageInside El Corte Ingles.
    Full Size ImageInside Hipercor.
    Full Size ImageInside Hipercor.      		 my wife and my daughter bought some thread, which was the main reason why we came here. We also got a coffee in one of the two cafeterias. And my wife bought a grocery cart so that she can carry a few groceries when she walks to the market. She has looked for this kind of cart in the US, but can't find the features and quality she has admired in the Spanish carts. This particular cart folds up very small, so my wife thinks she can get it into her suit case.
      We came home, and my daughter and my wife talked while I did a little IBM e-mail, then they got lunch.

    Locations: Triana.
    Full Size ImageInside a small tile shop.
    Full Size ImageOutside a large tile shop.  

    		 After siesta, we went to Triana, on the opposite side of the river from Seville. One purpose was to visit a district of tile shops. We went into maybe six to eight shops. About half of the shops also painted and fired their own tiles. And I would guess, at a less busy time of day, one would be able to watch the shop owners painting their tiles.

    Locations: Triana.
    Full Size ImageNacho and Ian in an outdoor café in Triana.
    Full Size ImageNacho and Ian relax on the river in Triana.  
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    Street in Triana
    In one shop, we found some tiles we really liked for our future kitchen. Each tile has a fruit, and maybe a leaf or two. The shop does not have an importer in the US, but says he ships frequently there. The tiles were about 7 euros each, and shipping to California would be about 1 1/2 eruos per tile. Because of the exchange rates, that would be a little expensive for us, about $10 per tile.

    Locations: Rio Guadalquivir. Triana.
    Full Size ImageTriana Bridge from the Triana side.
    Full Size ImageThe Giralda across the Rio Guadalquivir from Triana.  

    		 We had a quick rest, with a coke, on the river in Triana. It was about as quick as grandson would let us have it, as it's pretty hard for him to sit still. On the way to the car, we had an idea to buy falafel sandwiches for dinner. The wait was a little long, long enough to make jokes about growing the chick peas, but when we got to eat them back at home, they were pretty good.
      my daughter has lost her voice, but is feeling much better today. Right now our plan is for son in law to go to work for a while in the morning, then leave in the early afternoon for Santa Maria. If all the plans hold together, we'll go into Cadiz on Saturday. This is a city that has been on our list to visit for a few years.
      All for now, will probably send this on Friday morning.

     

       

    Friday September 23rd

     
      Well, it's actually Sunday afternoon, and it's been pointed out to me that I have some serious journaling to do. Typically, this would be the time that my daughter calls us, Sunday afternoon for her, and Sunday morning for us. Now we have an idea of what it is like for her to come home from a weekend trip, and then call us, and try to talk while son in law and grandson, and all the neighbors are outside having the neighborhood chat.
      As for Friday morning, we got most of our things ready to go away for the weekend, and then went over to the local cafeteria called La Rana, for coffee. son in law came home from work about noon, and we got on the highway south for Cadiz. From Seville the road crosses a low plain, with low rolling hills. Being Fall now, the country side is quite dry. The only remaining crop that we saw in the fields was cotton. There were many fields of cotton the entire way from Seville to Cadiz. I only saw one or two irrigated fields. Those seem to be alfalfa, or other grasses. There are some olive orchards south, but not so many as we saw on the highway east to Granada.
      The highway we used was an Autovia, or a toll road. The toll was 5.15 euros for about 60 km of distance, and there was only one toll booth in the entire length.
      We were going to stay in Julio and Pamen's flat in El Puerto de Santa Maria. Julio and Pamen and family are staying in Argentina for a year while Julio takes a naval course. To get to their house, we turned off the highway just before arriving at Cadiz and turned a little bit west. Julio and Pamen's flat is in a housing development for Spanish military personnel stationed at Rota. Rota is both a Spanish, and an American navy base. Apparently, all the American servicemen live inside the base.
      When we arrived, son in law had to turn on the electricity and the water. The water heater and the stove operate on butane gas. You have to go buy the gas in cylinders. So after a quick lunch of sandwiches that we had brought from Sevilla, son in law, grandson, my wife and I set off to the market for food and to buy some butane gas.
      The market was pretty easy. son in law knew where it was, and it had pretty much everything. There was a butcher, and son in law had the butcher slice some chicken breast filet very thin for frying.
      For the butane gas, we went to the gasoline station (Repsol, I think) where son in law had purchased butane before. However, there was no one there selling butane. They did tell son in law about another gas station nearby that sold butane, so we went there. I think it was about 9 euros for about 12 1/2 kg of butane. I'm not sure how long that lasts, but maybe about a week for a family of four.

    Locations: Rota.
    Full Size ImageThe promenade on the beach at Rota
    Full Size ImageWomen playing cards on the beach.  
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    The sun sets over the Atlantic while we have a coffee and Ian plays on the promenade.
    Back at the house, we determined to go to Rota to walk along the beach. The town of Rota is on the other side of the navy base, so we had to drive all the way around. The town of Rota is built up a little bit above the beach behind a sea wall. We parked and walked down to a promenade, and then walked along the beach, and back up. my wife was interested in the oloder women sitting on the beach together playing cards. We stopped in a sidewalk cafe for refreshments, and watched the sun go down. Back in the car we missed a turn for El Puerto de Santa Maria, and had to go quite a ways before finding a place to turn around.
      At the house, my daughter fed grandson and got him ready for bed, while son in law prepared dinner with a little assistance from me. We had Tuna Surprise Pasta, the surprise of course being the tuna in the tomato sauce on the pasta.

     

       

    Saturday September 24th

     

    Full Size ImageCoffee in the Cathedral Plaza of Cadiz.      		 This morning was our visit to Cadiz. The city is on a promontory of rock, probably relatively recent marine terrace deposits if you ask me, and connected to the mainland by a narrow spit of sand.

    Locations: Cadiz.
    Full Size ImageCheryl, Rachel, Ian and Nacho in the cathedral square in Cadiz  

    		 Our first stop was the tourist office, where son in law and my daughter got a tourist map, and a flyer describing today as the World Day of the Tourist. There was also a cruise ship in port, and there wer many, many people in the main plaza of town.

    Locations: Cadiz.
    Full Size ImageGuitarist in the cathedral square.
    Full Size ImageLooking southwest on Avenida del Campo del Sur  
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    Looking east along Avenida del Campo del Sur.
    I went and looked in the cathedral, but they wanted 4 euros each to go further inside, which I opted not to do. There was a guitarist set up in the square with a small amplifier, who was quite good and as he said, he could play everything from Back to Eric Clapton. We had a coffee in the main plaza, an unfortunate event, as the waiter took my bill to pay for the coffee but conveniently forgot to return the change. son in law asked once for our change, and we waited some more. As my daughter wanted to go to a church nearby, we left except for son in law, who occupied the table until the waiter returned the change. As I suggested to son in law, when the change came we gave it to the guitarist.

    Locations: Cadiz.
    Full Size ImageLunch in Cadiz
    Full Size ImageThe market in Cadiz.  

    		 We walked down the shopping streets and through the public market to the car. Then drive to the restaurant for lunch. When my daughter's friend Mary had come to visit, they made the mistake of walking, and learned it was really a long way. After a brief wait, we got into the restaurant. No gazpacho today … a something of a disappointment, so we had salad, and ordered two paellas, one with salsa verde (and garlic), and one with tomato sauce called El Senorito, because the clams were already removed from their shells, i.e., the work was already done. It was very good. I think I preferrred the salsa verde paella. my daughter had formerly preferred the salsa verde, but this time I think she preferred the El Senorito.

    Locations: Cadiz.
    Full Size ImageFishing from a reef near Cadiz  

    		 After lunch, we went back to the old part of the town -- el casco antiguo. my daughter nursed grandson. son in law and I walked out a narrow causeway to a fort. The fort must be built upon the farthest outcrop of the uplifted marine sediments. There were several reefs along the causeway, and there were fishermen as well as divers with snorkels. I did not seen any catch, but there were enough people that there must be some fish to catch.

    Full Size ImageIan plays on the beach.      		 When we came back, my daughter and grandson were ready so we let grandson play on the beach for a while. The water was pretty warm, maybe 75 degrees, but since it was the Atlantic Ocean, the water was not as warm as the Mediterranean.

    Full Size ImageShipyards "Astillero Puerto Real" near Cadiz      		  

    Full Size ImageNatural park along an estuary.      		  
      For dinner, son in law prepared some chicken in the style he and my daughter had eaten in the Czech Republic. It was grilled, with a slice of cheese, and a canned peach on top. Unfortunately, we forgot to buy the canned peaches. We did however had some canned pineapple. So we had chicken with cheese and pineapple. It was pretty good, and with only a little bit of brown sugar could have been Czech/Hawaiian chicken. I contributed the sliced tomatos, but the chicken made the meal. For dessert, son in law and I had flan and my daughter and my wife had Arroz con leche (rice pudding). By this time, it was the usual Spanish 1000 or 1030 pm, and after some prodding from my wife, gave up the idea of being sociable, took a shower and went to bed.

     

       

    Sunday September 25th

     
      This morning, my wife and I walked down to the beach in El Puerto de Santa Maria. We had a nice view of Cadiz on the left (south) and the navy base at Rota to the right (north). We walked back up the hill and bought the newspaper for son in law (El Pais, the country), and churros. This is dough fried in oil. We did not know how much to order, so we ordered "Uno" (one) because the lady in front of my ordered "Uno." Turned out that was probably enough. The "uno" refers to one euro's worth of churros, rather than Churros for one, one kilogram, etc.

    Locations: El Puerto de Santa Maria. Rota Naval Station.
    Full Size ImageLooking across the water to the Rota Navy Base from the beach at El Puerto de Santa Maria  

    		 Back at the flat, we determined to walk back down to the beach and let grandson play. grandson enjoyed this very much, but I got pretty overheated, so I went back up and sat in the shade on a park bench where there was a nice cool breeze. While I know that this area of Spain is at the same latitude as San Francisco, and the sun is not high in the sky because the equinox is past, the sun seems hotter here than at the beaches in the Bay Area. Perhaps also that is because the summer fog is more thicker and more persistent on the California coast than here.
      Turns out I wasn't the only one wilting in the heat, as everyone came up off the beach. We let grandson play in the playground for a while, and then walked back up the hill to the flat.

    Full Size ImageLunch in El Puerto de Santa Maria      		 We cleaned the flat and closed it down, disconnected the butane bottle, turned off the electricity, etc., and then went to a restaurant for lunch. I would not have thought this was the place, beacuse the parking was a very sandy and rough dirt road. But off the road, and inside the building was a very nice open air restaurant. There were awnings and shades, so inside was very pleasant. No gazpacho here either, I think the season for gazpacho has passed. I had the Pollo al Ajillo, this would be the Garlic Chicken. Turns out it was marinated in sherry (a local flavor) and deep fried in garlic. Very very tasty, but definitely not heart healthy. my wife had a swordfish filet. It also was tasty and moist, not dry like the swordfish steaks we sometimes get in the states. my daughter had a fish-kebob, with a kind of whitefish. son in law had a steak that looked pretty good, also.
      The drive back to Sevilla took a little more than an hour, through most of which grandson slept. At this age (14 months), he really does not like riding in the car. son in law has a pretty good song that put grandson to sleep this time called "Maya." Haven't a clue what it's about. Old MacDonald Had A Farm is also pretty entertaining for its chorus of E-I-E-I-O that grandson like to sing along. son in law and I sometimes get mixed up as to what sounds the animals make as the animal sounds are a little different in Spanish than in English.
      On getting home, we unloaded the car, and then joined the neighbors. son in law and grandson went over the the next door neighbor's to watch a car race, and play. There were lots of people visiting, and the neighbors and relatives who visit send their kids to the same school, so the kids know each other.
      Well, now grandson is upstairs having a bath. I'm trying to stay awake until dinner time. I think I'll stop writing, select a few photos, and send this off.

     

       

    Monday September 26th

     
      This morning my daughter has to go into Sevilla for the first day of training for her teaching job. The school has about eight locations around Sevilla, including one branch in Bormujos, where my daughter will teach. However, at the beginning of the year, all the teachers get together at the main location in Sevilla.
      We dropped grandson off about 900 am at his school and began the drive into Sevilla. This is still the Spanish rush hour at 930 am where the highways enter the city. Once in the city, traffic moved pretty well. We parked under the Nervion shopping center. my daughter went to her school, and my wife walked up and down the street trying to remember the restaurant where she had the perfect tostada con tomate. After checking the whole block we stopped at one and ordered coffee and tostada. Well, I just don't think this will be the trip for tomate in Sevilla, as they had no tomate (pureed tomato) this morning. We settled for orange juice, cafe con leche, and plain toast.
      Then we shopped a bit. This shopping center has lots of stores we recognize, such as Pizza Hut, Macdonalds, and Starbucks. There are also lots of clothes shops, etc. We bought some window locks that my daughter and son in law need for grandson's window, so that he cannot fall out. And we went to El Corte Ingles. We looked through the gourmet shop for marzipan and things to bring home, but cthis particular store has a pretty small section of that kind of stuff.
      Along the street Schwepes was giving away small cans of free lemon tonic water. We each took one and sat on a bench for our represhment. But the tonic outweighed the lemon and it was pretty sour. Strangely refreshing after the shock of the quinine, but still acutally quite refreshing. It was interesting to watch people's faces when they took the first sip. Kids just took one drink and handed the can to their parents.
      There were some school kids in the park, who space we intruded on a little bit, but several of them started to talk to us. They were mostly 14, we couldn't tell if they were cutting school or on a break. We told them that we lived near San Francisco, and that we were visiting our daughter and family who lived in Bormujos.
      We thought we would go to Parque de Buhaira, which is listed as a pretty park in the moorish style. Crossing the street we got behind some construction for the Sevilla metro, and discovered that once over there, there was no way to get to the park. So we had to back track, up to the main street, across and back down. The park was very nice, and the book says there is a place for tapas there. However, our time was getting for meeting my daughter was getting short, so we went back to the Nervion shopping center to meet her.
      Back at the house, we picked up grandson, and started lunch. my daughter determined to make falafel. My task was to go over to the MAS supermarket and get the cucumbers (Pepinos) and pita bread (pan de pita). I successfully met this challenge, and we had lunch when son in law came home.
      After siesta, my daughter and son in law went to a movie, while my wife and I babysat grandson. We played a little inside and a little outside, trying to keep grandson out of the mud in the vegetable garden, and from grabbing the little eggplants growing there.
      When my daughter and son in law came back I went out for a little exercise, running for about a half hour. It was still pretty warm, at least 80 and maybe 85 degrees, and my route went over to the hospital, down to the university, across to the restaurant, part way back up the hill, up the hill past the hospital, and across the slope to the house. You have to pick your route carefully, as there is much construction in this area. Especially at the end of the block, they have just begun excavating the basement for a new building, and the dust is drifting out of the lot and into the street. So, at one intersection, there is at least an inch, and maybe two inches of very fine, powdery dust. You don't want to drive, walk, or run through it.
      son in law made sandwiches for dinner, some turkey and cheese, and some tuna and tomato, grilling them in their sandwich maker.
      At that point, I was ready for bed, and did so.

     

       

    Tuesday September 27th

     
      This morning we got up and had a slightly more leisurely morning, taking grandson to school about 1000 am. my daughter, my wife and I went to Ikea. We started first with a coffee at House of India coffee shop, and then went into the store. Maybe everyone else knows about Ikea, but it is a huge store with a lot of stuff, some set up in rooms, and some things separate.
      my daughter is interested in some bookcases for her upstairs room, and some nightstands for their bedside.
      It was also time to go to the market again. Conveniently, there is a Mercadona in the same complex, so we went there. Among other things we looked at the fish for dinner. While I'm not sure I could tell the difference, my daughter did not like the looks of their fish. I guess maybe you have to watch things like that a little more carefully here.
      Back at the house, my daughter started then lentil soup for lunch, and then we went to get grandson. son in law was working a little bit late today to make up for leaving early last Friday, so we went ahead and ate, before son in law came home.
      This afternoon, son in law and I installed a Logitech camera and the MSN Messenger software on their laptop, so that we can try video across the Atlantic when we get home.
      This evening, my daughter has gone into Sevilla for part of her new teacher orientation. We took turns playing with grandson, and then took grandson to the park to play. Going to the park, or going for a walk in the neoghborhood is something that is done in the early evening, just before or as the sun is going down. It is much cooler then, and actually quite pleasant, maybe 80 degrees, without the direct rays of the sun.

     

       

    Wednesday September 28th.

     
      This morning we took grandson to school and went into Sevilla with my daughter. She dropped us off near the Parque Maria Luisa. First we went to have our coffee at a coffee bar that my wife frequented last summer. The auto driving school is just across the street, so while my daughter was taking her driving lessons, my wife would care for grandson, first having a coffee, and then walking him up and down the streets, while they waited for my daughter.

    Locations: Sevilla.
    Full Size Image Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares in Sevilla  

    		 Then we walked into the park and went to the Museum of Arts and Popular Customs, or "Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares de Sevila," in Spanish. I'm not exactly why we decided to go there, but on retrospect, I think we are very happy that we did. The center piece is a collection of embroidery and related needle arts that were given to the museum by a family that dealt in those things in the late 19th and early 20th century. There are two large rooms with examples of that kind of work, which according to the brochure is just 10% of the holdings. Another two rooms contain the furniture owned by the same family during that time, showing both their living space and working space.
      There are other exhibits as well in the museum, including one showing over 50 years of photographs of Spanish people by a single ethnographic photographer. Other floors have exhibits of tile from the 16th to the 20th century, and lots of everyday things, such as tools for working with olives, leather, etc.
      We were in the museum for about two hours, and left in time to walk to Nervion to meet my daughter. Along the way, we stopped in a technical bookstore that I had seen on previous trips. I looked at a few books. Two that interested me were titled, "Architecture of the Spanish Countryside" and Andalucia, Culture and Diversity." However, they are so heavy, that I am reluctant to buy them and then try to fit them into my suitcase.
      From there we walked through the Parque La Buhaira again, and met my daughter at the Starbucks at the Nervion Shopping Center.
      We picked up grandson, and after he went down for a nap, my daughter and I walked over to the Mas supermarket to buy some fish for dinner. It was called Lengua in spanish, which I think is halibut for us. my wife made a salad and then cooked the fish, which together with bread became our lunch.
      After a siesta, staged this time, as grandson was awake, my daughter and son in law worked out which bookcases they wanted to buy for their upstairs bedroom. Then we took a neighborhood walk.
      Now it's time for dinner, or at least to start thinking about it.

     

       

    Thursday September 29th

     
      Today, we went into Sevilla with my daughter, again. After we parked the car near Reachel’s school, my wife and I took the #23 bus from Nervion to the edge of the Barrio Santa Cruz. The streets are very narrow, and often change names every block, so it is difficult to navigate anywhere successfully. We headed for Plaza Alfalfa, a less-tourist area in the on the edge of the city center.

    Full Size ImageThree Roman columns on Calle Marmoles.      		 Navigating in the general direction we came upon these three columns standing up in a pit about 10 feet deep. The pit was fenced off to keep people out. The columns looked old, like they could be Roman columns. I checked around for some kind of sign, explaining the columns, but was unable to find one. So, we noted the location was on Calle Marmoles, and continued on our way toward Plaza Alfalfa. Later, after we returned home, I was able to find a web site that explained these were indeed Roman columns.

    Full Size ImageCoffee break in Plaza Alfalfa.      		 We continued on toward Plaza Alfalfa, where we had our now-traditional mid-morning coffee. Taking a chance, we ordered “tostada con tomate” and finally got what we expected, i.e., toast with pureed tomato.

    Locations: Sevilla.
    Full Size ImageScene in Plaza Alfalfa  

    		 From Plaza Alfalfa, we wandered through the small streets looking for the house where my wife remembered taking my daughter to the dentist. We came out at Plaza Burgos, where my wife showed me a house that was under reconstruction last summer, and now was finished. Next door was another house that once was very attractive, but now needed some reconstruction itself. We walked past the toy store, and back into the Alfalfa neighborhood. We tried to do a little shopping; looking for a lace shop that my wife remembered seeing. I also remembered seeing a lace shop when we were first nearing Plaza Alfalfa, but my wife could not find the shop she remembered, and I could not find the lace shop that I thought I had seen. We went around and around, up and down, through and back, until we came out at Plaza Burgos again.
      We plunged back into the city streets coming out this time at Plaza Magdalena, where we found an El Corte Ingles. This one had housewares, curtains, and things, that my wife wanted to look at. We did a little looking here, and then walked over to Plaza Nueva, where we caught the #23 bus from Plaza Nueva back to Nervion to meet my daughter.

     

       

    Friday September 30th

     

    Locations: Madrid.
    Full Size ImageScene in Parque del Buen Retiro  

    		 This morning we left Sevilla on the 1100 AM AVE for Madrid. We stayed at the Tryp Atocha hotel. This was on Calle Atocha, about half way between the train station and Plaza Sol. After checking in, we went for lunch at a sidewalk café near Plaza Sol. After lunch, we walked to Parque Retiro. It was a very nice day, and I enjoyed just sitting on the bench, watching the day and the people. Back at the hotel, we rested a while, and then set out to find a little dinner.

     

       

    Saturday October 1st

     
      Saturday morning we checked out and took a taxi to the airport. Our flight to Atlanta, and Atlanta to San Francisco all left and arrived on time.

     

       

    Friday October 14th

     
      We left Alameda shortly after 7:00 AM, stopping at Starbucks for coffee on our way out of town, and pretty much drove straight through to Hole-in-the-Wall.
      When we went by Wild Horse Canyon Road, I noticed that the Park Service had a pretty good chain across the road. I guess they are pretty serious about the road being closed.
      Among the back-country drivers, there a folk lore built up about the various kinds of road closed signs and what they really mean. I’m convinced that some counties, notably Inyo County leaves Road Closed signs out all the time, whether the road is closed or not. In this way, they cannot be held responsible if you damage yourself or your vehicle at some minor rut or washout. So the general advice is to drive right by county Road Closed signs. However, if the sign is a Park Service sign, then the advice is to obey it, as the Park Service is likely to be watching and will cite you for driving on a closed Park Service road.
      The problem with Wild Horse Canyon Road being closed is that it is the primary access route to my plots at Lobo Point and the north face of Wild Horse Mesa. Typically, I would drive up Wild Horse Canyon to a small road junction and turn east toward Lobo Point to visit my plot in Salvia dorrii, or turn west toward Winklers Cabin to visit my plot in Frasera albomarginata. But if the road is closed, it could mean about a four mile walk into Wild Horse Mesa, which might be difficult, if I have to carry in equipment and supplies to work in the plots.
      However, years ago, when Merritt College first started using the camp site at Lobo Point, we used a small road from Black Canyon Road just north of Hole-in-the-Wall to access the camp site. We knew that there was a road that also went out to Wild Horse Canyon Road from Lobo Point, but did not use it. However, over the years the road across the north face of Barber Mountain began to deteriorate, and the Merritt College group began to use the road out to Wild Horse Canyon instead of Black Canyon. So, it just might be possible tomorrow to drive from Black Canyon Road, east across the north face of Barber Mountain to Lobo Point, and then continue from Lobo Point to Wild Horse Canyon, then carefully tiptoe across Wild Horse Canyon Road, and take the road to Winklers into the north face of Wild Horse Mesa. That is: if I can find the road, if it is still usable, and if the Park Service hasn’t closed that road also. I guess tomorrow, we’ll find out.
      We set up camp at Hole-in-the Wall. I think there must be about 30 campsites, and there were maybe ten available when we got there.
      Walking around the camp, we saw places that the fire had burned right into the campground. Yet, on the slopes of Barber Mountain to the west, there were many large patches of vegetation that were not burned.
      A lot of the campsites appeared to have hunters in them. When we asked the camp host about hunting season, she told us that tomorrow morning was the first day of quail hunting season, and that deer season had opened the previous weekend.

     

       

    Saturday October 15th

     
      This morning, the hunters started rising about 5:00AM, and by 5:30 AM, they started pulling out of the campsite. The first gunshot echoed over Hole-in-the-Wall before 6:00 AM, just as the sky began to show a little light.
      We started crawling out of bed around Seven, had a fine breakfast and set out for our day about 8:00 AM. We drove north on Black Canyon Road, and turned off north west on the road that led to the Gold Valley Mine, and Gold Valley Spring. So far so good. Along this road there were several hunters with shotguns at the ready. One gave us the evil eye. I wonder if they are like fishermen, who don’t like people coming by and scaring the fish. We did see a few quail, to whom we shouted, “Run little quail, Run!”

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road 35000 35100

    Locations: Lobo Point.
    Full Size ImageLooking toward Lobo Point.  
    Full Size Image
    Juniper along Lobo Point Road.
    I kept an eye out for roads angling off more to the west, and pretty soon we came to one, and followed it. I had remembered the road across the north face of Barber Mountain to hug the very bottom of the slope, and to cross several difficult washes. Actually, the last time I drove this road, was at night, in the Scout, after driving all day from the Bay Area. It seemed quite difficult, and I remembered hitting some pretty deep ruts. Well, this day, the road was quite good and easily passable with only one wash requiring careful, slow crossing. In just a few minutes we were in view of Lobo Point.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road 35200 35300
    Full Size ImageVerbena growing again after fire.
    Full Size ImageGeneral view north from near Lobo Point to the Little Thorn Mountains.  

    		 We got out to look at plants. The first plants that we noticed were the Verbenas (Verbena gooddingii Briq. ). There were many small plants, and quite a few of them were in bloom.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road 35400
    Full Size ImageYucca baccata resprouting from the roots.  

    		 We also saw the first of many Blue Yucca (Yucca baccata Torrey) that were sprouting from the roots.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road 40000 41000

    Locations: Lobo Point.
    Full Size ImageLooking toward Lobo Point.  
    Full Size Image
    Desert Almond (Prunus fasciculata (Torrey) A. Gray) resprounting after the Hackberry Complex Fire.
    A little further on, we saw a Desert Almond (Prunus fasciculata (Torrey) A. Gray) that was also sprouting from the roots.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road in the Valley of Lobo Point
    Full Size ImageJuniper singed in the lower branches.  

    		 We drove into the Lobo Point campsite and walked around a little bit. The venerable old Juniper in the center of camp was singed in the lower branches, but did not completely burn.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road in the Valley of Lobo Point

    Locations: Lobo Point.
    Full Size ImageMost of the Pinyons and Junipers burned in the Valley of Lobo Point.  

    		 Most of the pinyons and Junipers in the valley did burn.

    Full Size ImageFormer thicket of Fragrant Snowberry burned by the Hackberry Complex Fire.      		 The little thicket of Fragrant Snowberry (Symphoricarpos longiflorus A. Gray) burned …

    Full Size ImageFragrant Snowberry (Symphoricarpos longiflorus) resprouting from its roots.      		 … but the plant is starting to grow from the roots.

    Full Size ImageSmall unburned patch.      		 There was one pretty good-sized patch of vegetation under a cliff that did not burn.

    Full Size ImageMexican Bladder Sage (Salazaria mexicana) resprouting from the roots.      		 Numerous Mexican Bladder Sage (Salazaria mexicana Torrey) were sprouting.

    Full Size ImageYellow Bush Penstemon (Keckiella antirrhinoides) resprouting after the Hackberry Complex fire.      		 We walked a short way up the hill to see if the Yellow Bush Penstemon (Keckiella antirrhinoides (Benth.) Straw ssp. microphylla (A. Gray) N. Holmgren) would survive, and were pleasantly surprised to see that about half of the bushes had resprouted.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road in the valley of Lobo Point
    Full Size ImageLooking northeast toward Little Thorn Mountains from Lobo Point  

    		 Looking northeast from the slopes of Lobo Point toward Gold Valley Mine, one could see numerous Junipers and a few Pinyons that did not burn, especially in the low places along washes.
      Also there were two Junipers and some Snakeweed (Gutierezzia microcephala) that survived. These were in the former “parking lot” used by Merritt College when they camped here many years ago.

    Full Size ImageBeavertail (Opunita basilaris) sprouting after a fire.      		 We also saw a few Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris Engelm. & J. Bigelow) that were sprouting, and the pads were very “full,” i.e., the plant looked well-watered. However, we also saw many Beavertail that were not sprouting. This suggests that Beavertail may or may not resprout depending upon the damage caused to its root crown.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road in the Valley of Lobo Point

    Locations: Lobo Point.
    Full Size ImageBurned Pinyons and Junipers in this common view of Lobo Point.  

    		 Unfortunately, it looks like the large Juniper near the Medicine Wheel was too badly burned to survive.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road 52490

    Locations: Lobo Point.
    Full Size ImagePanorama showing burned and unburned areas in the Valley of Lobo Point.  

    		 In the Lobo Point campground there was one Pinyon that was perhaps 3-4 feet tall when I first camped there in 1980. Over the years, it grew to more than 12 feet tall. However, it looks too badly burned to survive. This would be in the extreme right of the photograph linked at left. Panning to the left, though, one can see a Juniper that is scorched and brown on one side, but not burned. Then an Antelope Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC ssp. glandulosa (Curran) M. E. Jones), a Box Thorn (Lycium cooperi A. Gray), and finally a large Pinyon (Pinus monophylla Torrey & Fremont) that did not burn. These plants should provide seed to re-establish the vegetation in this little valley.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road north of Lobo Point
    Full Size ImageThe road to Lobo Point from Wild Horse Canyon.  

    		 From Lobo Point, we drove out to my (former) plot in Purple Sage (Salvia dorrii (Kellogg) Abrams ssp. pilosa (A. Gray) J. L. Strachan & Rev.).

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road 65000
    Full Size ImageBefore and after photo.  

    		 The plot itself is almost completely wiped out. There are no surviving Salvia dorrii, and none were found to be sprouting from the roots. The Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima Torrey) is likewise completely gone, and not resprouting.

    Full Size ImageFormer plot in Salvia dorrii
    Full Size ImageFormer plot in Salvia dorrii      		 Siting down the centerline of the plot, there were only a few annuals, mostly Senecio, and tap-rooted perennials, such as Verbena gooddingii, and Mirabilis multiflora that survived.

    Full Size ImageFiberglas stakes burned by the fire.      		 None of my fiberglas stakes, making the locations of Salvia dorrii survived the fire. The plastic resin in the stakes burned out, leaving the glass fibers behind. We were somewhat concerned that the glass fibers could be dangerous to the animals, so we pulled out all stakes, cleaned up as much glass fiber as we could, and disposed of them back at home.

    Full Size ImageLocation marker burned so that number cannot be read.      		 The location markers in the plot also suffered in the fire. The heat bubbled the plastic, and none of the upper sides of the tags were readable.

    Full Size ImageMirabilis bigelovii in my Salvia dorrii plot.      		 There is one Mirabilis multiflora that I have been following for a few years. This plant survived, as it is a perennial growing every year from the roots. I noticed, though, that all of the M. multiflora in this area were very much chewed upon. I’m thinking that perhaps the rabbits, or other small mammals, must be very hungry and are forced to eat this plant, even though it may not be very palatable to them.

    Full Size ImageFire-singed Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus) making a comeback after the Hackberry Complex fire.      		 Nearby, I found a fire-singed Claret Cup Cactus (Echinocereus triglochidiatus) making a comeback after the Hackberry Complex fire.

    Other articles: Lobo Point Road 75000
    Full Size ImageWest end of road to Lobo Point.  

    		 We got back into the car, and headed for the north slope of Wild Horse Mesa. When we got to Wild Horse Canyon Road, it looked to be in excellent condition. I’m not sure why the Park Service is keeping the road closed. However, as the day wore on, and we saw more and more of the road, all in very good condition, I doubt the road is closed because of road conditions. I think perhaps the Park Service is more interested in keeping tourists out of the back country. Perhaps they are afraid of trees falling over on tourists. Or, maybe, they are concerned about archeological sites exposed by the fire.
      Regardless, we carefully tiptoe-ed across Wild Horse Canyon Road, and headed up the road to (the former site of) Winkler’s Cabin.

    Other articles: Winkler's Cabin Road 29990
    Full Size ImageLooking east on the road to Winklers Cabin, 15 Oct 2005.  

    		 The landscape has a kind of eerie feeling; formerly there were shrubs scratching both sides of the car on this road, now it’s all just wide open, with mostly ground visible. In fact, along Black Canyon Road, we noticed several large dumps of tin cans along the road. I think before the fire, these were hidden by the bushes. Now, with the bushes gone, you can see all the places that people dumped their tin cans years ago.

    Other articles: Winkler's Cabin Road 30010
    Full Size ImageRoad to Winklers Cabin, October 15, 2005  

    		 I also found the patterns of light and dark interesting, each dark place marking the former location of a shrub.
      We could not drive all the way into Winklers Cabin in the 4Runner. Well, maybe I could have, but the road got pretty rough at a spot where two washes joined and then the road climbed out of the wash. So we parked the car and walked to my plot in Frasera albomarginata on the north face of Wild Horse Canyon.

    Full Size ImageSingle-Leaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala Wats) resprouting from roots after Hackberry Complex Fire.      		 Along the way, we saw many plants sprouting. In addition to plants already mentioned, the Dalea searlsiae (A. Gray) Barneby was out in force, and I was very pleasantly surprised to see the Single-Leaf Ash (Fraxinus anomala S. Watson) sprouting.
      The big oak in the canyon burned, but was sprouting from its roots.

    Full Size ImageMy plot in Frasera albomarginata after the Hackberry Complex Fire      		 My plot did not burn. All the plants were OK, and the stakes in place. The fire came very close, though. On the bottom edge of my plot, there was one Juniper about 15 feet away from the plot that was scorched on one side. To the east, the fire approached, and burned the Pinyons within 30 feet of my plot.

    Locations: Wild Horse Mesa.
    Full Size ImageNorth face of Wild Horse Mesa after the Hackberry Complex Fire.  

    		 After looking at the plot, we walked up to the little saddle to the west, and had a good view of the patchiness of the burned areas on the north face of the mesa.
      The other thing we noticed over here was the absence of nearby gunshots. This confirms an observation from several years ago. With the conversion to a national park, there are more people, but they tend to stay around the main roads, and few people get into the back country.

    Other articles: Winkler's Cabin Road 16000
    Full Size ImagePancake Cactus (Opuntia chlorotica) resprouting after the Hackberry Complex Fire.  

    		 Driving back out to Wild Horse Canyon Road, we noticed this Pancake Cactus (Opuntia chlorotica Engelm. & J. Bigelow) that was sprouting from the roots. However, in this same area, we could several other plants that were not sprouting, probably depending upon the amount of damage to the plant from the fire.

    Other articles: Wild Horse Canyon Road s. of Silver Lead Spr
    Full Size ImageLooking south on Wild Horse Canyon Road.  

    		 Well, my wife wanted to go have lunch at the Mid Hills Campground. I was a little nervous about driving on the closed Wild Horse Canyon Road, and into the closed campground, given the Park Service propensity to cite visitors for going into closed areas.

    Other articles: Wild Horse Canyon Road near Silver Lead Spr
    Full Size ImageLooking north on Wild Horse Canyon Road  

    		 We drove slowly up Wild Horse Canyon Road, stopping to take photos in several places.

    Other articles: Wild Horse Canyon Road w. of Mid Hills CG
    Full Size ImageLooking south on Wild Horse Canyon Road from near the Mid Hills Campground.  

    Full Size ImageAn area in the Mid Hills after the Hackberry Complex Fire.      		 There was a small unburned area to the north of the road, so we drove into there for lunch. I climbed a small hill to take these photos and peer toward the campground. I looked like the only thing moving was the windmill.
     
     
      We took our time driving back down Wild Horse Canyon Road across the north side of Lobo Point and Barber Mountain to Black Canyon Road.
      At Black Canyon Road, we turned left, heading north to Pinto Mountain. Along the way we noticed water running in the canyon. That seems odd. I wonder if burning of the vegetation reduces water uptake and transpiration, and leaves more ground water for the creeks and springs?

    Other articles: Cedar Canyon Road 18500
    Full Size ImagePatchy burned areas on Pinto Mountain.  

    		 In Cedar Canyon, we stopped to look at the location of my plot on Pinto Mountain. Again we were surprised by the patchy distribution of burned areas.

    Other articles: Cedar Canyon Road 18600

    Locations: Cedar Canyon.
    Full Size ImageThe Hackberry Complex Fire burned quite close to my plot.  
    Full Size Image
    View of Cedar Canyon from Pinto Mountain
    my wife stayed in the car, while I walked up to my plot. This plot, and the Pinyons and Junipers adjacent to the plot did not burn either. Yet just 30 feet away, all the trees and bushes were all burned.

    Full Size ImageYellow 116 in my plot at Pinto Mountains.      		 I photographed the living Frasera albomarginata in my plot, and walked back to the car.
      Back at Hole-in-the-Wall, we read a bit, had a small rehydration and attitude adjustment hour …

    Other articles: Black Canyon Road in Hole-in-the-Wall Campground

    Locations: Woods Mountains.
    Full Size ImageMoonrise over the Woods Mountains.  

    		 …watched the moon rise over the Woods Mounains …
      … enjoyed a fine Frito Pie dinner, and went to bed.

     

       

    Sunday October 16th

     
      This morning was cool and cloudy. After breakfast we packed up, and headed out.

    Other articles: Cedar Canyon Road in Cedar Canyon in Cedar Canyon.

    Locations: Cedar Canyon.
    Full Size ImageLower Cedar Canyon after the Hackberry Complex Fire.  
    Full Size Image
    Burned Joshua tree in Cedar Canyon
    We went down through Cedar Canyon.

    Other articles: Kelso Cima Road in Kelso

    Locations: Kelso.
    Full Size ImageKelso Depot  

    		 Stopped at Kelso to use the bathroom.

    Full Size ImageEgrets in Kelso.      		 Saw these egrets in the trees at Kelso. After a while they circled around and then headed southwest.
      Stopped at Granite Pass to collect a few rocks.
      Then got on the great Concrete Ribbon of Happiness and headed for home.

    Locations: Mount Diablo.
    Full Size ImageMount Diablo as seen from Mission Peak.  

    		  

    Other articles: US I-880 near Mission Blvd

    Locations: Mission Peak.
    Full Size ImageMission Peak as seen from the west.  

    		  

     

       

    November 11, 2005

     

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 101 in Soledad

    Locations: Soledad.
    Full Size ImageFront Street in Soledad.  

    		  

    Other articles: U. S. Highway 101 at Front Street north of Soledad

    Locations: Salinas Valley.
    Full Size ImageFarmland near Soledad, Salinas Valley.  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 146 on east edge of Salinas Valley

    Locations: Salinas Valley.
    Full Size ImageLooking northwest over vinyards in the Salinas Valley.  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 146 south side of Stonewall Cyn

    Locations: Gabilan Range. Stonewall Canyon.
    Full Size ImagePanorama of Stonewall Canyon, west of Pinnacles National Monument  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 146 near Stonewall Cyn

    Locations: Gabilan Range. Stonewall Canyon.
    Full Size ImageStonewall Canyon with Salinas Valley beyond.  

    		  

    Locations: Pinnacles National Monument.
    Full Size ImageRocks at Pinnacles National Monument.  

    		  

    Locations: Chalone Creek. Pinnacles National Monument.
    Full Size ImageView of Chalone Creek canyon from Balconies Trail.  

    		  

    Locations: Chalone Creek. Pinnacles National Monument.
    Full Size ImageJunction of Balconies Cliffs Trail, Balconies Caves Trail, and Old Pinnacles Trail.  

    		  

    Locations: Pinnacles National Monument.
    Full Size ImageCheryl climbs through the Balconies Caves.  

    		  

    Locations: Pinnacles National Monument.
    Full Size ImageTom at the west end of the Balconies Caves.  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 146 at Chaparral Parking Lot

    Locations: Pinnacles National Monument.
    Full Size ImageView towards the High Peaks from the Chaparral parking area.  

    		  

    Other articles: Monterey County Route G16 899500

    Locations: Salinas Valley.
    Full Size ImageLooking west on Monterey County Route G16  

    		  

    Other articles: Monterey County Route G16 899510

    Locations: Salinas Valley.
    Full Size ImageGrass farm near Greenfield, Salinas Valley.  

    		  

    Other articles: Monterey County Route G16 899600

    Locations: Salinas River.
    Full Size ImageSalinas River near Greenfield  

    		  

    Other articles: Monterey County Route G16 899610

    Locations: Salinas River.
    Full Size ImageSalinas River near Greenfield  

    		  

    Other articles: Monterey County Route 15 south of railroad tunnel

    Locations: Salinas Valley.
    Full Size ImageSalinas Valley, Salinas River, and the railroad tunnel near Metz.  

    		  

    Other articles: Monterey County Route 15 south of railroad tunnel

    Locations: Salinas Valley.
    Full Size ImageHarvesting lettuce in the Salinas Valley.  

    		  

    Other articles: Monterey County Route 15 south of railroad tunnel

    Locations: Salinas Valley.
    Full Size ImageSalinas Valley looking south.  

    		  

    Other articles: California Highway 156 near San Juan Bautista

    Locations: San Juan Bautista.
    Full Size ImageSan Juan Bautista Mission seen from below the San Andreas Fault scarp.  

    		  

     

       

    November 19, 2005

     

    Locations: Mission Peak.
    Full Size ImageMission Peak from the Switchbacks on the Horse Heaven Trail  

    		  

    Locations: Coyote Hills. San Francisco Bay.
    Full Size ImageSan Francisco Bay Area from Mission Peak  

    		  

     

       

    December 4, 2005

     

    Locations: Emeryville. San Francisco Bay.
    Full Size ImageSan Francisco Bay in the early morning.  

    		 We got up in the very early morning for a photo of the San Francisco Bay just after dawn.Tall buildings in the right foreground are in Emeryville, the port of Oakland at the left, and San Francisco in the right middleground.

     

       

    December 24, 2005

     

    Full Size ImageSeals resting on rocks near Cambria.      		  

    Full Size ImageWaves breaking on rocks near Cambria.      		  

    Full Size ImageGreat Blue Heron on the cliffs near Cambria.      		  

    Other articles: California Highway 46 880500
    Full Size ImageFault scarp along CA Highway 46.  

    		 We stopped along California Highway 46 for a view of Morro Rock and Morro Bay. But the winter sun was against us, and the photo very difficult. On the opposite side of the highway, the winter sun was lighting up this fault scarp that places Franciscan Formation above some Miocene sediments.

     

       

    December 26, 2005

     

    Locations: San Miguel.
    Full Size ImageOutdoor chapel at Mission San Miguel.  

    		 At Mission San Miguel, an outdoor chapel has been constructed since the church is unusable.

    Locations: San Miguel.
    Full Size ImageMission San Miguel damaged by the San Simeon earthquake.  

    		  
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    Date and time this article was prepared: 12/22/2019 10:07:05 AM