26 replies to this topic

[pvstoy]

Tuff Guy 62

 

Do you think there would be any Lupine or Poppies this next weekend??  Worth making a long drive for photographic purpose? Thanks.

[Tuff Guy 62]

Tuff Guy 62

 

Do you think there would be any Lupine or Poppies this next weekend??  Worth making a long drive for photographic purpose? Thanks.

 

If you wan't poppies you need to get out to Walker Canyon by Lake Elsinore ASAP. I understand that it's quite the show right now. Reports also indicate that the bloom is just beginning at the State Poppy Reserve out by Lancaster.

 

The big blooms are all happening right now in southern California, Joshua Tree, Anza Borrego, etc.....

 

The Carrizo Plain is still a couple of weeks out from peak bloom.

[pvstoy]

Thanks for your report. We are going to skip the long drive this weekend. May Mono Lake instead......

[DavidGraves]

Howdy all

After some lovely travels in the deserts we are finally heading over toward the Carrizo Plains next two days
Glad to meet up with any more
WTW folks than we have already met.

Have had a techno glitch past three weeks with no access to the forum.

David Graves

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

We’ll be traveling through Carrizo on Friday and will report back.

[DavidGraves]

We will wave on our way north.

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

Yesterday (Friday 3/29) Jill and I left SLO and headed east to Carrizo Plains to hunt for wildflowers. I’d estimate that we were about 5-10 days too early for a massive bloom (cooler weather and more rain the day before) but there was still plenty to see. Quite a few blooms in spots along Hwy 58 and the beginning of the massive show in Carrizo proper. Traveled south on Soda Lake Rd. to catch Hwy 166, then onto Hwy 33 and the circuitous route back to the 101 and home.

Even though we were early the trip was well worth it. Some observations:
* The usual washboard on sections of Soda Lake Rd. but some VERY DEEP potholes on some of the “paved” sections. You’ve been warned.
* Quite a few people out for a Friday so weekends will be crowded...as usual.
* Good news: the co-managed monument seems to be working well. Kudos to management anticipating increased crowds and providing additional toilets at strategic locations. Bad news: a few dogs running unleashed, some people ignoring closed trail signs and walking all over making new trails, several unusual/discourteous parking of vehicles so that selfies can be taken, and various younger folk plopping themselves down in the middle of flower patches. We call them rattlesnake bait. We took a deep breath and acquiesced to the ignorance of the few.

I’ll see if I can upload a few photos from Jill’s phone. We had a great day!

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

D Graves: were you parked at the Visitors Center about 1:30 pm on Friday? A Tundra/FWC was parked right in front.

[DavidGraves]

MD Ram

 

Howdy...no we left Thursday morning and our rig is a tan 3/4 ton Chevy extended cab with Hawk.

 

We spent a few days up above Quail Springs and canyon and found the plain a really beautiful place.

 

We visited mid week to avoid the crowds which seem to be a common reality anywhere something gets mentioned on Facebook.

 

We were over at the Poppy Preserve on Tuesday and the crowds were astounding....never got the chance to actually enter the preserve/pay admission etc.

 

Oh well.

 

Sorry we missed you.

 

David Graves 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

Next time...happy trails!