40 replies to this topic

[Mark W. Ingalls]

Here is a shot of Ed's claim...


...and the only structure we could find acknowledging his contribution to history...


...amid all the docu-drama:

[Mark W. Ingalls]

So, we hit the trail once more. One of the frequent things you see in the desert are large, rounded rock formations...


As a boy growing up back in the Northeast I learned how glaciation had shaped our hills and valleys, and scoured the field stones round in the process. Traveling through the West, I assumed that the similar, though larger, shapes of the rocks out here were due to older, more gargantuan glaciers. This assumption turned out to be incorrect.

On the way to Los Angeles on the morning of day three we made our first unscheduled stop...


...where we learned that these rounded rock formations are volcanic in nature. Imagine a gargantuan lava lamp containing granite and gneiss instead of wax and water. The molten granite bubbled up out of the gneiss eons ago, and then the softer gneiss was eroded away, leaving the harder granite blobs dotting our present day landscape...


In the above photo, you can see where the granite flowed out of the upper right and down toward the lower left. The hillside to the right is mostly gneiss, with the exception of the blobs of granite.

Here is a photo of the park's namesake...

[Mark W. Ingalls]

We drove all the way through Joshua Tree from South to North, delaying our pickup of the Hawk by several hours, photographing geology, plants, wildlife and each other. The most beautiful and breathtaking thing I personally saw was the look on Edna's face...



...because she has always loved being outdoors. Not a bad view, eh?

Anyway, we arrived late in the afternoon to pick up the Hawk from it's former owners, Ron and Joan. Ron loved the camper, plainly, so I asked him why he was selling it. It turns out that the brand new Chevy 3/4 ton truck he bought is too narrow to fit the 2001 Four Wheel camper's base. Deja vu?

Ron and Joan treated us out to a delicious dinner near their home and evening turned into late night. The only option was to squat in the nearby Sam's Club parking lot for our first night in the Hawk...



One of the advantages of this form of camping is that you can park anywhere and "stealth camp" (after closing the privacy curtains) with the top down when you absolutely need to catch some sleep.

[DLN]

Mark,

Thanks for the pics, keep 'em coming. The new camper is looking very good on your truck.

Glaciation was a very big influence on the topography of the west, just not in the southwest. The entire Sierra Nevada range has gone through numerous glacial events as well a volcanic periods over its geologic history. We are lucky enough to live in the midst of it and get to appreciate the end result everyday.

[Mark W. Ingalls]

Thanks for the kind reply, DLN.

The next morning, we rose eagerly in search of our own California dream. The camper rode well on the truck. Edna took a stint at the wheel...



We saw all the usual So. Cal. coastal stuff-- surfers, pier fishing, roller blading, yada yada, ... and then we hit Pismo...



Wow. This is the only place in California where you can camp on the beach, we were told. But that wasn't all. You can also unleash all your other mechanized mayhem, street legal or not. Definitely worth a look before the tree huggers shut it down.

[craig333]

Very true, but we get the best of both. You can visit Yosemite NP to see what glaciation has done, the go north and visit Lassen Volcanic National Park to see what Volcanism has done (last eruption in 1918).

[kcowyo]

Very nice pics and write up so far Mark.

Congrats on your new purchase. Looks like it was well worth the long ride so far. Hope you two continue to have a safe trip!

[Mark W. Ingalls]

Thanks for the kind words, kcowyo. We arrived safely in Houston, slept one night in our bed and headed out for the Rio Grand Valley to pick up my homesick son. Uploads and all have lagged as family and work are higher priorities.

After the unscheduled stop in Pismo (properly called Oceano Dunes) we made another unscheduled stop at Hearst Castle, where a man's castle actually was his home.



This photo, taken from the Welcome Center five miles distant, shows some of what W.R. acquired, and what his offspring turned over to the State of California to avoid the scalding taxes. Edna was once again pleased, as this shot of her next to Mr. Hearst's "other pool" attests--



From there, we headed the rest of the way up CA 1 searching for the archetypal coastal scene photograph...

[Mark W. Ingalls]

We found the beach inhabitants had quite different habits from our own---

[DLN]

Hey Mark,

Glad to here you're home safe. I was kinda wondering what happened to you after all the great posts early in your trip, but do understand how one can get busy with life. Thanks again for the pictures. Send more when you can.