Day 195: Another Visit to Joshua Tree

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Ben

This morning we left the Walmart of Yucca Yalley and headed into Joshua Tree via the Northwestern entrance, which is the only entrance we didn’t explore the last time we were here.

We walked the Hidden Valley loop trail, which winds its way through Hidden Valley, a bowl ringed by low hills:

Yucca:

Hidden Valley has conifers growing in it due to the moisture captured and retained in the valley. The rest of Joshua Tree lost its conifers as the area transitioned to a desert climate. Unfortunately, introduced species, their seeds carried here in the fur of cattle and sheep, prevent the conifer seeds from taking root, so the valley is loosing its conifers. A few dead ones remain:

Hidden Valley confier:

Looking out over Joshua Tree National Park:

On the way to Barstow, our Field Trip Android App alerted us to a sculpture called Rhythms of Life, a 250 x 250 foot sculpture constructed by Andrew Rogers in 2008 and made of hundreds of tons of rock. Here’s what it looks like from the air:

Using the photo above as reference, here we are along the left side of the sculpture:

A photo from the “top” of the sculpture:

Tonight we’re staying at the Walmart of Barstow, CA. See the trip map for details.

Day 194: Heading for the hills

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Ben

This morning we packed up the RV to end our amazing weekend at the Salton Sea paragliding event. I walked out to the flight line to say goodbye to Greg and John, and Greg pointed out this juicy fellow next to the picnic table:

From the Salton Sea, we headed Northwest to the Yucca Valley, CA to overnight at an area Walmart.

Day 193: Birds of Cloth and Steel

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Ben

Update: I’m now a pilot myself, and flew at the 2015 Salton Sea fly-in. Photos from the 2015 fly-in start on Day 544, and a video montage of my flights at the fly-in can be viewed on Day 553. I also flew the 2016 Salton Sea fly-in, starting on Day 887. 2020 Salton Sea fly-in here.

Shabbos was nice, we spent some time watching the flyers and asking questions. We learned a lot, much like the times we were accidentally imbedded in a motocross hillclimbing competition and stumbled into a competition involving quail, horses, and dogs.

Today I was running around with the camera, photographing the pilots and their machines. It still amazes me that an aircraft that can fit in the trunk of a car can be assembled and launched in 15 minutes, and can be flown for 2-4 hours on a tank of gas.

Most pilots were foot launching paragliders with back-mounted paramotors:

Jim does a power check before liftoff:

John does a flyby:

Casey Cadwell takes off:

John let me try on his paramotor:

Chad Bastion heads out:

These buggies are lifted by massive powered parachutes:

This plane is homebuilt and has a open cockpit:

Another flyby by John:

Kiting a wing:

John lands:

I photographed Greg from takeoff through landing:

John heads out again:

Sunset brought great light:

Salton Sea winter:

What a day!

Day 191: Biking and Flying

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Ben

At 7:30am, John and I headed out for a ride “around the block”, which included climbing 3500’ of vertical on Montezuma Grade. After cresting the grade, we refilled our water bottles at the store in the unincorporated area of Ranchita:

Portions of the ride were pretty dicey as we were passed by dozens of toy hauler RVs on their way to OHV areas. By the end, I was really tired. This was my last ride with John, and I’ll miss my newfound biking buddy.

While I packed up the RV for our reposition to Salton Sea, Trish started riding towards Salton Sea by bike. The idea was that by the time I got the RV hitched up and ready to go, we would both arrive at the Salton Sea at the same time. Unfortunately, Trish had a catastrophic tube failure about five miles into the ride that resulted in a crash and a shattered cycle computer screen. By the time she got off the road, the tube had somehow spilled out of the rim. We put the bike on the RV rack and continued on to Salton Sea.

For the first time on this trip, we’re staying at a private RV park to spectate at a powered paragliding fly-in. I have been interested in powered paragliding since high school, so it was exciting to get to see this highly portable form of aviation in person. When we arrived, both foot-launched units and trike buggies were in the air:

The solitude and quiet of dispersed camping it aint, but we are 50 feet from the flight line, which is a plus, and with forecasted highs at around 90 degrees, we’re happy to have an electrical hookup.

We spent 16 days in Anza Borrego State Park, and I’m sure we will go back again someday. It’s a wonderful place! To see today’s drive, consult the trip map.

Good Shabbos from Salton City, CA!

Day 190: Our Last Days in the Desert

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Ben

Well, not exactly, but it is our last night in Anza Borrego State Park. We took my parents up to Font’s Point, where Last Days in the Desert was being filmed. Fortunately, we got there between takes so we could take a look around: