I had one day off in the desert last week before coming home from my teaching trip to California. I talked about the wonders of LA and San Diego HERE and HERE.
I love the desert. I'm not all that fond of the heat, but you do get used to it. I grew up in the high desert of western New Mexico and I'm used to horizons. Having a day in the desert of southern California was a lot of fun even if I didn't have time for a big hike (or the mojo to battle the 100 degree heat).
This looks like I made it to the beach, right?
Not exactly. This is the Salton Sea. Largest body of water in California. Fascinating history, amazingly stinky... but the state of California is definitely pushing it as a recreation destination. The weirdest thing about driving through this valley was the difference between the dry, bright, stark desert and the lush green agriculture created by water from my very state, Colorado.
Date palms growing just north of the Salton Sea, California
Tilapia. The only fish to live in the Salton Sea which is increasingly salty. The ranger assured me that the dead fish were just part of a natural cycle. Of course he also said that the water was clean and safe... and I think we have ample evidence to question that considering the agricultural run-off in this body of water over the last hundred years. The Imperial Valley and California certainly has plenty of reason to defend this body of water. After all, the lettuce you just ate for lunch might well have come from there.
I headed to Joshua Tree National Park. What an amazing place that is! The view below is of Mt. San Jacinto, just east of Palm Springs.
The heat being mighty high and I being mighty tired from a week of teaching meant that weaving was on the agenda for the day instead of my usual hiking.
I'm home now and working hard on a spinning/weaving project. My current horizons don't extend much beyond my spinning wheel and looms.
The fleece was dry today and I had it on the deck for photographs.
Emily came out and said, "Did you find the carcass?"
Rather freaked out I said, "No.... WHAT?" I thought perhaps there was a dead squirrel, bird, cat, or raccoon in the yard.
"Of the gay sheep that exploded," she said.
Rainbow sheep.