Grand Canyon

We're here. We got here too late for sightseeing. A glimpse on the way in was already startling. I'm feeling the altitude - I will be walking slowly, but I will be walking.

National Trails Highway

California Inn, Barstow. Old
Route 66 is now the National Trails Highway. From San Bernardino, Cajon Blvd is cut by I-15. A way around is through Devore. Formerly four lanes, one side is closed, to save on maintenance. The road is discontinuous. A short hop in the freeway to Summit Valley Road, then to Hesperia.

Victorville. Oro Grande. Helendale. Lenwood. Barstow. I don't think those names are in the song about the California Trip. We took our time, including wandering through the twists and turns of a housing subdivision. Still not much photography - I still want to see before I shoot.

I am particularly fond of the desert. I think it is the openness that appeals to me. Perhaps it is the geologist in me that delights in seeing the underlying structure of the land.

Starting up Cajon Pass

We're in San Bernardino filling up the gas tank. We got off the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10) at Mt. Vernon Ave., old Route 66. We will get our kicks, as much as possible in the freeway age, to the Colorado River.

Crack of Dawn

Denny's Restaurant at Sunset and Van Ness, Hollywood, CA.

Well, not the crack of dawn, it's 9 am. After yesterdays rush, I'm glad for a little slowdown. The shops in Thai Town, just a few blocks away open at 10. Food Max is also on the itinerary for some produce.

Jacuzzi in the Bedroom

Super 8 Motel, North Hollywood.

There is a jacuzzi in the bedroom. I chose the room because it was the only non-smoking room still available.

We are a dilatory pair. I was so tired last night that I elected to "worry about it tomorrow". As things typically work out with us an intended 9 am departure was nearly noon. Obviously, Big Sur will have to wait for another time. Hotels and campsites at the coast are scarce or pricey this weekend. Just to be sure we reserved in LA.

This time of year the Coast Route is deserving of a liesurely transit. Hillsides are covered with blooming mustard, poppies and lupine, often in close proximity. And where they are absent, the grass an almost luminous green.

On this leg we made only necessity stops. I knew the camera would stay out of sight. Because I knew I would not be making any photos I looked at everything differently. Sometimes I get so caught up in the idea that I'm a photographer that I think I have to get everything I see. Then I forget to see the thing for getting the photo. Sometimes one must put the camera down and just look; even if it's at 65mph.

Today was all freeway. Tomorrow I expect to go much slower. After Thai Town and a temple we'll head east to San Bernardino. After we get off at Cajon Blvd I hope to stay off untill time to cross the Colorado River into Arizona. Saturday will be, I hope, a day punctuated with numerous stops to look closely.

Good night all. Tune in tomorrow for more.

Stephen

Disorganized Departure

Work is done. All the timesheets and expense reports are submitted - it's all our time, now. OK, what's next?

Empty truck of work tools and supplies. Load camping gear. How many changes of jeans do I need? How many changes of underwear? What bills need to be paid before we leave. Do we go grocery shopping tonight or tomorrow. Do I transport the view camera in it's big box or the photo-backpack? Remember to pack long underwear. Do I leave the 35mm cameras at home? How about the laptop? Books. Shampoo? Dental floss. Am I going to forget my toothbrush again? I think I've had to buy a new toothbrush everytime we've left home. Charging plugs for two cell phones and two digital cameras, well, that's not so bad. Did I already mention shampoo? Gas bottles, small ones, this time. Fruit. Shaver charging plug (that makes 5). Video camera plug (6). Eton emergency radio. Aspirin. Check the first-aid kit. Fire extinguisher....

...Oh, Lord....

More; on Less

Sometimes, perhaps lacking the influence of coffee, the train of thought ends up in the wrong terminal. In the previous post the point missed is that most of the entries here are made frome my cell phone. Perhaps the title should have been "Tiny Keyboard is the Soul of Wit.

I'm sure I qualify for brevity, but the wit may not always make it to the page.