Scenes from a BUSY place..

There's 22 million humans in Southern California. I've never met most of them. I know Brad (brother from another Mother)

 http://jeffsambur.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-brother-from-another-mother.html  

 I also know there was World Baseball Classic games in San Diego. That's two reasons to venture to a stupidly crowded landscape. I'll add a third reason to say those mellow Southern Californian Dudes make a very palatable, thirst quenching IPA as well.

To sum up the experience: The baseball was entertaining, the traffic scared me, Brad was fun to hang out with, the prices were earthshaking, the food better than average, the rest and relaxation was sparse, I caught another cold, the women are fit and beautiful, the hiking was non-existent, its 23 hours of noise with a one hour break,  and the weather was cool and clammy damp. 

I'm now a tired sloth. It's a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live here.

It was a unique week for me, but I'm ready to retreat to quieter places. Wont you take me back to your warm bosom Death Valley National Park?

Wish me luck on my drive...

Cheers!

Jeff 

A Land of Superlatives...

"Hottest, Driest and Lowest" are the oftentimes mentioned descriptors of Death Valley National Park. Those words are imprinted on gift shop T-shirts so it must be true. However, there's so much more to Death Valley. 

It's the largest National Park in the lower 48, contained in the most populated state in the Union, yet, you can find plenty of solitude. A whopping 92% of this stark jewel is designated Wilderness. Thank you, President Clinton. 

Now, I'm at a stage of my life when I see gaggles going right, I'll go left. If you are willing to walk a few miles further up a canyon or mountain (like I am) you'll have it for your own. It's quiet too. 

While I drive the low trafficked byways, I'm constantly scanning the scenery for a canyon or an obscure old road to explore. Oftentimes, the hike will lead me to an abandoned mine, complete with derelict cabins and discarded dreams. Most of the Diggers in DV never struck "pay dirt." I'm guessing making the Big Bucks might have been icing on the cake for these hermits. Many were probably attracted to the silence and the big wide open spaces. Same as us modern day tourists. 

Two of my favorite activities involve sunrises lighting up the Panamint Mountains and sunset Happy Hours while viewing the Amargosa Range. All I have to do is turn my folding chair 180 degrees while holding a hot or cold beverage. The sun does all the rest. It's a dirty retirement job, but someone has to do it.

Cheers from Dana Point, CA. 

Where did all these people come from? 

World Baseball Classic starts manana.

I knew there's a good reason why I'm here.

Jeff

The last photo is my newest Real Estate scheme. Condos in the Panamints. I'll cut you a great deal.

Fido! I don't think...

we're in New Zealand anymore!

And we are not. Me, Barley the Van and my obedient Fido are now ensconced in the Death Valley, California region. En route from Phoenix, I noticed six announcements for upcoming Gun Shows, one "Hillary for Prison" sign, two Confederate flags, and one Harley Davidson rider (sans helmet) sporting a unconcealed pistol on his hip. Just like the mellow vibe of Kiwi-land, only different. 

Ain't America Great Again?

My cycle of life continues...despite a detour to the World Baseball Classic in San Diego, I'll concentrate my efforts on being in the "Big Wide Open." Death Valley, Joshua Tree, Mojave, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Arches, Escalante-Grand Staircase and Canyonlands, (not in that order), before I see my pot-smoking friendly home of Colorado again. 

Keep looking in, this ought to be a good roll. As my father Sid (May he RIP) would say, "God Willing!" 

From beautiful Downtown Shoshone, CA (population 31) Goodnight,

Jeff