After a few days of what seems like endless preparation, we're off on our next adventure to the canyon lands of southern Utah. Since we're bringing our two
Decker Terriers, Checkers and Mary, more preparation than usual is needed before hitting the road.
Shortly after leaving home, a big juicy bug makes its last statement in life by splatting on my carefully cleaned windshield {sigh}. Hope this isn't an omen for the rest of the trip.
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| Splat! |
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| Banners for used car sales in Salinas |
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Still it's good to be getting out of drought stricken California for even a few weeks, especially since the coast is in the midst of the first heat wave this year. Oddly enough we later discover
Las Vegas is cooler than coastal California during this heat wave.
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| Farmer plows a dusty field |
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| Fire in Fort Hunter Liggett |
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We do love living in California, but it's a bit of a drive to get out of the state. We start off by heading south on Hwy 101 and then cut across to I-5 via Hwy 46, where the
Hollywood actor James Dean met his fate in a fatal car accident at the intersection of Hwy 41.
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| Location of fatal accident |
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| We head for the hills |
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To avoid going through Bakersfield we continue on I-5 southward and cut across to Hwy 58 (
Tehachapi Pass) via Hwy 223.
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| Climbing up Hwy 223 |
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| Oak studded foothills |
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| Hwy 58 entering Tehachapi Pass |
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As we near the top of Tehachapi Pass, we see a billboard of a woman attorney soliciting business from truckers. She looks strikingly like one of Peter's step sisters. Although we've been over this pass many time, I'm always fascinated by the many wind generators dotting the hills. Once over the top, we quickly descend into the
Mojave Desert.
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| Can it be? Nahhh... |
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| Descending into the Mojave Desert |
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From there it's not far to
Red Rock Canyon State Park. We had scoped out this campground on a
previous trip.
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| Evening shadows at Red Rock Canyon |
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| Morning at our campsite |
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| Early sunlight reveals interesting contours |
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Since dogs aren't allowed on most California State Park trails (as opposed to other state parks and National Forest areas), we walk them where we can to enjoy the beautiful morning. This scenery whets our appetites for the canyons and rock formations to come in southern Utah.
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| Peter walks through the desert floor with the Rats |
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| Sun's up - time to hit the road |
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| Red Rock Canyon campground |
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