Imperial Valley, CA

After leaving Salvation  Mountain we headed north-ish toward Lake Havasu City, AZ.
It is somewhat surreal to be driving through a dessert with dunes and with sand drifting across the road.  Like Egypt or an Arab nation. I felt it warranted to stop at the scenic lookout. It being scenic and all.

These fellas had been here for a few days already.  Made me think of my brothers and how much they like to play with sleds, quads, and bikes! So these shots are really for them!  It ended up being one of those fun, unexpected surprise type things that made you glad you stopped...even though it made you late!

The rest of the drive was just as adventurous complete with series of dips in the road where you surely could catch some air!  ....and a border patrol checkpoint complete with armed guards and a canine unit. We think they were checking for substances or smuggled humans.   This moment alone made us change our after-dark travel route to a much larger highway.  The road more traveled just seemed a safer option.

Salvation Mountain, CA

Salvation Mountain, is just outside of Niland, CA, in the middle of the dessert.

It was a warm but overcast afternoon and the light was amazing.

Salvation Mountain is one of the places on this earth that you'd love to visit someday, but know you probably never will. When  Third Day's, "Revelation" album came out in 2008, and featured this place I thought, wow, that is so cool!  When we planned our trip to Arizona, we decided to include this and make a 6 hr detour.  SO worth it!
 
I am amazed that someone would set out to accomplish a feat like this.  To declare this Good News to the world, wear it on your sleeve in a way that's visible from space on Google Earth! 

I sat for sometime by the Living Water on the hill, a River in the wasteland.  Feeling the dessert wind.  Just contemplating for a bit.  Looking out.  I see the campers, RV's, motor homes, and tents scattered across the road.  This is a common roadside sight, peppered all across California dessert areas.  People squat wherever they want and live off the grid.  They set up a clothes line, some chairs by a fire pit, and live their lives.  They are nomads.  No rules. No plumbing.  No expectations. No life demands.  Alone....and wanting to be left alone.  I'm not sure I see the appeal of that lifestyle.  Don't get me wrong, I loved the wandering nature of our trip and the remote hikes we made, leaving the crowds behind, but I don't think I could live outside of community, even when it gets messy. 

Next stop...a scenic lookout in Imperial Valley, CA.  Too much fun to skim over!!

This is Yuma, AZ

Here is Arizona through my lens.
The flora.
The minutia that my eyes drink in.
The details that made each stop and each day and even the drive so memorable.
Come along!!

When I click on the photos, my computer drops them into a full screen slide show.  I wonder if it automatically does that for you?

A tree blooming outside our motel in Phoenix made me think that inspiration for Dr Seuss books is everywhere....
Yuma Territorial Prison, site of several movie sets, and the real wild west.   Lots of texture here!  And it was HOT here!
This is also the place where we caught our first glimpse of the Colorado River.   In the distance you see the incredible amount of agriculture that thrives along the river, and in the middle of this dessert, irrigation has been perfected.   A Google earth image will show a swath of perfect green squares along the river in a sea of sand.
I loved driving toward California.  I would NEVER rub that in!  We listened to Switchfoot's new album "Fading West"....love this song! 

Next stop?  Salvation Mountain, Niland, California.