Leftovers

We had a great RV trip to the Pacific Northwest but are now back to the Southern Arizona Desert.  As I walked in the mornings in Sisters Oregon I was amazed at the changing landscape of new wildflowers appearing each day.  The interesting thing however is that I have the same feeling walking in my neighborhood in Arizona.  Each day in the spring brings new blooms on the cacti, succulents and wildflowers.   So I guess nature will provide
surprises everywhere if you take the time to observe.   Leaving the cool mountains around Mammouth lakes I focused on getting into the mindset of brown rather than green so I would be ready for the desert.  However, just outside of Phoenix on I 10 we came into the foothills.  Before us was a lush green landscape covered in miles of green Ocotillo cactus.  These are the ones that mimic waving sea plants on the ocean bottom.  Much of the time they do not stand out because they are dormant and look like dead sticks protruding from the dusty desert.  A few times a year, however, they are covered in small green leaves.  This concentration of them responding to the humidity of the monsoon rain season was astounding.  The life that the rains brings to the desert is always amazing.  When we came into town the multitude of colors even surpassed that which we see in the springtime.  The many shades of reds of the bougainvillea, the oranges of the Birds of Paradise bushes/trees, the oranges, yellows, and reds of the blooming barrel cacti as well as the yellow and red fruits on chollas and beavertail cactus, the bright greens of the ocotillos, the 20 foot tall stems of the sotols, were overwhelming.

After taking all this in it was on to the first task at hand.  When we left in May we had already had two rattlesnakes in our yard so I started the process of poking all the bushes in the yard to discover any guests during our absence.   After a few rounds we concluded the the yard was safe for our dogs to use (under supervision).

But now to the real reason for this post.  Thinking back over the adventures I remembered various things that did not make our posts.  Some have stories and some are just favorite photos.

This sign was seen on a vacant lot near Joshua Tree National Park.  I have always been fond of one-stop-shopping.

This is Skull Rock in Joshua Tree National Park.  Leslie is going to need a larger Q-tip.

This rental van was spotted in Joshua Tree.  The license was from British Columbia.  I particularly enjoyed the profound philosophy on the back.

This gang of mountain goats was spotted as we were leaving the Hearst Castle.  They pose for the tour busses.

Across the road from Hearst castle we stopped at a popular restaurant in a small town.  The curio shop had this nostalgic sign.   After spending some time in Bend, OR, we thought this could be the town's motto.

In Patrick's Point State Park, CA, Smokey has lots of advise for visitors.  The item in his mouth is a pen, not a cigarette. The rangers felt compelled to label it as such.

 This was during our walk in the Redwoods National Park.  It was one of the only times in forest walks that I haven't heard Banjos (reference to movie Deliverence).

I guess this was the California Welcome Wagon.

In the same area we stopped at the visitor's center of the Patrick's Point State Park.   This curious specimen was displayed in one of the rooms. Apparently a Male Elk was rubbing his antlers on a tree and got stuck.  Nature moves on and the tree grew around the antlers.  I'm sure some of the locals tell visitors that this is a rare antler tree in the same way that we tell visitors from the East that the Mine Tailings that surround our town are the famous Mesas that they have seen in movies.

I didn't know viewing the seashore was so dangerous.

I also didn't know there were so many rules to visit a lighthouse (sign in parking lot outside Yaquina Bay Lighthouse).

This very useful sign was found along the Deschutes River in the Old Mill District of Bend Oregon.  This was along a fancy biking trail between the river and a very nice shopping mall.  I was somewhat disoriented because our friends told us we were going to the OLD Mill District (thoughts of historic buildings and education about the logging industry in Oregon).  Not so in this high end area.  The bike path was also designated as a walking trail.  They are very strict because when we slowed down to talk or look at the scenery we were yelled at by bikers to keep moving!  So I tried very hard to keep moving but still get a shot or two at the scenery.

Nice Scenery!   Paddle boarding was the choice sport of the day on the river.  This photo and some below are for Leslie's friend Nancy who always says that I don't take enough people pictures.

This fellow didn't seem to like being the subject of the photo.  He did talk to me later and explained that the birds that followed him down the beach in Bandon Oregon were there for the stale peanuts that he gives them.

These guys were fishing off the coast below a Whale watching museum in the small town of              ,  Oregon.  The docent watching from the window was discussing that this guy's gene pool may not last long.  Can you say "sneaker wave"?  This was a new concept for me (we have dust storms that look like waves in the desert but they don't sneak up on you).  I had, however read the previous warnings about this type of nature event on signs in many places along our trip.   During the discussion, another tourist came up and asked how to get down there.  The docent kept conversing with another visitor but the tourist asked again.  I told him you go to the side of the building and go around the 8 foot sign that says WARNING -- DANGER-- do not go past this sign!  He said Oh! Now I understand.

This person also qualifies for the Darwin Award.  I had my finger poised over the video button on my camera.  I thought for certain that I would have an award winning video of the action. I hope she got a good picture of the Sahalie falls.

Speaking of the desert this is a Gila Monster photographed at the High Desert Museum in Bend.  We have had the good fortune of observing one in the wilds of Arizona.  However this guy gave us an experience that I would venture to say has not been often observed. See next picture.

Gila Monster Poop!

I've heard of dogs on a leash and even cats on a leash but who walks their rattlesnake on a leash!  This is a sign at Crooked River RV Park, near Redmond, Oregon.

When we first reached the Oregon Coast we tried all the local seafood specalities.  Many places made their fish and chips from Ling Cod.  It was very good.  When leaving a restaurant on the dock in         Oregon, we saw the fish in the display case.  One was GREEN.  The owner said that it was from the fish eating algae and other plants.  She said it is rare because the fishermen usually keep them because of their flavor.  Who Knew!

Seen at Peggy Sue's Diner.  Maybe he ate too much and sunk into the sand.

Are you looking at me?

Are you looking at me?

Look out below!

Guardian of the mountain at Newberry Volcano Lands near Bend, Oregon.

This sign was on the road to the entrance of a Harvest Host site, the Arcane Vinyards.  The owner said he did have a blind dog that used to lay in the road so he had the sign made.  The dog died about 10 years ago but the sign slows traffic so he left it up.  He didn't say whether the chicken sign slowed anyone down. You never know why they want to get to the other side of the road.

This trailer was seen in the Sisters RV park where we stayed.  I think they were a few days late for the Rodeo.

Here is another shot of the Cape Blanco Lighthouse.  We had great weather when we visited the lighthouse.

The sky and water meet at Bandon Beach.

This is one of my favorite photos from the trip.  Is taken from the highest point in Joshua Tree National Park looking toward the San Andreus Fault.

RVing gives lots of opportunities for photography both for landscapes as well as for remembering unique events in your travels.  I am continually amazed at the great photography in many of the RV travel blogs.

Thanks for viewing my photos.  If you want to see more please visit my portfolio on the Redbubble Photography site.  The site is a commercial photography site that contains photography, paintings, and writings of thousands of artists, both amateur and professional, from all over the world. You can buy prints, T shirts, calendars, pillows, tote bags, etc.   Many of the artists form friendships on this site in much the same way as full time bloggers do.  For my portfolio click here.  From there you should be able to look around the whole site.  Or just go to Redbubble.com.  I hope some of the full-time bloggers that have such great photos of our country will consider joining the site (free) to share their great work even further.

So, keeps your ducks (or Geese) in a row.

The End