A favorite—I think it tells a story
Shadows, even in the desert
Backdrop at Mesquite Flats
Editor takes five
After leaving the charming town of Bishop…charming? The charm is perhaps, hidden. However, what’s clearly visible are the most wonderful surrounding mountains. The town offers access to some of the most overpowering ranges we have visited, outstanding hikes, a myriad of lakes, snow in winter and views from wherever one stands or even sits. Hiking trails are terrific with many not too far from the town. It is in the heart of the Eastern Sierras.
Our targets
“Where to now?” We asked our charming editor. ‘The valley,’ she answered.
We remember in Johannesburg the boys from the valley, Bez Valley. You did not want to get into a brawl
with those guys—brawling was their Saturday night treat. We were old fashioned even in our youth. We
preferred to go on a date with a girl. In California, the other valley we know of is the one in
Los Angeles County. People always answer to the question of where they live: “In the valley”. We don’t
know what type of people live in that valley but then again, we have not spent much time thinking of it.
We have a lot to ponder with our limited brain capacity as it is. Just this minute, our editor/chef
wants to know whether it’s to be cereal or a bagel for breakfast today. Life is full of these important
decisions which we confront daily.
The Dude...Dune Runner running the dunes
Peeking protruding peaks
He thinks he's T.E. Lawrence
“Death Valley,” she said. Wow! We were frightened. ‘Should we really be visiting a place with such a name?’
We asked our editor. Is there not enough misery in the world?’ We became a little philosophical. We tend to
do that when we are confused. Rather than show cowardice in front of our editor, we drove meekly, heading
east to Death Valley. We were most impressed to find the desert, covered in mountains, a very attractive
place. We love some of the names, too. Badlands, bad water…. It’s like being in an old western movie. We
could almost hear the strains of the theme from the ‘Good, the bad and the ugly’ in the distance. Our editor,
of course, quick of wit and sharp of tongue mentioned that we had two of the attributes mentioned in the
music title. We let the conversation dangle. We have become a passive person, no longer seeking vigorous
debate or argument—certainly not today.
Another story in here, too
'Hey, Dune'
Big deal, already, so it's the highest, so what
This vast area is most attractive, more about that next time. When we came across the Mesquite Flats, we
stopped the car, put on the desert boots which were climbing-and-snow boots the day before and set out
in 90 degrees heat. (By the way, just last week, we hiked in less than 30 degrees weather.) Of course,
we remembered the famous saying that it is a ‘dry heat’. We also remembered that we undertook to ‘bop’
the next person who says that to us. We were like two children running up and down those dunes and soon
became weary children. We think we did a little over three miles, maybe four, of hiking/running which
felt like ten because of the soft, very soft sand. However, it was a terrific experience walking over
the dunes and observing spectacular views. Hell, if it’s not in California, it doesn’t exist.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
Can you hear the strains from 'Chariots of Fire'? Just an idea
Mystery in the desert
'Been thru' the desert on a horse with no name'
She'll be coming round the dune when...
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