Wednesday, February 13, 2019

The Desert’s Pull


Perhaps it’s not just the warmth that drives older folks to the desert, perhaps there’s more.  What about the speed of our lives?  As children and adults we are always going, going, going.  But as we age, and retire, we suddenly have less scheduled time plus we move more slowly.  Slowly enough to take time and study details.  Just what a desert needs.  I remember as a kid I couldn’t wait to finish driving through one.  Boring, boring, boring.  Even when I was out of the car walking. Boring, boring, boring.  Now, all these years later, I love the desert.  Subtle colors.  Quiet.  Dramatic shadows.  A gentleness offset by it’s harsh ways.  Or it just the quiet?  And, yes, the warmth is perfect too. 

One night Ed and I decided to boondock at Hawk’s Canyon, part of Anza Borrego State Park.   A perfect example of subtle colors, quiet, dramatic shadows, lovely rock formations.  After sitting in the warming sun for a couple of hours, we moved inside as dark and rain were coming our way.  Our camp’s view...








After we had moved inside, eaten dinner and were engaged in the evening’s activities, Ed looked up and gasped.  Although we knew it was raining, we didn’t think it amounted to much, so Ed’s surprised response caught my attention.   Looking out Thistle’s window it was what looked like a  mini flash flood.  The road had turned into a river.  Fortunately our camp site had enough high ground to keep us out of the flood.   Further up the road some campers had to rearrange their camp as the water came right through their tent site.

These pictures were taken the next morning, long after the rain quit. You should have seen our shoes and Thistle’s floor.  Mud/sand/goo everywhere. 








The next day we drove a short distance to Slot Canyon.   We arrived at the trail head at noon.  No dogs on trail.  Oh drat!  Too hot to leave Benton in the car for long, so we set off to hike the bluff, saving the canyon for another day.  Looking down into the canyon is stunningly beautiful.  Would I have liked it as a kid?  I keep wondering because what I do remember from my childhood is I really, really did not like the desert.

Here are shots of the canyon from the rim...








Here we are,  hiker folks... 




~~~ 

I can’t get enough of wandering.  Or the earth.  Some of us carry an inherent need to explore.  Textures.  Fragrances. Sounds. Air. Shadows. Movement. Patterns.  Light.

Victoria Erickson 

  


      

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