Before and after:
Since it not a natural lake and has no river output, salt levels rose.
The odor became unbearable, birds died, fish died and people fled.
This town used to be about seeing the abandoned playground, pier and related amusements. Now the artsy add their odd creations.
That 'beach' is fish bones. That water smells like you don't want to imagine.
See what I mean about the artsy? Wasn't here a couple of years ago.
This is a most unique area in the high desert of old RVs (yes, people are living in them) and other makeshift living quarters off the grid.
Back to Coachella Valley and the gated community to stay at Aimee's place. (She's not here.)
Sunday, July 4th, 2021
Charlie Brown Farms in Palmdale is fun.
Industry in Searles Valley.
The beauty of the greatest country in the world never stops.
The western edge of Death Valley National Park.
Alabama Hills, west of Lone Pine, has been used for countless movies since the dawn of film.
Remote Bridgeport was a nice town.
Started the 1 1/2 days of zig-zagging the Sierra Nevadas north of Yosemite.
Monday, July 5th, 2021
Last time in Sonora, the pictures were on film.
Moving west out of the mountains.
Heading back west into those beautiful mountains.
Never gets old.
This is where I am building my house.
Sometimes you need to navigate roads like this to see the greatness of America.
Marleeville, all of it.
Never gets old.
Amador
Was first here many years ago. After Ronald Reagan took the Governorship in 1967; he, Nancy, Patti and Ron moved into the Governor's Mansion. When the fire marshal told Mrs. Reagan it was a fire trap, they moved to this house 5 miles SE of the Capitol Building.
Repeating the tradition of a pic in front of the Capitol.
Tuesday, July 6th, 2021
Of course I ate at the counter. Duh.
Heading north into more of that real remote America.
Continuing south.
To get to Bodie you first navigate 10 miles of twisty paved road. Then 3 miles of washboard gravel road.
Founded in 1859, the town struggled from 1863 to 1877.
Then a new vein of gold was discovered in 1875 and by 1879 the town had a population of 2,000...
It was so exciting to stroll the streets picturing the past.
To go into buildings and imagine them in use.
Just picture, a family setting up house and raising a family here.
Looking down into the valley.
Drove/hiked up to Zabriskie Point.
Nice view of the different geological formations.
Think it's black from being burnt.
It's a drive to get to Dante's View, the last of it being steep, but how about that view?!
To give a sense of scale, see the road?
Back in the valley.
Lowest point in the USA.
Water? It seeps up from an underwater river and is so salty it is not usable.
World's largest thermometer in Baker.
Which is a stopover town between LA and Vegas.
Was in Amboy last year and wanted to take a closer look.
Amboy was founded on a railroad line, then the legend continued when Route 66 came through.
Just imagine the lodging back then.
Considering they are open to the elements, they are in good shape.
Yes, people live here.
Have seen so many miles of the border wall over the years.
El Indio invented...
Then off to Balboa Park. LOVE Balboa Park and so glad to see it again.
A flying replica of the Spirit of St. Louis and the X-1 above.
Apollo 8.
So much info. Fantastic displays.
Then it was time to stroll around Balboa Park and marvel at the Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture.
Most of these buildings were constructed in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition.
Then used again for the 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition.
During both Wars they served various duties.
And today house museums and galleries.
Japanese Friendship Garden
Organ
Lily Pond and Botanic Gardens
Vendors lining the Plaza
So much intricacy.
San Diego Model Railroad Museum
Taking a swing through downtown San Diego, including Gaslamp Quarter.
Taking a look at San Diego while crossing the Coronado Bridge.
Third time in Coronado.
LOVE this peninsula town.
Went around to the courtyard.
And maybe found an unlocked door. Last time in this stunning lobby, it was bustling with guests.
Clad in sugar pine for Oregon, The Crown Room measures 160x60 feet with a 30 foot ceiling void of any pillars.
But they do have a legendary burger place.
Saturday, July 10th, 2021
2 States
Can you believe I've been to Palm Springs this many times and haven't made it to the Palm Springs Air Museum?!
European Theatre Hanger
This is a suburb map showing the situation during WWII. I studied it looking for mistakes.
Bombardier
Cockpit, it was quite small.
After reading so much about these, it was very special to see it first hand
Pacific Theatre Hanger
.
Third time at the Salton Sea. In the 1950s and 60s this was the 'Riveria of California" with resorts and homes ringing a lake full of swimmers, boaters and water skiers.
3,002 Miles
14 Restaurants
4 Bakeries
4 Ice cream shops
Saturday, July 3rd, 2021
I got to go on a B-17!
Imagine moving around during flight. In war. During a battle.
.
They even have some outside.
Korean and Vietnam Hanger
.
Now it is a wasteland.
Now what remains rots and those who still live there are...different.
Bombay Beach was one of the larger towns and is an amalgamation of abandoned homes and people living there...often hard to tell apart.
Maybe find an affordable home?
Salvation Mountain was started by Leonard Knight in 1989. He worked on it until 2011 when he had an injury. Later that year he was placed in a dementia facility and passed in 2014.
Further up the high desert is Slab City. More off the grid living.
Nearby is East Jesus, an 'art installation'.
Pretty sure this won't be featured in The Louvre.
Niland must have once been a successful town.
North Algodones Dunes Wilderness Area
Morning run before getting on the road and heading north.
Lone Pine
Sitting in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, there is a variety of terrain.
Went for a hike.
Picturing all the cowboy and Indian chases filmed here.
Needed some ice cream after that hike in 100+ degrees.
Continued north over Conway Summit.
Bishop
Welcome to the UCSR. United California Socialist Republic.
This is one of the mining towns that stretch north to south along the mountain range.
"Look up or down" is what I say in old towns. Those are usually the unchanged parts.
To Oakdale for breakfast.
Egg whites, garlic mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, onion. Healthy and yummy!
Back in civilization and stumbled upon a place that makes their own ice cream. That is Kit Carson Crunk- coffee ice cream with chocolate almond brickle.
Last time in Jackson, the pictures were on film.
Last time in Sutter Creek, the pictures were on film.
I do find humor that a once rough mining town is now home to boutiques and al fresco restaurants.
Senate and Assembly were in session.
Revisiting Old Sacramento. The original settlement is now a super touristy area.
Reno, home to one of my favorite car museums.
Truckee sure has gotten a lot more boutique-ish since the last visit.
Cafe in business since 1947
2nd generation
Table of fellas in the back jabbing away
Fox News on the TV
Two counters
Two old guys silently taking it all in
=Excellent breakfast destination.
Laughed out loud.
Homemade Chili Skillet.
Made it on these lists: Best Thing I Ate 2021, Best Hashbrowns
Quincy has...
A donut shop AND a bakery.
Carson City is a tidy town..
Yep, repeating the tradition of the pic in front of the Capitol.
Bumpy drive, but the view!
After gold was found in them there hills, Bodie grew quickly.
...and then grew to 7,000.
Back on the road after this wonderful stop.
Always want to take another look at this unique part of the planet.
Did you know Borax was mined here in the 1800s?
Last time I was here it was 116 degrees. In July the highest recorded temp was 134. This morning it was only 111, same as it has been the past few days in California.
Took a wrong turn and ended up on Mars.
First had Fatburger in Santa Monica 20 years ago. Not as good as it used to be.
The Café is now a gift shop. They hope to open the Café again someday.
Despite being so close to Palm Springs, haven't been here in a dozen years.
Back to Aimee's. Worked for a bit.
Thursday, July 8th, 2021
Commandeered the kitchen island and worked 9 hours. (Plus the night before and Saturday morning.) Wished I stayed on the road and finished NE California.
Then drove to Riverside to meet Yvonne for dinner. We met in India in 2013. She was living in her home state of New Jersey at that time and since then has lived in Hong Kong, Japan, Riverside and soon North Hollywood. It was great to catch up in person! (She also takes pictures of her food.)
Friday, July 9th, 2021
Took the long route to San Diego to fill in the map. Drove along the western coast of the Salton Sea in 2010, but didn't check out the towns.
Desert Shores isn't exactly the resort community it was.
Inlets once for the marinas.
Once subdivisions.
This shows you the gridwork of streets that used to be nice subdivisions.
And what it looks like now on the ground.
The past water paradise.
Heading west from the desert.
Into the mountains.
Have already hit every bakery in apple centric Julian.
So got Apple Crumb.
And then saw a new place.
Heading south.
Have gone through so many of these through the years.
Now in San Diego (already thoroughly explored), first up was lunch #1 at DZ Akins on the NE side.
...the taquito. Delicious!
Have done the automotive museum, but not the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
Excellent, excellent museum.
Hotel del Coronado opened in 1888.
It's undergoing a renovation, so didn't think I'd be able to check out the fantastic inside again.
Ocean Beach is north of San Diego.
Very counterculture. Very much disliked it. Dirty, smelly, lots of homeless, lots of freaks.
Took the route back to Palm Springs over the mountains. This is the Coachella Valley. Palm Springs to the far left out of the shot followed by Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and Indio.
Morning run trying to burn off all those burgers. Not working.
A panaderia favorite.
The legendary Shields Date Gardens. Because, I won't name names, my date mule didn't get any on her, I mean their, last trip here.
Indian Wells has a lot of irrigation.
Hidden in the middle of a block is the popular FARM.
Canard
Duck confit, goat cheese, spinach
Dole Whip is a thing in this area.
.
Pretty sure my lungs got burnt.
Why would you build an outdoor airport in a town known for high temperatures?
