Friday, December 28, 2012

spring, mojave desert

John Wilkie Rest Area, I-40
View Larger Map

A few photos from the John Wilkie Rest Area, on I-40 near Fenner, CA, in the middle of the Mojave Desert. These were taken in early springtime, and many of the desert plants were flowering at the time. It's hard to tell in these photos since I wasn't really equipped to take close up photos back then, but the scenery was pretty striking and I figured these were worth posting even if you can't really see the flowers very well.

At the time I took these, I didn't make a note about where I was, so that took a little detective work. I rememberd this was at a rest area along I-40 in California, east of Barstow, and it turns out there are only two of those, so I fired up Google Street View and compared scenery with my photos. So I'm pretty sure this is the Wilkie rest area and not the other one, which is just a few miles outside of Barstow. I'd stayed the night in Barstow, so I can't imagine I would have pulled off the highway to take photos so soon after hitting the road for the day.

John Wilkie Rest Area, I-40 John Wilkie Rest Area, I-40 John Wilkie Rest Area, I-40 John Wilkie Rest Area, I-40 John Wilkie Rest Area, I-40 John Wilkie Rest Area, I-40 John Wilkie Rest Area, I-40 John Wilkie Rest Area, I-40

Little Colorado River Gorge

Little Colorado River Gorge
[View Larger Map]

Some photos of the Little Colorado River Gorge, which the Little Colorado River flows through on its way to the Grand Canyon. As you've probably gathered already from the photos, "little" is a relative term in this part of Arizona.

Little Colorado River Gorge Little Colorado River Gorge Little Colorado River Gorge Little Colorado River Gorge Little Colorado River Gorge Little Colorado River Gorge

Puʻukoholā Heiau

Pu'ukoholoa Heiau
View Larger Map

Old photos from Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site, a ruined temple on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. A video from Big Island TV shows a historical reenactment of ceremonies at the temple.

The park also includes an underwater temple dedicated to the shark gods. I didn't think to look for this at the time, but apparently they regularly swim just offshore, as seen in this YouTube video I came across.

Pu'ukoholoa Heiau

Please note that when a sign in Hawaii says "kapu" (i.e. "forbidden", and there are several such signs here), this is an actual no-trespassing sign, and they aren't just doing it to be cute.

Pu'ukoholoa Heiau Pu'ukoholoa Heiau Pu'ukoholoa Heiau

Sunset Crater

Sunset Crater
View Larger Map

A few photos of Sunset Crater National Monument, between Flagstaff, Arizona and the Grand Canyon. I stopped here sort of briefly after visiting the Wupatki ruins; I can see how it would be fascinating to visitors from a less volcanic part of the country, who may have never seen a cinder cone before. I took a few photos of it, and a few of the snowy San Francisco Peaks in the distance, before moving on to the next adventure.

Sunset Crater Sunset Crater Sunset Crater Sunset Crater Sunset Crater