Mostly Plants

This is technically the sixth day in the desert, but by that count there were seven. We Spent this day mostly on the road, so I do not count it–I give it an irrational number between five and six. Or maybe a complex number, with five as the real part and some non-zero imaginary part.

3/20/2008
8:00 AM
Flagstaff, AZ

Yesterday we rose as soon as the chilly sun shone in the canyon and hiked out. I rose before the chilly sun, because it was raining in my tent, and spent some time sitting on a hilltop watching the desert wake up (it’s not that exciting). On the trail, we met a professional photographer who agreed to take our group photo after protesting that my digital SLR camera was “a crutch.”

Ginger modeling her gear at Camp Cayuga before we head out

We repacked, our gear, left several surplus items at the gear-exchange table in Cottonwood Camp, put the top down, and drove out in eighty degree sun. As we left Twentynine Palms, we passed a sign, “next services, 100 miles,” and for 100 miles we passed through barren desert with not so much as a power line. One stretch of road was long and straight enough that I could comfortably have pushed the little sportscar up to 120 mph, but I didn’t think of it immediately, so I only did ninety. Words are inadequate to describe this desert, but fortunately Laura took this picture while I was driving:

On the desert road, we passed a cyclist on the side and pulled over to see if he needed any assistance. He was experiencing a minor mechanical annoyance, but was certain he would make it to the next town. He was short on water though, as he had set out across the desert with only one bike bottle, but was otherwise happily biking to Phoenix. We topped off his H20 and went on our way.  Ginger says I have graduated from talking to strangers I run into, to going out of my way to talk to strangers.

The services after 100 miles were one gas station at Vidal Junction.  THere were lots of hikers, and the ruins of an abandoned gas station.  A California Ag Inspection Station commanded all traffic coming in from the AZ/NV direction stop and be inspected.  Curious, since we didn’t have to be inspected when we crossed on the interstate.

Across the river in the Colorado River Indian Territory, we ate a late lunch at a fabulous diner.  Ginger and I both had burgers with chili cheese fries, Laura got a club with regular fries, and we all got the biggest damn glasses of iced tea that you ever did see.

The drive up from the Cali border follows the Colorado River for about 40 miles, then climbs up from desert to plateau.  We got in to Flag around 9:00 PM, lodged at the Super 8, and were asleep by ten.  Laura and Ginger each noted that it took two shampoos to get the desert out of their hair, but one go with the baking soda was all that it took for me.

Today: Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater, Wupatki National Monument, and the flight home.

Google Map/Google Earth Junkies can see a map of the day’s adventure here.  Or, import this KML file into Google Earth to see the Lost Palms Trail and our campsite (it took me about an hour, but i found the exact location of Camp Cayuga on Google Earth!  It’s at  33°43′3.06″N, 115°46′30.33″W.)