Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Font’s Point and Clark Dry Lake

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Today’s my oldest son, Ben’s birthday!  Happy Birthday!

This morning, I looked out my bedroom window and saw a beautiful sunrise!  I knew it was going to be another great day in the Southwest desert!

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After all my morning duties and they went quickly this morning, Yuma and I drove up to Font’s Point.  Only six miles away, so it was a quick drive.  Four of those miles were in a sandy wash.

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This is the scenery at the top.  The badlands stretch out below.

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Way off in the distance is the Salton Sea, just before the mountains at the skyline.

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See the road to the left center.  That goes directly into Borrego Springs.   The photos you see of Font’s Point have all been taken while driving down that road.   The white you see in the center, I believe are solar panels behind the airport.

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I’m standing to the East of the point, taking a photo of it.

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Yuma couldn’t believe we were so close to the edge of the cliff.  I’m holding his leash tight.  Wouldn’t want any mistakes up here.

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There is Coyote Mountain dead ahead and the Santa Rosa Mountains off to the right and Clark Dry Lake below.

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That’s the view from the point for you.  On the way back down through the wash, the wind picked up.

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We made it through the wash and back home for some rest and lunch.  I couldn’t believe it was only 1 o’clock and my day was done.  I thought!

After lunch, I turned on the TV and started watching 48 Hours.  I couldn’t believe I was doing that.  So, at 2:30, Yuma and I jumped back in the Jeep and drove the short distance down to Clark Dry Lake bed.

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They lied.  The lake has water in it.

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Yuma ran like the wind.  He just loved running on the dry clay.

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About a mile out in the dry lake bed are these two concrete structures.  This is a zoom in.  The structures are actually about a quarter of a mile or more apart.  The first one was my destination for the day.  Don’t have the legs to walk to the second one.

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These were observation structures or “rake stations” as they were called by the military, to observe strafing practice runs during World War II.   Eventually, the stations themselves were used for stafing practice, as you can see by their condition.

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This is a zoom of the second structure.  Too tired to walk to it.

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You can get some perspective of how large this lake bed is.  I forgot to mention, the wind was howling out of Rockhouse Canyon at about 20 miles an hour.  Made for fun walking.

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By the time I get back to the Jeep, Yuma is already there and evidently rested.  After walking almost five miles today, I’m beat.  But, not the Yuma!  He is raring to go on another adventure!  Not me.

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See you later.

22 comments:

  1. That Yuma! Always ready for what's around the corner. What a beautiful dog he isaid. The badlands are so rugged. It's hard to imagine having to cross them. Those are great pictures of everything. Really enjoyed seeing all the sights. The wind really can kick up the dust. So much for your clean MH! ☺

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    1. Thanks Dolly. I work hard trying to give you the best picture I can of what I see. Even I can't believe how beautiful it is out here.

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  2. Yuma sure can jump! Lots of awesome pics Dad!

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    1. Thanks Steve. Hope they make you want to be here. Someday, you may be standing at Fonts Point. I hope so.

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  3. Doug when you are taking pictures of you and Yuma are you using a tripod and a timer on your camera?

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    1. No. I just raise the camera and click. Don't really have the time for much else. I guess it's what you call an action shot.

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  5. Doug when you are taking pictures of you and Yuma are you using a tripod and a timer on your camera?

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  6. Thanks for taking us up to Fonts Point don't think our car would do the drive.

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    1. You're welcome. It is a little sandy, but a standard size car would have no problem. Small tires and low clearance would.

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    2. We have small tires and a very low profile so really limits us.

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  7. It is always so amazing to Yuma bound up into the air like that. It is like she has springs on her legs. Yep sure was a windy one Tuesday alright. Like you I am constantly impressed with the scenery in this area. We've been coming to Borrego Springs for over 9 years now and are still amazed at all the new things we see that we had not seen before. Yep that Font's Point is quite a view alright.

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    1. That Yuma jumps higher than the Jeep. Amazing he has such energy after running all over the dry bed. I love taking pictures of this area and sharing them.

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  8. The view of the badlands from the top of Font's Point is incredible! It's really something to see it like that. I can't imagine hiking down there! I love the pics of Yuma running and I think it's hilarious and quite loyal that he's always waiting for you at the jeep. :) What is strafing? I've never heard of that. In your last picture of Yuma jumping at the jeep, it looks like he is a giant dog standing on his hind legs and front legs are up against the jeep! I had to do a double take! :):):) He's a good jumper!

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    1. Thanks Sarah. He is a runner and jumper that's for sure. I'm glad my camera can quickly catch his movements. In the movies when a plane comes zooming down shooting along the ground, that's called strafing. Like in the Indiana Jones movie with biplanes shooting at them as they ran across the desert.

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    2. oh! ok, I've definitely seen strafing in the movies! Thanks for explaining it to me! i could have looked it up, but i prefer talking to you instead. :)

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  9. I scattered my dad's ashes off the east side of Font's Point. We liked to watch the sunsets from there, guess I'll join him there eventually. The movie 'Last Days in the Desert' was filmed at Font's Point, not a great movie, but having watched a couple days of the filming. Wish I had Yuma's energy :)

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    1. It is a beautiful spot for your Dad's ashes. The winds will forever carry him through the desert. I am glad to have Yuma. I do get energy just being with him. Not as much, but some.

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  10. Beautiful pictures! Love how Yuma jumps like that. He is just showing off that you are beat and he still has the energy to keep going. :)

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    1. Thanks Patsy. He does have energy to burn! The day turned out to be another great one. The strong winds just died, so today is shaping up to be a warm one.

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  12. Great pictures Dad! Yuma sure is enjoying himself 😀

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