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!

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

They lied.  The lake has water in it.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

See you later.