HOPALONG CASSIDY, GENE AUTRY, ROY ROGERS….TODAY WE DID THE COWBOY MUSEUM:))

SUNRISE IN LONE PINE CALIFORNIA

From my chair in the Motor Home I can now watch the rays of a morning sunrise splash over the Sierra Nevada mountains.  

Lone Pine Peak picks up the morning sun & lets it wash down it’s slopes & flood out onto the valley floor.  The Sierra Nevada mountains have begun another beautiful day.

A mountain stream makes it’s way along through the rocks about a hundred yards in front of us & we can hear it.  Nice touch to this already splendid place.  Could have camped closer to the stream but we knew Checkers would turn herself into a mud puppy there.

 

Surprised that the temps only dropped into the 50’s overnight.  Thought at this elevation & mountain snow nearby it would have been colder.  We were at 53 by 9 this morning with the day time temps in the low 70’s.  Perfect:))   Noticed Borrego Springs hit 84F today so we are both very glad we are here in cooler Lone Pine.

 

GROUP OF ROCKS PHOTO AT LOWER LEFT ARE CALLED ‘THE SPOOKS’

Nice breakfast this morning in the Alabama Hills  Café & we hear people line up to get in there during busier times.  We can’t get over how truly lucky we are to be here at this precise time of year.  No annoying traffic or scads of tourists everywhere.  Could fire a canon down the main street & not any a thing.  Just the way we like it.

  

THE DOW HOTEL HAS HOSTED MANY A HOLLYWOOD MOVIE STAR

A stop at the Visitor’s Center netted us an armful of brochures of things to do & see.  I saw right away where I had made 2 mistakes in Wednesday’s blog.  What I thought was Mount Whitney is actually Lone Pine Peak.  Mount Whitney is further back & to the right of that Peak.  Second mistake we both made was in calling this the Turtle Creek Campground.  Is is the TUTTLE Creek Campground.  Thanks to the young fellow at the Visitor’s Center for pointing that out to us.

LONE PINE PEAK IS THE ONE ON LEFT & MOUNT WHITNEY IS THE POINTED PEAK  IN THE DISTANCE AT RIGHT

 

AT THE VISITOR’S CENTER IN THE SOUTH END OF TOWN

After the Visitor’s Center we headed for the must see Beverly & Jim’s Rogers Museum of Lone Pine Film History.  THE MUSEUM.  As a rule, Kelly & aren’t big Museum people but if you are interested in the old western movie era this Museum is not to be missed.  A great majority of western movies were made right here in the Alabama hills.  Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, Tom Mix, Randolf Scott & Hoot Gibson,  were just a few of the movie Cowboys who hung their hats in Lone Pine’s Alabama Hills.  TV western series like The Lone Ranger, Zorro, Have Gun Will Travel preferred this location with other series like Bonanza also using the movie sets & locations.  Filming dates back to the Fatty Arbuckle silent era for this area.  Humphrey Bogart did ‘High Sierra’ here.  Cary Grant was in Gunga Din.  John Wayne & Douglas Fairbanks filmed in the area & the list just goes on & on & on.  Friday we plan to drive out to the movie & TV location sites & see where filming actually took place for these movies.

L TO R….. GENE AUTRY’S HAT & GUN, WILD BILL HICKOK'S (GUY MADISON) HAT & GUN, ROY ROGERS HAT & GUITAR, LONE RANGER’S HAT & SHIRT (CLAYTON MOORE)

WE WERE THE ONLY ONE’S IN THE THEATRE TO WATCH A 20 MINUTE HISTORY PRESENTATION OF THE WHERE, HOW, WHEN & WHO STARRED IN THE MANY LONE PINE LOCATION MOVIES FILMED HERE YEARS AGO

We had no idea there was so much to see & do here in the Eastern Sierras.  We plan to visit the MANZANAR National Historic Site where 110,000 Japanese American people were interned during the second world war just north of Lone Pine.  We may even venture up to Bishop & Mammoth Lakes where history abounds as well.  I can see this region is chalked full of marvelous & beautiful adventures for anyone having the time it would take to see & do everything.

HEY ELFRIDA TUMBLEWEEDS, HERE’S A BIT OF AN ‘S’ CURVE FOR YOU

Both Nikon camera batteries were getting low so we were back to our spot in the Alabama Hills by 1 o’clock.  Kelly had some catching up to do with her work related Deer Park Lodge reservations so we spent the afternoon just enjoying our good fortune at being where we are & loving the great weather we are having.

Thank heavens for the digital camera age because Kodak could never have made enough film to truly cover the Eastern Sierra Nevada’s beauty.

Should mention how we found this boon docking spot….& others.  Just go to RV NET FORUM & scroll down to ‘Public Lands, Boondocking & Dry Camping.  If you are heading for a certain place just post a question on the forum asking if anyone knows of some good Boondocking sites in the area.  That’s how we found our spot in Lone Pine when someone answered & suggested the Tuttle Campground.

 Today we welcome new blog Followers Grant & Kathy from BIRDINGRVERS.  Thanks for stopping by folks:))

For any of you techno head cell phone people out there you might want to check out RETIRED ROD'S blog on green cherries, or was that Blueberries.  No, wait a minute I think it was a Blackberry tethered to a Volkswagon with 5 Gigabytes in GSM mode….or something like that.  I think I crashed & burned on the learning curve when Rod said something about, “Apps that will allow tethering without rooting.”  Has that got something to do with tying up a Hog in sand box??

 

SAW THIS COYOTE ABOUT 50 YARDS FROM OUR CAMPSITE AT DUSK TONIGHT….WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE VIGILANT

GROANER’S CORNER:((  Did you know people are a lot like potatoes…Some people never seem motivated to participate, but are content to watch others ... They are called "Speck Tators."
Some are always looking to cause problems and really get under your skin ... 
They are called "Aggie Tators."
There are those who are always saying they will, but somehow, they never get around to doing... We call them "Hezzie Tators."   Some folks spend a lot of time sitting and peering into their garden ...  
They are called "Medi Tators." 
There are those that try to maximize their crop yields while reducing expenses ...   
We call them "Compu Tators."

--------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

 
BISBEE PHOTO ALBUM
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Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
 
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
 
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

Technorati Tags: Manzanar,Lone Pine California,Lone Pine Peak,Gene Autry,Roy Rogers,Hopalong Cassidy,Owens Dry Lake Bed

BOON DOCKED IN THE EVENING SHADOW OF MOUNT WHITNEY:))

CAMPED IN THE ALABAMA HILLS WEST OF LONE PINE CALIFORNIA

Our little ‘grassland’ boon docking spot about 3 miles northeast of Joshua Tree’s west gate has served us well.  Despite our misgivings at first about being way out there in the middle of a big yellow grassy field this has turned out to be a great spot for our Joshua Tree explorations.  This boon docking spot has a clear 360 degree view all around us so don’t have to worry about any Hippopotamus’s sneaking up on us.  Google map below shows location of our boon docking site.  I have many more photos of Joshua Tree National Park & am hoping to put together a photo album before too long about Joshua Tree. 

YELLOW MARKER PIN POINTS OUR BOONDOCKING SPOT NEAR JOSHUA TREE

OUR BOON DOCKING SITE IN THE ‘GRASSLANDS’ JUST A FEW MILES FROM THE WEST GATE TO JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

Beautiful warm sunny morning as we hitched up the Jeep & had the big wheels rolling by 9 a.m.  Thought maybe we would head up Barstow way.  Weather was good & we didn’t have any high winds trying to rip the rig’s paint off so we put the hammer down, picked up highway 395 & headed north for the Alabama Hills & ……LONE PINE:))

Going to include mostly Joshua Tree photos for tonight & then tomorrow I will shoot up some Lone Pine stuff…..:))

 

SPOTTED A LARGE TRYSAUCEROCLOPS SWIMMING IN THE BARKER DAM WATERS

We were sure glad to clear the 8 lane traffic congested & traffic light infested area around Apple Valley & Victorville but we did manage a McDonald’s brussel sprouts stop & groceries at Albertsons in Apple Valley before getting out of town.

  

MOUNT JACINTO AS SEEN FROM JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

The drive between Joshua Tree & the town of Ridgecrest is a real sleeper.  Not much to see except endless miles of creosote bushes & scrub desert.  If you ever have to make this drive just throw the rig on Auto Pilot, go grab yourself a snooze & set the alarm clock to wake you up when the rig get’s to Ridgecrest because this is where the scenery begins to dramatically pick up.

SO NICE TO SEE SOME BIG TREES AGAIN ON THE WAY TO LONE PINE

Highway 395 running north of Ridgecrest enters into the Owens Valley flanked by the Inyo Mountains on the right & the beautiful snow capped peaks of the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountain Range on the left.  The Sierra Nevada’s will lead you right to the old western movie town of Lone Pine.

DON’T ASK….I DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS!!

But, let me back up a bit.  Kelly & I had never heard about the town of Lone Pine until a couple years ago.  Unknowingly as a kid, I had probably seen the area around Lone Pine many, many, times.  It was here in Lone Pine that a lot of good old dusty western movie were made.  More about that later.  We were put onto Lone Pine by another RV couple we met for the first time in the Bisbee Breakfast Club.  Another RV couple most of you know.  Laurie & Odel from SEMI-TRUE TALES OF OUR LIFE ON THE ROAD.  Like me, Odel is a fan of the old wild west Cowboy days & they said if we ever get a chance to head for Lone Pine to just do it.  Well, today we just did it:))

HEADING THROUGH THE ALABAMA HILLS

I will tell you more about the town & area over the next few days as we get out & about to see what we can see.  But, boy did we get a WOW eyeful as we approached the town of Lone Pine.  The majestic Sierra Nevada mountain peaks were covered with snow & with the late afternoon sun beginning to cast long dark shadows into the snowy slopes it gave the rugged mountain peaks a magical cloak all their own.  It was hard to keep my eyes on the road & off the mountains.

We rolled into the old western looking town of Lone Pine about 3:15 & made a left turn onto a road called Whitney Portal which led us directly up into & through the Alabama Hills.  Bit of a climb but our Chevy Workhorse engine handled it fine.  We were headed directly for Mount Whitney which at 14,494 feet is the highest point in the whole Continental United States.  A left turn onto movie famous Horseshoe Meadows led us a short distance to a right turn & our final destination about a mile in.  We had found the Turtle Creek BLM campground.  And WOW, what a great campground it was.  This will go down as one of the all time best boon docking sites we have ever had.

AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS WE FINALLY FOUND A NICE SITE

About 70 sites altogether & not many people here.  Now, how great is that:))  Unhooked the Jeep & went looking for a level site.  Took us 3 tries but we finally found one of the highest sites in the campground.  Nobody even remotely close to us & we are camped right under Mount Whitney itself.  Nice:))

THAT’S MOUNT WHITNEY ON THE LEFT

Satellite TV dish is set up, Verizon signal is fast, great cell phone coverage, doggy guys are all asleep, Kelly’s on the other computer & all is well with the Bayfield Bunch for another day:))

GROANER’S CORNER:))   Tornado warning issued for Dallas. Residents are advised to go to the Dallas Cowboy’s Stadium for shelter, as the possibility for a touchdown there is highly unlikely.

--------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com

BISBEE PHOTO ALBUM

http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/BISBEEARIZONAAFEWFINEPHOTOMEMORIES

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it. 
BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

Technorati Tags: Lone Pine California,Joshua Tree National Park,Ridgecrest,Mount Whitney,Owens Valley

ANOTHER DAY IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK:))

The winds packed in their dam shenanigans sometime during the night but I’m sure they only left to regroup & regain their strength.  I’m sure they will return as soon as they can get themselves blown up to maximum speed again!!

THE BARKER DAM RESERVOIR

Despite all my grumbling about the refrigerator not working Monday night Kelly somehow worked some magic stuff with the electric & propane switch & my glass of milk was cold again this morning.  We are wondering if the Sunday night heavy wind gusts could have snuffed out the unit’s pilot light.  We’re not convinced it is the end of the problem but for right now things are cold again & we have our fingers crossed.

Watching a local news channel this morning we were relieved to see the wind advisories & warnings have been lifted.  Looks like there was damage around as well with power lines blown down & some big 18 wheel trucks  blown over on their sides.  From Keys View Monday I could see huge clouds of blowing sand & dust at the northern end of the Coachella Valley floor 5,185 feet below.  Some roads were closed as well due to blowing sand.  Where we live in Ontario, roads are generally closed to blowing snow, but down here it’s blowing sand.

Decided since we didn’t have a refrigerator problem to deal with today we would head back into Joshua Tree National Park.  We are morning people so like to get our drives & hikes in before hotter afternoon temperatures.  Nice lighting in the morning for photos as well.  I only met photographer GORDON WOLFORD one time while boon docked near Why, Arizona a few years ago but I often think of Gordon’s early pre-dawn desert sunrise dedication to his professional photographs.  Wished I had a tenth of his dedication, expertise & determination.  If you want to see some great photos just check out Gordon’s PHOTO GALLERY.

THE BARKER DAM

A reader has asked why the flag was at half mast at the Ranger Station in Monday’s Blog.  We wondered that too so Kelly asked.  A  Park Ranger was killed while traveling between two of the Parks last February 28th.

It was with interest that I ready Randy’s blog this morning over at the ROADRUNNER CHRONICLES.  Randy, a daily blogger has decided to cut it back to maybe two or three times a week.  He mentions about some other bloggers winding things down as well.  It once again brought up the old question of why some of us blog daily, or at all.  I probably have done half a dozen posts about this over the last few years but my thoughts of course are always in a state of evolvement as things change.  I, like many other bloggers started out to record events for family & friends but that quickly changed when I realized a lot of those folks didn’t read it anyway.  A lot of bloggers say they blog for themselves & if that interests others then that is a bonus.  Those were my thoughts as well at one time but with the readership growth my focus has changed.  And, I am very happy about that change. 

Because I like to write I might continue the blog as some form of record keeping but it certainly would not be the blog it is today.  All the comments, emails & kind words from people we meet has spurred me on to making the blog more interesting not only for me, but the readers as well.  The blog readers are now my main inspiration every day for spending the amounts of time I do on the blog & I thoroughly enjoy that.  People are actually enjoying something I am doing & for me at this age & stage of the game it gives me a purpose & puts a focus on each & every day. Gives me great pleasure to be in a position to do something constructive & creative for others.  Bottom line…..it is the readers I enjoy putting this daily blog together for now. Thanks for ‘making my day’ guys:))

CHATTING UP SOME FOLKS ON THE BARKER DAM TRAIL

Note to Nina….yes, I am using the optimized image feature in my Nikon D90.  Have tweaked the saturation & sharpness features & am still honing the exposure level to where I want it.  Check out KEN ROCKWELL'S site for your D80:))

THIS IS TRULY A LAND OF MAGNIFICENT ROCKS

Despite a bright sunny sky the air was cool this morning with a slight breeze as we headed the Jeep back into Joshua Tree.  The Barker Dam one mile nature loop was our first stop.  What a beautiful hike this is & anyone can do it.  This trail has a lot going for it.  A valley of Joshua Trees, water, a dam, petroglyphs, many birds &  large boulder formations which in many cases are easy climbable for some of us older folks.  Snow covered Mount Jacinto was visible through the Joshua Trees on one section of the trail in that valley.  If it’s your first trip to Joshua I would sure recommend a nice morning walk on the Barker Dam trail.  About 80% of all the photos I took today were on this walk.  What a great place to get up close & personal with a Joshua Tree:))

CAN YOU SEE THE HIGH WATER MARK ON THE STRANGE ROCK

Our next destination was not far down the road & it was called Hidden Valley.  Again it is a mile loop that travels around the inside rim of a large valley completely surrounded by high rocky peaks & granite formations.  This is where you will see many rock climbers with one of the world renown climbs being called by hikers, ‘The Great Burrito.’  But, this valley has a notorious history & it is here back in the late 1800’s where cattle rustlers brought stolen horses from California & rustled cattle from Arizona.  It is easy to see why because this valley is completely hidden because of the surrounding huge jagged rock formations of tumbled boulders.  Again, a beautiful trail not to be missed.

THAT ROCK FACE IS CALLED ‘THE GREAT BURRITO’

THIS IS HIDDEN VALLEY WHERE RUSTLED CATTLE & HORSES WERE ONCE BROUGHT TO GRAZE & REMAIN HIDDEN FROM PRYING EYES

The splendid sandstone colored granite rock formations remind me so much of hiking in Utah which is another favorite State of ours.  A couple fellow bloggers have commented with childhood memories of scrambling on some of these very rocks when they were children.  Maybe a few spots will be remembered in my photos.

SEVERAL OF OUR READERS MAY VERY WELL HAVE SCRAMBLED AROUND ON THESE ROCKS AS CHILDREN

Kelly’s knee was beginning to act up & an old surgical procedure on my left foot was giving me some problems so we called it a day in the early afternoon & were back to the rig shortly after 2.  All & all we just had ourselves a great 3 hours in the Park. 

   

A COUPLE LADY ROCK CLIMBERS CARRYING LOTS OF GEAR    

Our blog Followers list continues to grow with the addition of Joshua Lee & EXPLORE SAN DIEGO.  Linda rolls in next with BECAUSE WE CAN & Mike comes aboard with SIHA TANKA.  Siha Tanka by the way is an Indian Lakota Sioux name meaning, Bigfoot.  And, a fellow by the name of David joins us as our 244th blog Follower.  A big welcome from the gang over here at the Bayfield Bunch:))

THIS SURE IS MY KINDA COUNTRY:))

Kelly has become increasingly busy with her Deer Park Lodge phone so she spent a long time catching up on things after our hike today.  It’s a busy month for people booking their summer vacation reservations at Deer Park & Kelly does all those reservations from way over here in the great American Southwest.

A RARE PHOTO OF KELLY & I TOGETHER….SELF TIMER

We have decided to roll out in the morning heading north for parts unknown.  Several destinations in mind but we won’t know until after we get there if we have actually got there.  Oh ya, our refrigerator is working fine now.  Must have been that pilot light being blown out by the wind.

BARKER DAM REFLECTIONS

GROANER’S CORNER:((  There's one good thing about snow, it makes your lawn look as nice as your neighbor's.