Jerome, Arizona - Ghost Town

The town of Jerome, Arizona is considered by many to be the largest ghost towns in the United States. Just like most other ghost towns, Jerome was once a thriving mining center. It was establish in 1883, primarily to house workers at the United Verde Mine, which produced over a billion dollars worth of silver and gold over the next 7 decades.  In the early 1900's, Jerome was known as "the wickedest town" in the west.  There are still some folks living in Jerome, but their livelihoods now come from either tourism or art. We only spent a short time there on our last trip to the Sedona area, so my photo taking was quick and dirty. Next time, I'll have a lot more time...

All of us here in the U.S. (and maybe in other places also), are familiar with these signs. This is the best one I've ever seen. I know that Psycadelic Mariachi is a band, but to me, it's just one more of the million of oddities that can be found in the desert.

"Open 24 Hours"

Really? I don't think this gas station has been open for 50 years. I don't remember seeing any other gas stations on the road to Jerome.

Jerome is also known as the most vertical town in the U.S. It runs right up the side of a mountain. EVERY masonry building is cracked and weathered (or destroyed). As you can see in the reflections, this one is in much better condition that the ones in the reflections.

I sure wouldn't be parking my vintage T-Bird in that particular spot.

Hotel Connor 2012

Hotel Connor 1899 (wikipedia)

Only the basement is left of this large building.

This is what most of the standing buildings look like. Still standing, but they are empty and have seen better days.

Lot's of old and crusty vehicles and equipment sitting around.

Just sitting around waiting for something to refuel. I'm not thinking it's going to happen anytime soon.

You just KNOW, I love this one. 

I have absolutely no idea what this thing is!

This mine, or part of it was operational on a limited basis until not very long ago. I'm pretty sure this HUGE earth mover, isn't EVER going to be used again. If you look to the right rear of the photo, you can see how deep this pit mine is. Where this truck is sitting, was once part of the mountain.

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For reflections by other photographers go to Weekend Reflections sponsored by James.

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Borrego Springs - Around Town

Just a small grouping of shots taken around the little town of Borrego Springs. It's a small place in the middle of a huge desert. Lot's of snow birds come to this area in the winter, but in the summer it is deadly hot and only fools and people who really want to be there are around. It's one of our favorite places and strangely enough one of the BEST little restaurants you'll ever eat at is there. 

This doesn't really keep to the theme, but hey, an artistic photo every now and then, never hurt anyone, right? Actually, this shot was taken just a little ways out of town, so it kinda qualifies.

A double decker bus!  I guess that if the London Bridge can now be found in the desert several hundred miles from here, why not an English double decker bus here?

Of course this (and every other) American desert is littered with awesome old pickup truck bones. Borrego Springs is no exception. This little beauty is worth some money.

Don't ask me! I only take the photos! I do know that it's either a 1949 or 1950 "shoebox" Ford.  i guess it's been sitting there for a while.  That grill and front bumper are worth quite a bit of money. Of course these days reproductions are readily available, but purist restorers want original parts like this.

No clue! I do know that about 50 years ago I saw a car fall off of a lift in the service bay to the right. It's been remodeled since then, but it's the same place. I guess I have been coming to the desert for along time.

One of the sculptures I didn't post before. I liked it because I got out of our jeep to take a photo of this one.

Cholla cactus.

  More spines per square inch than any other cactus in the desert. 

nature trail around the visitor center

Just because it was barren and pretty.

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Desert Sightings Near Beaumont

embiggen to enhance your viewing pleasure.

These days, it seems like all train cars are covered with graffiti. However, this is the first time I've ever seen a landscape painted on one. That guy was good!

ENLARGE this one please!

Yet another abandoned truck. Although I really do love old trucks (and own one myself), what I like best about this photo is the little hints of yellow in the foreground brush.

Rain clouds, snow, wind powered electricity generators. All desert oddities.  Actually, the wind generators are very common in this area (close to Palm Springs), there are hundreds of them around.

I don't know about you, but when I see dark clouds in the desert, I try to get off the road and onto some high ground. Storms are not usually very friendly there.

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Nothing spectacular in this post, but I thought there was something pretty interesting or funny in each of these photos. I hope you agree...

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Silent Valley Animals

These pics were either taken there, or around the old dirt road that the ranger told us about in my last post. The following pics were taken on that day.

Of all things, a golden eagle. It first I thought it was a hawk. But this bird was larger than any predator type bird that I've ever seen. Somebody told me that there were golden eagles in the area that actually attacks hawks. I'm thinking this was one of them. I wish I kould have gotten a better photo.

Red-winged black bird. (First for me)

Red-tailed hawk

A female red-winged blackbird (another first)

Hooded Oriole (also a first for me)

I don't know what kind of snake it was, but it was REALLY long. We almost ran over it.

Dinner for the eagle and/or hawk

I know they are very common, but this guy was cute.

Spawn of Satan....

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Well, we've been home for two weeks and it's time to go again. Next weekend we'll head on up to our favorite mountain ridge for a couple of weeks. 

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Old Idyllwild to Banning Road

While we were checking out a campground called Silent Valley, in the San Jacinto Mountains, a ranger there saw our jeep and told us about the old road that ran from Idyllwild to Banning. It has never been paved and was used for at least a hundred years before the highway existed. It still exists today and a good portion of it is maintained.  We took it and discovered that there are several other old back roads in the area. We'll try them out next time.

The Silent Valley campground is a long way downhill from here.

We've come a long way uphill to get to these carved out sections.

California's state flower

Doesn't this thing look like an evil Pacman gobbling something up?

Over one mountain and we used that cut on the far side to go over the next one. The San Jacinto Mountains are pretty high and are made up of row after row of mountains.

I have no idea, but it looks like somebody lived here.  I used the internet to find more information about this road and what used to be on it. I found very little. I'll have to keep digging, because when the weather cools off, we'll be spending more time there.

Of course, there always has to be a narrow part with a VERY steep drop off. This one was probably only a thousand feet or so.

Flowers on granite always looks good.

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Plumber With a Camera

Part Time Photographer and Part Time Plumber

I know, but I just couldn't help myself.  These folks were just pausing to take a few photos in front of the Cachuma Lake dam a few days ago.  I just happened to be there also and couldn't resist... After all, the guy did crack me a smile!

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We've done quite a bit of exploring since we've been here, but we have such a tiny little phone signal where we are camping, that I can't really post anything of substance until we get home.

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Inaja Trail

Although this is a National Recreation Trail, most people have never been there, or even heard of it.  The entrance is hidden behind a little memorial* picnic area in the mountains outside of Santa Ysabel, California. We've driven by it many times on the way to our favorite mountain top. We fell into the group of those who had never heard of it. We stopped in just to take a look at the picnic area.  We were really surprised!  It's a fairly short trail, but we loved it.

The payoff spot is on and near the top of that hill.

Through the rocks

Up the hill

Lots of wildflowers still

Just because I liked it

Payoff #1. This is the Santa Ysabel valley.  We approached this place from beyond the far horizon. I LOVE that valley and could easily live there. It's totally rural, but not too far from what you need. Oh yeah, there is also a very small (but awesome) Indian Casino very close by. This valley sits next to one of the many reservations in the area.

Payoff #2. This is the San Diego river valley. Never heard of the San Diego river? Well, neither had I!

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*Almost 60 years ago eleven firefighters died while fighting the Inaja Fire in the rugged mountains of Diego County. This trail and a picnic area were created as a memorial to the firefighters who lost their lives.

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I hope this gets posted in the morning. I get my internet connection by using my phone as a hotspot. Right now I have one bar of reception, and sometimes none. We are on the road for 10 days and I hope to have some good pics and/or stories before we get back home.

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Dinosaurs in the Desert

This post falls under the "weird things you only see in the desert" category. This spot is on the edge of the Morongo Indian Reservation and about 20 miles from Palm Springs. Yes, it's in the desert. Yes, it's seen better days. Still, I'm really glad I stopped there.  It cost me about 5 dollars to see them and I was the only customer idiot there.

If this T-Rex looks huge, that's because it is. Those are full sized palm trees.  Hey! Is that a porthole?

I have to admit that this guy was kind of scary looking.  It was also very realistic. Of course, I've never seen a dinosaur in person, but still...

I don't like this one at all. Seriously, look at those beady eyes!

Another scary looking one. This guy was about 20 feet tall.

You really have to watch out for these Velociraptors.  Of course, anyone that has seen Jurassic Park, knows that already... 

I threw this one in for scale.  That upper doorway is at least 30 feet off the ground.  

I suppose this soldier was part of a display. It looks like he might have had a rifle in his hands at one time. Further, it looks like he might have had fingers at one time also. Either a Dino was gnawing at his hands, or some hyper-active children have helped themselves to fingers, as souvenirs. Now that I think about it, maybe he is just giving us the "hang loose" sign....

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Places like this are why I love the desert. you just don't see things like this in civilized or urban areas.  I wonder how they stay in business.  I was there on a Saturday and like I said above, I was the only customer!

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