Joshua Tree National Park

We spent part of a day in Joshua Tree National Park, located in the Mojave Desert, planning to go back later to catch the night skies.



A number of the Joshua Trees had flowers - nothing exotic, but fun to see.



We missed the height of the blooms in the desert, but were still treated to some of the flowering.



Yellows glowed under the blue skies.



The rock formations were as intriguing as the plants. This one is known as Skull Rock



This hooded creature intrigued me.



And the way life can take root in what seem to be hostile places



This felt to me like someone's leg trying to push free of the rock - forever trapped.



The Joshua trees were everywhere - I learned that you cannot tell their age when they are cut down. It is a member of the yucca family and instead of growth rings it has thousands of small fibres.



These plants survive in very arid conditions. This year there was a good rainfall in the winter.



A road in the park took us up to views of a series of mountains. The snow covered peak one of the San Bernardino mountains.



Even up here a Joshua tree manages to take hold.



As for our plans of returning to see the night skies... The winds whipped up and I received an alert on my cell phone

We travelled as far as a restaurant for dinner - with winds gusting. Local visibility wasn't bad, but the skies were somewhat obscured.

Travel Days

We travelled down the coast via Santa Cruz to Watsonville where my spouse has cousins. I loved these Aizoaceae (I had to look them up to find their name). They come in a variety of colours.



We caught our first view of California poppies.



Wild flowers seemed to be everywhere - a colourful feast for my winter, colour-starved eyes!



And always the sound of the waves...



We stopped and walked along the beach in Santa Cruz, enjoying both the warmth of the sand and the coolness of the water near the shore.



We weren't the only ones enjoying the water's edge.

After a night in Watsonville we continued on our way. Unfortunately I had forgotten to put my card back in the camera after uploading photos to my iPad. We passed through agricultural country - huge fields of raspberries, covered with partial greenhouses - probably to keep off the worst of the sun, or was it the cool nights? Past many vineyards and wineries. And fields of vegetables.



Not everything was beautiful - This area had oil derricks as far as the eye could see.



Most of the production is big business with fields stretching wide and deep.



Near Lancaster the fields were bright orange - wild poppies in bloom. It was a long day of driving. As we neared Twentynine Palms we were rewarded by a night sky filled with stars.

Muir Woods and More

My San Francisco cousin picked us up and we had lunch at Cliff House. The views are outstanding - wide open beach and the Pacific Ocean.



Rugged rocks and the continuous sound of the waves.



We crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and headed to Muir Woods.



Some places on Earth feel holy - the majesty of these redwoods which have been here for hundreds of years inspire a sense of awe.



Strong and straight, they reach to the sky. Some have been growing here for close to a millenium. It took the foresight of John Muir to preserve this area so that all may walk in their presence.



Their massive trunks and thick bark are home to mosses - after this year's rain.




This year ferns are abundant, even growing on tree branches.

 

It is a privilege to walk among these forest giants.

Later in the day we took the ferry from Sausalito back to San Francisco.




Great views of the bridge.



... and of the city.

San Francisco

What trip to San Francisco is complete without a cable car ride? Aside from the tradition, it is delightful to see the views from atop the various hills they climb.



In every direction the views are extraordinary - looking down across the bay...



Looking down and then up one of the many hills... I love the various architectural styles, with many buildings seeming to undulate with their rounded bay windows, one after another.



There is an obvious mix of cultures with Chinese characters neighbouring a church dedicated to Guadalupe.



The harbour is both a fishing centre and a tourist haven, with fishing boats here and cruise ships further along.



And some fishing boats take out tourists.



Some boats sport fishing nets while others carry crab pots. Fisherman's Wharf is full of stands offering crab and other seafood delicacies.



Some boats are just for those who enjoy sailing.



The weather changes often, with sun followed by rain followed by rainbows.



And of course - there is the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Snow then Sun

Close to 40 cm (close to 15") of snow accompanied by high winds fell on our city on Tuesday into Wednesday. Snow crews are still dealing with streets and sidewalks and some people have yet to shovel out their cars.



Along with some chaos comes beauty - the pristine white, the snow decorated branches and the beauty of people helping each other with shovelling, with pushing cars and with the understanding that a city moves differently when hit by a sudden intense blizzard. We get through it and come out smiling at the other end.



The temperature has warmed and the snow is melting but there was still plenty for snowshoeing up in Summit Woods. Spectacular blue skies, the sound of birds calling, woodpeckers pounding, dogs frolicking - all combined to make for a spectacular day.



While I have modern aluminum snowshoes, my spouse favours a more traditional pair.



A little escape in the woods - looking down on part of the city and the river beyond. We are very lucky to have these enclaves where nature still rules parts of our city.

A Frosty Weekend

A bitterly cold weekend with temperatures around -16 C accompanied by wind. It was a weekend to spend indoors. Each morning I was greeted by the newly painted designs on our balcony door.

Enjoy the art exhibit!