To the West Coast and back

[johnnytravels]

In January I left on a road trip to visit the West coast, LA in particular. I didn't have an itinerary or plans of any sort, no real route planned out to get there, I just packed up the car and left Ohio. I had already quit my job earlier, and put everything in storage, and had no desire to stick around for another brutal midwest winter. So I headed in a southwesterly direction to hopefully warmer climates.

I didn't take a lot of pictures during the first half of my trip, as I wasn't planning on doing a travel blog, and mostly took the main highways and didn't see much worth noting. I wasn't an experienced traveler yet, and didn't really get off the beaten path or seek out novelty. Plus, the landscape was mostly flat, or farmland, and I was mainly just focused on driving out west.

But once I got into New Mexico, I started to appreciate how different the Southwest is, and I really liked the Santa Fe style architecture and adobe buildings.

It's really different from most parts of the US. Plus, I was glad to be in sixty degree weather around Albuquerque while the East coast and Midwest was getting buried in snow.

 

[johnnytravels]

It was around then that I got off the freeways and started taking more scenic routes. The foothills and mesas was a welcome change from the mostly flat lands I had passed through since leaving Ohio all the way through Oklahoma.

It wasn't until I reached Apache territory that I was really blown away by the scenery.

After experiencing mostly monotonous driving past farms and grassland, and seeing the same fast food joints and strip malls full of similar stores in different states, it was then that I really felt like I had gotten somewhere.

 

[johnnytravels]

Also, I was around more national forests, so I could do some camping and hiking.

I saw this rather ominous sight during one of my hikes. :/ I thought a ranger or someone from the forest service would dispose of animal carcasses, especially ones at the base of a trailhead.

Also, you start to see native american pictographs drawn on boulders everywhere.

And even though I thought I left the cold and snow behind, at higher elevations along the Sandia mountains, outside of Albuquerque, you still had plenty of both.

After visiting Lake Roosevelt outside of Phoenix, I found a nice spot to camp. It was on a ridge next to a ravine, with a pretty nice view.

The next morning I heard some noise, and saw a bunch of climbers on the other side of the ravine climbing down.

(Sorry, not a very good pic, they were pretty far away, and I had to zoom in)

I followed their progress until they disappeared into this ravine, then I went back to reading my book. Later that afternoon, they reappeared on my side of the ridge and walked past my camp.

 

[johnnytravels]

The Mazatzal mountains east of Phoenix looked really cool, and there was a nice sunset that evening, where I spent the night on public lands. Also, I was finally able to fix my little camp stove, which had been malfunctioning for a while, and was happy to be finally able to cook a hot meal.

(not actual pic, but pretty much what it looks like, my favorite brand of noodles)



After spending a week in Phoenix and nearby areas, I started west again. It's around here that my outlook on travel changed, and the focus became less on making progress, and more about enjoying where I was. I decided at some later time I would like to live in Phoenix, at least for the winter. I saw plenty of snowbirds in their RV's that shared the same thought.

After heading south past a little town of Aguila was a landmark (I forget the name), and next to it was a pretty steep rocky hill, where I met this couple:

Bill and Lori, who informed me what Saguaro meant -- a type of cactus we often associate with the southwest. I'd seen the name often, but never bothered to look it up.

Though they're based out of Minnesota, they travel the country in their RV for several months at a time, going to trade shows and selling leather goods they make from bison hide. Here's their website:

http://buffalobillfoldcompany.com/home/

I found it pretty cool that they work as leather craftsmen, and as part of their business, they traveled extensively, during which they'd often go out and sight-see, as well as hike regularly. Together, we hiked to the top of the mesa and found a mural someone was working on.

It was hard to tell at first, but as we got closer, it looked like an image of the virgin Mary. I wonder if they're done working on it, or what it'll look like once it's finished. Along the way we nearly stepped on this guy. yikes.

(sorry, not a great pic, but it looked like some type of baby viper)

Also, from there you can look down and see their RV and trailer, along with my SUV (a little harder to spot). After returning from our hike, we had dinner, and hung out and talked. They were a very nice couple. I hope to one day stop in and visit their shop if I'm ever in Minnesota.

And again, a really nice sunset to end the day.

 

[johnnytravels]

This is where I wish I had taken more pictures on my trip. For instance, when I was out hiking with Bill and Lori, we came across a dead bird on the ground that died by impaling itself on a cactus, but none of us bothered to take a picture. We don't think that animals die in silly ways like accidentally flying into a cactus, but it happens. I once saw a squirrel fall out of a tree. The next day, before leaving, we had second thoughts and went out to try and find it again to photograph, but despite searching we couldn't locate it. There were a lot of those moments that slipped by that I regret.

Next was a visit to Joshua Tree. The giant rock formations were really cool. The trees and cactus too. And lots of people out rock climbing. It's great to see folks really challenge themselves like that.

Also, I camped a few nights in the Mojave desert, where I got to see some spectacular sunsets. I feel very fortunate b/c I've enjoyed more beautiful sunsets in the short time I've been travelling than I can remember in years.

 

[johnnytravels]

I finally make it to the LA, and one of the first places I visit is Venice Beach. It was early during a weekday, so not too crowded, but a good time to people watch.

I liked the contrast between young and old, lots of homeless people, joggers, tourists, etc. I like that the beach is the one place where all strata of society congregate. I especially liked this image of a young lady at a pier just staring out at sea smoking a cigarette.

I was a little disappointed that not a single person was working out at muscle beach.

And wouldn't be complete without a poorly taken photo of the Hollywood sign from Griffith Park, where I also did some hiking and visited the observatory.

 

[Coby65]

Nice pictures.

Glad you made it out of the winter weather of course you could bring some rain with you?

 

[SDDiver5]

Great pictures and looks like an awesome trip. Some of the SW has absolutely gorgeous abstract scenery. Are you heading back now or are you staying around for a while?

 

[johnnytravels]

Nice pictures.

Glad you made it out of the winter weather of course you could bring some rain with you?

Wish I could, Coby. :/ Actually, rain becomes a theme later on. I did take photos of lakes and reservoirs that were extremely low, not to mention talked to a central valley farmer who was directly impacted by the drought. but more on that later, I'm trying to keep this linear with the chronology of my trip.

Great pictures and looks like an awesome trip. Some of the SW has absolutely gorgeous abstract scenery. Are you heading back now or are you staying around for a while?

I'm actually back in Ohio, I'm doing this travel blog afterwards to document my trip and share photos with people I met along the way. I wasn't planning on it at first (which is why I didn't take a lot of pictures early on), but my cousin Marty really pushed me to do this, so you can blame her if this thread fails to deliver. :ylsmoke:

Marty and her dog Punch. I liked this picture of her holding Punch, holding his stuffed animal. I miss the little guy, though you can't tell by the pic, he's a very energetic pup, with sharp little baby teeth, and hadn't yet been trained not to bite -- though he was starting obedience school, and hopefully is well trained by now. I stayed with Marty and her boyfriend Joey (along with their roommate Steph) in Pasedena. I wish I had gotten a photo of Joey and Steph as well, but I didn't think of it at the time.

And here's my stupid mug. I'm not a big fan of selfies, so it's probably the only pic of me I'll have in this thread. behind me is a giant sequoia.

 

[johnnytravels]

While I was there, I spent a lot of time at the beach.

Between LA and San Diego, I must have gone to at least a dozen different beaches.

I also enjoyed the different characters you see along the boardwalk.

My first time seeing an electric wheel.

I enjoyed watching this guy take pinup photos of his girlfriend, along with all the other random things at the beach.

A nude sunbather hanging out. You can't really make it out from the blurry pic, but the sign says to stay out, wildlife area.

This guy was a beachcomber I saw earlier walking around with his metal detector. I guess he brought the wagon along to help transport whatever treasures he found that day, along with his kids -- or maybe he found them at the beach too.

This is one of my favorite photos from the trip. For a random picture, I love the symmetry: the way the bike path lines up with the beach, with the ocean and mountains in the background, as well as this lady's posture as she stands next to her bike, shielding the sun from her eyes.

 

[johnnytravels]

If you're in LA and get the chance, you should definitely visit the Arboretum.

Sorry for the use of google photos, I didn't take a lot of pictures, and as far as scenery they're way better than any I would have taken. But here are some of mine.

The peacocks pretty much hang out everywhere, including the outdoor cafe.

I'm glad that this guy turned itself around so I could get the perfect picture (or at least as good as my crappy camera phone takes).

Another of my favorite pics. I really like how the sun reflects on this couple's yellow umbrella. Afterwards, I was driving past the Pasadena courthouse when I saw this pair of newlyweds on the steps. I guess he was trying to take photos of his bride from different angles.

I left LA heading east to visit Anza Borrego state park. Along the way, I found a great spot on top of a ridge overlooking the town of Lake Elsinore, where I spent the night.

The view was terrific, and after it got dark, you could see the entire valley floor below light up, except a giant black area where the lake was.

And the view in the morning after sunrise, with the morning haze still hanging over the valley.

I found a great campground in the park, it was primitive camping, so there were no tables or fire rings (only a pit toilet), but it was also free, which was nice. The weather was beautiful the whole time, and because it was around March, not too hot in the desert, I didn't even bother to put the rain fly up on my tent, so I could stare up and see the stars at night. There were lots of great trails to hike (on a couple of which I got lost and didn't have a map). Plus, a lot of giant boulders to climb up and enjoy the scenery. It was kind of a poor man's Joshua Tree, only without as many tourists, although the campsite did fill up on the weekend, when a large group of boyscouts showed up, amongst others, so the noise level definitely went up. But it made you appreciate the peace and quiet a lot more after they packed up and left.

Again, I regret that I didn't take more photos. I met some cool people at camp, and they had interesting stories. Some were sad. I met a pair of older ladies, both widows who were recently bereaved. Their husbands passed away, and after the funeral they decided to pack up and travel. They joked that it was a coincidence meeting each other like that, given their stories were so similar, and asked how their respective estate sales went. It wouldn't be the last time I met someone travelling alone after losing a spouse.

 

[XPEDBC]

Not your typical style expo trip but I enjoyed reading very much. Despite you hiding behind the camera I think your story tells a lot about you. Happy travels!

 

[johnnytravels]

After returning to and leaving LA again, I drove north to visit Sequoia National Park. I purchased the annual parks pass at Joshua tree, so I figured I might as well put it to use, and found a nice campground at the southern end of the park.

This was probably my favorite camping spot of the entire trip, as far as scenery. There weren't too many neighbors (only a dozen sites or so) and I felt like I had my own little grove. There was a nearby river, so I enjoyed the sound of rushing water, and there were a couple nice trails that branched off into longer hikes.

This little girl was at the campsite next to me. Their family came in well after dark, so I didn't see them arrive, but woke up to her and her brother out playing early in the morning. For a couple days it was quiet there, but suddenly I had neighbors. After I gave her some of my origami animals, she came by to visit quite often.

Photos from some of my hikes. Can you spot the salamander above?

One of my favorite parts of camping there was finding this perfect spot to enjoy the river. It was about a third of a mile down the road, and easy to climb down to. Despite the river being pretty rapid in most places, the water did collect in a nice basin and felt good to take a dip in, even though it was really cold coming off the snowpack. Afterwards, I would lay in the sun on the smooth rock next to it and just enjoy the experience of being there.

A common site along the road were lizards that got flattened by cars and dried out in the sun and eventually turned into lizard jerky. I counted more than half a dozen of them just on the walk from my swimming hole to camp.

And then there was Burt, who I met hiking, who was nice enough to point out to me the plants that were poison oak (especially since I was wearing shorts). I learned that Burt was also a widower, who used to visit the parks quite often with his wife before she passed away, but now still continues to go back country hiking alone (at well past the age of 70). I snapped this photo of him as he was hiking off, but later wished I had asked if I could take his picture. At the time I didn't feel comfortable asking random people I met if I could take their picture, but soon would get over this.

 

[johnnytravels]

Not your typical style expo trip but I enjoyed reading very much. Despite you hiding behind the camera I think your story tells a lot about you. Happy travels!

Thanks. Since I was travelling alone I didn't have someone to take photos of me, nor would I really want to, as I don't find pictures of myself very interesting. I'd rather take photos of other people or things I encounter along the way. More of a pattern or theme would develop later when I visit Yosemite.

 

[johnnytravels]

On my way further up Sequoia national park, I encountered some automotive problems. The road I was on was an eight mile unpaved stretch lined with a bunch of loose rocks, and I ended up with a flat. I hadn't had to replace a tire yet, and when I checked to see what equipment I had, I found there wasn't a tire iron to remove the lug nuts, so I decided to hitch a ride into town and call for help. Fortunately, a kind stranger gave me a lift.

Lauri, from Fresno, was returning home from a back country camping trip with her daughter, and were willing to pick up a hitchhiker, so we stopped at this restaurant (the Om Nom Nom!) in a nearby town and had burgers while I called for roadside assistance now that I could finally get a signal. It's a good thing b/c it turned out I didn't have the right size spare. The tow driver who came to help tried to put it on, but quickly figured out that the lug nuts didn't line up and the spare was a 15" and not a 16" which I needed, and I had to be towed to a repair shop in Visalia. Fortunately, my insurance covered the tow charge.

This was all somewhat ironic b/c this situation was exactly what my cousin Marty had asked me about earlier. My response then was that I'll figure it out when I cross that bridge. But when it happens on a narrow dirt road, with very little space to work, and other vehicles having to go around your car, in a remote area with no cell phone service, and the wrong size spare, you quickly learn the importance of being prepared and knowing what to do in an emergency situation (which I was not).

I had some other car issues as well, I knew my brake pads were low and was trying to put off replacing them, but with the tire being replaced, it was probably a good time to get them done as well, and a front axle had damage. The repair bill was high, and took a big bite out of my travel budget. They had to order parts, and as all this happened on Saturday afternoon repairs wouldn't be finished until Monday. The nearest motel was an Econolodge a mile or so from the shop.

This was the low point of my trip, being stuck in Visalia for two nights, with nothing to do but think about the repair bill. It didn't help that I felt like I was the only person staying there, as the parking lot was completely empty, except for one car, which I assume belonged to the guy working the desk. I was surrounded by a giant mile-long strip mall from the repair shop to the motel, which didn't help my mood.

At least the place had a pool, so I put on my swim trunks and went to take a dip.

But found that it was locked. I asked the guy at the desk and was told the pool was closed. I considered climbing the fence anyway, but decided against it and went back to my room and turned on the tv. The only show worth watching was this marathon on Discovery about a family surviving in the wilds of Alaska.

That's when I started posting pictures on Instagram to share with my cousin Marty. I had nothing else to do, and it filled the time. but I soon found it wasn't the best format to document my trip. Instagram is good for one-off photos, but what I was doing was more of an ongoing narrative, and it was better to post on a forum thread or wordpress blog. And as I've enjoyed following the travels of others here, and found inspiration to set off on my own, this was the place to do it. That's also when I made more of an effort to take pictures so I can document the return portion of my trip.