LAM
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Larry
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2024
- Threads
- 8
- Messages
- 487
- Reaction score
- 848
- Location
- Bay Area California
- Vehicle(s)
- 2022 Sahara 4XE
Last week’s October adventure took us south to Carrizo Plain (and a good thing we didn’t head to Tahoe). I had intended to camp two nights but it had rained a lot Monday and Tuesday the tail end of the storm was still dumping rain along the way so we continued into Kern County past the McKitrick oil fields.
Stayed overnight in Taft, California, a town whose past and present existence derives from the oil industry. It happened to be the week of the Taft Oildorado Festival, where they select the ‘Maids of Petroleum’ and the like. Taft's oil museum which would have normally been closed was open and we were able to walk around inside.
A collection of oil related junk.
Loose ball joints? Just pack in a little more grease.
Next day into Carrizo Plain.
Some years these hills become a superbloom of yellow and blue wildflowers - in the springtime, not October.
The Selby area where we camped was burned where the Gifford Fire (probably) came down the mountains although trees and bushes survive here and there. The burned area did not extend into the Carrizo Plain valley.
Soda Lake Road through the valley is open through the winter but with one or two more storms the side roads will likely become impassible especially in the clay soil in the valley.
We wanted to see the Native American Painted Rock pictures but our ticketed combination number wouldn’t open the gate lock, probably because there are no BLM employees working right now. So, from afar.
More of these interesting sandstone rock formations and a partially burned hillside.
Still a lot of humidity and clouds.
Soda Lake panorama in black and white. This one merges two pictures. My full panorama of fourteen pictures is 630 Megapixels and to big to put here, or do anything else with, for that matter.
Heading home we stayed overnight in Pacific Grove, for a look at the ocean, and an expensive seafood meal at Passion Fish.
Only a handfull of migrating butterflies have arrived so far at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary. It’s still early to see how many show up this year.
The obligatory Jeep picture, on Soda Lake Road.
Stayed overnight in Taft, California, a town whose past and present existence derives from the oil industry. It happened to be the week of the Taft Oildorado Festival, where they select the ‘Maids of Petroleum’ and the like. Taft's oil museum which would have normally been closed was open and we were able to walk around inside.
A collection of oil related junk.
Loose ball joints? Just pack in a little more grease.
Next day into Carrizo Plain.
Some years these hills become a superbloom of yellow and blue wildflowers - in the springtime, not October.
The Selby area where we camped was burned where the Gifford Fire (probably) came down the mountains although trees and bushes survive here and there. The burned area did not extend into the Carrizo Plain valley.
Soda Lake Road through the valley is open through the winter but with one or two more storms the side roads will likely become impassible especially in the clay soil in the valley.
We wanted to see the Native American Painted Rock pictures but our ticketed combination number wouldn’t open the gate lock, probably because there are no BLM employees working right now. So, from afar.
More of these interesting sandstone rock formations and a partially burned hillside.
Still a lot of humidity and clouds.
Soda Lake panorama in black and white. This one merges two pictures. My full panorama of fourteen pictures is 630 Megapixels and to big to put here, or do anything else with, for that matter.
Heading home we stayed overnight in Pacific Grove, for a look at the ocean, and an expensive seafood meal at Passion Fish.
Only a handfull of migrating butterflies have arrived so far at the Monarch Grove Sanctuary. It’s still early to see how many show up this year.
The obligatory Jeep picture, on Soda Lake Road.
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