Rode across Death Valley with friends today. Had lunch over in Olancha, CA, then rode back. The wild flowers are just about ready to pop. All they are now is a green carpet, almost looks like a lawn. But I’ve seen the signs many a time. Last was ’05. In a week or two, the wild flowers are going to explode all over Death Valley. If any of you can make your way there in the coming weeks, I assure you the trip will be well worth your time.

I lived in the Palm Springs area for several years and when the desert blooms it is truly something to behold.

River

Gil,

Why don't you have us move this thread into the Board's "on-forum" blog section, where you can keep us all informed of your travels? You could even put up an account on photobucket.com and share some images via them with the readers.

When it happens, it is like carpets of colors over the landscape.

Seeds, that waited for years for inhibitors to be diluted by water,

as to produce a synchronous bloom.

Not just the usual mustard scattered by early Spanish Explorers to mark

paths for future travelers,

but blue / violet lupens, Orange Califo-nia poppies and species I can not longer recall.

Congratulations to those who get to live in it.

Wish you could upload images of the carpet and the individual flower.

Moi

Biologist at :hearthrob

Gil (imported) wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:41 pm Rode across Death Valley with friends today. Had lunch over in Olancha, CA, then rode back. The wild flowers are just about ready to pop. All they are now is a green carpet, almost looks like a lawn. But I’ve seen the signs many a time. Last was ’05. In a week or two, the wild flowers are going to explode all over Death Valley. If any of you can make your way there in the coming weeks, I assure you the trip will be well worth your time.

Wishing you the best in your retirement.

P.S. Never ride through Death Valley (or any other desert) alone or without a way to communicate for help should you need it.

O.K.?

A-1 (imported) wrote: Sat Apr 10, 2010 8:51 pm Wishing you the best in your retirement.

P.S. Never ride through Death Valley (or any other desert) alone or without a way to communicate for help should you need it.

O.K.?

Let me add, in the summer months. the rest of the year is ok.

River

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Gil (imported) wrote: Fri Apr 09, 2010 8:41 pm Rode across Death Valley with friends today. Had lunch over in Olancha, CA, then rode back. The wild flowers are just about ready to pop. All they are now is a green carpet, almost looks like a lawn. But I’ve seen the signs many a time. Last was ’05. In a week or two, the wild flowers are going to explode all over Death Valley. If any of you can make your way there in the coming weeks, I assure you the trip will be well worth your time.

>>

Drove (no, OK, I admit, was driven) the 450 miles eastwards from Perth to Kalgoorlie a couple of weeks ago. Bloody hell, I live in Wales, UK, and this is the furthest east - and south - that I've ever been in my incredibly long life.

That's Perth, Western Australia. Kalgoorlie ditto. Kalgoorlie is a HUGE hole in the ground. They scoop out fractured bits of rock in 240-ton loads, and extract from each such load a golf-ball size lump of gold.

I loved seeing the incredible green-ness of the incredibly dry, sandy landscape. The gum-trees are beautiful, and the short stubby plants that (I am reliably informed) they call Black Boys - cos they look like frightening natives, sometimes wielding spears - are delightful and everywhere.

I'll be back in cold, wet Wales four days from now. I'm not looking forward to it!

TheOtherSide thinks 100 F. in Canada is a heatwave. He should visit Death Valley in the summer where it can get as hot as 134 F. in the shade.

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:57 pm TheOtherSide thinks 100 F. in Canada is a heatwave. He should visit Death Valley in the summer where it can get as hot as 134 F. in the shade.

There is no shade in Death Valley, except at Scotties Castle.

River

Go to Pahrump. Plenty of shady ladies there.

I was surprised to see how green Phoenix was when I landed two weeks ago. The desert is just gorgeous when the precip is there and it is one more aspect that makes the SW one of the worlds most beautiful places. Of course, the plants in April have been like paper baked in an oven during some recent years. One has to take the good with the bad.