Mojave Road Saga

Road less traveled - better have a GPS!

In Southern California there are two main arteries that flow through the Mojave Desert which are lifelines to the Colorado River and Las Vegas - Highways 15 and 40 are traveled more than most other black topped road surfaces in the United States. Millions of travelers per year drive these highways in search of gambling fortunes, cool river life, or just points beyond - what they both share is miles upon miles of desert landscape.

Towns such as Essex, Baker, Yermo, Barstow, Ludlow and numerous other exits (actually there aren't that many) are mere pinpoints on a map. The traveler drives and looks out the window at cactus, sage, blowing tumbleweeds and thousands of square miles of brown desert dirt.

This is the place Patton trained his tank crews for the operations in North Africa during WWII - it's desolate - it's lonely - it's rough and it's the right place for an adventure.

General Patton in the Mojave Desert during WWII

J along with his trusty companion Paul decided to drive or better yet maneuver the Mojave Road - that stretch of  nearly 140 miles dirt path that parallels the 15 and 40. It's the road which both native Americans traveled for hundreds of years as well as pioneers in the 1800's moving to the promised land. It's rough, dirty, a bit scary, and bloody hot - especially at the end of May and beginning of June where temperatures can easily reach over 100. It did - 102 and 103.

Laureen stayed poolside at home - the thought of night after night tenting in open hot rough country didn't appeal to her this time - dipping her feet into cool water did. This from the woman who loved the Amazon Rain Forest - well not really loved it but went along on that adventure wholeheartedly - the Mojave Road was a different matter. Besides who would look after the four doggies on the home-front?

The boys left on the morning of the 29th of May heading to the Avi Resort on the Colorado River - that would be the jumping off point.

Paul with the Colorado River in the background - the beginning.

Research had been conducted, maps printed, warnings of traveling in only one vehicle discussed and then put away, and the most important tool purchased. A Mojave Road guidebook by Dennis Casebier was a must since this individual has traveled the road more times than anyone could count and the directions - starting off at Avi - were right on with exact mileage and GPS coordinates.

A Must if you want to be safe!

As stated this was not a trip for the faint of heart - this would be like going back in time to follow the footpaths and wagon wheels of those who have gone on before us - the true pioneers who risked it all in an unforgiving desert for a better life. Unlike those John and Paul called once again on the intrepid Toyota FJ - the workhouse of so many of our blogs. The vehicle which has never let J and L down.

New tires, new steel rims, new off road bumper and a 9,000 pound winch were added to the FJ to ensure she (hope that's not taken as sexist) was ready for an off road ordeal. All research stated not to do the trip in one vehicle but one vehicle was all we had.

With the top rack loaded with an extra tire (the FJ already has a spare on the rear door) in case we encountered two blow outs, shovel, hard gravel rake, floor jack we were confident in the tire area. Plenty of water, extra gasoline, tent, cots, and all the other camping needs made us feel that we would at least have some comforts of home on this trip. The FJ was jammed packed with supplies but when the trip is supposed to take three days and may stretch into four one has to be prepared - cell phones are spotty at the best being this remote (in fact John was completely off the grid for nearly 36 hours and Paul's cell didn't do much better).

We followed Dennis's guidebook and learned that the desert isn't a place which is only brown but one of pure beauty and brimming with life. No, while driving on the 15 or 40 a person may look out at the brown of the desert and believe there is nothing worthwhile to view but they are totally wrong - there is so much to see and learn about the Mojave Desert - the only problem is its remoteness and sometimes unforgiving nature.

This road - this Mojave Road is only for four wheel drive vehicles and is only for those who want to get out of their comfort zone to learn the truth about what a beautiful and vibrant world there is between to long lines of black top.

In the next four or five blogs more details on this trip will be written about - hopefully the readers will learn to understand and love this piece of history - this road had to offer.

Not far from the Avi Resort 

We explored and gained knowledge about this part of Southern California we hadn't known existed.

America's Game

Alicia, Justin, and Jessica

There are few things as quintessentially American as baseball. You know the saying, "As American as baseball and apple pie." Well, as spring winds to a close, and the weather warms as summer approaches, you can begin to smell the fragrant green grass, popcorn, hot dogs and barbecue, oh, and yeah, you can even smell the beer.

Warming up

Catcher and Author

Not a huge fan of watching sports (we'd rather be active ourselves), we still find ourselves being drawn into the game every season. From book signings, ceremonial first pitches, western acting, to watching our daughter and son-in-law sing the national anthem, we have been taken out to the ball game. Oh, yes, there was also a minor league game or two thrown into this glorious summer mix. And these minor league players have heart -- they don't make the big bucks of the major league -- so they play with heart and soul, for the love of the game, and their loyal fans.

Love is in the air

It wouldn't be American without Cowboys

So get off your couch this summer and get out there with friends and family. Watch the game, play the game, just get in the game!

What Lies Beneath....Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe in Springtime

 If anyone has ever told you, "Go jump in a lake," I know just the place to go!

A beauty and a wonder...

There are, of course, the five great lakes (Michigan, Huron, Eerie, Ontario, and of course, Superior). These interconnected fresh-water lakes serve as a partial border between Canada and the United States, connecting to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. Twenty-one percent of the world's fresh water is contained here. Now, those are indeed great lakes. But if you don't make the famous five in the Northeast, what have you got?

A chilly morning

Blue skies, clean air

Well, head about as far south and west from the Great Lakes as you can go, and you will find yourself on the border between California and Nevada. Coming in at number 6 when measured by volume, Lake Tahoe is a pristine, clear version of American fresh water lake. So clear, in fact, on most days, you can peer over 20 meters deep into this prehistoric wonder. But I recommend looking from the surface, as the crystal clear water has an average spring temperature just above 40 degrees. Brrr.

Lake Tahoe is admired for its beautiful alpine surroundings, and quiet living. Okay, yes, South Lake Tahoe does have its share of casinos (and a couple on the North side as well), but because the terrain is quite mountainous, human activity has been fairly limited -- hence the clarity of the water.

So, in the midst of the recurrent drought theme in California, one might well ask, where did all this water come from? Two-thirds of the Tahoe basin belong to California, so the question is important. The answer will take us way back in time....

Geologic Drama

To begin, Lake Tahoe is situated at approximately 6,225 feet -- or over a mile above sea level. Take that mile-high city! And it's deep -- almost a third of a mile. Second-only in depth in North America to Crater Lake. And, it's old -- but she looks good for her age. Lake Tahoe was formed about two million years ago and has been carved into its current shape by the ice ages. The area surrounding the lake is primarily national forest land, so the panorama of surrounding mountains can be breathtaking, as well as protective of this natural resource.

The Tahoe basin was formed by vertical faulting. The uplifted blocks created both the Carson Range on the east and the Sierra Nevada crest to the west. For those of you poor souls who do not have the privilege of calling California home, sierra is Spanish for mountain range, and nevada, contrary to popular belief, does not mean casino. Nevada is Spanish for snow-covered, and the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe live up to their name -- just ask the Donner party.

But we digress. There are three principal faults along the Tahoe basin, and evidence exists for paleoearthquakes. The most recent earthquake appears to have occurred between 4,000 and 4,500 years ago. But before you relax, evidence in the landslides in the area suggest that these earthquakes occur in three to four thousand year intervals. So, any time now, right?

If that is not enough geologic drama for you, it was the eruptions from the volcano, Mount Pluto, which formed a dam on the north side of the basin, allowing the lake to form. As melting snow filled the basin to form the ancestral Lake Tahoe, rain, run-off, and glaciers would continue to add to the lake.

Now I realize that we here at J and L get excited about unusual things, but because of the great depth and sheer volume of water within the lake, the faults which created this valley, can also trigger tsunamis. Wave heights are predicted to reach over thirty feet and could traverse the lake in mere minutes. Geological evidence suggests that a massive collapse along the western edge of the lake occurred 50,000 years ago, creating McKinney Bay and generating a tsunami exceeding three hundred feet in height.

The Washoe Tribe of Native American Indians inhabited this area for over a thousand years. Lake Tahoe is now home to gamblers, recreation-seekers, and the well-heeled. But, if you are willing to live on the edge of this geologic wonder, there is something for everyone, every season of the year. From skiing to swimming, from hiking to camping, there is a sport, and a spot here, to appeal to everyone. So, go jump in a lake -- but wait until August when the water temperature hits 65.