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mike_c

(36,213 posts)
Sun Jun 26, 2016, 10:43 PM Jun 2016

a few pics from a southern California desert road trip (images download warning)....

I've just returned from two weeks in the Mojave desert and southern Arizona (124F near Phoenix!). There are lots of photos to work on and post online. Here are a few. There will ultimately be more at https://mcamann.smugmug.com/Misc-photos/. These are just the first few off the memory card.


The shore of the Salton Sea. The smell was unmistakable.



The source of the smell, or at least part of it. Dead fish littering the high water mark.



The beach is composed of zillions of fish bones and teeth.



A blue heron wading in the Salton Sea.



More shoreline at the Salton Sea. People were camped by the water's edge, and some were swimming in this.



Another heron wading in the Salton Sea.



Palm tree beside the Salton Sea.



Salvation Mountain at Slab City, California. This place is utterly surreal.



Part of an archway at Salvation Mountain.



The last free place. I was disappointed to have parked my truck in frame. Honestly, I didn't even see it when composing the shot! Talk about tunnel vision.



Slab City, California.



Salvation Mountain, Slab City, California.



Salvation Mountain, Slab City, California.



Salvation Mountain, Slab City, California.


All images shot with a Nikon D7200 and a variety of lenses.

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a few pics from a southern California desert road trip (images download warning).... (Original Post) mike_c Jun 2016 OP
My dear mike_c! CaliforniaPeggy Jun 2016 #1
I'm still learning to use it.... mike_c Jun 2016 #2
I like your teardrop trailer. How do you like it, does it work well? uppityperson Jun 2016 #3
it is the best thing since sleeping off the ground.... mike_c Jun 2016 #4
Some deja vu right there! catchnrelease Jun 2016 #5
Beautiful images mindfulNJ Jun 2016 #6

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
1. My dear mike_c!
Sun Jun 26, 2016, 11:14 PM
Jun 2016

Wow. What a great variety of photos!

I'd say your Nikon D7200 was performing at the highest level. These are gorgeous and thought-provoking.

Thank you for taking us along!

mike_c

(36,213 posts)
2. I'm still learning to use it....
Mon Jun 27, 2016, 12:08 AM
Jun 2016

Last edited Mon Jun 27, 2016, 02:03 AM - Edit history (1)

I had a great opportunity to take a long road trip that connected some times and places I had to be for work and family visits, with my partner joining me in the middle. I love the Mojave and the southern Great Basin, so I brought the camera along and spent lots of time stopping for photos. It was a great trip. We just returned this afternoon, and I can't wait to dig through all the photos I took. I'll post some more. Thanks so much for your kind encouragement!

mike_c

(36,213 posts)
4. it is the best thing since sleeping off the ground....
Mon Jun 27, 2016, 12:36 AM
Jun 2016

Let me show you. Here is a link to the first road trip we took it on, at about 98% finished: http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56714. We truly love it. It's great for road trips with new destinations every night, but it's also great for towing overland way up on the bajada with a truck bed full of food and water for a week or two in the desert. We haven't broken it yet.

It's 5 ft x 10 ft plus the tongue in front, but it fits a standard full sized bed, has massive amounts of storage, and rides higher than my truck, so we pretty much pull it anywhere we can drive the truck, and you can park it anywhere you want. We use it frequently. We just got back from a trip this afternoon and we're planning to take it out again next weekend. It's that easy.

We like back country camping. This works really well for us.

catchnrelease

(1,941 posts)
5. Some deja vu right there!
Mon Jun 27, 2016, 01:14 AM
Jun 2016

Back in the 80s and early 90s I used to go out to the Salton Sea on birding trips, usually in Feb. It's really a mecca--no pun intended--for birders at the right time of year. I saw Wood Storks and even saw flamingos in the distance once, no doubt escapees from some collection.

I was told back then that those fish die off due to botulism that is in the water and gets stirred up. The shoreline looked and smelled about the same then too. Slab City was not there then, just a lot of old buildings that were being taken over by the water, but I bet the water level is down now. (Or is Slab City the old buildings that have been made into art?)

Definitely an interesting place. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

We also just arrived home from a quick trip around the South Western states. Left Page AZ this am and it was a 'cool' 89F at 8:30. When we went through Needles last Monday it was 123F! Glad to be home in balmy Long Beach tonight.

mindfulNJ

(2,363 posts)
6. Beautiful images
Tue Jun 28, 2016, 09:13 AM
Jun 2016

I particularly love the wide shot of the bird in the water...I'm a sucker for the rule of thirds!

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