"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime"-MARK TWAIN

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Palm Canyon

 

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Awoke to a beautiful sunrise around 6 AM.  Crystal clear skies and no wind.  I had decided to hike the trail to an oasis of sorts up what is called Palm Canyon. Until 2004, there were palm groves down the majority of the length of the canyon.  A massive flash flood sent a wall of water over 12 feet high down the width of the canyon and scrubbed it clean.  The only signs of the old groves are the rotting palm logs you find along the way up the canyon.  Sally was out of luck on this hike as dogs weren’t allowed.

A look up the canyon from the parking lot.  Hard to believe there is an oasis back in there, somewhere.

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The desert is beginning to bloom here.

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Can you see the humming bird?

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On up I go until I see them in the distance.

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A true oasis, with water!

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In the grove.

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Looking down canyon.

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A great hike that took about three hours, round trip.  The weather was perfect with short sleeve temperatures and no wind. 

We finished the day by giving Sally a bath, doing laundry, and catching a few more of the sculptures South of town.  There are so many that it’s difficult to see all of them. 

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Finally, we were treated to fine desert sunset and a perfect crescent moon that disappeared behind the mountain before I could get a shot of it.  The skies here are beautiful at night with no light pollution.  The stars look as if you could just reach out and pick one from the Heavens.

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That’s enough for one day….jc

4 comments:

  1. That was truly an oasis. What a cool hike.

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  2. What a special walk...it's kind of like following a rainbow to a pot of gold! Nice hummingbird!

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  3. The palms look so odd down there. The whole scenery looks otherworldly to my Eastern eyes. But it is haunting.

    The sculptures are amazing.

    But I like your postcard-looking Casita photo best. :)

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  4. Love the Casita photo - I just bought a 2006. :)

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Thanks for looking, and comments are welcome.