Saguaro at Senset at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

Finding out how sharp a Barrel Cactus was

Ocotillo, Seaweed of the Desert

Crazy About Cacti

After doing the amazing night shots at Joshua Tree NP, it was time to start heading back towards Phoenix. Ethan and I piled in the van for a long drive Past the Sultan Sea, massive sand dunes and huge RV parks. Eventually we arrived late in the afternoon at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

We left the Joshua Trees behind for all kinds of Cacti. I was amazed at the size and variety stretched out on the landscape before us (most of the cacti I have seen have been in small pots and tend to die in my office). Here there was massive Saguaro and Organ Pipe Cacti. We arrived just in time to watch the sun go down behind a field of these giants; some must have been over 15ft high right beside out site.

We set up the van in a campground, which consisted of over 200 sites in a flat area surrounded by cacti, not the kind of place where you want to stagger around in the dark. We probably ate the food of the trip here with a nice fried steak that night and a Mexican breakfast the next morning.

The next day we headed for a drive through the Ajo Mountain Drive and got some great perspective on the landscape. The one photo below is a result of a little game I liked to call “How sharp is this cactus?”

The last shot is of an Ocotillo, one of my favourite plants on the trip. We caught a few of these in bloom on the trip. They look like a giant seaweed plant growing out of the desert!

Joshua Tree and Local Entertainment

After many miles south and one heck of a good omelet, we arrived at Joshua Tree National Park. We pass through some unique areas, such as Wonder Valley, an old war vet retirement area that is now and artist and social recluse sanctuary.

I was not sure what to expect, I have seen pictures of the trees, but I was half expecting a flat area with lots these odd trees. What awaited me was a rugged landscape, amazing rock formations, and the most bizarre “trees” I have ever seen. We found a campsite and settled in for the night as a spectacular sunset highlighted the rocks around us.

Over the next day we explored the park, finally found a shower, and had a lot of fun with some star trails and light painting shots. We had some of the best light of the whole trip in Joshua Tree. Later we headed in to town to the Joshua Tree Saloon, which apparently had an open mike night. The local talent was certainly entertaining and ended a great day at Joshua Tree.

Working Van!!!

Well luck was with and the van is fixed. We headed in to Pahrump, Nevada, which can only be described as an interesting little town. There we where first told that the parts needed to fix the van where going to take 3 days to get there. Pahrump is not where I wanted to spend 3 days. After some phone calls and shear luck, we found the parts and an open garage late on a Sunday. After a quick fix, we got on our way.

We drove to the north end of the park, with the intent of shooting some night shots at a local ghost town. After feeling very uninspired by the old building and odd artwork, we decided to head back to the campground and call it a night. On the way we watched the sun go down and after deciding to pull over and get some shots. Am I ever glad we did, they turned out to be some really great sunset photos. The one below with the car passing is my favorite.

Tomorrow we make the long drive to Joshua Tree. There is another place I am looking forward to.

Whatch Yah Dune?

After photos at the Salt Flats, Ethan wanted to head up to this place called the Racetrack. It’s an area where wind has blown rocks across mud flats, so it looks like the rocks are moving. The photos of the place looked amazing and I was getting excited to see it. The park rangers warned us on more then one occasion that it is a very rough road, and you need high clearance on your vehicle to get there. Ethan decided the VW van could make it.

About 5 miles down the 27 mile road we heard a bang, then eventually a part dragging. After stopping we discovered that the washboard road had caused the shock to overheat and explode (Check out Ethan’s blog for photos). After some laughing and cursing, we turned around to head back, only to have the other shock blow up as well.

At this point we decided to get out of there and head for the place to camp. The next morning before we headed in to town to hopefully fix the van, we stopped by some sand dunes for sunrise. This turned out to be one of the best photo opportunities of the trip so far. The light on the dunes was amazing, and the setting moon provided some outstanding photos. In the one below, Ethan took off up this large dune. Though he was moving fast to begin with, He quickly slowed down and crawled to the top.

Those Death Valley Days

Well Ethan and I survived Vegas and made our way to Death Valley. The scenery on the drive was outstanding. In a short while you drive through hills, plateaus and badlands. I got to drive the VW van and it chugged up a few hills, and gave me a warning light once, but overall, it made it ok.

At Death Valley we have been checking our some of the more popular places, scenic vistas and the salt flats. The first morning we went to Zabriskie Point for sunrise. I managed to catch a nice shot, while Ethan decided he needed a different angle and took off up the side of a major hill faster then if they where offering free chicken wings.


After that we headed to the salt flats, on the way a Coyote stopped us on the road, although it was cool to see it close, it was sad to think that it was this habituated to being feed by people.

The salt flats in Death Valley are the lowest place in the U.S., over 200ft below sea level. And I am happy to say that I had a meal of bacon at the lowest place in the states.

Next post, rough roads and their effect on VW vans!

Southern States Trip

It’s been a long while, but since I am traveling again, it is time to post some photos. I joined up with a friend of mine, Ethan (www.ethanmeleg.blogspot.com), who is doing a photo road trip across the States. I joined him in Phoenix for a world wind tour of the Southwestern States.

So far the trip has been interesting and certainly there are some stories to tell. After a much delayed flight due to snow in Chicago, I met up with Ethan and we headed out of Phoenix right away. We made out way north to near Sedona. It was late and dark so we just made out way there and crashed for the night. The next morning was my first exploration of the Southwest. We drove around Sedona and stopped at Cathedral rock, and amazing rock formation. The stops where short since we wanted to get to the Grand Canyon as soon as possible.

Though the trip is meant to be VW van vagabond road trip, due to time and the cold temperature, we stayed in hotels for the first couple nights. This was definitely true of the Grand Canyon. The whole area was covered in a foot of snow. Not quite was I was expecting, and chilly when then wind started to blow. At one point Ethan disappeared for a while, I assumed he went over the edge, but turns out he was just getting a killer shot without me. Here are some of the shots I got of the Canyon during sunset and sunrise the next day.

Next we are off to Vegas for one night, Then Death Valley