Table of Contents
Here is a collection of pictures I have taken from my travels around the American Southwest.
2013-04-29 Joshua Tree National Park with Tony
With me living in Phoenix, Tony looked at a map and found someplace halfway between Phoenix and Los Angeles. Not happy with Blythe, we headed to Joshua Tree National Park instead.
2013-04-20 With clever photography I cut my car in half!
2013-04-20 Here is Tony
2013-04-20 I love new friends!
2013-04-20 Not only are there plants with spikes, there are rocks also in the national park!
2013-04-20 It wasn't too windy when we visited, but I don't know how else these rocks would be formed like this
2013-04-20 Skull rock is a very popular attraction
2013-04-20 Joshua trees!
2013-04-20 We were caught off guard when we saw these climbers during a short hike
2013-04-20 I was really thinking more along the lines of a two bedroom
2013-04-20 A bush giving life a second chance
2013-04-20 It is California
2013-04-20 After Joshua Tree National Park we drove to the Salton Sea, which I had read about but you really need to visit to get a feeling for the salinity of the lake. My Cruze covered a lot of miles that day; here it is taking a break at the beach
2013-04-20 EWWWW. Thanks to no outlet, the Salton Sea is increasing in salinity, placing it somewhere between the ocean and the Great Salt Lake currently
2013-04-20 Slab City is nearby, and this is Salvation Mountain
2013-04-20 I find the restricted area sign a little ironic
2013-09-28 Mongollon Rim Camping
After a long summer in Phoenix I wanted to see some proper trees, so I drove up to the Mogollon Rim.
2013-09-28 My alcohol stove cooking breakfast. I really needed to coax it to start in the cold, and there was not even snow on the ground
2013-09-28 My campsite. Look at all of the trees!
2013-09-28 This looked like a nice pulloff that my Chevy Cruze was capable of fairing
2013-09-28 My first proper look out over the Mogollon Rim
2013-09-28 Looking down at the Tonto National Forest, with many more dead trees this time
2013-09-28 I stopped at a stream for a bit and the crayfish startled me at first. This guy was probably ten centimeters long
2013-09-28 This is the creek I stopped at
2013-09-28 Let's meet the meat!
2013-09-28 This is the Tonto Natural Bridge
2013-09-28 On the walk down to under the bridge
2013-09-28 I can only imagine the bad day when you step through that hole above
2013-09-28 I don't think the tree chose to live this close to the edge of the bridge, but I really have no sympathy for the moss hanging over
2013-09-29 Driving back home in the morning on the east side of the Tonto National Forest
2013-09-29 Back to cactus territory
2013-11-02 Las Vegas with Tony
With Tony living in Los Angeles, we figured a weekend trip to Las Vegas would be easy and fun!
2013-11-02 I drove to the Colorado River on Friday night and camped, here is the marina next to my campsite
2013-11-02 At least deer will spook when you drive up to them and leave. Although honestly animals can take as long as they want crossing the street if they do not hit my car
2013-11-02 Tony and myself outside the Luxor
2013-11-02 Tony and I went to The D. While there was a Coney Island, they really could have played up the Detroit theme more
2013-11-02 Checking out Fremont Street
2013-11-03 Tony knew of the Atomic Bar right off of Fremont Street. Back before the city was built up people would watch atomic testings from the roof. Our drinks were not as exciting
2013-11-09 One of my less exciting weekends in the Tonto National Forest, I saw this sign at a T-intersection. While I believe it is supposed to remind us that we should be careful with fire, it read more like a road sign. I went to the right, and really didn't see that much devastation
2013-11-29 Thanksgiving in Arizona
My family, Jeff, Tony, and Stephanie came out to Phoenix for Thanksgiving, and it was a blast.
2013-11-29 While driving up to Sedona we pulled off to check out Arcosanti, the sustainable community which makes bells. Here are our heroes, Tony, Jeff, Stephanie, and myself
2013-11-29 Once again Tony has found a new home
2013-11-29 Here is a panorama of Arcosanti
2013-11-29 Stephanie and I at the Sedona Airport, looking at some awesome cliffs
2013-11-29 While we were on a day hike we saw some climbers, I'm impressed they can get anywhere on these cliff sides
2013-12-01 Stephanie and I went up into Tonto National Forest by ourselves. Here is Stephanie's small foot with the footprint of a large animal (dog we think)
2013-12-01 We found Sycamore Creek, which is beautiful in the winter
2013-12-01 I did not believe in rivers in Arizona
2013-12-01 Stephanie and I in the wilderness
2013-12-14 Sycamore Creek
2013-12-14 This is in December. I believe during monsoons this becomes much more flooded
2013-12-14 There is a 4x4 road that follows this creek. I struggled with hiking this road at times; I cannot imagine a Jeep navigating it
2013-12-14 A waterfall! Sorta
2013-12-14 Here is an old panel van that has been left to die. Lots of bullet holes; I can only imagine that the bullet holes are the reason the van stopped
2013-12-14 I took a break and shot my Mosin Nagant at a frying pan from the Salvation Army. I need something thicker, most of the time the bullets would penetrate without shaking the pan
2013-12-14 More footprints! I think these may be of feline origin
2013-12-14 When I first came across this I had no idea what it is, as in Michigan we do not have random abandoned mines. Turns out, Sunflower Mine was located along this creek, and I return looking for the processing equipment in 2014
2013-12-14 Here is the only bridge that the forest road gets
