(excerpt from a letter written by Joshua)
It has been pretty quiet here since our return from Death Valley. Getting there entails a beautiful drive down the backside of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Through long valleys dotted with ranches and orchards. There's also a spot that was once home to 11,000 Japanese-Americans who were uprooted fromteh west coast at the start of World War II. In all, over 100,000 Japanese-Americans were displaced and sent to "camps" throughout the country. They lost everything. The government was afraid of espionage so everybody was uprooted. A crime really. All that is left at the Manzanar Camp is an interpretive center/museum, which is very interesting; some old gardens with ponds and the like that have gone to seed and a small cemetary where six souls still lay interred.
Death Valley itself is surprisingly beautiful - if you like deserts as we do. Ten years ago I was there and by chance found a spot where I would like my ashes scattered. I wanted to take Laura there to share the spot with her. The location is beautiful, up a narrow canyon, near a small natural spring and some petroglyphs. It was a longer hike than I had remembered, taking us 2-3/4 hours. About 6 miles at least and a gradual uphill all the way. Whew!
Besides picking out the spot, we explored the balley from Badwater, the lowest geographical point in North America at 282 feet below sea level to Salt Creek, where amazingly miniscule fish survive the 120 degree summer temps, and out to hike some sand dunes in the cool of the evening.
It was a great trip; the only thing missing was Jackson, who we boarded for the five days. He would have hated it as he is no fan of the heat. We loved the high temperatures (around 90 during the day) and the dip in the hotel pool at the end of each day.
It has been pretty quiet here since our return from Death Valley. Getting there entails a beautiful drive down the backside of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Through long valleys dotted with ranches and orchards. There's also a spot that was once home to 11,000 Japanese-Americans who were uprooted fromteh west coast at the start of World War II. In all, over 100,000 Japanese-Americans were displaced and sent to "camps" throughout the country. They lost everything. The government was afraid of espionage so everybody was uprooted. A crime really. All that is left at the Manzanar Camp is an interpretive center/museum, which is very interesting; some old gardens with ponds and the like that have gone to seed and a small cemetary where six souls still lay interred.
Death Valley itself is surprisingly beautiful - if you like deserts as we do. Ten years ago I was there and by chance found a spot where I would like my ashes scattered. I wanted to take Laura there to share the spot with her. The location is beautiful, up a narrow canyon, near a small natural spring and some petroglyphs. It was a longer hike than I had remembered, taking us 2-3/4 hours. About 6 miles at least and a gradual uphill all the way. Whew!
Besides picking out the spot, we explored the balley from Badwater, the lowest geographical point in North America at 282 feet below sea level to Salt Creek, where amazingly miniscule fish survive the 120 degree summer temps, and out to hike some sand dunes in the cool of the evening.
It was a great trip; the only thing missing was Jackson, who we boarded for the five days. He would have hated it as he is no fan of the heat. We loved the high temperatures (around 90 during the day) and the dip in the hotel pool at the end of each day.
1 comment:
I return to your blog and re-read, finding something new each time. What an adventure you and Joshua are having; more than most people have in a lifetime, and still going strong.....I love you, Mom
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