Ocotillo at Joshua Tree National Park (SkyWatch Friday)

Dessert blooms, Joshua Tree NP, 4 April 2014

California City Airport, Mojave Desert, CA

Clear, sunny, quiet ... good place to fly into if running on empty.

Cal City Airport, 18 Oct 2013

'K' is for Kennicottii Kid

Taken not in PV, but at The Living Desert Wildlife and Botanical Park in Palm Dessert, CA - this kid-owl was sitting on the volunteer's gloved hand and observing us. He looks like he was putting up with us and waiting to go back to his nap.

"The Western Screech Owl is a small, nocturnal, woodland Owl of western North America and is one of the west's more common Owls at lower elevations. The species name "kennicotti," was created to honour Robert Kennicott, an American explorer and naturalist (1835-1866). Originally, this bird was officially called 'Kennicott's Owl'. " [Ref. Owl Pages_Species=kennicottii]

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Son in the Sky

Our son is piloting the far glider at about 10,000 feet above Mt. Lewis on the lee side of the San Gabriel mountains, with view of high dessert toward Palmdale. I'd like to thank the Southern California Soaring Academy for this special picture.

Saddleback Butte State Park, Antelope Valley

"Saddleback Butte, elevation 3,651 feet, is a granite mountaintop that towers some thousand feet above the broad alluvial bottom land of the Antelope Valley about fifteen miles east of Lancaster, on the western edge of the Mojave Desert. The state park surrounding Saddleback Butte was created in 1960 to protect the butte (one of many similar land features in the Antelope Valley) and examples of native Joshua Tree woodlands and other plants and animals that were once common throughout this high desert area." - www.parks.ca.govPhotos from Saturday afternoon at about 4:30 pm. I was the only person around (the ranger station closed at 3 pm). Definitely a deserted desert landscape.

'J' is for Joshua Tree (abc Wednesday)

This Yucca brevifolia is by the Crystalair Soaring Field in Llano. It's my calendar shot of a less then attractive yucca species. However, the Joshua tree is one way to know that you are in a Southern California desert.
Join the bloggers at Mrs. Nesbitt's abc Wednesday.

Desert Sunset - Pahrump, Nevada

Sunset in Pahrump from Calvada Road with Mexican Bird of Paradise flowers in the foreground.

Desert Highways - SR 127

"This route was signed as Route 127 as part of the initial signage of routes in 1934. It was LRN 127 between Baker and Death Valley Junction (junction Route 190), and LRN 128 from Death Valley Junction to the Nevada state line. Both routes were defined in 1933.
Overall statistics for Route 127:
Total Length (1995): 91 miles
Average Daily Traffic (1992): 380 to 4,700
Milage Classification: Rural: 91; Sm. Urban: 0; Urbanized: 0.
Significant Summits: Ibix Pass (2250 ft).
Counties Traversed: San Bernardino, Inyo."

(Ref. California Hwys)

For some terrific views of desert roads, see Maya's Photo Blog post Open Road & Burma Shave.

What a Hoot at Devil's Punchbowl - North Los Angeles County

The owls are rescues 'hoo' reside at the Devil's Punchbowl County Park. The owl in the 1st photo can be seen in the background of the 2nd.

"Devil's Punchbowl, elevation 4,750', is one of the most fantastic, colorful jumble of rocks in Los Angeles County. It is a county park within the Angeles National Forest on the northern slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains. There are short trails within the park which showcase the riot of geologic features along the Punchbowl and San Andreas Faults and there are connections to the major longer trails going up to the high country." (Ref. tchester.org-Devils Punchbowl and Devil's Punchbowl).

"Did you bring me anything to eat?"

My new friend is not a PV resident. Since our Saturdays are spent on the soaring field (Crystalaire Airport) in the desert near Palmdale, I have some time to explore that area. This little ranch is located near Valyermo, CA. The long-horn cows did not pay much attention to me, but this cutie came trotting to me right up to the fence. Next time, I will have a treat for both of them.

First Solo Flight

My 14-year-old son's take-off for his first solo flight in a glider (or sailplane). He did a short patern fight around Crystalaire Airport at Llano, CA and made a perfect landing! His dad and I, as well as his instructor Martin Martorana, are so very proud of him.

'D' is for Distance in the Desert

Pearblossom Highway on the desert side of the San Gabriel Mountains, near Llano, CA