Well, it appears that we are still on Arizona time...we were both awake before 5:30 and decided to get up. We'll probably just get adjusted to the time zone change and then this Sunday, daylight savings time starts...so we'll be back to "Arizona time".
It was a beautiful, calm start to the day...Steve went up on top of the roof and took some pictures...
There's a little snow in the mountains near Palm Springs from yesterdays storm...
We were ready to head out exploring the area just before 10:00...is it really only ten to ten?! We drove north further up the lake to Headquarters Campground and the Visitors Center...
Just our luck...the Visitors Center happened to be closed Tuesdays!! Sheesh!
So we wandered around, having a look at what there was to see outside.
"Thousands of years ago, Cahuilla and other California Indians occupied these lands. When they first arrived, the Salton Sink held a much larger body of water - ancient Lake Cahuilla - well above sea level. Cahuilla oral traditions tell of a huge freshwater lake, full of fish and teeming with abundant wildlife. Archaeological evidence of the ancient lake's existence comes from early house pits, middens and various artifacts found along former sandbars, creeks and washes."
I thought that the smell was from dead, rotting fish found all along the shoreline but apparently not (can't help but think it adds to it) but apparently its from the algae bloom. As the algae die, bacteria eat them up. These decomposers use up oxygen and emit stinky gases.
Varner Harbour...
In the late 1950's, this area was hugely popular with thousands of Southern Californians flocking to it on Friday afternoons to enjoy a weekend of fun, sun and water play. Boating was so popular that a 15-lane boat ramp was put in. But the water became saltier and saltier as rivers flowing into it carried dissolved salts. When the water evaporates, the salts are left behind - millions of tons a year! Fighting salinity is one of the biggest challenges facing managers of the Salton Sea. Once this battle is won, the sea may flourish again.
Entrance to Varner Harbour...
Picnic area...
A huge parking lot with full hookup pull-through sites along the far edge...
While taking a drive through New Camp Campground, we found a trail, so we parked the truck and headed out for a walk...
Pelicans in flight...
The path went by the beach...where there were a bunch of pelicans...I counted at least 20...
Steve walked down to get better pictures...
After we finished our walk, we took a drive a short distance further north to the community of North Shore. It, like so many communities around the Salton Sea, have a lot of buildings boarded up and/or in dis-repair....
So we thought it odd that there was this new North Shore Beach Yacht Club and Community Center...and not a boat in sight either...
Next stop was at Mecca Beach...
There's no way we would be able to back our fifth-wheel into one of these spots if all sites were full...
We're approaching Corvina Beach...
And we're back at Salt Creek Beach...that's our rig down there. The teardrop trailer left this morning, so we are all by ourselves...for now...
The wind had really picked up, so we sat inside for awhile...I did some budget work (yuk) while Steve was on the iPad. We had a light lunch and then Steve decided to brave the wind and take a chair and his camera down to the beach to get closer pictures of the birds...
Many trains pass by daily however they don't blow their horns and we haven't found them an annoyance...
He even snapped a picture of this "bird"...an Osprey. It's wings rotate so it hovers and takes off like a helicopter...
While he was gone, I baked some trail bars and then puttered around. I was actually feeling kind of restless...not used to having no one else around and nothing on the agenda. I did pull out my crocheting and finished the hat I was making...guess I'll have to find another crochet project to work on.
This is day 2 of no happy hours (and thankfully we don't have the shakes)...which has been a rarity over the past five months...LOL! We plan on being here one more day...and then continuing north on Thursday. We may even catch up with Deb and Ray at Alabama Hills.
It was a beautiful, calm start to the day...Steve went up on top of the roof and took some pictures...
"Thousands of years ago, Cahuilla and other California Indians occupied these lands. When they first arrived, the Salton Sink held a much larger body of water - ancient Lake Cahuilla - well above sea level. Cahuilla oral traditions tell of a huge freshwater lake, full of fish and teeming with abundant wildlife. Archaeological evidence of the ancient lake's existence comes from early house pits, middens and various artifacts found along former sandbars, creeks and washes."
I thought that the smell was from dead, rotting fish found all along the shoreline but apparently not (can't help but think it adds to it) but apparently its from the algae bloom. As the algae die, bacteria eat them up. These decomposers use up oxygen and emit stinky gases.
In the late 1950's, this area was hugely popular with thousands of Southern Californians flocking to it on Friday afternoons to enjoy a weekend of fun, sun and water play. Boating was so popular that a 15-lane boat ramp was put in. But the water became saltier and saltier as rivers flowing into it carried dissolved salts. When the water evaporates, the salts are left behind - millions of tons a year! Fighting salinity is one of the biggest challenges facing managers of the Salton Sea. Once this battle is won, the sea may flourish again.
Great rooftop and waterfront pictures:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, it was a beautiful morning!
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