Many of my friends here in Louisiana have inquired about what it was like to live in the California desert. Well, today I was home sick so I decided to back through some of my photo files in search of some images to post about our time out west. As I went from file to file I clicked and saved the images that spoke to me. After I was finished I went back a reviewed them only to notice that the majority of my photos all looked very similar. It appears that subconsciously I must be missing the wide open spaces and big skies of the west.
I submit to you a rather fine collection of images that feature landscapes that seem to go on as far as the eye can see. Indeed the landscape of the California High Desert is truly opposite of the heavily wooded areas of Louisiana.
To some it up, one area doesn't have any trees, and the other has way too many trees.
The first photo (above) shows that despite the fact that we lived in a very dry and arid part of the country, we did see snow from time to time. The reason for this is quite simple, the elevation of this area of Oak Hills sits about 4,000 feet above sea level.
The California High Desert is populated by numerous species of birds.
Here is a great shot of Highway 247 that stretches west from Yucca Valley towards Apple Valley.
Another view of Highway 247 heading west. In the distance you can see an 18-wheeler and then further on down the road to the left is the town of Lucerne Valley. In this part of the world, you can see for miles and miles.
Across the open desert the peaks of the San Bernardino Mountains rise majestically out of the haze.
Thunderstorms aren't as rare as you think in the California desert.
Traveling down Highway 395, I can see that there is rain falling in Adelanto,
A view of the sunrise from our backyard in Victorville.
The vast desert sands along Highway 138 between Victorville and Palmdale.
The rolling mountains that rise above the sands along Highway 15 between Victorville and Barstow.
The big skies above the desert east of Lucerne Valley.
The colors of the setting sun are seen reflected in the storm clouds over Victorville.
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Due to the lack of moisture the soil is dry and brittle and when the gusts get really high it becomes a mass of tiny airborne projectiles. In a way it's very much like flying sandpaper that over time will take the paint off of just about anything.
Some of the best places to shop for antiques in Southern California are located in the Mojave Desert town of Oro Grande. Located along historic Route 66 Oro Grande is the home of Antique Station, All Aboard Antiques, Shelley's Shop Around the Corner and Lona's Treasures. Each of these four shops is a haven of rare and hard to find items.
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