California visit

I had planned a trip down to visit my grandmother before the term started.  She is having some difficulties and I wanted to make sure and get some time in with her.  So, after the meeting with the expectant parents, we drove up to Portland, in Portland traffic, and made it to the airport 25 minutes before my plane was scheduled to depart.  Yeah, I ran.  But the plane was delayed, then delayed , then delayed some more.  See, it was so hot (the car measured 110 while sitting in the parking lot).  The little prop plane couldn't cool down.  I heard at one point it was 105 inside the plane.  Eventually they cancelled the flight.  They put us on another flight that evening.  So all the rushing and I just sat in the airport for 5 hours.  ha.  

Finally in Oakland, I changed plans to stay with Polly because she was closer.  That meant I got to spend a little time with Talullah.  She has grown a lot.

It was good to see Polly, even if it was only for a late night (too late, but worth it) and a little bit in the morning.  

Then I drove my rental car across the bay to spend time with Grandma.  We did a short visit and left her to nap while we had lunch with Corinne and Madison.  On the way there, I had a message on my phone.  First bit, they said yes and want to go through with the adoption with us and liked us as much as we liked them.  Then, surprise.  Katt's in labor. 

So, they didn't know much.  Eric and I called back and forth but at the moment they told us not to hurry, things could take a while.  So, I had lunch, not that I ate anything.  And it was lovely to see Corinne and Maddy was cute, but I don't really remember anything.  I was a little distracted you see.

I had promised to come back and visit Grandma.  So, I did. I got to tell her the new developments.   

After another short but lovely visit, I got back in the car and drove across the bay to Dave and Linda's house.  On the way, I got the order to move; so I got to the house, gave Linda and Katie a hug, handed Katie my credit card info and told her to get me a new flight, then I got back in the car and drove to the airport.  It's 4 pm in bay area traffic at this point. I made it just in time to drop off the car a day early, and get to the plane just in time.  hoo boy, I would not call this mellow.  

Exciting? 

Terrifying? 

Crazy? 

Yes all that.

Death Valley Superbloom

I finally made it to a superbloom in death valley!

 On the way into the valley on 190 between Death Valley Junction and Furnace Creek

 Fields of desert gold

 If I was on top of things, I would be able to tell you the rest of these lovely flowers names, but alas... I just have pictures

 This one is so sweet

Closer to the park, another spot with lots of purple

 This one looks like a hydra to me

Even without the flowers, the view was spectacular

 But there are flowers!

 Everywhere!

 Titus Canyon

 Also full of flowers

 I really like the leaves on this one

 So pretty

It was so busy with flower nerds that they were allowing dispersal campaign: hike in at least a mile and camp anywhere.  

 We found a lovely spot behind some overgrown sand dunes (northern end of the Mesquite flat sand dunes) and made a lovely camp.

 Sunset, wine, good food...

Our little camp in the morning.

 flowers here too

The next day we drove south towards Badwater Basin

 Flowers on the way...

 gazillions of caterpillars eating them

 not exactly little either

 Badwater basin

 My favorite field of the desert gold was quite a ways south on Badwater road

 By Ashford mill

Back up to walk on the salt flat

 no flowers here

 just pretty salt crystals

 Natural Bridge trail

 Not as many flowers here, but super pretty

 Artists Palate

Twenty mule team canyon

Looking back north, is that rain? No, my super power (bringing rain to deserts) isn't actually real.

Up to Beatty cutoff.  Those clouds are getting dark

spectacular flowers, spectacular clouds

Up over daylight pass

More flowers up here, including paintbrush.  

Did you know it's parasitic?

Even the tried and true bushes are flowering

Coming back down the pass into the valley.  That no longer looks like rain. It is suspiciously like a sand storm.  

A sand storm on the dunes where we camped!

Oh, but he kit fox hills are stunning with the storm clouds

 Headed into the sand storm to rescue our camp.  Wonder if our tent is still there?

The mile hike didn't seam like a big deal before.  My lungs hurt this time for sure.

 Amazing how pretty it can be even when the situation is a little desperate

Well, we have a tent.  it didn't get blown away. But, if you don't know our tent, this picture is deceptive.  It is practically horizontal and had pulled half our stakes up.

 The inside was full of sand

 Packing everything up for a quick escape was challenging but we managed. My lungs hurt typing this in remembrance.  

 Of course these pictures don't do it justice, but can you see the sand blowing across the road?

and the serious dust devil back close to our tent?

So, we drove out of the sand storm and searched for a new place to camp.  At this point it is about an hour from nightfall.  Getting away from the sand was the first priority.  We drove up and out of the basin, found ourselves a likely spot and started to pack up to hike in another mile... and it started to rain.  And I mean serious rain.  Full windshield wiper rain.  Who says Death Valley is one of the driest places on earth? 

Heather's super power strikes again.  

We gave up and drove back to Vegas to sleep in a dry, not sandy bed.  Wimps? Maybe not.