The Wild Life (La Vie Sauvage)

What a sight, wildflowers are everywhere, the air is still crisp but the sun is warming the earth. Another weekend spent at the SSP, this time a trio: Evan, Jorgy and I. It was a full moon or close to it. After a Saturday spent watering the fruit trees that didn't die of neglect because of lack of care (the cabin was for sale for ages,) we ate dinner and all relaxed watching a movie: "Walk hard", a spoof on Johnny Cash with a little Jim Morrison thrown in, and the would-be intensity of the rock and roll life. The Wild Life. That we saw plenty of.

Let me start from the beginning. We first stopped in "Grapes of Wrath" country. This is where the government camp in the book was situated. By all means, read Steinbeck, it will make you a better person. Anyway, the Okies have now been replaced by the Homies. Same story, different people. I like Arvin, I can't explain why. I once saw a family in their Sunday best having lunch at Burger King. I don't know about you but to me that was touching. One of the rare time when I wish I had dressed up. Living can't be easy there so folks do what they can to stay alive. Here's a truck fully loaded with aluminum cans.



And, because I can never get enough of them, my Homies:



We got to the SSP traveling through the Lion's Trail, always awed by the majestic beauty of the foothills. Can't get too distracted though, could miss a curve and become part of the majestic beauty. Better keep an eye on all the cows on the road anyway. We hit a roadblock: a car coming the other way, two cows in the middle; what to do? We stopped and let the roadblock move slowly to the side of the road. A gentle hand wave hello from the other driver. People always wave driving by.

After dinner, before the movie, I sat outside on the porch a while taking in the moonlit landscape. Even at night the mountains are beautiful, mysterious womanly shapes. There were clouds in the sky moving so fast it seemed they were stationary and the moon was rising at supersonic speed. Git me a gin 'n tonic! Here's another shot.



Can you believe this little disc is responsible for moving oceans up and down?

We slept well and the next day went for a walk to the lake where Evan made some small adobe bricks and I tried to look for gold. Later on, after meeting our direct neighbor and his son-in-law, we went adventuring up Paiute Mountain. I don't exactly have the right kind of car for that but Evan wanted to so heck, why not try at least. We went up Thompson Canyon and saw wild horses and cows.





I just love that. And of course, a few trailers for the independent minded.





The area is well-known for mining, all kinds: gold, tungsten, you name it and we came upon a quaint little pond somebody built, complete with a gold sifting apparatus.





Gold I found none, other than gold you can't buy: a good time with my son and my dog.

After that, we went back to the cabin, watered some more (to the point where the tank was empty,) packed up and left. Jorgy didn't fight too hard to stay this time, just a little. On the road, by the old cemetery, we saw a bobcat cross the road. I stopped and we saw him hiding behind a small pine tree, looking at us. What a sight. I tried to get a shot but by the time I was ready, the bobcat was taking off. here's my blurry photo:



We drove wit the sun setting on the beautiful oaks of the Lion's Trail. i felt like I was driving through a moving painting.

Four wheeling up the mountain

Amy, Evan, Jorgy and I spent the weekend at the cabin. Audrey, the city girl, stayed at her friend's. She missed out.

We had a wonderful time with perfect temperatures, California poppies, wild flowers and grass everywhere. Amy finished the bedroom curtains so the cabin is looking cuter and cuter. Speaking of Amy, something funny happened. Ernie and I were chatting on the porch and Amy came calling "My God, there's a mountain lion at the back of the property!" i ran and got my binoculars so I wouldn't miss such a sight. Amy said she thought at first it was a dog, then she was sure it was a big cat of the lion order. Closer inspection through my binoculars showed a healthy but not overweight kitty cat. Amy still argued for a while it was at least a wild cat until she took a peak. We all had a good laugh about it.

I had been wanting to go up Paiute Mountain for a while but I don't have a four-wheel drive so I couldn't. Ernie was there and the good man he is took us up and showed some things we hadn't seen before.

I had heard that there are a bunch of hot springs but never being up early enough scouting for steam, I never found anything. Ernie knew of one and showed us up Thompson Canyon. Here it is.



Ernie said there used to be a pond in which Andy, another neat neighbor, once boldly bathed but someone had broken the levee and the water flowed down now with just enough puddle to put your feet in. We found a hidden small pond nearby down the stream with reefs, birds and wildlife. An older man, Mister Jim, I had met in the beginning I used to go to the SSP and stay in the Airstream told me there is a hot spring the Indians used, complete with a cover, stones etc. Unfortunately he passed away so I'll have to keep looking.

Not far from there was something seemingly completely out of place: a grave marker with an inscription. The Williams, honored today with a road named after them, must have been very early settlers and apparently, their son was the first white child born in Kern county.



The wood marker was in pieces on the ground but I can't stand oblivion, especially at a grave so I put it back together. I'll go back and fix it permanently.



We kept going up, encountering the occasional abandoned trailer. These trailers are a testament to the spirit of some folks who seeked independence, freedom, fresh air, nature and then some. I hope this spirit still lives.



And with Spring finally here, we saw baby snakes sunning. Funny thing about the snake, I wasn't scared or creeped out, I was actually happy to see a baby snake. They serve a purpose in this world and have been here a long time so, as Ali G would say: Respek. He/she didn't feel threatened and I think was actually posing for his picture.



As we went up we ran across a spring that Ernie said provides all year and where he, Andy and others use to go fill up bottles with its tasty mineral water. We also came across a road grader that went over the side. Incredibly, the driver jumped in time and saved himself.



I keep talking about Ernie so here he is:



Hi Ernie!

The higher we went up the trail the more beautiful the vistas became. A higher elevation provided a greater variety of trees from mesquite to sequoias. Here are some views:



See the happy little basin down there? ; )



Purty, huh? We went as far as we could but came a time when the road was blocked by snow and try as we could, we couldn't make it over. Wanna see some snow?



I was surprised there was still quite a bit but that's California for you.



So we turned around and went back home. Amy made lunch, I fixed the sprinklers the best I could following Ernie's good advice and some of us took a nap.



I don't think I've seen the famous thought to be extinct and now only found there moth but the insects are beautiful. I leave you with one fuzzy and cute local. Till next time!