The terrain in the Mojave Desert of Southern California is amazing: volcanic origin, sandstone and some place called appropriately Granite Mountain!! The layers repeating from horizon to horizon and then SPLASH something totally unexpected a cinder cone and lava flow from millennia ago! The names of the dry washes are inspired Dry Creek, Eidelweiss Arroyo, and Helmet Wash. Who were these people who christened these desert places with names from their childhoods, or after their favorite Uncle from Germany?
It made us wonder if geology is still being taught in maybe the third or fourth grade; it seems that the types of rock – Sedimentary. Metamorphic, and Volcanic – were terms that Tom and I have known FOREVER!! I still remember the volcano built of plaster of Paris and then when hardened the teacher poured vinegar in the cauldara and added baking soda!! It had to have been fifth grade. Mr. Shulmann would have done an impressive demo like that!!
In the midst of our Science questions we stopped for a driver change at Ludlow, nearly two-thirds the way between Needles and Barstow. As we walked back from the trailer to the pickup the three motorcycles whizzed up the access ramp to I-40, having made their stop at the Mobil Station or possibly the DQ . And our eyes could NOT believe what came next – a white car Hell Bent DOWN the access. I guess they missed the freeway OFF RAMP and decided on a whim that perhaps if they went fast enough they could use the ON RAMP instead. It took a few minutes to realize that they had in fact done such a STUPID MOVE and lived to tell about it. In 80,000 miles in the past five summers we have never seen such blatant disregard for the safety of the others on the road. Yes, there were multiple semis parked in the wide spots on either side of the ON RAMP and the IDIOT did not hit anyone. Now we know why we pray for safety on the road and the safety of the Road Professionals, the truck drivers who pull the long distance runs on the crowded freeways of the country. We have several friends who do this for a living, GOD BLESS and PROTECT THEM!!
Oh, we have seen our share of "crazies" who zig and zag and pass us to take the next off ramp less than a quarter mile away. People who get frustrated with us "foreigners" - our license plates say South Dakota - who actually travel at the posted speed. In California pulling a trailer requires a speed of 55 even on a 70 mph freeway!! EXCEPT if you are a commercial trucker with a trailer OR a Class A motorhome with a "toad" or a toy hauler out back.
WELL, that was about all the excitement for today and for us oldsters, that was more than enough excitement!! Safe travels and PRAY every day!!
