reflect while Christian brings us the final 160 miles into Flagstaff
this evening (who knows what we'll encounter when we arrive as the
wildfire and smoke reports are not looking too great... I guess we
will see when we get there)
Anyhow, for a day that started cool and grey in our sweet seaside town
by the sea, it might now be safe to say we have descended into the
belly of the beast, with our car thermometer topping out at 105 today
(at 5pm!)
I have quite enjoyed the ever changing kaleidescope of landscapes that
have slipped past our windows as we continue east.
It began with the impossibly perfect ag lands of the salinas valley,
dilligent photosynthesizing soldiers uniformly marching under the
watchful eye of spraying whirlybird, while human laborers work on, too
close for comfort.
This scene soon fades into neat row after row of grapes along the
valley floor with the nostalgic golden oak studded hill sides above
conjuring images of earlier days and simpler lives.
This human agricultural endeavor dances it's way across the california
landscape , with it's silent watery partner standing by. We play
orchard guessing games : almond, pistachio or pomegranate??!
The signs all proudly proclaim the obvious, "Food grows where water
flows!", but I still cannot get over the jarring sight of verdant farm
lands set against the subtle parched hues of the desolate desert. Nor
the sight of union workers toiling in the mid day sun , installing a
new section of underground aquafer that undoubtedly stretches great
distances from the high Sierra to this arid place, in 10 ft
sections... piece by piece they build the infrastructure thru which
they'll pump the lifeblood of the land.
Food production gives way to energy procurement as oil derricks sprout
up on either side of the road, tirelessly spinning round and round in
their insatiable quest for black gold from the earth, next wind
turbines loom on distant ridgetops and solar arrays shimmer like an
illusive oasis in the desert sun.
Today our constant road warrior companions have been the long distance
truckers and freight train operators hauling impossibly huge loads of
consumer goods miles and miles across this great country, earning
their honest wage, while allowing us all to enjoy our 2010 creature
comforts.
We seamlessly cross the border into Arizona , where the speed limit
promptly turns to 75 mph and gasoline is an ENTIRE $1 cheaper than 1/2
mile away in California ! What a difference a state makes...
I am, however, called to turn my attention from the complexities of
human creation to the more sublime presense of the nature that
surrounds .
In the desert of arizona i reacquaint myself with the dried out
silohettes of the elegant Ocatillo plant, a familiar friend who I had
first seen earlier this year in FULL bloom in the anza borego desert -
then, I was in total awe of it's perfectly shaped brilliant orange
trumpet flowers that provided sweet nectar for visiting
hummingbirds ... But now, they stand lonely and dry waiting for next
seasons rains to bring life again .. The constant ebb and flow ...
What a nice rememberance ...
Or the pink carpeted hillsides in full bloom outside of Bakersfield...
I had to take off my sunglases to make sure the color was real ! Magic !
And now in the waning light , mama moon moves towards her fullness and
keeps us company on the road , around every turn, delights to the
heart and mind abound ... Goodnight moon :)
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