Friday, November 20, 2009

Just thinking…

When I begin a post or actually decided that I might have something to say or share for a post I do a lot of thinking. I don’t want to ramble….like I am right now because I want people to think that I actually am intellectual and have something to say or share. All of which really doesn’t matter does it? So once again for posterity sake and hopefully for your curiosity into my big and exciting world (hehehe) a week has gone by and I thought I would……share……once again.

A week after my surgery I had cabin fever and I didn’t want to miss the fall leaves, since nothing was really turning here in the valley we ventured into the mountain of Southern Utah, not too far. An hours drive away then another couple of hours through the mountain and into Dixie National Forest.

Oct 09 1 043 I was so disappointed with the colors, maybe we were to soon? Maybe we were too late, but they were not vibrant. We pulled off of the road and stood at a turn-out section and this is what we saw at the 9,500 ft elevation.

Much of which was so desolate looking. The air was even a little hazy. Could there have been fires somewhere?

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We continued on our road trip and came across a very interesting sight, a field of lava….it is plentiful in this area

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This sign explains a little about the lava field and how it was formed. I found it to be very interesting because we were driving where dinosaurs probably walked…

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This is what the sign says about the Lava Flows…

These Lave Flows are very young 1,000-5,000 years. They come from vents not a central volcano. There are many land forms associated with the Lava Flows. Lava Tubes, Cinder Cones, Sink Holes and Craters. The Cinder Cone developed from a series of continuous mild volcanic explosions piling the debris on the surface surrounding a volcanic vent. There are numerous Cinder Cones on the Cedar City Ranger District, many visible from the highway.

interesting don’t you think…

We drove a bit further and the vast spread of the forest seemed a little daunting to me. It almost made me sad. Several years ago a Pine Beetle infested the beautiful forest and killed thousands of acres of pine trees. This is the devastating results.

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Trees once green and lush are now gray and almost scary…

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one teeny tiny match or a cigarette flicked from a car window would be disastrous!

imageThese things ran through my thoughts…

image

And I hoped that everyone else driving through these parts would be thinking the same.

We came upon another lava field and stopped to take a few pics. I tried walking through the field. It was very difficult. I decided to just stop and sit on a rock. Which was not a wise choice. Lava is not a comfortable rock to sit upon.

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The sight of these fall trees was amazing through the black lava

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Of course Huhoney spotted a hole…probably another exit for a lava spout, who knows how long this hole has existed, right here in this very spot. Huhoney was so curious, luckily it was NOT big enough for him to shimmy into! THANK GOODNESS.

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He decided that he would be happy just to take a little piece of the past home with us and place in our yard. The dead wood was also very intriguing so it found a place in the trunk of my car too. Just a small one!

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We left the national forest and made our way down Scenic Highway 89. A favorite drive of mine.

We came upon a KOA camp spot.

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It was deserted and closed for the winter……..Oct 09 1 075

except for some horses being stalled there

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This drive was green and lush and I did spot a few bright red and yellow and orange trees so my journey was not in vane after all!

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For some of our drive we enter a very short part of Arizona.

Have you ever wondered…..or even witnessed how all of these communication poles got to be? I have. And for hundreds of miles, there is always a fence along side the road you are traveling keeping you OUT, I have NEVER seen any person installing these fences. They are ……..just there…….

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Just a thought, that’s all

Just a thought…..

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My friend Kathie sent me these beautiful flowers. I was reminded after my wonderful drive with Huhoney how blessed I am.

Have a wonderful weekend my village friends….

12 comments:

Diana said...

What a beautiful day Linda. The scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. And the lava fields , very intriguing! I would have loved to have seen that. Even though you didn't get to see as much of the fall colors that you wanted to, it seems like you more than made up for it. What a nice day!
Love Di

Wanda..... said...

I enjoyed your tour of the Dixie National Forest Linda, we saw a similar stand of dead pine trees near Lake Cumberland in Tennessee, a very eerie sight. Glad Huhoney stayed out of the hole in the lava field, I remember the cave he wanted to investigate. I know how rough lava feels but it is light and porous and not too heavy for it's size. I've never visited a lava field though, it was interesting Linda!

Luv and Smiles,
Wanda

Jackie said...

Linda...These are beautiful photographs....and I love the history that went along with them...the lava...the pine tree demise...and I smiled at the photo of your honey carrying a part of the past home with him. (Could be dinosaur bones in there!!)
I love your blog....beautiful and interesting.
Many hugs and smiles from Jackie

Jeannette StG said...

Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Interesting info. about the lava!
A strange sight to see the trees in between the lava rocks!

Scriptor Senex said...

In remote parts of the UK the telegraph poles are helicoptered into place and they can lay a line of a few miles in next to no time (the holes having been dug in advance by invisible men who must come out at night!).

Anonymous said...

Linda-- what a wonderful post! The pictures are just gorgeous. I'm so happy you are doing well. I haven't been around much for a long while. I'm glad I picked this time to check in otherwise I might have missed this great post. Stay well my friend.

Eileen said...

Oh, I enjoyed this a lot, Linda!

We don't have to drive too far at all to see forests, or mountains, or beaches, or farms but I have never seen lava fields, that is so interesting!
(I would have taken a sample too! And I definitely would have taken the wood!)

But very sad about the forests, and very scary about how dry it is and how one mistake can cause such a disaster. It wasn't too long ago they had those devastating fires so out of control in California again.

My favorite picture is the one you took of the communication poles, that blue sky and those beautiful mountains in the background! Love it!
My sister-in-law said she could never move to Arizona or New Mexico (two areas my husband and I are thinking of retiring to) because she can't stand the landscape, but I LOVE IT!
Take a photo of some cactus for me sometime if you get a chance!

Really great post, Linda!
Thanks for showing us your neck of the woods!
Love to you,
Eileen

Barb said...

Hi Linda,
I'm in your beautiful state and enjoying every minute! We just left Salt Lake and are now near Park City for a few days. Then, we'll head south to visit a Nat'l Forest - not sure which one yet. Your photos of the lava field are wonderful - especially backdropped with those golden trees. I think Huhoney was a spelunker in another life! You're wise to remind us to count our blessings. Happy Thanksgiving!

Jerelene said...

Hi Linda,
I always feel like I've been on a vacation when I visit your page :)
You take the most beautiful pictures and place them right along with telling us the nicest story..you do such a nice job! I love visiting you!!
What beautiful flowers!! Lucky You!!
Wishing you a Very Happy Thanksgiving :)
Love and Hugs...Jerelene

Jackie said...

Hi Linda...I wanted to come back and say hello to my friend. I hope that you are having a good week and weekend. Leaving you with a great big hug!
Smiles to you from Jackie

Jenny said...

Gorgeous scenery. And I thought you sounded super intellectual AND Eastwick was on this week (cuz I saw it recorded on my DVR) AND I agree, that the whole Grey's mooshing all the holidays together was odd. I wondered if they were going off the air. I sure hope not! Neat blog.

Jientje said...

That's a beautiful trip you made, even if the colors were not all THAT bright. Hope you're feeling all well again after your surgery.

I learned a lot about lava stone, as you can find a lot of it on Hawaii.

Have a great weekend Linda!