We got off a bit late, leaving the house at just before 7 am. Yesterday we decided to avoid Riverside, LA, the Grapevine, and (as much as possible) the I-15. So instead, we took back roads through the desert. That adds about sixty miles and two hours to the trip, but we figured it might be worth it – and now, after doing it, we still think so. It's still mostly yucky summertime desert, but at least we weren't stuck in traffic, or behind big semis, and forced to watch billboards. For most of this trip, we had almost no company at all.
One interesting surprise waited for us during one fill-up the gas tank stop: right next to the gas station was
the General George S. Patton museum, complete with WWII era tanks on display (some photos below). Some other day I'd like to wander around in there.
No wildflowers on this part of the trip.
Once we crossed the Arizona border, just a couple hours ago, the scenery started improving drastically. The Virgin River Canyon is quite beautiful, and just as you exit that, you're in St. George and the beginnings of serious red rock country. The drive up I-15 from St. George to Parowan (where we are tonight) is an endless series of vistas of mountains, red rock, ranches, and pinon-juniper country. In the late afternoon sun it was quite beautiful.
Now we rest.
Some photos for you:
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| All packed and ready to roll... |
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| Cuyamaca Meadows, checking to see if the stuff in the rack was still attached to the truck. It was :) |
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| The dog platform is working great. They have lots of room to stretch out comfortably, and memory foam cushions to relax into. Race spent much of the day staring out the window at the desert rolling by. Miki slept. He's a field spaniel, what did you expect? |
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| Two happy mutts in their mutt compartment... |
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| Entrance to the General George S. Patton museum... |
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| One of the tanks on display at the Patton museum... |
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