Indio disappeared in our rear view mirrors as Rascal pointed her nose to the Salton Sea. Through Coachella, we were treated to an irrigated paradise. Date, citrus and nut orchards were tucked in among thousands of either newly green acres or those just prepared, awaiting their turn to produce.
And then the Salton Sea. An accidental landmark, it was created in 1905 when an engineering mistake caused the Colorado River to burst through an irrigation canal. Because of water flowing freely into the basin of the ancient Cahuilla Sea for 18 months, a salt water playground was born. The rich and famous flocked to the area like pelicans and plied their race boats on these waters for years. But the increasing salinity of the lake and the lower water levels, due to irrigation restrictions, have caused the once popular vacation spot to become a ghost resort.
Yet we were charmed with the sea and the bright "sand", actually composed of fish bones and mollusk shells. Pelicans worked for their dinner as we ate our lunch, mystified by the mountains on the horizon. It is said that as the temperature rises in this area 234' below sea level, it becomes quite pungent. But today, only a whisper of sulphur sailed in on the breeze and the dead sea creatures beneath our boots kept their place.
The Imperial Valley guided us away from the Salton Sea as we headed south through another Eden of irrigation. The Colorado River, the main source of life in California, is parceled out in thousands of ways to satisfy the legions of thirsty consumers in this desert terrain. Amazed that one river can do so much, I also wonder for how long this fountain can be tapped.
Riding snug to Mexico, we encountered our first Border Patrol. None of the concern we felt in Mexico when stopped by the Federales gave rise here. We knew we were in our own territory and were waved through with a smile. God bless America!
Arizona welcomed us as we headed toward Yuma ( Jules thinks this a humerous place) where we arrived at 3:10. Our resting place for the night was the Historic Coronado Inn, the first Best Western motel.
Today we witnessed life and death. The Coachella and Imperial Valleys battle the desert by eking out water wherever they can. Yet ironically, 300 plus square miles of water hangs between them. Tempting but unusable, this desert of water will never grow a crop or fill a drinking glass - a beautiful but cruel joke for this drought stressed state.
Date farm
Our picnic spot today
Pelicans
Sun and "sand"
Imperial
Old School
Welcome home for the night
No comments:
Post a Comment