The Year in Pictures

Loss,love, fire and flood.
Friends, music and the Mojave.
2010 has been an indelible year.

Here, in semi-seasonal order are some of the images.

2010 in Pictures.

Click the thumbnail, then full screen slideshow button for best effect.

Five weeks after the Bull Fire

Almost five weeks ago, a fire started up Bull Run Creek and devastated our lovely "back yard". We're going to have to learn to appreciate the beauty of what remains, and it's encouraging to see the greenery already pushing up at the roots of the burnt trees. In some ways parts feel like a northern forest in the middle of winter, with ash taking the place of snow. It's going to be interesting to find what remnants of the past have been revealed by the removal of all that (highly flammable) undergrowth.

Bull Run Five Weeks Later

A Busy Day on the Kern River

It was an fascinating day in Kernville. We awoke to discover the river had gone up some 2500 feet from the previous day. Impressive, to say the least. We spent some time admiring the volume of water, then went to the Farmers Market. On the way back we stopped at Riverside Park to watch all the activity.

Scene Along the Kern, non emergency edition...

A while after we got home, a sheriff's car with flashing lights came zipping down the driveway. We met him outside the house, and he told us he needed to get to the river. Out we went with him, to witness the rescue of a raft full of first-timers who'd gotten a little too intimate with some trees that normally are on dry land.

Swift Water Rescue. (Edited)

The Old Edison Trail

This trail was once the way to work for those building the adits and tunnels of the Edison power plant, KR3. It's been rediscovered and tended, and now offers stunning views of the river and valley below.



The hand terraced trail stretches from the intake near Fairview to the power plant, just below Riverkern, though some of it is still difficult to find. The original project was completed in 1921.




I've hiked a five mile section of the trail twice in the last week or so, and here are a couple of slide shows.

Grant Hike

A Stroll with the Blister Sisters

Wildflowers, Round 2

SFO International Terminal

Wildflower Mania

The other side of the road from Stine Cove. Pictures cannot do it justice, but open this one full sized, and see just how the bands of color work their way up the hills. Those tiny black dots are cattle.

Spring. Fabulous. Slideshows.

The Kern Canyon, March 23, 2010. Exquisite.

Bambi Visit

Easter 2010.

Home Improvements

Now

Then

Spring Storms

Bring fascinating clouds.

Bull Run Creek after a good big rain.

9 am

5 pm

The bridge is underwater

The creek smells rich and muddy.

Valentine's Day Jam

With guests of honor Bill and Peggy Sue.

Here's a slide show:

Valentine's day Jam with Bill and Pegy Sue

And!

a bit of harmony.

Howdy from Whiskey Flat

Whiskey Flat 2010

We started the day at April and Gary's, click for the slide show!

Whiskey Flat Dogs There were also many fine dogs in attendance.

Still Waters