Next stop: Lone Pine

When we checked the weather report as we typically do before the next day's journey, there was a high wind advisory for sustained winds in the 20's with gusts over 50 mph today. Having endured gale force winds in the Mojave just a few months ago, we decided that wind avoidance was a better solution.  So we got up at the crack of dawn to get to our next destination, Lone Pine, before the winds picked up. It was a wise decision.

As we pulled away, dawn was just breaking, a red glow behind the hills in the east. We were crossing the Mojave Desert, a bleak landscape, just one gigantic sand box with a black ribbon roadway right through it. It was quiet and tranquil as we drove along watching the sun coming up on this Easter Sunday.  

The Mojave is bleak and barren. Only the hardy survive here, like the Joshua trees and scrubby bushes dotting the landscape ahead of us.
As Michael remarked, this is like driving through the Karoo, a similar desert in South Africa's interior, that his family drove through every year from Johannesburg to Cape Town during their Xmas holidays. There is basically nothing but sand, rocks, and sky.

Speaking of Johannesburg, we drove right through it along this segment of Route 395!  Well, not the one in South Africa, but the one here in California. And just a few miles beyond that was Randsburg. Both towns appeared on the California map during the gold rush days, aptly named after the same towns in South Africa by the miners who had worked on the gold mines there. 
The reason this is of particular significance to us is because we both grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, and met there. 
We had a good chuckle as we slowed down to take a few pics of this now godforsaken little town along route 395, a relic of the gold mining industry that once flourished here, wondering who continues to live here and why. There was a school bus sign so there must be children living here and going to school.  
Later, I read in a magazine we picked up about the area that there are in fact a lot of artists in Randsburg, and despite its current ghost town reputation, a handful of folks do call this home. I suppose that if you love wide open sandy spaces with no other distractions close by, then a cabin in this wilderness is a perfect place for your muse to freely emerge. I suppose I could finish a lot of quilts out here and finally sew down my sizable fabric stashes too! Hmm....

the main street in Johannesburg, also referred to as Jo'burg here 
in California, just as we too called the original city Jo'burg

the turn-off to Randsburg, which is just over the ridge from
Johannesburg

The scenery, though bleak and desolate, was quite stunning.  We were driving through a flat valley, encircled by "lumpy" mountains around us. The light created interesting shadows and colors. The variety in rock formations and strata added more interest and I remained quite content clicking away as we drove along.  

 

(this one is for you, Michelle!)

We pulled in to Pearsonville at what looked like the only building in town along the highway, the Shell gas station. Along this route, gas stations may be a rare sighting, and easy access for large motor homes even more rare.  










We topped up and and were soon back on the highway, driving past vast nothingness occasionally dotted with a home here and there, some long abandoned, others part of a working ranch. There was a DOT sign flashing a high wind warning, but so far the morning was still calm.  
At one point, we saw evidence of what must have been a massive volcanic event, with gigantic scorched boulders scattered about, and scarred spiny hill ridges. The variety in topography continued to surprise us.

an abandoned settlement with  For Sale signs

out of the blue, a mini oasis appeared with trees lining the highway - I wondered what
the source of water is to make this possible

an unexpected sighting - a Crystal Geyser factory right alongside the highway, and
a clue that there is a spring here after all

someone's home along the highway

vestiges of Owens Lake, mostly dry now and a source of ill-feeling for the residents
here, who were essentially conned into selling their land rights for the development
of the Los Angeles aqueduct which ultimately resulted in a dry lake and source of the
worst dust pollution in the US 

and on we drove, drawing closer to Lone Pine

on the horizon, an oasis of trees appeared and since we were approaching our
destination, we guessed it could well be our RV Park in the wilderness

We pulled in to Boulder Creek RV Park, and as if on cue, right around 10 AM, the predicted winds began to make their presence felt. It was perfect timing. We checked in and set up, and relaxed, glad to be off the road and in this pretty and secluded oasis in Lone Pine as the gusts intensified throughout the day.