May 2021

Cleanup Crew #2
Death Valley, California
2021

Cleanup Crew
Death Valley, California
2021

The scavengers (turkey vultures) of Death Valley reporting for duty early one morning.

It All Adds Up
Death Valley, California
2021

Another visual comment on my thoughts from yesterday. I’ve actually been in Death Valley when it was raining, but flash floods like those near Scotty’s Castle in  2015 not withstanding, the degree of erosion to be seen is hard to fully comprehend.

Time After Time
Death Valley, California
2021

Given how little rainfall Death Valley receives each year, I am continually dumbfounded by the degree of intricate erosion to be found in places like Ubehebe Crater, one wall of which is shown here. Every little bit adds up I guess, especially after 2,000-7,000 years, the estimated age of this crater.

The Valley Below
Death Valley, California
2021

After yesterday’s post, what else was I going to name this one?

One More Cup of Coffee Before I Go
Death Valley, California
2021

It was actually a cup of tea but then Bob Dylan never wrote a song about tea. Below is a cover version of his song. I’ve not heard better than Dylan’s own original recording but I like the video that goes with this one–it tells a gypsy version of the story.

A Hardscrabble Existence
Death Valley National Park, California
2021

A seed blown into a crack in the rock finds some protection from the harsh Death Valley climate and a little more moisture than is available elsewhere. So it sprouts, full of promise. But at some point it must emerge and fully expose itself to the elements. It’s only likely future is to live fast, die young and leave a good-looking corpse as they say. I appreciate its efforts.

Inanimate Longevity
Death Valley National Park, California
2021

In the extremely hot and arid environment of Death Valley, it can take a long time for even a small shrub to reach any substantial size. By the same token it takes years for anything of this size to decay in that environment. It makes me wonder which is longer the living life span or the time to significant decay after death.

The Unfruited Plain
Death Valley National Park, California
2021

There are few prospects for successful plant growth in the flat expanse between these ridges, but it does make for a starkly beautiful view.

Barren Squared
Death Valley National Park, California
2021

Dust laden skies almost entirely blot out the mountainous features in the background, adding and extra barren look to this already barren landscape.