Returning to Port Angeles on the Black Ball Ferry was enjoyable as always. I was fascinated with the size of the ferry and amazed by the accuracy of its navigation. The angles and elements of this photo are just great. As always, the bits of red and yellow really make it for me.
A few moments earlier, just before connecting with the car ramp:
Reading the Salton Sea Authority’s Website can leave one thinking “why have I never heard of this place – it sounds amazing!” And who wouldn’t want to visit “California’s crown jewel of avian biodiversity” If you don’t like bird watching:
Besides the opportunity for bird watching and for fishing, the Salton Sea and its immediate vicinity offer recreational opportunities including boating, camping, off-roading, hiking, use of personal watercraft and photography. One of the attractions, the Salton Sea State Recreation Area, has 1,400 campsites in five campgrounds, hundreds of picnic sites, trails, playgrounds, boat ramps and a visitors’ center. (ref)
While true, that rosy description isn’t entirely honest.
The surface of the The Salton Sea sits 226 feet below sea level. Surrounded by dead Tilapia the sea smells of ancient rotting fish and bacterial bloom. When we arrived at 9pm it was still 90 degrees outside with a hot, smelly breeze. In the morning, the temperature passed 90 by 8am and quickly rose to around 105. The sun was relentless and the entire landscape was covered in a thick layer of dried salt built up over decades.
Don’t get me wrong – I loved the place. But let’s be honest about its faults.
Surreal.
Enough flat out surreal weirdness can compensate for a lot. And the Salton Sea with its surrounding towns and abandoned structures has plenty of surreal weirdness. We explored about two-thirds of one side of the lake (about a 20 mile stretch) including Bombay Beach and a strange nature preserve/restoration area with unhindered access to several abandoned structures.
It was a good trip – a bit hot (we explored less than I would have liked, because of the heat) – but really fun. We’re thinking about another trip in the fall, once it cools down a bit. There are still entire cities that we have yet to see.
That’s some 100% pure all-natural lens flare, on that picture. Yep, the good kind. Not any of that fakey photoshopped stuff they are selling down the street…
That is also a part of a beautiful hike up to the “hear rock” falls near Crestline, CA. We were surprised with perfect weather – 65 degrees and a bit of a breeze. Check out a few more pictures on flickr… Corinne was looking really hot. There were also some pretty spiffy trees.