Desert Journey on Xmas Eve Day 12-24-11

Corky and I drove out to Lake Havasu City today - a little change in plans from my quiet, solitary Xmas weekend.  He has been having some health problems requiring an antibiotic and an antibacterial, so perhaps needs extra rest and TLC.  His parents drove out on Thursday so they could shop and visit and do tasks around the house and Corky came with me today after a few days rest.  He was really wound up for the first part of our trip, but after a "walkabout" in Essex he calmed down and slept almost the entire rest of the drive.

Once out of the LABasin and up I-15 into the high desert through Hesperia and Apple Valley it is not far to Barstow.  On the western boundary are outlet stores and several hotels, gas stations, restaurants, etc..

Fifteen years ago there were a few truck stops and gas stations and some fast food places.  I think the outlets were quite new then.  I wonder if someday this will be the town of Lenwood abutting Barstow which is just over the first hill off to the left, so there is plenty of room for both to grow. 

As I-15 continues north to Las Vegas (and up through Nevada, a corner of Arizona, Utah,  and Montana to Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada) we turned off I-40 which originates at Barstow and continues east to the Atlantic Ocean.  This sign always catches my eye, although sometimes it has been removed by souvenir hunters.  Eventually the highway sign people replace it with a new one.

Then it is pretty much a straight shot through unpopulated high desert for about 170 miles to the Arizona border and nine miles further to the turnoff on US-95 South and another twenty miles south to Lake Havasu City.

Usually the only wildlife I see are the ravens (notice his spade shaped tail), although there are occasional signs warning to be careful of burros on the roadway.

As the sun nears the horizon the hills on the south side of the highway are dark against the paling sky.

On one of the higher peaks stands a tower with relays for cell phones and other transmissions.  Generally there is cell service the entire distance from Placentia to where US 96 bisects I-40 - on Verizon, anyway.

This appears to be water, but is actually a long freight train reflecting the light from the setting sun. 

The sunset in the desert seems to linger, but when it is gone there is total darkness other than the other cars and trucks on the highway.  A few isolated lights and the town of Needles on the Colorado River are all the shows in the night.

Here is my companion on the ride.  He spent much time staring out the window, although he has traveled this route many, many times in his life.   He has his blue pillow with white dots propped up on his chest - he is very good at pillow manipulation.  Buildings in Lenwood out the window.

And he finally took a nap for quite a few miles.  The yellow out the window is the setting sun reflecting on the desert plants - no flowers in bloom this time of year.