Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
Julian is great! It's the jewel of the county. If you ever get the chance, take the mine tour at the Eagle Mine.
Adventures of Megaweapon!
- Thread starter Ray Dunakin
- Start date
Julian is great! It's the jewel of the county. If you ever get the chance, take the mine tour at the Eagle Mine.
Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
Here's another video from my Nevada trip, featuring the ghost town/mining camp of Potomac, NV:
https://youtu.be/VmkUCE6uUQI
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VmkUCE6uUQI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Music:
“Cinematic Acoustic Folk” by Color Film Music
Licensed by AudioJungle
https://audiojungle.net/item/cinematic-acoustic-folk/19154614
.
https://youtu.be/VmkUCE6uUQI
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VmkUCE6uUQI" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Music:
“Cinematic Acoustic Folk” by Color Film Music
Licensed by AudioJungle
https://audiojungle.net/item/cinematic-acoustic-folk/19154614
.
headpaneer
New member
I've been to the Julian area just a couple of times but really need to return soon! When I do, I'll definitely check out Eagle Mine. :thumb3:
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Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
A neighbor got this shot of me and Cris yesterday afternoon, as we were delivering some gifts to the neighborhood kids:
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Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
I put Christmas lights on Megaweapon again this year, but haven't had a chance to go anywhere after dark with them. But here are some pics in the driveway...
Merry Christmas, everyone!
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Merry Christmas, everyone!
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Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
Here are a few quick phone shots of Megaweapon with some of the neighborhood light displays:
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Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
Last week I finally got a chance to go out to the desert for the first time in months. I went out Wednesday night and returned Friday afternoon. I was mostly interested in shooting some pics and video of the wildflowers.
I got out there late in the evening and did some night photography.
It was cold and super windy, with a chance of overnight showers. So rather than sleeping out under the stars, I decided to spend the night in the 4Runner. I just tilted the driver's seat back, put a pillow under my head, and wrapped myself in a blanket.
The morning was overcast but beginning to clear up, and still fairly windy. There were a lot of flowers, but not as much as I was expecting. Lots of green everywhere, though.
To be continued...
I got out there late in the evening and did some night photography.
It was cold and super windy, with a chance of overnight showers. So rather than sleeping out under the stars, I decided to spend the night in the 4Runner. I just tilted the driver's seat back, put a pillow under my head, and wrapped myself in a blanket.
The morning was overcast but beginning to clear up, and still fairly windy. There were a lot of flowers, but not as much as I was expecting. Lots of green everywhere, though.
To be continued...
Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
More pics from last week's desert trip...
As the wind began to die down a little bit, I managed to get in a few drone flights:
The old railroad water tower at Dos Cabesas siding:
Late afternoon in the desert:
By sunset the wind was getting fierce again, and blowing dust skimmed the desert floor. The setting sun colored the gathering clouds:
The thinnest sliver of a crescent moon was visible between the clouds:
More later...
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As the wind began to die down a little bit, I managed to get in a few drone flights:
The old railroad water tower at Dos Cabesas siding:
Late afternoon in the desert:
By sunset the wind was getting fierce again, and blowing dust skimmed the desert floor. The setting sun colored the gathering clouds:
The thinnest sliver of a crescent moon was visible between the clouds:
More later...
.
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Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
My second night there was also spent in the 4Runner, due to the high winds and possible rain (which never materialized).
In the morning I hiked around a bit but the area I was in didn't have many good photographic opportunities. As the wind mellowed out, I made a couple drone flights. Then I headed into the badlands and went up Arroyo Seco del Diablo. Eventually I came to a spot where the recent rains had caused part of the cliff to fall, blocking the canyon floor and creating a small pond.
The muddy pond looked too deep to ride through, but there was a new trail skirting the pond. This trail was precariously sloped and composed of soft sand. I thought I could make it, and probably would have if I had hit it at the right angle. But I had no spotter and couldn't clearly see the trail as I came over the rise, so I was a little too far off and started to slide.
Rather than risk sliding further and possibly rolling over, I decided to shore up that side of the trail with rocks. (I also planned to dig out the high side of the trail a bit too.) This was slow work because the rocks were not close at hand. Then someone pulled up the canyon in a van, and the driver and his son helped with the rocks.
But then a couple arrived in a shiny Tacoma with a winch and recovery gear, and I gladly accepted their offer to pull me out.
After they pulled me out, they decided to try going through. They made it most of the way but near the end the truck slid down into the mud and couldn't get back up onto the trail. Then we realized the mud wasn't deep at this end, so he just drove through it.
After I left the canyon I began heading home, stopping for a few more photos along the way:
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In the morning I hiked around a bit but the area I was in didn't have many good photographic opportunities. As the wind mellowed out, I made a couple drone flights. Then I headed into the badlands and went up Arroyo Seco del Diablo. Eventually I came to a spot where the recent rains had caused part of the cliff to fall, blocking the canyon floor and creating a small pond.
The muddy pond looked too deep to ride through, but there was a new trail skirting the pond. This trail was precariously sloped and composed of soft sand. I thought I could make it, and probably would have if I had hit it at the right angle. But I had no spotter and couldn't clearly see the trail as I came over the rise, so I was a little too far off and started to slide.
Rather than risk sliding further and possibly rolling over, I decided to shore up that side of the trail with rocks. (I also planned to dig out the high side of the trail a bit too.) This was slow work because the rocks were not close at hand. Then someone pulled up the canyon in a van, and the driver and his son helped with the rocks.
But then a couple arrived in a shiny Tacoma with a winch and recovery gear, and I gladly accepted their offer to pull me out.
After they pulled me out, they decided to try going through. They made it most of the way but near the end the truck slid down into the mud and couldn't get back up onto the trail. Then we realized the mud wasn't deep at this end, so he just drove through it.
After I left the canyon I began heading home, stopping for a few more photos along the way:
.
Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
I was able to go out to the desert again late Thursday afternoon for an overnight trip.
Some of the flowers had died off already, but there were still plenty to see, plus some new flowers. I saw one barrel cactus with blossoms:
None of the other cacti have bloomed yet. None of the shrubs or ocotillos have bloomed either, except for a few brittlebush, mostly at lower elevations.
I experimented with some night photos:
The moon was nearly half-full, and produced plenty of light:
A massive boulder dominates this formation. If you look close, there is a cactus cluster right at the top of the boulder:
Many of the flowers are quite small and close to the ground:
These desert dandelions are stunning:
These magenta flowers are called "monkey flowers". I don't know the name of the small yellow ones:
Here are some tiny, bell-shaped purple flowers:
To be continued...
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Some of the flowers had died off already, but there were still plenty to see, plus some new flowers. I saw one barrel cactus with blossoms:
None of the other cacti have bloomed yet. None of the shrubs or ocotillos have bloomed either, except for a few brittlebush, mostly at lower elevations.
I experimented with some night photos:
The moon was nearly half-full, and produced plenty of light:
A massive boulder dominates this formation. If you look close, there is a cactus cluster right at the top of the boulder:
Many of the flowers are quite small and close to the ground:
These desert dandelions are stunning:
These magenta flowers are called "monkey flowers". I don't know the name of the small yellow ones:
Here are some tiny, bell-shaped purple flowers:
To be continued...
.
Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
The sandy washes were host to many small flowers:
The white flowers next to this monkey flower are less than a quarter inch wide:
More flowers:
Miniature poppies, less than a half-inch wide:
Poppies decorate a hillside of dark volcanic rocks:
Flowers in Mortero Wash:
Brittlebush near the town of Ocotillo:
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The white flowers next to this monkey flower are less than a quarter inch wide:
More flowers:
Miniature poppies, less than a half-inch wide:
Poppies decorate a hillside of dark volcanic rocks:
Flowers in Mortero Wash:
Brittlebush near the town of Ocotillo:
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Bodie the Dog
Banned
I'm so ready
To head down south to DV area. Going to Saline, soon, just waiting for the summits to dry out a bit. I haven't been there since I drove a '94 SR5. Nice pics, thanks. PM me if you want to tag along. I promise I won't talk shizz about Trump. I forget about that crap when I'm out there.
To head down south to DV area. Going to Saline, soon, just waiting for the summits to dry out a bit. I haven't been there since I drove a '94 SR5. Nice pics, thanks. PM me if you want to tag along. I promise I won't talk shizz about Trump. I forget about that crap when I'm out there.
Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
Well, it's taken me a LOT longer than usual to get this posted, but it's finally done. Here is my report on my 2018 Nevada & Mojave trip:
2018 Nevada-Mojave Trip
Sites I visited on this trip include:
Nikolaus-Eureka Mine, CA
Belleville Mine and Mill, NV
Ophir Cabins, NV
Ophir, NV
Croesus Mine, NV
Eureka Tunnel, NV
Lane City, NV
Lucky Star Mine, NV
Ida May Mine, NV
Black Prince Mine, NV
Golden Eagle Mine, NV
Caselton Heights, NV
"Williams Hill" Mine, NV
"Lincoln" Mine, NV
Mendha Mine, NV
Indian Cove, NV
Cimarron Mine, NV
San Antonio Mine, NV
Potomac, NV
Lambertucci Roma Ranch, NV
Lots of photos for each of these site, plus many have video tours (previously posted here).
Enjoy!
2018 Nevada-Mojave Trip
Sites I visited on this trip include:
Nikolaus-Eureka Mine, CA
Belleville Mine and Mill, NV
Ophir Cabins, NV
Ophir, NV
Croesus Mine, NV
Eureka Tunnel, NV
Lane City, NV
Lucky Star Mine, NV
Ida May Mine, NV
Black Prince Mine, NV
Golden Eagle Mine, NV
Caselton Heights, NV
"Williams Hill" Mine, NV
"Lincoln" Mine, NV
Mendha Mine, NV
Indian Cove, NV
Cimarron Mine, NV
San Antonio Mine, NV
Potomac, NV
Lambertucci Roma Ranch, NV
Lots of photos for each of these site, plus many have video tours (previously posted here).
Enjoy!
JohnTheLuck
Member
Great stuff! I really enjoy reading your trip report and watching your videos. Keep them coming!
Ray Dunakin
Senior Member
I had another opportunity to go out to the desert again last week. I went out Thursday just past noon, spent
the night out there, and returned late Friday afternoon. This time there were more flowers blooming in more
places, and also some of cacti and shrubs were blooming.
My first stop was in the high desert near Jacumba, CA where I saw patches of yellow, daisy-like flowers:
A bit farther into the desert and I began to see brittlebush in bloom:
Here's Megaweapon on a section of old, abandoned highway:
In the lower desert there were fat caterpillars everywhere. The wind was so fierce that sometimes I would see
them rolling like logs across the sand!
I spent the night at the lower end of Devil's Canyon, sleeping in the 4Runner to avoid the wind. I did some
time-lapse photography, although at one point the wind blew over my tripod. Fortunately the camera wasn't
damaged.
In the morning I saw large patches of desert dandelions and other flowers on the canyon floor. I also came
across a beautiful red coachwhip snake, but unfortunately was not quick enough to get a photo of him.
In the rocky areas beyond the canyon I saw hedgehog cactus and fishhook cactus in bloom:
Here are some tiny lavender-colored flowers:
Some of the ocotillos were finally starting to bloom:
More brittlebushes:
Wooly daisies:
Near the end of the trip I came across a wide sandy wash that was covered with flowers:
That's all for now. I also shot a lot of video during these recent trips. It'll take me a while to edit it into
something I can post.
.
the night out there, and returned late Friday afternoon. This time there were more flowers blooming in more
places, and also some of cacti and shrubs were blooming.
My first stop was in the high desert near Jacumba, CA where I saw patches of yellow, daisy-like flowers:
A bit farther into the desert and I began to see brittlebush in bloom:
Here's Megaweapon on a section of old, abandoned highway:
In the lower desert there were fat caterpillars everywhere. The wind was so fierce that sometimes I would see
them rolling like logs across the sand!
I spent the night at the lower end of Devil's Canyon, sleeping in the 4Runner to avoid the wind. I did some
time-lapse photography, although at one point the wind blew over my tripod. Fortunately the camera wasn't
damaged.
In the morning I saw large patches of desert dandelions and other flowers on the canyon floor. I also came
across a beautiful red coachwhip snake, but unfortunately was not quick enough to get a photo of him.
In the rocky areas beyond the canyon I saw hedgehog cactus and fishhook cactus in bloom:
Here are some tiny lavender-colored flowers:
Some of the ocotillos were finally starting to bloom:
More brittlebushes:
Wooly daisies:
Near the end of the trip I came across a wide sandy wash that was covered with flowers:
That's all for now. I also shot a lot of video during these recent trips. It'll take me a while to edit it into
something I can post.
.
ElectroBoy
Banned
Nice photos, Ray!
I also just got back from a desert road trip, enjoying the CA desert superbloom.
I also just got back from a desert road trip, enjoying the CA desert superbloom.
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