out on an explore

Last weekend we took a drive out on an explore. Down some roads we had visited long ago and others we had never seen. 

It has been years since we have been to Seven Springs. At one point, I asked Jari "we came all the way out here for a picnic?!" It was the best crawdad catching spot for the kids way back when. The air was chilly and absolutely delightful. Chilly enough that the heater was on with the windows open to enjoy the cool refreshing air.

No service area on the cell phones but Garmin had us covered. Hit the dirt roads and I'd rather have a destination in mind than turning around in circles or driving for hours to end at a dead end.

The drive was absolutely beautiful! Desert nature at it's finest. A meeting with no more than a dozen vehicles on our drive that went from smooth road to ones that weren't anywhere close to smooth. Ones that rivaled the back way up to Kamp Kipa. Roads that we can cross off the bucket list.

Where do these piles of rock come from in the middle of nowhere? All of a sudden the landscape changes ... just a wee bit.

And in the middle of nowhere lies this big round boulder. Like it was dropped from the sky and ended up right here.

More rocks that are precariously balanced. Just hanging out there forever. How on earth did they get there?

My pictures don't do justice to hillsides that were covered in yellow. Evidence of recent rain with new growth everywhere.

Stunning.

Then landscape changes to one that includes cacti of many varieties. The beginning of our day trip didn't include much in the way of the prickly greens.

Up and down mountains on a dirt road that seemed to go forever as we crossed the same dry river repeatedly. Soaking up the beauty of the desert while visiting with my best pal ever ... at between 5 and 7 mph.

I've been thinking I need a new camera body as mine has probably been dropped and I'm frustrated with the photo quality I'm getting out of it. But ... it was fun to get out and try taking a few shots of the world around us.

This day trip ended with world famous pie at Rock Springs Cafe. The next one I have in mind will end with pie as well ... famous apple next time around!