W. Lloyd Williams

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a space for all the aspects of my life...

Filtering by Tag: desert

Aden Crater

March 7, 2009 One week after out arrival in Las Cruces, New Mexico, we joined two local geologists on their annual hike through the "vent area" of Aden Crater, a preserved volcanic feature with a breadth of about a quarter mile.

I can't remember most of the volcanology terms, but in the photos you will see the following (click a pic to see a larger version): the truncated top of Aden Crater, our trusty guides, volcanic spatter, prickly pear cacti, lava flows where lava flowed out like rivers then solidified, a NASA lunar drill from 1970, and so on.

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A cave-like hold called a Femurole held the remains of a desiccated ground sloth that roamed the area about 11,000 years ago. The sloth now resides at the Smithsonian.

The full day hike was well worth it, not only for the experience of walking in a volcano, but for the stunning scenery (we were near mesmerized by that flaxen grass swaying in the breeze), panoramic views and the new-to-us contrast in landscape.

-P

Quartzsite, AZ

January 14-18, 2009 We left Tonopah for a Quartzsite excursion.

If you're an RVer, you can't help but to hear about Quartzsite, Arizona, a mecca for desert dry camping RVers hankering for Swap-Meet(market)-like deals and doodads and all the eats and entertainment that come along with the multi-day "exhibition" that is the Quartzsite Sport, Vacation and RV Show. We wanted to experience Quartzsite if only to witness the town we drove through in March '08 bloom from a population of about 3,400 to multiples of that number as RVers zoned in on the hot spots and checkered the arid Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land.

We had the added incentive of a meet up with POG People and friends. We arrived to find that Ken and Van scored a primo heat sync with an excellent mountain view.

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We parked in a circle which made for a cozy set up and fast-made friends for those who met for the first time.

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A view of our assembly from one of many sprawling trails through the wilds:

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Now, how cute is THIS! :D

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Complete with cabana shower... What more do you need?

Pamela et al, probably waiting for Mary, the firemaster, to do her pyro-magic.  :)

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The gang's all here.

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The fire pit, generously supplied by our fellow campers, served as home base.

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We had big, bodacious skies every day.

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On our last morning Gail and Larry treated the gang to Cafe du Monde, beads and beignets straight from New Orleans!

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Now, showtime! When in the desert ... you could buy an inflatable kayak and all manner of useful and less useful things. Of course, most vendors are somehow connected to RV supplies and recreational endeavours.

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Since we were in little need of RV supplies we spent more time perusing the art kiosks, along with the carnivalesque cuisine stalls. Also, aside from the 26th Annual Sports, Vacation and RV Show, vendors from the Rock & Gem Show displayed their mounds upon mounds of merchandise.

We were particularly impressed with one gentleman's iron art and the intricate detail that can be cultivated in such a hard, rigid material, with a lot of creativity and patience:

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If you know us well, it probably won't surprise you to know that our prize find and purchase was a tortilla sock thingy to keep tortillas warm for burritos and fajitas. :)

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Adiós amigos!

-P

Plodding and Painting en Plein Air

Tonopah, AZ January 22, 2009

Plodding and painting en plein air in pictures.

Lloyd closes in on his subject:

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From Indian Eye he's the tiny grey spot in the middle:

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A view to the right:

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An ocotillo shrub up close:

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The view beyond Indian Eye:

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Not a gila monster nor a scorpion ... nor a Lloyd in sight. Only some wild burro dung. Lloyd found a modicum of shade beneath a palo verde tree.

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The artiste in his element:

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We hope to catch up to present day within the week! Stay tuned...

Peace,

-P