The Carrizo. Barren and desolate one day, alive with birds and flowers the next. And a place of endless fascination for me. Such a stark and elemental place, and oh so quiet. On a wide ranging day of exploration I retraced many of my tracks from previous explorations, seeing the familiar in a new shade of Carrizo. Saw the elk herd in the distance, foraging near one of the few reliable springs on the Plain. Saw old farm houses and ranch sites. Saw multiple rock art sites, new colors, a small shrine left by a latter day Native, and discovered a cupule and mortar site I had not previously known of. Saw a barn owl flap by, saw him glance over a shoulder at me with that ghostly, almond shaped face and bright black eyes. Saw a scruffy coyote trot away from me as I crested a small rise in the rippling land. Saw rusted trucks and tractors, miles of barbed wire. Saw a dusky grey fox slink across the grassless expanse. Saw a brilliant sunset from the crusted lunar surface of Soda Lake. And saw much of that through the lens of my camera. Enjoy.
Hey was I there at the same time as you? I wandered up there Saturday morning, wish I had known I was gonna be up there, sounds like I missed a lot. Gotta make time to get back up there in spring for a night.
ReplyDeleteAhh, no. I was there on the 18th. The Carrizo at night is pretty trippy, very quiet. -DS
ReplyDeleteThe Carrizo is definitely one of my favorite places. Great photos. I have some on Google + as well but not as artful as yours. I assume the rock paintings were from Painted Rock although there could be hidden treasures as well. Seems as though the Chumash (were they the painters?) had their galaxy stories (a spiral appears in one of your photos) and demon stories (a devil like figure appears in one of mine), as well as us. Enjoy reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteYessir, those were by and large Chumash pictograph. Some Yakuts in there as well. There are more sites on the Carrizo than just Painted Rock. Thanks for the note. -DS
ReplyDelete