I’m feeling Elvish today. Looking at this pic from a recent hike up from Tucker’s Grove, I remembered the moment. The shape of it, with colorful leaves around it and across the top but bare inside somehow got me imagining a place where Forest Elves might hang out. Maybe the soft rustling sound was just the wind, but I thought for a moment something moved inside. If you click to see the larger version, maybe you’ll see what I mean.
3041 Elvish Hide
This pic from Feb.10 has us itching to fly over and have a look at Lake Cachuma. It was fun to tour the lake when it was so dry, with scenes like this I call The Squiggle.
1817 The Squiggle
The dry grass was tall in places, creating artistic shapes and textures like these tuft islands on the edge of what was apparently the shoreline for a time.
1822 Tufts
Also on that day, our delightful Edmonton gal discovered the thrill of what for her was warm water. Staying very close to Dad at first, she’d run out after the receding foam and then turn to race for shore when he prompted her. Life is so beautiful.
1798 Meeting Waves
Last month as we climbed through the mountains coming out of Palm Springs toward home as sunset approached, we were thrilled by this view off to our left.
1757 Mountain Magic
The air through the pass was moving fairly fast, as you can see from that wisp of cloud lilting over the mountain. Also as you’d expect from the fact that in the valley floor below us near here is one of California’s largest wind farms. Countless giant windmills are churning away any time power is needed for the grid. But even with our progress slowed by the air funneling through this valley, the air was almost smooth. So we had the time to breathe deeply into the mood of this view.
When it stopped raining and the clouds lifted yesterday we went “falling” (flying along the hills enjoying waterfalls). The air was hazy and light was low due to the still heavy clouds above, so the pix didn’t come out as I’d most like. But I did manage to catch some of the freshening falls with these pix.
2781 Private Wonder
This first one perhaps two miles from SBA is pretty amazing, but I’ve been told it’s on private property. The amount of water in it is far more than any of the others we saw yesterday, and it has at least three levels with pools. What a glorious place this would be on a summer day! Here’s an overhead view.
2793 Down Fall
We saw several “slit” falls like this, with little water but fascinating rock work from millennia of water and rocks carving the groove as they passed this way toward the sea far below.
2803 Groovy Falls
Here’s another with a similar yet quite different look, lower down the mountain where more rivulets have joined the stream that built it. So near the city, yet it seems likely that very few people have ever stood here in the song of splash and gazed out to the islands as a hawk circled in the rising air.
2806 Notch Falls
Many of these small falls have cut deeply into the rock, and some have little round pools like this probably carved by small boulders swirling in the current. How many people have enjoyed a serene bath in this tub?
2810 Tiny Tub
Another tub is carved at the bottom of this steep ravine where more plants have managed to gain a foothold in the notch. I am here in this water garden, silently aware of life surrounding and within.
2814 Green Tub
There were other falls we wanted to check on, but the clouds were too low. Some of them are larger collections of various tributary creeks and springs. But down in the foothills where we saw this last one, not many waterfalls were visible because they’d all collected into creeks covered by lush tree canopies. Even though this is but a trickle, the bare rock shows how much water flows here in heavy rains that carry boulders scouring away the soil and brush.
2813 Trickle
While our hearts take wing over the beauty of our planet, our feet yearn to hear and smell the living planet. So after we tied Tripp’s stout wings to the ground, we hiked up the San Antonio Creek Trail to move in wonder among the ancient oaks beside dancing waters where only days before we’d stood on dry sand.
3054 Wet Wonderland
Here, root yourselves beside me.
I am the tree planted by the river,
Which will not be moved.
I, the rock, I the river, I the tree
1702 Oasis
Wandering again through images from our moments wandering in Palm Canyon, Maya‘s words come to mind. The song and dance of the water in perfect harmony with the rustling trees. In this enchanted oasis, gazing into the face of each rock etched with eternity.
1705 Face of Time
Strolling in silence our eyes caress each rooted stone. Safe in the shadows at their feet our hearts are lifted from the water past the trees toward stars beyond the blue.
1713 Pulled Up
John & Anne Wiley 
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