So I have been using The Reader to answer comments. No more. I see that I have missed some which is not okay. Thank you and I <3 people who <3 Death Valley. Cheers to you 🌟
I am so sorry I missed your comment! I have been using WP Reader and didn’t see this. I will use this no more. It is absolutely incredible that wildlife can survive in this most harsh environment and it is hopeful somehow, for all of us. Thank you my friend for your thoughts.
So sorry I didn’t see your comment and thank you very much. It is an amazing place, that keeps drawing me back again and again. It is never quite the same.
Wow! I knew it ws HOT but it didn’t know it was the lowest place in the world. It’s pretty incredible that you came across this coyote. He’s a handsome chap.
It is actually not the lowest human occupied place on earth. Thanks to you, I changed my wording. But it is the lowest place in north america.
The Dead Sea has the lowest elevation in the world, except for some parts of Antarctica.
Check out:
“Death Valley’s Badwater Basin is the point of the lowest elevation in North America, at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.[1] This point is 84.6 miles (136.2 km) east-southeast of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m).[4] On the afternoon of July 10, 1913, the United States Weather Bureau recorded a high temperature of 134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek in Death Valley.[5] This temperature stands as the highest ambient air temperature ever recorded at the surface of the Earth.[6]”
California is a strange place, we get the highest and the lowest.
Oh, herzlichen Dank liebe Freundin für diese unglaublich schöne Wüstenlandschaft. Sie erinnert mich an die südliche Negev, die allerdings einiges kleiner ist als das Death Valley. Ernst
Those landscape colors are so unique Cindy, like an artists oasis. And like any masterpiece you can’t help looking and looking at every angle to appreciate those beautiful strokes that went into making it 😀
The lone critter was being very good to just stand there… =^_^= Was it your charm, or your powerful lens…=^_^= waves and sends loving hugs to an amazing special friend…
This is truly a most exceptional place…incredibly beautiful photography! It resembles a rather alien world, or a part of the Earth where you would not imagine the proliferation of life. Lovely post, Cindy, thank you for bringing those wonders of nature to our eyes. All the best and my greetings,
FBC
What a thoughtful and considerate comment Francisco. Thank you my friend. Deserts are alien worlds. Humans can’t exist here without transported water and shelter, but other mammals can, which is remarkable.
We have so many coyotes at The Holler, packs of them. Generally they are shy and avoid humans, when they are sick or starving they will approach closely. This guy was hard for me to figure out. He didn’t appear sick or starving. I don’t know why he approached and shadowed us. It is not like someone fed him as Death Valley is too huge and unpopulated for that.
I’ve probably spent more time in Death Valley than any other park, and the surrounding area is also wonderful, especially Rhyolite, Nevada. Seeing your blog this morning was like seeing pictures of old friends. Thank you.
Ahhhhh so happy to know another desert rat Jim. I have been visiting the deserts of the southwest steadily in all seasons since I was a kid, and I took my kids steadily since they were very young in all seasons. The love of deserts when instilled early, is enduring. I did take photos of Rhyolite, although I remember it without fencing, just like I remember Stonehenge before the fences.
In the 60s, we lived in Dana Point. Every year on the day after Christmas pals and I would escape to Death Valley and camp all through the remainder of our holiday. I remember talking to Tommy at the Bottle House in Rhyolite and listening to his stories. Great stuff.
I love Death Valley. All the geology exposed, with rugged landscapes bearing all for our eyes and lenses to feast upon. Fantastic photos. That is one sad, dejected coyote. You didn’t have a facsimile of a roadrunner to offer the poor thing?
Is that a coyote? Whatever, he’s awfully cute … and looks eager to befriend you! This terrain isn’t much to my liking — I prefer something a tad less harsh — but it has a beauty all its own. Thank you, Cindy, for sharing it.
Deserts are intimidating places. One needs to check and recheck one’s plans and gear as mistakes can be fatal rather quickly especially in the hotter seasons.
The coyote looks unhappy. Maybe (s)he would be happier with better color vision. The blue-green and subtle variations on beige in #1 and #2 are delightful to retinas with the right cones.
My first thought was, “What does that coyote live on?” My second thought: Pioneers? And now, tourists? What a desolate place!!!! No wonder it was called Death Valley.
I looked up Death Valley to see if boron was mined there (and it was) because after all the advertising, I associate Death Valley with 20-Mule-Team Borax. While I was on the Wikipedia site I saw that the hottest temperature recorded in Death Valley was 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913. I’ll think about that as I freeze this Christmas. Great post, Cindy, but I don’t think I’ll plan my next holiday to take in Death Valley. It’s enough to know it’s there. Fabulous photos!
Yes, many pioneers crossed this desert which is just appalling to really think about. Many died, hence the accurate name. The fact that big horn sheep, burros, coyotes, and other mammals survive here just defies logic, but they do. DV is an amazing ecosystem.
The hottest temp on earth was recorded at Death Valley, something over 130F. That was in summer. We went in early November so the daytime temps were in the low 80’s.
Do you have some familiarity with Rochester? The weather is always a hot topic here. We’ve been in winter-like weather since before Thanksgiving, periods of snow and consistently colder that normal.
There is such beauty in the desolation! I always admire the resilient lifeforms that can survive in these extreme environments. Your photos and the colors are stunning! <3
Such an amazing park. Land of extremes!
Telephoto lens or did that coyote really come that close to check you out? I wondered if tourists give it food so it is habituated?
I didn’t have my telephoto wildlife cam, so of course the coyote comes up super close. The RX 10, the camera I was using (my landscape camera) was having a focus malfunction. If I had my other camera, I could have shown you his eyelashes. Amazing I got some decent shots but I had to focus out. He came right up to us. I have only seen this at The Holler with starving or sick coyotes and this one seemed to be neither. As far as feeding, in this huge hostile park, it is hard to imagine, but people are known for doing ill considered things. A human acclimated wild animal is soon to be a dead wild animal. Sad. We were in the middle of nowhere. Maybe he was just curious. Wild animals are curious when people aren’t in big groups and are quiet and act unhumanlike…laughing!
Spectacular photos of a stark but beautiful place! The closeups of the wild coyote are wonderful, but I agree with being cautious whenever they come that close!
Many years ago when I lived in Northern Manitoba, a friend and her family visited Death Valley. It was very very hot in the car (we were used to the cold as you can well imagine) and had the windows open to let in air. They saw a car drive by with all their windows rolled up. So they thought – maybe having the windows up would be cooler. They soon found out that idea didn’t work and then determined that the other car had air conditioning. In our “world,” we had block heaters for winter or else our cars wouldn’t start. Air conditioners were never a consideration!!! We all laughed when she told us the story.
What a great memory. I remember crossing the deserts as a kid with my parents. They hung these strange bags full of evaporating water over the radiator to stop the cars from overheating. Air conditioning wasn’t an option. The humans just overheated, but the car was fine.
He came really close. I was cursing myself because I didn’t have my wildlife telephoto camera with me. If I did, I could have gotten amazingly detailed facial close up shots. Plus my camera was malfunctioning and wouldn’t focus on close up. Still I was able to get a couple decent shots because he came right up to us.
What an exciting moment, and unusual, as coyotes are usually frightened of people. Clearly he was quite curious! Great shots in spite of a malfunctioning camera! Wish I had been there!
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
Cindy Knoke with stunning images of Death Valley National Park.. the vastness, emptiness and then suddenly there is a coyote asking what you think your are doing in his backyard… fabulous.
WOW! It really looks other worldly. I have not been but your shots of it make it so tempting. The shots of the coyote are incredible. They look so sad and skinny. There is nothing left for them but hunger and thirst. Breaks my heart.
They are remarkable creatures and they have very hard lives but are incredibly adaptable. New research show they are far closer genetically to wolves than previously thought.
Reminds me of a bit of Arizona – vast areas of dryness… and the mountains seemingly springing out of the landscape to thwart straight lines. The story of the planet for those who can read the rocks.
Happy Holly Daze to you and yours. I’m heading to a warmer climate for a couple of days – I hope to keep writing the story, but might just switch to simple daily haiku while I’m out of town.
…if the sun would come out…
Rain when we landed, wind and the end of a tropical storm today. The upside – on a small beach I found several bits of coral!
Complicated, I have no idea, but google always does.
Query, “Where do blue rocks come from?
“The 12 Most Common Blue, Violet, and Purple Minerals, pegmatites composed primarily of large crystals, such as granite. Certain metamorphic rocks, such as marble. Oxidized zones of ore bodies, like copper. Low-silica (feldspathoid bearing) igneous rocks.”
I am betting on the oxidized copper.
I know and remember this national park well. Back in 1966 just a few weeks after getting married my husband (now my ex-husband) and I were driving an old Ford Galaxy car, moving to L A with all of our possessions and as he was scheduled and registered to begin seminary training at a college there. We were just 19 and newly weds and didn’t know that territory well. We had car trouble, were running out of drinking water and pulled up to an abandoned old building we thought might have some inhabitants there that could help us. But, there was no one there who could. Wayne tried in vain to get our overheated car to start up again but it failed. Not long after that a man (of color) drove up in a car and parked right beside us, got out and asked if we needed help. We said, “Yes.” and he got out, opened his trunk, took out some tools and went to work on our broken down car and in a few minutes had our car purring again. We thanked him, for his help and said goodbye and within in a few short minutes he had turned around and quickly was gone. We never saw him again and we did indeed make it out to L A with no more trouble and were out there for four years from 1966-1970 until his graduation from seminary (studying for the ministry). We believed and still do to this day that black man was an angel sent by God. This is the gospel truth, Cindy. I know angels are out there everywhere and always near to help us out in our time of distress and need.
Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas Cindy, take care on your travels.
So, in this recent trip to Death Valley, we encountered a young couple with a flat tire and no spare.
Your comment gives me goosebumps.
I have met some angels, two actually, this one was the first: I rolled my car in Montana with my kids when they were young. We had to crawl our way out of the upside down car and I was injured.
All of a sudden this long haul trucker appeared. He was super intent and asked, “Is there anyone else in the car?”
He clearly meant to go save them.
We said no, but he looked anyway. Then he came back, told us he had called 911, and proceeded to pick glass out of my head and comfort the children.
To this day, I wish I could tell him what it feels like to meet an angel,
As soon as the sirens approached, he went to his truck and left. To this day I so wish I could thank him.
I enjoy your blog posts very much. And then I also enjoy the community of comments afterwards. You must bring a special presence with you into the natural world that a coyote would approach to check you out! I love the expression of his eyes and ears in the first photo. What an extraordinary ecosystem!!!
Beautiful! The name suits the place. I would not like to get lost in this valley. It reminds of the verse in Psalms 23. “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and staff comfort me.”
Since I was a very little child the 23rd Psalm was my nightly prayer, it’s comfort is overwhelming, “Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.”
I love how the psalm described it, “Yeah though I walk through through the valley of the ‘shadow’ of death,’ I will fear no evil” meaning death is there, but is a shadow, for the walker, not affecting the walker yet, but the walker knows it will, eventually, and so, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
It is just such utter spiritual beauty.
Thank you Beverly.
We have been close to Death Valley, but we haven’t made into the park. Next time!! Joshua Tree was awesome, so I know we will like Death Valley too. Amazing topography!
Yes, Joshua Tree is wonderful and so unique. Those who love the contours, colors and peacefulness of the desert are drawn to return. It sounds like you are such. I fully relate.
Death Valley is one of my favorite parks. A few years ago I did a road trip through Death Valley, Sequoia, Yosemite, San Francisco, the PCH, LA, Joshua Tree, Mojave, and Gold Butte. Sunrise at Zabriskie Point at Death Valley was possibly the most memorable moment on the entire trip. Along with a sunrise at Joshua Tree.
Awesome that you did this! I am not surprised it left an impression on you. Your trip was just so much experiential difference of nature’s incredible wonders.
Love it Cindy! I enjoy exploring in Death Valley so much. I am glad you had a good visit.
Simply an amazing place! I have always awed at it’s beauty and serenity. Thanks foe sharing.
I <3 people who appreciate deserts Gary.
So I have been using The Reader to answer comments. No more. I see that I have missed some which is not okay. Thank you and I <3 people who <3 Death Valley. Cheers to you 🌟
Wow, there is nothing growing, nothing there, and yet it is so beautiful. How can wildlife survive there…they must be extremely tough.
I am so sorry I missed your comment! I have been using WP Reader and didn’t see this. I will use this no more. It is absolutely incredible that wildlife can survive in this most harsh environment and it is hopeful somehow, for all of us. Thank you my friend for your thoughts.
It looks amazing. Beautiful photos.
So sorry I didn’t see your comment and thank you very much. It is an amazing place, that keeps drawing me back again and again. It is never quite the same.
Wow! I knew it ws HOT but it didn’t know it was the lowest place in the world. It’s pretty incredible that you came across this coyote. He’s a handsome chap.
It is actually not the lowest human occupied place on earth. Thanks to you, I changed my wording. But it is the lowest place in north america.
The Dead Sea has the lowest elevation in the world, except for some parts of Antarctica.
Check out:
“Death Valley’s Badwater Basin is the point of the lowest elevation in North America, at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.[1] This point is 84.6 miles (136.2 km) east-southeast of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m).[4] On the afternoon of July 10, 1913, the United States Weather Bureau recorded a high temperature of 134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek in Death Valley.[5] This temperature stands as the highest ambient air temperature ever recorded at the surface of the Earth.[6]”
California is a strange place, we get the highest and the lowest.
Beautiful in its distinction! Merry Christmas and enjoy your holiday season, Cindy! 🎄
Merry Christmas Terri & I love forward to sharing 2020 with you.
I yes, I forgot about the Dead Sea too! Seems wierd that a place can be so far below sea level but above ground!
It feels strange too, to be standing there…..
Stunningly beautiful!
It is such a different type of harsh beauty.
Cindy, wow! Awe-inscribing place and photos! It is a wonder anything survives there!
It is a wonder indeed. Thank you Annika.
What an awesome place it must be to experience.
It has such mystery. It draws you back, again and again.
Grand photos! 🙂
So happy you enjoyed!
A good set with descriptive captions
Grazie mille Derrick.
Looks amazing!
Thank you.
Oh, herzlichen Dank liebe Freundin für diese unglaublich schöne Wüstenlandschaft. Sie erinnert mich an die südliche Negev, die allerdings einiges kleiner ist als das Death Valley. Ernst
Danke Ernst. Alle Wüsten teilen eine einzigartige und wilde Schönheit. Frohe Feiertage, mein Freund.
How fascinating is our world? And how fascinating the people who appreciate it in all of it’s differences.
Amen. I could not begin to say this better. Thank you.
Oh wow wow wow! I’ve never been to Death Valley – actually never thought much about it – but you sure make it inviting!
Ahhhh, thank you Frank. If you decide to visit, go in winter or early spring.
toll, liebe Cindy, mache es gut, Klaus
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund Klaus.
immer wieder gerne
<3 <3
alles Gute wünsche ich
<3 🎄
vielen dank
<3
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Stunning pictures of Death Valley taken by Cindy Knoke.
You are the most thoughtful friend Patricia. Thank you.
What a lovely set of clicks! It looks daunting yet inviting!
Oh that is such a perfect description! Thank you.
Those landscape colors are so unique Cindy, like an artists oasis. And like any masterpiece you can’t help looking and looking at every angle to appreciate those beautiful strokes that went into making it 😀
Mother Nature’s palette is the best in the world! Thank you Mark.
Spectacular, Cindy! The barrenness in of itself holds great beauty! Loved each composition. Thank you!
Awww, I am touched. Thank you AmyRose & cheers to you.
You are welcome, Cindy!
<3
The lone critter was being very good to just stand there… =^_^= Was it your charm, or your powerful lens…=^_^= waves and sends loving hugs to an amazing special friend…
You are an amazing and special friend. Be well & cheers to you!
Amazing that critters can survive there. I didn’t know that.
Deserts are full of wildlife, reptiles and birds, the fact that mammals survive there is remarkable.
Wow! Amazing photos of this awesome place. I have always wanted to visit. Your simple descriptions say it all. Enjoy your time there. xo
Thank you Darlene & I hope you do visit and share your impressions.
This is truly a most exceptional place…incredibly beautiful photography! It resembles a rather alien world, or a part of the Earth where you would not imagine the proliferation of life. Lovely post, Cindy, thank you for bringing those wonders of nature to our eyes. All the best and my greetings,
FBC
What a thoughtful and considerate comment Francisco. Thank you my friend. Deserts are alien worlds. Humans can’t exist here without transported water and shelter, but other mammals can, which is remarkable.
You are absolutely right. I think we over value ourselves a bit…thank you, Cindy and all the best to you, have a lovely night
Take good care Francisco.
Thank you for sharing,Cindy. 🙂
Thank you more for appreciating it.
Great photos, as usual, but I want the story behind the coyote! I see them on a rare occasion, but they never stick around for a photo session 😉
We have so many coyotes at The Holler, packs of them. Generally they are shy and avoid humans, when they are sick or starving they will approach closely. This guy was hard for me to figure out. He didn’t appear sick or starving. I don’t know why he approached and shadowed us. It is not like someone fed him as Death Valley is too huge and unpopulated for that.
Must have been curious. What are these stupid humans doing out here?
Exactly!!! And, “Who said you could be on my turf?”
Beautiful photos Cindy, it looks like a great place to visit 😀
Thank you Irene. It is.
Wow so amazing animals can live in such heat!
They are remarkable creatures.
The variety of landscapes and seascapes on this planet is amazing.
Hi Cindy. Enjoy the week.
It is an incredible gift entrusted to us humans.
Wow, how beautiful and desolate.
It’s like the surface of the moon in places, with gravity though, and critters.
Lovely images. I love Death Valley; such a beautiful park. (Suzanne)
Yes. I <3 my friends who <3 Death Valley!
I’ve probably spent more time in Death Valley than any other park, and the surrounding area is also wonderful, especially Rhyolite, Nevada. Seeing your blog this morning was like seeing pictures of old friends. Thank you.
Ahhhhh so happy to know another desert rat Jim. I have been visiting the deserts of the southwest steadily in all seasons since I was a kid, and I took my kids steadily since they were very young in all seasons. The love of deserts when instilled early, is enduring. I did take photos of Rhyolite, although I remember it without fencing, just like I remember Stonehenge before the fences.
In the 60s, we lived in Dana Point. Every year on the day after Christmas pals and I would escape to Death Valley and camp all through the remainder of our holiday. I remember talking to Tommy at the Bottle House in Rhyolite and listening to his stories. Great stuff.
What wonderful memories! The Bottle House is amazing and so is the artist’s house nearby. Happy Holidays Jim!
Great photos of a valley with the right name: Death Valley!
Yes. It is not really a tourist brochure sort of name.
I love Death Valley. All the geology exposed, with rugged landscapes bearing all for our eyes and lenses to feast upon. Fantastic photos. That is one sad, dejected coyote. You didn’t have a facsimile of a roadrunner to offer the poor thing?
I did not give a treat to Wily E. He didn’t look starving or sick, but his behavior was abnormal, poor guy.
He is probably used to people giving him treats. That looked like a well rehearsed and honed pathetic look.
Laughing….It kinda did, especially with those ears down like that.
Wow! Thank you, Cindy. The many photos give me a far better picture of Death Valley. Really beautiful.
Thank you Jennie. Deserts have their own unique savage beauty.
They certainly do, especially through your photos. Best to you, Cindy.
Visa versa 2UX2 Jennie <3
❤️
always amazing terrain….wonderful captures Cindy…thanks for sharing ~ smiles hedy ☺️
So pleased you enjoyed & cheers to you Hedy.
it looks so barren and forlorn, Cindy.
Leslie xoxo
Yes. It is. Empty, until you look closely.
Yes there will be a lot of critters Cindy….
Even in the most hostile places…..
Is that a coyote? Whatever, he’s awfully cute … and looks eager to befriend you! This terrain isn’t much to my liking — I prefer something a tad less harsh — but it has a beauty all its own. Thank you, Cindy, for sharing it.
Deserts are intimidating places. One needs to check and recheck one’s plans and gear as mistakes can be fatal rather quickly especially in the hotter seasons.
The coyote looks unhappy. Maybe (s)he would be happier with better color vision. The blue-green and subtle variations on beige in #1 and #2 are delightful to retinas with the right cones.
Love your witty comment! The coyote has hearing and smell to make up for monochrome visuals.
My first thought was, “What does that coyote live on?” My second thought: Pioneers? And now, tourists? What a desolate place!!!! No wonder it was called Death Valley.
I looked up Death Valley to see if boron was mined there (and it was) because after all the advertising, I associate Death Valley with 20-Mule-Team Borax. While I was on the Wikipedia site I saw that the hottest temperature recorded in Death Valley was 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913. I’ll think about that as I freeze this Christmas. Great post, Cindy, but I don’t think I’ll plan my next holiday to take in Death Valley. It’s enough to know it’s there. Fabulous photos!
Yes, many pioneers crossed this desert which is just appalling to really think about. Many died, hence the accurate name. The fact that big horn sheep, burros, coyotes, and other mammals survive here just defies logic, but they do. DV is an amazing ecosystem.
It really is. Let’s hope we don’t turn the whole Earth into one Death Valley.
Amen. We seem to be doing just that.
Wow, so desolate, yet wildlife. How hot was it? So desolate. And so beautiful. Thanks.
The hottest temp on earth was recorded at Death Valley, something over 130F. That was in summer. We went in early November so the daytime temps were in the low 80’s.
Cindy, are you from the western part of US? I’m in Rochester, NY
Yes, I am a bit inland, east of San Diego county, and somehow far from civilization which is remarkable considering where I am. I like Rochester.
Do you have some familiarity with Rochester? The weather is always a hot topic here. We’ve been in winter-like weather since before Thanksgiving, periods of snow and consistently colder that normal.
I have visited. My parents lived for awhile in Dover New Hampshire.
wow, did the coyote come up to you, that’s amazing. I love Coyotes. xxx
He did come up, which is unusual behavior and warrants caution.
Yes, stunningly beautiful, Cindy. I wonder how any wildlife survives in that environment.
The pictures were incredible.
The hardiness of desert wildlife defies belief. The water in DV is mostly saline. Springs are so few and far between,
Beautiful photos. One would not think that any animals live in Death Valley.
It boggles the mind doesn’t it.
It does.
So beautiful.
Grazie.
It’s stunning. Great shots, Cindy, and I adore that puppy! (coyote?)
I tried….”Here doggie, nice doggie…. Sit. Stay,” but for some reason, it didn’t work.
There is such beauty in the desolation! I always admire the resilient lifeforms that can survive in these extreme environments. Your photos and the colors are stunning! <3
Thank you Teresa. The resilience of desert wildlife is astounding to me too.
Awesome pictures !
Thank you. I appreciate it. I am so sorry I missed your comment. I have been using WP Reader. I won’t anymore.
Such an amazing park. Land of extremes!
Telephoto lens or did that coyote really come that close to check you out? I wondered if tourists give it food so it is habituated?
I didn’t have my telephoto wildlife cam, so of course the coyote comes up super close. The RX 10, the camera I was using (my landscape camera) was having a focus malfunction. If I had my other camera, I could have shown you his eyelashes. Amazing I got some decent shots but I had to focus out. He came right up to us. I have only seen this at The Holler with starving or sick coyotes and this one seemed to be neither. As far as feeding, in this huge hostile park, it is hard to imagine, but people are known for doing ill considered things. A human acclimated wild animal is soon to be a dead wild animal. Sad. We were in the middle of nowhere. Maybe he was just curious. Wild animals are curious when people aren’t in big groups and are quiet and act unhumanlike…laughing!
Maybe young and unfamiliar with humans? Life must be hard there.
Yes, indeed.
Spectacular photos of a stark but beautiful place! The closeups of the wild coyote are wonderful, but I agree with being cautious whenever they come that close!
Definitely. Wild Animals, and you, remain alive with caution and care.
Stunning photos from Death Valley, dear Cindy.
Thank you so much. <3
Thank you so much Very & Happy Holidays my friend.
Many years ago when I lived in Northern Manitoba, a friend and her family visited Death Valley. It was very very hot in the car (we were used to the cold as you can well imagine) and had the windows open to let in air. They saw a car drive by with all their windows rolled up. So they thought – maybe having the windows up would be cooler. They soon found out that idea didn’t work and then determined that the other car had air conditioning. In our “world,” we had block heaters for winter or else our cars wouldn’t start. Air conditioners were never a consideration!!! We all laughed when she told us the story.
What a great memory. I remember crossing the deserts as a kid with my parents. They hung these strange bags full of evaporating water over the radiator to stop the cars from overheating. Air conditioning wasn’t an option. The humans just overheated, but the car was fine.
We had some interesting times, didn’t we. I can only imagine the strange bags!!! I laughed out loud at the thought.
Here’s a photo to one:
http://ernielb.blogspot.com/2008/05/canvas-water-bags_8692.html
It has a beauty of its own and you captured it!
Thank you very much.
Great photos! Of course I just love the coyote shot! How close were you able to get to him?
He came really close. I was cursing myself because I didn’t have my wildlife telephoto camera with me. If I did, I could have gotten amazingly detailed facial close up shots. Plus my camera was malfunctioning and wouldn’t focus on close up. Still I was able to get a couple decent shots because he came right up to us.
What an exciting moment, and unusual, as coyotes are usually frightened of people. Clearly he was quite curious! Great shots in spite of a malfunctioning camera! Wish I had been there!
He was not the least bit hostile or intimidating either. Curious was my best guess too.
I thought that you would enjoy this encounter with a sea wolf:
https://twitter.com/AAllen69/status/1207299269838954497?s=19
Wrong link. Sorry Cindy. I will find it another day.
Looking forward to it. Thank you!
Wishing you joy and beauty at Christmas and in the New Year, Cindy. 🙂 🙂
Merry Christmas Jo & Happiest and Healthiest New Year <3
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and commented:
Cindy Knoke with stunning images of Death Valley National Park.. the vastness, emptiness and then suddenly there is a coyote asking what you think your are doing in his backyard… fabulous.
Happiest Holidays to you Sally. Thank you for your thoughtfulness my friend. I look forward to sharing 2020 with you <3
And to you and your family Cindy…♥♥
<3 🎄
Death Valley is such a starkly beautiful place. Nice shot of the coyote too.
Yes, stark and savage beauty.
Stunning landscape but I especially love the curious coyote.
Thank you Dor & I do too! Happy Holidays my friend <3
WOW! It really looks other worldly. I have not been but your shots of it make it so tempting. The shots of the coyote are incredible. They look so sad and skinny. There is nothing left for them but hunger and thirst. Breaks my heart.
They are remarkable creatures and they have very hard lives but are incredibly adaptable. New research show they are far closer genetically to wolves than previously thought.
Cindy, thank you for these beautiful photographs.
Thank you more for appreciating them Charles & Happy Holidays!
Stunning shots as always! You made Death Valley come alive, my dear friend!
♥,､’`(((;ŏᴗŏ))),､’`’`,､♥
Grazie mille. Death Valley is a living desert ♥,､’`(((;ŏᴗŏ))),､’`’`,､♥
So picturesque. Wow
Thank you very much & cheers to you.
Welcome
<3
One can see why it gets its name Cindy..
Magnificent photos.. 🙂
Thank you and yes, it is a formidable landscape.
It looks like a landscape from a far away planet… Wow! Spectacular!
I always think this when I am in the desert and I am very happy you enjoyed. Thank you & cheers!
That coyote looks so healthy! What a nice treat for you Cindy! xox
He does and it truly was! Thanks for knowing.
Reminds me of a bit of Arizona – vast areas of dryness… and the mountains seemingly springing out of the landscape to thwart straight lines. The story of the planet for those who can read the rocks.
Happy Holly Daze to you and yours. I’m heading to a warmer climate for a couple of days – I hope to keep writing the story, but might just switch to simple daily haiku while I’m out of town.
Glad you are enjoying the Banking series. 😀
Happiest Holidays Jules! I so look forward to sharing another year with you my friend. Enjoy your days in the sun 🌟
…if the sun would come out…
Rain when we landed, wind and the end of a tropical storm today. The upside – on a small beach I found several bits of coral!
Nice. Rain in the tropics can feel like a warm shower from Heaven. Happy New Year Jules <3
Same to you and yours… A new Decade too!
<3 🍾
Oh the beautiful desert! Did that fox look a little under nourished? <3
I doubt he gets much opportunity for seconds in the desert, but he seemed healthy, if a tad lean. Happy Holidays to you my friend 🎄
<3
Gorgeous photos.
Alison xo
Thank you Alison & Happy Holidays 🎄
Wow ! ❤ Amazing photos. The landscape is so picturesque.
So happy you enjoyed & cheers to you!
Beautiful photos of this driest, hardy… place. Thank you for the tour, Cindy.
Merry Christmas to your and yours!
Merry Christmas to you and your family Amy 🎄
I love your coyote! He looked like Yoda with those ears. Merry Christmas my friend. 🎄
He does!!! He has expressive ears.
A rugged, exotic beauty. What is the aquamarine colored areas?
Complicated, I have no idea, but google always does.
Query, “Where do blue rocks come from?
“The 12 Most Common Blue, Violet, and Purple Minerals, pegmatites composed primarily of large crystals, such as granite. Certain metamorphic rocks, such as marble. Oxidized zones of ore bodies, like copper. Low-silica (feldspathoid bearing) igneous rocks.”
I am betting on the oxidized copper.
Thank you for the additional information, Cindy!
<3
I know and remember this national park well. Back in 1966 just a few weeks after getting married my husband (now my ex-husband) and I were driving an old Ford Galaxy car, moving to L A with all of our possessions and as he was scheduled and registered to begin seminary training at a college there. We were just 19 and newly weds and didn’t know that territory well. We had car trouble, were running out of drinking water and pulled up to an abandoned old building we thought might have some inhabitants there that could help us. But, there was no one there who could. Wayne tried in vain to get our overheated car to start up again but it failed. Not long after that a man (of color) drove up in a car and parked right beside us, got out and asked if we needed help. We said, “Yes.” and he got out, opened his trunk, took out some tools and went to work on our broken down car and in a few minutes had our car purring again. We thanked him, for his help and said goodbye and within in a few short minutes he had turned around and quickly was gone. We never saw him again and we did indeed make it out to L A with no more trouble and were out there for four years from 1966-1970 until his graduation from seminary (studying for the ministry). We believed and still do to this day that black man was an angel sent by God. This is the gospel truth, Cindy. I know angels are out there everywhere and always near to help us out in our time of distress and need.
Have a wonderful, blessed Christmas Cindy, take care on your travels.
So, in this recent trip to Death Valley, we encountered a young couple with a flat tire and no spare.
Your comment gives me goosebumps.
I have met some angels, two actually, this one was the first: I rolled my car in Montana with my kids when they were young. We had to crawl our way out of the upside down car and I was injured.
All of a sudden this long haul trucker appeared. He was super intent and asked, “Is there anyone else in the car?”
He clearly meant to go save them.
We said no, but he looked anyway. Then he came back, told us he had called 911, and proceeded to pick glass out of my head and comfort the children.
To this day, I wish I could tell him what it feels like to meet an angel,
As soon as the sirens approached, he went to his truck and left. To this day I so wish I could thank him.
Breathtaking photos. Is that a coyote?
Thank you very much Leesha and yes it is 🐺
Thankyou for visiting my blog and for your appreciation, am delighted and honoured! Lovely heartwarming site you have here, it’s so refreshing.
Love your blog & wonderful to meet you!
Wow! So Awesome, Cindy. Is that a wolf?
Thanks much! It is a coyote, but they are genetically similar to wolves.
I enjoy your blog posts very much. And then I also enjoy the community of comments afterwards. You must bring a special presence with you into the natural world that a coyote would approach to check you out! I love the expression of his eyes and ears in the first photo. What an extraordinary ecosystem!!!
I am honored by your truly thoughtful words Will. I so love blogging because it enables me to meet remarkable people like you. Happy Holidays!
Nice
Thank you.
Stunning photos, Cindy. Hmmm Santa must use a four wheeler with a giant sunblock dispenser. 😉 Happy Holidays.
He probably sheds the red suit and just sticks with the hat…..Happy Holidays Teagan 🌟
Beautiful photographs
Merci beaucoup mon ami.
Magnificent
Thank you Graham.
Hi Cindy. Here is that link, enjoy!
https://twitter.com/AAllen69/status/1208763120371388416?s=09
Oh he is gorgeous! How wonderful!
Bellissime foto <3
Grazie mille 🌟
Your photos are fantastic Cindy! We’ve been through Death Valley many years ago.
Merry Christmas 🎄 all the best for 2020!
❤️carmen
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you Carmen and thank you 🌟
How on earth did you get such fab photos of the coyote? Nicely done!
Thank you. He was a friendly little guy so he made it quite easy.
Beautiful pictures 🤩🥰
Thanks so much! Happy you enjoyed.
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Vielen dank mein lieber Freund
Frohe Weihnachten und ein glückliches Neues Jahr!
Beautiful! The name suits the place. I would not like to get lost in this valley. It reminds of the verse in Psalms 23. “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and staff comfort me.”
Since I was a very little child the 23rd Psalm was my nightly prayer, it’s comfort is overwhelming, “Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over.”
I love how the psalm described it, “Yeah though I walk through through the valley of the ‘shadow’ of death,’ I will fear no evil” meaning death is there, but is a shadow, for the walker, not affecting the walker yet, but the walker knows it will, eventually, and so, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
It is just such utter spiritual beauty.
Thank you Beverly.
Amen. With God’s guidance and protectoin you do not need to fear evil or death. Glort to God!
🙏🏼 <3
Nice of the coyote to have you take its picture.
Yes, I thought he was a most polite coyote.
The colors are so subtle and striking at the same time.
Yes, Mother Nature is mind boggling. <3
We have been close to Death Valley, but we haven’t made into the park. Next time!! Joshua Tree was awesome, so I know we will like Death Valley too. Amazing topography!
Yes, Joshua Tree is wonderful and so unique. Those who love the contours, colors and peacefulness of the desert are drawn to return. It sounds like you are such. I fully relate.
that was a wolf right? what a catch! great pix again!
Coyote, but they share much of their DNA with wolves.
Death Valley is one of my favorite parks. A few years ago I did a road trip through Death Valley, Sequoia, Yosemite, San Francisco, the PCH, LA, Joshua Tree, Mojave, and Gold Butte. Sunrise at Zabriskie Point at Death Valley was possibly the most memorable moment on the entire trip. Along with a sunrise at Joshua Tree.
Awesome that you did this! I am not surprised it left an impression on you. Your trip was just so much experiential difference of nature’s incredible wonders.