Ahhh, the good old red-eye. Now that's the way to travel. Real adventurous like.

A little under nine hours from coast to coast in the dark of night. The majority of that time spent slumped over in the seat, passed out cold from exhaustion, drool seeping down the chin.

Palm Springs CA --> Las Vegas --> Philadelphia --> to that most excellent and beautiful arc over the Casco Bay islands and the final approach up the Fore River past the pretty skyline of downtown Portland.

Home sweet home again. Where else can you find a "welcome home" sign on a jetway that has a big red lobster next to it? No suh mistah. Not no ware but hee-yah.

So, I see we've added a little snow cover in a week's time. Any reports on the ski conditions from you downhillers? How about from the hiking trail? Other fun outdoors stuff?

You tell me, and then maybe I'll tell you about a wild week in the great outdoors of California, from the Sierras to Death Valley to Joshua Tree and lots in-between.

Deal?

OK, let's talk!

Meanwhile I think I need a nap...

All photos by Carey Kish
Yucking it up with Cowboy Bob in the old mining town of Randsburg CA.

Geothermal hot spring (and campsite) near Mammoth Lakes CA.

Snowstorm, Mammoth Mountain CA.

The Sierra crest, Yosemite National Park CA.

On the road to Eureka Dunes (and camp), Death Valley National Park CA.

At Badwater, 282 feet below sea level, Death Valley National Park CA.

Hiking through a Joshua Tree forest, Joshua Tree National Park CA.