A Hike With The Sierra Club

Yesterday, a group of people who belong to the Sierra Club invited us to come along with them on a hike they were planning today. Doreen didn't want to go, but was fine for me to go, so we booked the campsite for another night, and I went along with them this morning. The first part of the trip was to cross the Mohave River on the railway bridge. I didn't think this was such a good idea at first, but in actual fact, the bridge was plenty wide enough that any train coming along would not have run us over (although it would be a little scary!

 

Just across the bridge, there was a good view of our campground.

 

There were lots of nice wild flowers along the way.

 

This was more of a social gathering than a hike. More time was spent standing around talking than actual hiking!

 

We soon came across another railway bridge, and along came a train pulling a very long line of oil tankers.

 

And more wildflowers.

 

We came across two different small caves where native people had obviously shelted and you could see the blackened ceilings from their fires.

 

This is a fine looking group :) I didn't have a back pack to carry my water and lunch, so I borrowed Doreen's purse for the hike. Everyone thought my backpack was quite stylish!

 

More wild flowers.

 

This was the funniest gal. She must have taken a thousand pictures today!

 

Here we are trying to get across the Mohave River. This river runs for hundreds of miles underground, and along here is the only place where there is water flowing above ground!

 

A lonely wild flower!

 

The next part of the hike was over to this narrow slit in the sort of sandstone rock face.

 

One of the ladies and myself with the interesting rock formation in the background. This lady lives just seven miles from Disneyland.

 

Another group picture. There are two missing from the group in this picture.

 

This is a Datura, or Jimson Weed plant that grows here in the Mohave desert. It is highly a hallucinogenic plant which the native people used in various ceremonies. But it is highly dangerous, as many people have been fatally poisoned by it.

 

Another train with an interesting cargo!

 

After our hike, later in the afternoon, Doreen and I were invited down for snacks, then a pot luck dinner, and a campfire. These were really nice people, and we had a great time today.