MY CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA EXPEDITION

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MY CALIFORNIA/ARIZONA EXPEDITION … By <name key="Denise Svoboda">

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Contents

INTRODUCTION	1.
U.S.A.	3.
CALIFORNIA	7.
LOS ANGELES	17.
L.A. DIARY	19.
SANTA BARBARA	24.
SANTA BARBARA DIARY	27.
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK	33.
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK DIARY	39.
ARIZONA	44.
COLORADO RIVER	49.
COLORADO RIVER DIARY	50.
PHOENIX	52.
PHOENIX DIARY	53.
PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK	56.
PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK DIARY	60.
PHOENIX 2	64.
ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL MONUMENT	65.
ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL MONUMENT DIARY	66.
ANZA BORREGO	68.
ANZA BORREGO DIARY	69.
LOS ANGELES 2	71.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY	77.

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INTRODUCTION

I chose my trip to the U.S.A. because I had <reg>learned</reg> so much myself. I already knew I would do it before the trip so I collected things to do with it whilst I was there. Also it wasn't really just one subject like fish etc… I could include almost anything I wanted somehow.

Also I have made a photograph album to refer to.

My Mum had work at Santa Barbara and Phoenix and my Dad did some paintings too. So that's why we went.

Our two friends took us in their van everywhere.

Each section has an introduction and then some diary pages. The comet Hale-Bopp also was fascinating, see overleaf.

OREGON

IDAHO

SOUTH <reg>DAKOTA</reg>

CALIFORNIA

WYOMING

COLORADO

NEBRASKA

NEVADA

UTAH

ARIZONA.

NEW MEXICO

OKLAHOMA

Santa Barbara

Los Angeles

J.T.

C.R.

P.F.

A.B

Phoenix

C.R.

TEXAS

O.P.C.N.P.

Mexico.

J.T: Joshua Tree.

C.R: Colorado River.

P.F: Petrified Forest.

A.B: Anza Borrego.

O.P.C.N.P: Organ Pipe Cactus National Park.

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Comet Hale-Bopp

Only one bad thing has been extracted from this comet which is the mass suicide in the U.S. because they thought that U.F.O.'s were coming with it and they would come to Earth.

Or <sic>is</sic> there two bad things? Did the comet trigger a recent earthquake in L.A.? It was a big one but it didn't cause any damage.

As do many other comets, Hale-Bopp has two tails: one of dust and the other of gas.

The tails/tail is of no use to the comet but forms as it gets closer to the centre of our solar system. The Earth, in recent history, has passed through some of the tails of comets with no damage done to it. The Great Comet of 1843 had a tail so long it was the distance <sic>of</sic> the Sun to Mars, some comets can be seen with tails half way across the sky.

The speed of comets is in the same region of numbers as the tails … HUGE!

Comets achieve their greatest speed as they get nearer the Sun, the Great Comet of 1882 reached the speed of one million M.P.H. as it bypassed the Sun. Comets that have been sucked into the Sun have reached higher speeds than that.

Astronomers believe that there is a spherical cloud, 2,500 times farther away from the Sun than Pluto called an 'Oort Cloud'. This cloud is believed to contain one hundred billion comets that get dislodged from it by either the gravity of passing stars or the Sun's gravity, which is 2,500 times farther away than Pluto is from the Sun. (It wasn't worth reading that sentence was it?)

About the gravity again! The fact that the Sun pulls comets from (you should know the distance by now) is not surprising when you realise 100 Earth lbs. = 2780 Sun lbs.

The Oort Cloud is thought to have been formed from left-overs of the matter that formed the planets, when it was nearer the Sun.

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THE USA.

The U.S.A. is made up of fifty states.

The area of the United States is 3,615,212 square miles, compared to England's 50,335. (3.564,787 difference.)

The population is 211,910,000, - 65,980,000 more than England's 55,930,000.

The capital of America, Washington D.C. is in the state of Virginia. The White House is also in Washington D.C.

California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are the states on the southern line of the U.S. California to Texas are the states along the United States and Mexican borders. The rest of the states, Louisiana to Florida are all above the Gulf of Mexico. Canada is situated North of the U.S and is the second largest country in the world.

Even though Washington D.C. is on the East, Washington State is on the West.

New York is one of the biggest cities, it is not, as many people first think, the capital and it is North of the real capital in the state of Connecticut - and also where 'Friends' live, an American sit-com!

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FACTS.

Land and Climate: Highest point - Mount McKinley in Denali, Alaska which is 6,194 metres above sea level.

Lowest point - Death Valley in California which is 86 metres below sea level.

Land and Climate: Average temperatures - Washington D.C. - January 1.1°c, July 25°.

San <reg>Francisco</reg> - January 10°, July 15°c. Average annual rainfall - Washington D.C. 43 inches, San <reg>Francisco</reg> 22 inches.

Flag: First flag invented in June 14th, 1777 - this original flag had 13 states represented by 13 stars and 13 red and white alternate stripes. The colours all mean something: White - purity and innocence, Red - hardiness and <reg>valour</reg> , Blue - vigilance, perseverance and justice. From 1759-1818 stars and stripes were added to represent Vermont and Kentucky. A meeting in 1818 reduced the stripes back to 13 and decided just to add a star for every new state. In 1912 the flag was standardized after the 19th century saw lots of changes to the flag.

Since 1960 the flag hasn't changed since the last star was added for Hawaii.

Anthem: The Star-<sic>Bangled</sic> Banner.

Population per square mile: 71 on average.

Population - Urban and Rural: Urban 75% Rural 25%

Largest Cities: New York - 7,322,564. L.A. - 3,485,398. Chicago - 2,783,726.

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HOLLYWOOD

NORTH AMERICA

Largest Metropolitan Areas: L.A. - 9,477,926. New York - 8,546,846. Chicago - 6,096,974.

Ethnic Groups: White 83% Black 12% Asian and Pacific islanders 3% Others 2%

Language: No official, English is spoken most. Spanish and other minor languages too.

Religion: Protestant 56% Roman catholic 25% Judaism 2% Other 17%

Gross Domestic Product: $5,945,700,000,000.

All of the information came from Encarta '95.

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Pacific Plate.

Mississippi

Washington D.C.

North American Plate.

Key.

<gap desc="colour key"> Plate splits.

<gap desc="key"> Direction in which plates are moving.

<gap desc="colour key"> The Rockies (fold mountains.)

<gap desc="colour key"> Water.

<gap desc="colour key"> Snowy climate.

<gap desc="colour key"> Moderate climate.

<gap desc="colour key"> Dry climate.

Fold Mountains, like the Rockies, are formed by two plates, in this case the Pacific and North American plates, one pushing over the other and forming a mountain range.

Pacific Plate

N.American plate

Earthquakes do a lot of damage to America. As shown on the diagram above, the plates go straight through Baja California, causing lots of earthquakes in that region. Most of the split is in the sea so the Western U.S.A. don't get the full effect of the earthquake but they do get it quite bad!

In 1906 San <reg>Francisco</reg> was destroyed by an earth-quake called the San Andreas Fault, in California.

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California

California was the 31st state to be entered on September the 9th, 1850.

The name 'California' comes from a popular Spanish romance at the time when the Spanish explorer, Hemán Cortés, named Baja California Peninsular:

<gap desc="colour key"> Border of Mexico and North America.

<gap desc="colour key"> Water

<gap desc="colour key"> Mexico

<gap desc="colour key"> America

Baja California

The 'California' bit was the name given to the imaginary island in the romance and other explorers, in the early 16th century gave the name to the American bit of land North of Baja California Peninsular.

North of California is the state of Oregon, East the state of Nevada and below Nevada is Arizona, South is Baja California Peninsular and West is the Pacific Ocean.

frac15; of the state is the Mojave Desert (pronounced mow-harv-e), according to my calculations that is 32,741.4 square miles. <sic>All together</sic> the state is 163,707 square miles making the third largest state in North America.

The land varies from deserts to forests and places like Death Valley to Mount Shasta.

At least six peaks exceed 4,270 metres, one of them Mt. Shasta, an extinct <reg>volcano</reg> in the North of California surrounded by five glaciers and with history engraved on its sides of old lava flows and steam vents. The <chpb desc="8.">

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extinct <reg>volcano</reg> is part of the Cascade Range and is 4,317 metres above sea level.

The Cascade Range starts in California, in the Northern central region and it carries on up through two states, Oregon and Washington, into the Canadian state of British Columbia.

Lassen Volcanic National Park is an active volcano filled with hot springs, or cold. The springs aren't healthy ones like the luke warm ones they can either freeze you alive or boil you alive. The Lassen Volcanic National Park has a quite ash like exterior and in summer it has some snow on it. The water colour is like this: <gap desc="colour key">

Lassen, Mount Shasta and Mount St. Helens are all volcanoes on the Cascade Range, they're in a line from Lassen to Mt. Shasta in California, up a state and Mt. St. Helens in Washington.

Yosemite valley also is in California. It is in central California and a 'hanging' valley. 'Hanging valley' means a valley higher than another one, for example the Lune valley goes up to a point and there is a plateau and in that plateau there is a smaller, shallower valley:

hanging valley

The Yosemite Valley was carved out by the Merced River, millions of years ago. Then, later, smoothed out by following glaciers, widening it also to 1 mile wide. The glaciers did such a good job that they smoothed it so the rocks look like rock waterfalls. Maybe if you look at the photograph album number 28 and imagine that in granite you'll get the idea.

Talking about water, a brief mention of Salton Sea. This 'sea' is on the postcard and is actually below sea level, I presume that it was like Death Valley, but not so vast or low as 86 metres below sea-level, before it was flooded by the <chpb desc="9.">

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Colorado River near Yuma. Salton Sea was formed between 1905 and 1907. (Yuma is near the Mexican border.)

In South California is Imperial Valley which is a big productive part <sic>for</sic> California as it hosts fertile soil. Also date farms are found here growing on forests of date palms.

Also natural gas from L.A. Basin and San Joaquin Valley. Asbestos, Sand, gravel, iron ore, magnesium, silver and gemstones are found in California too. Although there is little trace of gold, from the mid 19th century goldrush, petroleum, natural gas and mercury, tungsten <sic>is</sic> used <reg>a lot</reg>. Tungsten is a metal that can stand very hot temperatures and very cold ones used in light filaments, found in the East Sierra Nevada. It is a major source for the world and brings in <reg>a lot</reg> of money.

Salt also is taken from the San <reg>Francisco</reg> and Sacramento Bays.

Cattle makes more than one third of the income in California.

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California has the largest agricultural production than any other state in the U.S.A. Irrigation helps this.

In the photo album number 55 shows the carvings around the top of the 'La Brea Tar Pits,' this is one of the many museums, parks, reserves and many other <reg>attractions</reg> like Disneyland, a 180 acre park, built in Anaheim, 1955 and it was the original of its kind named after Walt Disney.

The tourism brings in $53 billion from 40,000,000 and more tourists to California's 250 parks and all the other states.

Trees and forestry bring in big money and jobs too, mostly the coastal ranges in North Sierra Nevada.

The goldrush made San <reg>Francisco</reg> and Sacramento into big towns from small communities.

Earthquakes are devastating in California. The 1906 San <reg>Francisco</reg> one claimed 3,000 lives and 28,000 buildings and measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. L.A.'s earthquake in January 1994 measured 6.7 on the Richter scale. This earthquake caused homelessness and three overpasses collapsed.

The San Andreas fault is one of the most famous faults in the world. It is a crack in the ground running for 600 miles, from Imperial Valley to Point Arena. It marks the North American and pacific plates, where they meet. Along the coastline there are many faults making it very unstable.

California's largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San <reg>Francisco</reg>, Long Beach, Oakland and Sacramento <NOTE desc="no punctuation"> over one quarter is National State Parks in California.

There are 105 different tribes left over from the time when America was roamed by the Indians. They speak six different languages and live in all different environments. Their <sic>craftswork</sic> includes many skills and brilliant basketry.

Spanish is widely spoken and it includes j as h, like in San <NOTE desc="text continues next page">

<chpb desc="11."

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Jose it is said San Hosey, not like hose but like almost <sic>howsay</sic>. (Not ow, but like you'd say a capital O!)

Animals in the South Eastern desert are coyotes, rabbits, foxes, rats, reptiles, insects, various cats and birds.

In forests - skunks (that seem to get their smell everywhere), deer, foxes and snakes.

In the Northern Mountains bears, elks, and pronghorn antelope live.

There are six varieties of rattlesnake in the U.S.A.

Oh, and from San <reg>Francisco</reg> to New York there is 3 hours difference. - When <reg>it's</reg> 7 a.m. in New York it is 4 a.m. in San <reg>Francisco</reg>.

CALIFORNIA:

Border between California and Oregon.

Sacramento.

Border between California and Nevada.

Sacramento.

San <reg>Francisco</reg>

Sierra Nevada

San Joaquin.

Coastal Range.

Central Valley.

Santa Cruz

L.A.

Santa Catalina.

Border between California and Arizona marked by the Colorado River.

Pacific Ocean.

San Diego

U.S.A.

MEXICO

Baja California Mexico

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FACTS

Flag:

CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC.

A red star in the top, right hand corner, a grizzly bear in the middle on grass and 'California Republic' in black above a red strip.

State Flower:

The 'Californian poppy' and the 'Lupine' are the most common flowers.

Golden or Californian Poppy.

State Bird:

California Quail.

Callipepla Califonica (Latin.)

Tree:

California Redwood.

seal:

THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

EUREKA

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Famous for:

State Capital:

Sacramento.

Motto: Eureka, I have found it.

Californian License Plate:

SEP

CALIFORNIA

CA84

2SAM123

The Golden State

Rivers: Largest. -

- Mt. Shasta

- Sacramento.

San <reg>Francisco</reg> -

Sierra Nevada

Most of these rivers are in the Central Valley, draining the Sierra Nevada with their many tributaries and the North East Cascade Ranges.

2nd largest:

Sierra Nevada

San Joaquin.

Mouth of Sacramento

40% of the Land:

- Forest. (The oldest tree is 4,000 years old.)

Longest Living thing: (in the world.)

General Sherman Tree.

Many Sequoias are 2,000 years old.

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Federal State Roads:

-163,575 mi. of it too! (For you to ride in your pink cadillac.)

Rail Tracks:

6,150 miles.

SANTA FE COAL

Water Ports:

- 60 water ports, also in deepwaters of the rivers channels are linked. (Sacramento and San Joaquin.)

Airports in California: 548

The main one in L.A, where I landed, it is called L.A.X.

Heliports in California: 355

Sea-plane bases:

12.

Climate: Sub Tropical - California

In the Central Valley:

VERY HOT on a Summer's afternoon.

The two extremes: Death Valley (86 metres below sea-level.) 1913 it was almost the world record: 56.7°c

-Ultra violet rays!

Death Valley.

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The coldest temperatures are in the mountains - North of Lake Tahoe in 1937: -42.8°c.

In South California rainfall: Less than eight inches of rain per year.

HELP!

(Heaviest rainfall is in the North West.)

CLIMATE:

City

Rainfall per year

Humidity

Clear days per year

Inches of snowfall

L.A. in California

35 days

55%

85 days

Miami in Florida

125 days

75%

75 days

Population: The state of California has the largest population in the U.S. now, in the 1990s.

In the 1980s California had 29,000 people - most female. Most people live in urban places, Florida, Arizona and Oregon do as well, they also have a larger female population than male.

Florida has 13,000, Arizona 3,100, and Oregon 2.900 people in the 1980s.

California now has 29,760,021 inhabitants and in 1990 it was the most popular state and had approximately 182 inhabitants per square mile.

In 1993 California had 258,103,721 and 71 inhabitants per square mile. 75% urban and 25% rural.

Encarta'95 and Myself, Audubon Birds of North America, Flowers.

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L.A.

L.A. (Los Angeles) is the most popular city only upstaged by New York City.

It is known most for its original Disneyland, earthquakes, smog and brushfires. Its famous malibu beach with its malibu valley suffered from a brushfire which devastated the flora there.

Baywatch based at Venice Beach, freeways and Hollywood.

Unfortunately it is also known for murders and crimes.

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DIARY

28th March '97.

After leaving my grandma and grandpa's house, my grandma took Mum, Dad and I to Gatwick, then we took the bus to Heathrow.

We did all the checking in and stuff and we got on the plane, a 747/NZ001, Air New Zealand.

All the facts came up on the screen: arrival - about 6.45 p.m. U.S. time, 2.45 a.m. English time.

How long it will take - 10 hours and 25 minutes at an estimate.

Destination - L.A.X.

Seat - No. 27. Just in front of the wing.

My calculations - How long it took from the start of the run to the end of the run - 1 minute, 9 seconds.

How long it took to get through the cloud layer - 3 minutes, 9 seconds. Flying is so different from any other kind of transport and what you see is too. The sky below you really does look like a blue ball decorated with white patches. Sometimes the white clouds make a sky scraping scene, protruding from the sheen like New York skyscrapers!

If you are ever flying remember to say good bye to your pen because in the plane the pressure makes it leak.

Iceland - altitude - 10,700 feet, temperature - -64°c.

At 6.16, English time I saw Greenland, a vast space filled with canyons of rock covered with snow and ice.

As sunset drapes beautiful orangey-pink colours it washed over these canyon like mountains, as everyone was watching the main movie so I was the only person on the plane to see it!

At 7.35 I hadn't seen anything until now, just clouds but now I can see more ice-capped mountains of Greenland. It now is beginning to be flat with sea breaking the snow into slabs divided by dark streaks.

Frost is gathering on the windows as we approach Baffin Bay in Canada at 8.11, it is -66°c and still 10,700 feet above sea level.

8.29 - I think I see Baffin Island, 8.51 - I can see snow again - for ages …

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Cirrus - Ice-crystal clouds, high up in the sky, looking like <reg>wisps</reg> of hair and often a sign of bad weather.

Cirrostratus - Sheets that are formed up high in the sky and brings rain within 24 hours.

Altostratus: Thin layers of grey cloud often forming haloes around the sun. Can also turn into a rain cloud.

Stratocumulus: A sign that <reg>drier</reg> weather is on the way, uneven patches of cloud.

Cumulus: Small puffs appearing in sunny skies.

Cirrocumulus: Looks like fish scales, means unsettled weather.

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Altocumulus: Fluffy, grey clouds which can bring showers or break up to reveal sunny periods.

Nimbostratus: Thick, grey clouds bringing rain or snow. Nimbus meaning rain in Latin.

Stratus: Low, grey clouds causing drizzle.

Cumulonimbus: Towering clouds bringing thunder, snow, rain or hail.

… We saw the Rockies next and flew over them for quite <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> while. Then we saw 3 of the 4 islands near Santa Barbara and as we flew South a bit and looked back at them they looked like they were flying because the clouds were, looked, as if they were on the same level.

At last we viewed L.A., did a sharp turn and landed smoothly. We went out of the plane through the 'sucker' or tunnel and into the immigrant inspection line, straight through and collected our two bags quickly off the carousel number 7.

Annabel swiftly picked us up and drove us to her condominium.

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DIARY

As she drove us she told us about a hold up at a downtown bank, they had warned people not to put a deposit in the day before. They shot at anything <reg>in sight</reg> injuring people and I think one police-man was killed.

Also she taught us the number plate game, it doesn't cost so much to have a special number plat in America, only $20, or <sic>there abouts</sic>.

We got stuck in a traffic jam which gave us time to look at the <reg>Getty</reg> art museum, still being constructed. We got there eventually and went to bed with open arms, well I did, I didn't sleep at all on the plane!

1st March '97.

We woke up and had breakfast, we went to Monrose to buy some things.

We then went to Annabel;’s friend's house on Malibu beach for her wedding party. Dad and I went round the point and saw all of the magnificent houses lined up along the coast. They were all fit for Pamela Anderson.

We had some of the wedding lunch back at the house. We went home after playing on the beach for a while.

I played scrabble with Aunt Annabel and I won.

We had supper and went to bed.

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DIARY

2nd March '97.

We had breakfast and went to Descanso Gardens, where there were fish, ducks, birds and flowers.

Before photographing its famous camellia garden and gargoyle we went to Sport Chalet and bought some essentials for the trip.

There are 150 plus birds in Descanso (species).

We went back to <gap desc="identifying text">, where my Aunt lives and then went across the road. When I say road I do not mean the A6, I mean at least 3 times as wide and when <reg>you're</reg> half way across another car zooms past, well <reg>you're</reg> supposed to use the traffic lights but they hardly give you any time to cross and they're about half a mile apart!

I played tennis with Mum and Dad after going to Ralph's, then we had artichoke and went to bed.

… Carries on in 'Santa Barbara'.

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SANTA BARBARA

Santa Barbara has got two advantages. It has a rich culture and the poorer mexicans work for them, gardening is done <reg>a lot</reg> by the mexicans, cutting hedges, lawn mowing, planting and generally looking after gardens cheaply. The second is its moderate climate.

In America they have lots of condominiums which are shared complexes. These are houses joined together in different 'patterns' and lots of them sharing swimming pools, jacuzzis and other facilities. A lot of these condominiums have Spanish names in Santa Barbara and are more classy!

The U.C.S.B. (University of California, Santa Barbara) is a big university on the edge of the sea.

Oil is a big money receiver for Santa Barbara and is just off-shore but unfortunately some spoils splatter certain rocks on the beach. Also islands are situated 'off-shore.'

There are 21 missionaries in California and one of them is in Santa Barbara.

The main street is State Street, this is one road with many outlets, taking you from the pier till about &frac;34; of the way up it, it finally turns a corner and turns into Hollister Avenue after another straight.

Santa Barbara means Saint Barbara. St. Barbara was Roman Catholic but converted in her youth whilst locked in a tower that her <NOTE desc="text continues next page">

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father built to protect her from the world.

Her father was angry and sent her to the Roman governor, who could not convert her back so her father beheaded her and then was struck by lightning himself and killed.

She died in about 235 BC.

The rigs are collecting petroleum from the sea bed.

Photo no. 13 shows one of the islands off the coast of Santa Barbara. One of the islands is a park and a few of the others are inhabited but some aren't.

Carlitos:

heaters

Mum

Judith

Phil

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DIARY

03 March '97.

We got up early and had breakfast then walked through the park to the post office.

We left Annabel’s house and she drove us to Santa Barbara. We had a picnic at the Nature Refuge where we saw humming-birds, coots (American), cormorants, a hawk, Western Gulls, mallards, a brown pelican, a cinnamon teal and to my absolute delight a Carolina/Wood duck:

I only knew what it was because I’d seen it in captivity at Arundel in England, so I was completely chuffed when I saw it in the wild.

Then we went to the person that would be letting us use her dad's condominium.

We 'checked the pool out' and decided the temperature was way too low: 18°c.

Annabel, Dad and I went round the block to the convent, or <sic>missionary</sic>, but 'round the block' is not 'round the block' in England, but a very long way.

We had a Thai takeaway which was <sic>u-u-um</sic> different, much different <sic>than</sic> a Chinese anyway. They have lots of restaurants and takeaways.

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DIARY

04 March '97.

After waking up we went to a café-kind-of-place called 'The Brown Pelican', it was on the beach and served many types of food and drink. I ordered 2 <reg>rashers</reg> of bacon + 2 scrambled eggs <gap desc="figure"> + 2 pancakes <gap desc="figure"> with butter <gap desc="figure"> and syrup <gap desc="figure">

= <gap desc="figure"> and a cup of tea.

When I ordered a cup of tea I meant one of those ordinary Earl Greys but when it came I got a basketful of herb teas and honey and lemon. Mum said, "That's the way most Americans have their tea."

And I said, "Oh!"

Judith, our host drove us to the University where she worked and Mum was doing some things there too. Dad and I went to the beach and took photos of egrets and rufous hummingbirds and lots of other beautiful birds.

I drew and dad painted on the beach.

We went to the University art shop and then back to Judith’s.

For supper we went to a restaurant called Carlitos a mexican restaurant with a choice of eating inside or outside.

Outside there were heaters so you could eat outside even in the cold. There were fairy lights too and a fountain.

I had a 'Little Amigos <sic>Ch…. something</sic>' it was lovely!

The kind of mexican food is like a big pile of foreign stuff. They have things like pancakes, peppers, cheeses and vegetables.

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DIARY

5th March '97.

I went to the Y.M.C.A. and did some swimming to keep up with training, it made me feel better anyway!

In the changing rooms it was wonderful! There were carpets, mirrors, shower, costume dryer and hair dryers.

We then went to the University and dad and I ate a 'Hebrew National,' a hot dog with beef in it.

Then dad and I drew and painted, the rocks were splattered with oil from the tankers just off the coast, the oil is made by tiny creatures millions of years ago crushed by mud and made into oil. Then it is found and pumped through pipes to a refinery where they sort out the different types of oil, then some types are taken to garages and used for petrol in cars.

Oh and 'Princess Fergy' advertises fruit juice on T.V!

6th March '97.

Our friend came and took us to the <sic>missionary</sic> where people still use it but you are allowed to tour it too.

All of the missions are along the coast and they were founded by Padre Junipero Serra between 1769 and 1823. The missions were for the Californian Indians and they covered a 600 mile stretch from the earliest one in San Diego to the latest in Sonoma. The U.S. Highway 101 traces these along the coastline, carrying on Northwards.

The Santa Barbara Mission is called 'Queen of Missions'. It was originally a shelter over an <reg>alter</reg>, during the 19th century it was reconstructed four times. Photo no. 9.

The <sic>missionary</sic> has palm trees, a cactus garden, a whole garden of plants and several of the priests have been buried under a slab of stone and on one of the sets of postcards, you can see the wonders inside.

Then Arthur (our friend), Dad and I went to the Natural History Museum There were lots of different sections of animals and <NOTE desc="text continues two pages later">

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If you take these out or unfold them please put back and take care.

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outside was a full size model of a whale. Photo no. 14.

After the visit to the <sic>missionary and museum</sic> Mum, Dad, Arthur, me and some University friends went to an artist on the side of one of the Santa Ynez mountains, that block the T.V. signals from inland! Poor Santa Barbara!

Cynthia Martin paints pictures like this and her view is amazing! (Over the whole of Santa Barbara, the sea and the off shore islands.)

Don't worry about that T.V. thing, they get it even better! They get the same and more! After the visit to Cynthia's Arthur, Dad, Mum and I went to another outdoor restaurant. It was near the beach (on it, actually), but cold they had about two heaters for the whole thing! I had a very nice meal but was too full to enjoy it really!

07th March '97.

This is the day Dad and I ventured down State Street, summed up in one sentence - 'We didn't want to do that!'

At 9.30 we left making a mental note of where Judith’s was! We stopped at various shops along the way. State Street is 3 miles altogether, but we didn't go that far. (Straight, then it turns and goes on for another 2 miles.)

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We bought a few things on the way. State Street, going onto the pier is a very rough road made of wooden planks, but with fabulous looking hotels! The rest of State Street is fine though, where it goes through town. The town sprays out from the road.

On the way back, still on foot we went to the art museum - Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

Well you've got to admit this sticker has been through a lot!

After the walk, which took about 2 hours, I went in the Jacuzzi to ease my feet for half an hour then Mum came and I stayed for another half hour.

We went to a party and had supper at Judith’s.

08th March '97

This is the last morning in Santa Barbara.

I packed my bags, had breakfast and we all waited to be collected by our friends

<gap desc="Personal name"> and

<gap desc="Personal name">.

I went outside to see if I could find any frogs and then I looked across the road, to find Ray and Ernie with a map looking very lost!

For 12 o'clock we were on the road with Ray driving us in his 'Dodge' van.

For lunch we went to Costco, a big warehouse that sells everything and hot dogs!

… (Carries on in Joshua Tree.)

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JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK.

Joshua Tree National Park is in California and holds the most Joshua Trees.

The tree was named 'Joshua' from the prophet Joshua. When these trees were seen by desert travellers they thought it was Joshua, the prophet with a spear in one hand pointing to 'Ai' in ancient Greece.

The Latin name of the Joshua tree is Yucca Brevifolia and its original name was Agua Caliente meaning warm water spirits. These trees can grow up to nine metres high and they grow in the Mojave Desert.

U2, the pop group, visited Joshua Tree National Park and were so impressed they wrote one of their most famous songs about it.

Petals - attracting pollinators.

Stigma - receives pollen.

Stamen - produce pollen.

Style - connects the pollen received by the stigma and takes it to the ovary.

Sepal - protects the bottom of the flower.

Ovary - where the seeds are made.

Ovule - where the seeds are protected

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The Joshua tree or a kind of giant yucca provides food and shelter for small animals.

The animals do one good turn for another, the yucca moth does anyway. The survival of the moth and tree are essential, the moth lays its eggs in the flower's ovary and when they hatch into larva they feed on the seeds and then they drill a hole through the seed pod, leaving space for the trees' seeds to escape from their 'enclosure.' (As shown, the holes in the pods, on the bottom right of the postcard.)

Also the tree provides nests for birds, can you imagine sleeping in these spiky leaves and also the bits on the trunk are very stiff too.

Insects live in them too and attract other animals to eat them.

Photo number 18 shows fallen trees that make perfect homes for lizards and termites. The termites eat the trees and find shelter from hot, cold and drying winds in the bark. The rotting bark also produces food for the stinkbug. This is actually a chain - Sun - Joshua tree - termites and stinkbug - ground to roots of plants again.

The buds, top right on the postcard, are like all kinds of yuccas'. The eleven most common animals occur mostly throughout the states apart from the rare golden eagle.

1. Coyote, a main survivor of the desert, eating anything and howling <sic>mercifully</sic>.

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The coyotes surround domestic dogs and lead them to their den and then they go in for the kill, but not at the campsite.

The Coyote.

Burrowing Owl.

2. Burrowing owls, use rodents' abandoned burrows. It is active during the day and night, called a diurnal. <reg>Its</reg> Latin name is Athene curicularia and sometimes called a Johnny Owl. It feeds on insects, reptiles and rodents in the evening.

It is a territorial bird, bobbing and cackling at intruders. It basks in the sun outside its burrow.

Golden Eagle.

The rare Golden eagle still prowls the skies of the desert. You can't see the <sic>goldeness</sic> from a distance. Its latin name is aquila chrysaetos. It is 30-35 inches. It lays eggs in March to July and two of them.

…And yes, I have seen one, in Joshua Tree National Park.

3. Roadrunner, quite a clown as is the cartoon version. These birds eat insects, reptiles, smaller birds and rodents, these food sources give it its water. The roadrunner has much stronger legs than wings. Its latin name is geococcyx califorianus.

4. The bobcat has a body evolved to ambush its prey. It is a very shy kind of cat and the only one except for the mountain lion:

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Bobcat.

O.K. I admit I am tracing these but I will tell you when I trace them! The others, the other drawings I usually do freehand!

5. Jackrabbits hear very well and their eyes do a good job too. They have to have these qualities to spot predators like the bobcats, eagles and coyotes, also their powerful legs help them escape the clasp of death.

Jackrabbit.

Kangaroo Rat.

6. This desert rat's hind legs give fast <sic>mobolism</sic> over the sandy desert terrain, it survives on seeds and has cheek pouches.

Yucca Night Lizard.

7. Yucca night lizards, as I wrote before feed on decaying Joshua trees' inhabitants, its slim body fits into the small <reg>crevasses</reg> of the bark. It also may live in them its whole life.

8. Sidewinders are a kind of rattlesnake, and as with all snakes it detects rodents, its prey with heat <reg>sensors</reg>. You can tell when a sidewinder has been because of its tracks left in the sand, curvy dents made by its side-winding movements.

Tarantula.

9. Tarantulas aren't actually poisonous enough to kill you, just hurt you, if they are provoked. The tarantula hawk wasp is a predator of the tarantula, whereas the tarantula only eats insects. It is the largest desert spider and lives in a burrow.

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Stinkbug.

10. Stinkbugs, at the slightest disturbance stick their rear end up and emit a pong!

This bug is a scavenger.

As with all national parks there are regulations and safety rules. Regulations are: Pets - must be kept on a leash. They aren't allowed on trails or beyond one hundred yards away from the road, or 'man-made' area.

Transport - must stay on roads, NO off-road driving.

Camping - only in campsites, or with permission outside campsites.

Features - do not disturb plants, animals or <reg>archaeological</reg> finds.

Dangerous items - prohibited.

Speed limits - do not exceed.

Safety rules are: 'Stay out and stay alive' - meaning do not enter mine shafts or any abandoned structure.

Water - carry one gallon per person or two if it is a hot or you are performing strenuous activity.

Flash floods - avoid areas of drainage after bad weather.

Climbing - be properly <reg>equipped</reg> and trained and don't stick hands into holes as snakes live in these.

Emergency - call 911 or contact a ranger.

Any national park will have a leaflet containing a map, information about the park and safety instructions like the ones above.

Joshua tree has almost 800,000 acres of open land. Half of this desert is Mojave and the other Colorado.

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8th March '97.

… (carrying on from Santa Barbara!)

After two hot dogs at Costco and then some drinks we drove to Joshua tree and as we neared it we saw millions of wind generators. Fields of them.

Joshua Tree National Park used to be a monument, but it used to have not as good facilities as it has now.

The first campsite we tried was called 'Indian Cove', they said it was full, so we went to another campsite and found just two spaces left in the site. We could just about see to put the tent up and after that we went to a restaurant called 'Denny's.' Then after the lovely meal we went back to 'Black rock' campsite. Photo no. 17.

9th March '97.

At 5.30 a.m. I woke up, Mum and Dad too, Ernie and Ray slept in the van. As Mum, Dad and I got out of the tent Dad looked around and saw, to the Northeast Hale-Bopp, the comet.

After our exciting encounter Mum and I thought we would go for an early morning walk, but <sic>regretfully</sic> I was too tired and we both decided to turn back. We got back and Mum stayed out to draw whilst I went back to the tent to have a go at sleeping.

After this first night in the desert wilderness we all had breakfast. Which was toast, and no we didn't bring a toaster into the middle of nowhere, as you can see on the right hand end of the table on photo number 17, the big green thing was our gas stove that made everything hot. Also in the photo you can see a white tub of peanut butter, kitchen rolls, mugs, a great big freezing thing, bananas, cashew peanut butter and oranges, well that was what was on the table it may seem less, but don't strain your eyes looking for all of these items.

I know what you're all saying, "Now she tells us!"

… Oh and jam!

After breakfast we went to the visitor's centre and bought four postcards. We packed up into the van and moved to the next campsite. On the way we went to two shops, buying other essentials, that we only could <NOTE desc="text continues next page">

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Joshua Trees and rocks and cacti.

Life on the run!

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figure out we needed when we didn't have them.

We arrived at Jumbo Rocks and found lots of places empty, we decided on loop 'F' post 13, photo number 19.

We set up our tent, had lunch and Mum, Dad and I went on a walk. It was evening by then, which gave the rocks a golden glint and made the wildlife awaken. We saw a kangaroo rat, a thrasher and scrub jays. I also found out that the exterior of Joshua trees are exceedingly tough, having cut my leg through my jeans. Unfortunately the toilets were portaloos and of course stank like mad.

10th March '97.

Again we saw the comet amidst the spiky yuccas.

Dad and I went on an early morning walk - 6.30 a.m. We saw another kangaroo rat and its nest, lodged between two boulders.

I think it was deciding with deep lustrous eyes whether Dad and I were of any interest to it or what kind of life form we were if any, as we were standing as still as trees. When it decided we were just the normal, open-mouthed campers that it had been stealing food from it scuttled back into the <reg>crevasse</reg> its nest had been wedged into.

I finished my film and then drew back at the campsite. After breakfast we set off to our next destination, the Colorado River. We stopped on the way, as we drove through the rest of Joshua Tree, at the Cholla Gardens. Cholla is not said with <sic>lls</sic>, but with a 'y' instead - Choya.

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Joshua's Cholla Garden and barren land.

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I didn't get any cholla segments stuck on me! The whole cactus splits into pieces that come off when they are handled. The other name for a cholla is a teddy bear cactus, because it looks so soft. Photo numbers 21-22.

Next we drove on to the <reg>Ocotillo</reg> Patch, still in Joshua Tree, this is where the photo, with the caption 'life on the run', comes in.

The Ocotillo Patch had lots of ocotillos and again it is pronounced 'ocotiyo.'

Ocotillos have spines like cacti, but aren't cacti at all. Also they have wide roots, shallow in the ground like cacti too.

It thrives in Joshua's 'Pinto Basin'.

After rain the Ocotillo drops its leaves to lessen the amount of evaporation. The ocotillo only depends on the rain and doesn't rely on what is supposed to be Spring or Autumn, or as they say in America 'fall.'

As we were going out of our way, literally to get a photo of an ocotillo I brushed past a pencil cholla, photo no. 23 and it stuck to my ankle, "Ow!"

We went to the Cottonwood Visitor's Centre. The garden there was much worse than in the wilderness.

Then we headed East to the California/Arizona border. We stopped at a town called Parker. We stopped there and had a K.F.C. buffet. Then after our slap up meal Ray went to an information office and found out where we should camp on the Colorado River.

We drove over the bridge of the Colorado River that splits Arizona from California. We changed our watches so they were one hour ahead of California time.

On the way in the Mojave Desert we saw a sandstorm, like a whirl-wind.

… (Carries on in Colorado River section.)

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ARIZONA

Arizona is famous for many things. Grand Canyon in the Northwest of the state engraved by the Colorado River, Four Corners where all four borders meet in a cross, of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado. All of the Indian reserves in the Sonora desert and Navajo desert. And Monument Valley which is always used in cowboy films and is a great example of <reg>pedestals</reg>… and other rock formations.

Utah

Colorado

Nevada

C.C.

I.C.

C.T.

H.C.

New Mexico

California

R.C.

Phoenix

G.C.

O.W.C.

-Arizona

-Mexico

<gap desc="colour key"> -Colorado Plateau.

<gap desc="colour key"> -Mountains.

<gap desc="colour key"> -Desert.

<gap desc="colour key"> -Water

<gap desc="colour key"> -Borders.

<gap desc="colour key"> Dividing Lines.

C.C. - Canyon Country.

I.C. - Indian Country.

C.T. - Central Territory.

H.C. - High Country.

R.C. - River Country.

G.C. - Golden Country.

O.W.C. - Old West Country.

Our part of our trip in Arizona consists of the Colorado River, Phoenix, Petrified Forest, Phoenix, Organ Pipe Cactus, back to Colorado River and into California.

The highest point in Arizona is Humphrey's Peak, which is part of the San Francisco Mountains. It is an extinct volcano and is 12,633 feet high.

Arizona has 15 counties, 10 of which are covered partly or fully by the mountains.

The mountains are 6,000 feet <sic>in</sic> average but some are 10,000 feet high.

Forests, lakes and ski resorts provide money for

the state by bringing tourists in, I suppose private hospitals make money out of the ski resorts too!

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The Sonoran Desert hosts many cacti, reptiles and other plants and animals. The saguaro cactus (pronounced <sic>sahuaro</sic>) thrives here and lives beyond 100 years. It is said to grow an inch a year and can grow up to 57 feet, 11 inches high. The tallest one was first measured 57 ft., 11 inches high and then in a later time it measured almost 59 feet high but it has fallen since 1991 and now the measurers are searching again.

Arizona's largest populations are in the Sonoran Desert.

The plants and animals of Arizona vary throughout the three different regions, desert, mountains and <reg>plateaux</reg>.

* State capital.

<gap desc="colour key"> Route, showing which direction we went in.

Petrified Forest N.P.

Phoenix

Organ Pipe Cactus N.P.

N.P.-National Park.

<gap desc="colour key"> River Country.

<gap desc="colour key"> Old West Country.

<gap desc="colour key"> High Country.

<gap desc="colour key"> Central Territory.

<gap desc="colour key"> Indian Country.

<gap desc="colour key"> Canyon Country.

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FACTS.

State Flag-

13 alternate stripes, red and yellow. A copper star in the middle with a navy bottom half. The 13 rays are of the setting Western sun and also represent the 13 original colonies of the state.

The blue for liberty, as on the U.S.A. flag.

The star is copper because it is the largest copper producing state.

Motto. - Ditat Deus, meaning God enriches.

State Bird: Cactus Wren

Tree: Palo Verde, in Spanish means Palo - stem and Verde means green. Which is exactly what it is. See photo number 41, to the right of the saguaro in the foreground.

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Flower: Saguaro cactus bloom.

State number plate:

NOV

ARIZONA

SAM100

GRAND CANYON STATE

AT1

Seal: See postcard.

Highest Point: Humphrey's Peak in San Francisco Mountains, 12,633 feet.

The internet, Encarta '95, Audubon pocket book of familiar birds and me.

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COLORADO RIVER

The Colorado River runs from the split <reg>separating</reg> Baja California from Mexico:

through California, Arizona, Utah and the state of Colorado.

Colorado River.

In Arizona it runs as the border between California, through the Grand Canyon and up into Utah. Flash floods and powerful storms at the Grand Canyon crumble cliffs and sediments down to the canyon floor.

Trout thrive in the river and in the Grand Canyon chuckawallas, tarantulas and all sorts of animals. The river is 9,000 feet below the surface of the Colorado plateau

Millions of years ago lava built up forming a natural dam 3&frac;12 times bigger than the man-made Glenn-Canyon today. Although it ferociously blocked the river, the Colorado broke through and carried on its cycle. This power now could produce electricity for all of Los Angeles, Phoenix and Chicago.

The name 'Colorado' is AGAIN from Spanish, 'colo' meaning colour and 'rado' meaning red.

The television times' illustration for a programme about the Grand Canyon. (Narrated by Tim Pigott-Smith.

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10th March '97. (Carry on from Joshua Tree.)

We arrived at Buckskin State Park at abut 6 p.m. Arizona time. We searched around the campsite which was full of caravans as it was more of a Winter home for the caravaners. The people that live in the mountains usually buy campers and travel down to a warmer climate to avoid the snow that locks them into their own house.

We found a line of cabanas along the water's edge (the Colorado River), the cabanas were shelters. See photo number 26. We put our tent up to the left of this 'shelter' where there was about 3 metres or more of sand before you came to the road within the campsite.

Mum and I went to pay for our usage of the site and came back with a piece of card to display in the van.

Whilst we were paying we went to see their cactus garden which was 100% better than the one at Joshua Tree.

Ernie stayed at the entrance directing the traffic, telling them where there were spaces available, Mum and I went on the 'Lightning Bolt Trail', it was a small hill overlooking the campsite, river and part of California, as the half furthest away from us of the river was California.

I memorised the sunset and drew it later.

After coming down from the trail we had supper and a shower, and then went to bed.

11th March '97.

We saw the comet and this time through my binoculars. The dawn chorus was like an orchestra warming up - squeaky amplifiers, maracas and horns and millions of other awful sounds. We saw red-winged blackbirds, grackels and house sparrows also mixed with a flurry of multi-coloured birds.

I was exceedingly tired so Mum brought me a cup of tea into the tent as I poked my head through the tent opening and instantly flopped down again!

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When I decided to wake up I had banana and orange. Dad and I drew the river, see photo number 27. After that we left, 10.15 a.m.

We saw a man cycling on one of those roads that goes absolutely straight with nothing in sight except barren, dusty land surrounded by different mountain ranges. He had about a car load of luggage on the back of his bicycle, we realised that we had seen him when we were travelling from the bridge over the Colorado to our campsite.

Again we saw a sand whirlwind and then at 12.11 p.m. we saw a sign saying 'Roadside Table Closed' and do you know why? Because it had fallen down to create a mass of rubble. We kept on going till the retirement town of Sun City. Full of wonderful gardens and impeccable golf courses! We had lunch at the 'Old Country Buffet' meaning where you can have a choice of food, pay a certain amount depending on age and then stuff yourself silly!

… (Carry on in Phoenix.)

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PHOENIX.

For a city bang in the middle of the Sonoran Desert it does pretty well. It doesn't have as many complaints about the water supply as we do, that's alright, isn't it!

Phoenix is the capital of Arizona, its name comes from the bird. The mythical 'phoenix' is a bird that rises from the ashes once every hundred years or so. It is described as a kind of eagle.

Phoenix has a University of its own and that's where my Mum went to give a talk.

The longest road is Scottsdale, it is the main road and joins highway 10, coming from California to highway 10 going to New Mexico.

Scottsdale, Glendale and Tempe are the three main parts of Phoenix … Oh! And all you 'Friends' fans there's a place named Chandler near Phoenix!

The city has quite a few rivers actually - Gila River (pronounced He-ela), New River and Lake Pleasant nearby so whenever you're feeling down go to Lake Pleasant and cheer yourself up! If you're going to Phoenix you MUST have a car because according to the key on my map and my fingers Scottsdale Road is 20 miles long!

Photo number 40 shows a brilliant fiery sunset, which I am proud to say was not one of the few in the album that Dad took, despite the frequent smogs.

Sun City is a luxurious retirement village.

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11th March '97. (Carry on from Joshua Tree and Colorado River.)

When we entered the Phoenix region at about 4.00 p.m. we were relieved.

At 4.15 p.m. we saw a beautiful building like a mansion on top of a small hill covered in saguaro cacti and other types of cacti. That is the hill not the house covered with cacti.

This building was built by someone as a wedding present for his wife, but unfortunately it was so hot that his wife divorced him.

At 4.20 p.m. we joined the <reg>city's</reg> roads.

We decided to stay at Ray’s son in law's place instead of going straight to Petrified Forest National Park. Dan lives in Scottsdale. We drove to the block of flats that my Mum was going to stay with, a student of the University, she contacted her by <sic>advertised</sic> by the internet.

Whilst we waited for Mum's 'host' we had some drinks. Two men waited in a car, when they saw someone throw a food-mixer away they went to the dustbin and took the mixer out, examined it, couldn't figure out what it was and put it back.

When Mum's 'hostess' beth arrived we left for Dan’s.

We left at about 6.00 p.m; We got to the house about 7.00 p.m. This shows how long Scottsdale Road is.

Dan has two dogs, Beagles that greeted us all. Dan’s house has a swimming pool too. We went to the front door and he wasn't in.

I swam a bit in the pool and the two beagles wouldn't stop licking me! I drew the wonderful sunset and then it was 8.00 p.m. We had some snacks and then went to sleep under the gazebo:-

Purple Sweet-pea.

Gazebo.

Tent-flat.

Pool.

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12th March '97.

At about 1.00 a.m. Dan arrived and was just a little bit surprised! At 7.00 a.m. we were again woken up by a tremendous dawn chorus. We had a good breakfast and tea with vanilla flavoured milk. At about 8.45 a.m; after seeing some magnificent birds and some blackbirds nesting in the saguaro in the front garden.

We drove around Phoenix a bit and set off into the hills laden with saguaro cacti.

At round about 1,000 feet the saguaros stopped. It began to be rocky and we decided to stop at a 'restroom' for a while. Then we carried on into the Tonto Mountains. Ernie being a Spanish speaker and learning the most essential words only like 'tonto' meaning stupid. There's also an Indian tribe called the Tonto tribe!

At 12.10 p.m. we arrived at a town called Payson, which was 5,000 feet high. We had a Chinese buffet - <reg>it's</reg> hard to think of the stereotype of a Chinese person, which is small and delicate, and put a buffet to it!. The meal cost about $5.60. We also had fortune cookies and mine said "Your wisdom has kept you far from danger' - which comforted me!

At about 1.30 p.m. we saw snow, it was really pretty, as I write all of this I see such a vivid picture of what I'm writing about, unfortunately I cannot share this with you so clearly so <reg>let's</reg> move on.

We were higher than 5,000 feet and the <sic>snow</sic> was sprinkled with snow. Soon we entered the snowy region and the further we went the more ground the snow covered, only leaving a circle of bare ground around each tree, as if its warmth had warded the icy weather away.

In the places where it was flat it was up to 4 inches high and I would have loved to jump out of the van and play around in it, but onward we went!

At 1.50 p.m. we saw wooden houses and markets with signs. It was quite spooky as it was warm sun, cold air, no one in <NOTE desc="text continues on next page">

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sight but deserted, isolated and unfriendly huts.

Even here I saw signs along the road saying 'Adopt a highway cactus.'

Later the snow depth had thinned and we came to an open part of the road, where it was standing on stilts on the side of a hill with a waterfall running under it.

2.00 p.m. a sign informs us that we have entered 'Elk Country'. The snow has built up here. Another set of white on blue signs says, in order, 4 signs all together, along the side of the road - 'Elks are large'

'In herds they, run'

'They cross the highway'

'Don't hit one!'

Until we came to 'Show Low' the snow got more and more. I made up a corny joke of <sic>'It'sh</sic> only show low in Show Low!' At 4.20 p.m. we arrived at Show Low campsite where only one loop was open because the others were full of snow. We chose post number 14 and then had tea and fruit.

There was a lake there too called Fools Hollow Lake - it wasn't very interesting though.

At 7.30 p.m. we went to bed and it was below 10°c.

It got really cold and went below 0°c in the night.

13th March '97.

We had breakfast and then left for Petrified Forest. We had to start the engine twice, it was so cold!

At 9.45 - an hour and fifteen minutes from the campsite, we arrived at Petrified Forest National Park.

… Carry on at Petrified Forest National Park.

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PETRIFIED FOREST NATIONAL PARK.

Petrified Forest is on the Colorado Plateau. The park contains many geographic features such as <reg>pedestals</reg>, which are mushroom shaped blocks of stone formed by sand particles grinding the stone up to a certain height and leaving the rest:

<reg>(pedestal)</reg>.

The park's road is 27 miles long. With 14 different trails and views. Highway 40 also runs through the park.

There are two visitors' centres - North and South. The North is called Painted Desert Visitor Centre. 'Painted Desert' being a small section of Arizona covering the Petrified Forest Park.

The South visitor centre is called Rainbow Forest Museum. Unusual fish, plants and some of the earliest dinosaurs have been found here, since 1981. In 1984 a dinosaur - named Gertie, was found, paleontologists (people who study dinosaurs) still are trying to find out what kind of dinosaur she is. Helped by donations, research goes on to this day, trying to uncover the mystery and history of the Triassic period over 220 million years ago. In 1906 Petrified Forest became a monument and in 1962 it became a National Park.

The park is full of different coloured mesas too. Mesas are mounds of mud. See photo number 28.

The bands of colour are called Pastel Bands. The different colours represent different environments:

Blues and greys = carbon (organic material being buried underwater, rotting and unexposed to air.)

Reds = iron mineral, a type of, hematite. When it is exposed to a little air it rusts into red.

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White = 'bentonite clay'

The water carrying minerals from the ground gives the colour. The logs have been preserved by them falling into marshy land. The minerals in the water replaced the dead trees' cells. The trees were from the Triassic period - 225 million years ago. The triassic period <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> the earliest part of the Mesozoic.

The different colours of the petrified wood are the different minerals that replaced the trees' cells. Quartz refills most of the cells.

The type of tree is called - 'Araucarioxylon Arizonicum'. Arizonicum means wood from Arizona.

This is not the only park of petrified wood, other places like California <sic>has</sic> sequoias.

Dinosaur and plant fossils were found and even actual leaves have been found between rocks.

The largest animals are Pronghorn Antelopes:

… Oh yes, and some of the animals have been diagnosed as having the bubonic plague …Eek!

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13th March '97. … Carried on from Phoenix.

We arrived at Petrified Forest at 9.45 a.m. As we arrived we saw Pronghorn Antelopes as shown on the photo on the previous page.

We drove straight to Crystal Forest - see photo <sic>no.s</sic> 29, 30 and 31. (Before we drove to Crystal Forest we went to Rainbow Forest Museum - the museum has an open space full of wood - I took photos no. 33, 34, 37, 38 and 39.)

Then we went to Blue Mesa - it was a trail through a kind of open ended small valley of mesas - photo no. 28, 32, 35 and 36. On the trails there were posts telling you about what you could see around you. On the trail we saw a moon, the moon! At 1.00 p.m.! Then we went to Newspaper Rock. There were small drawings on some rocks, light on dark rocks:

Newspaper Rock is where Pueblo Indians used to draw.

The Agate House and all of the Puerco Ruins are built from petrified wood by the Pueblo Indians.

The Indians made villages in the Park because the Puerco River was nearby and provided sufficient water between the few rains that they had during a drought from 1215 A.D. - 1299 A.D.

The buildings were put together with petrified wood and adobe mortar, which was like our cement today.

(Puerco means 'pork' in Spanish!)

The 'pueblo' is thought to have been used three times <NOTE desc="text continues two pages later">

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throughout the drought and then abandoned as it got worse. The remains of the Indians' life here is shown by broken pottery, the petroglyphs - another name for the sandstone drawings and their tools of various types.

One of the petroglyphs was drawn on the day of the summer solstice. This has been suggested as the spiral figure on the rock is touched by a bar of sunlight on the morning of the summer solstice. And no other time of year.

After going to Newspaper Rock we drove to Pintado Point. ('Pintado' meaning painted.) There, it was very windy and behind you, you could see the remains of a small volcano. <reg>In front of</reg> you you could see the San Francisco Mountains and what looked like a shallow Grand Canyon that was a clay coloured red.

I think the dips in the plateau were made by the different washes, which are rivers that drain very quickly once they have been rained into! See photo no. 32, this shows <reg>pedestals</reg> and below what looks like white paths, these are actually washes … I'm not sure but in the distance, at the widest point about 1mm. below the horizon you can see a rusty coloured line and I think that is the Santa Fe Railway that carries coal and other materials through the desert.

Then we decided to go back to Show Low campsite through the Park. We had supper, washed and went to bed.

14th March '97.

We woke up at about 6.30 a.m. and Ernie who had slept outside in just a sleeping bag woke up frozen to the bone.

As we got out of the tent a load of ice came shattering to the ground. It was nice and sunny though and we had breakfast. Then we set off. We went a different way to the one we came by. We went out of Show Low, out of the mountains to a canyon. It was called Salt River Canyon.

As we drove lower and lower the cacti became more dense and you could see which types liked which heights!

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Our campsite at Show Low:

Salt River Canyon:

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PHOENIX

At 11.05 a.m. we had a meal at Burger King at a town called 'Globe'!

Then we drove all the way to Phoenix and to Dan’s house. Ray, his 'flat mate' was there except it wasn't a flat! I swam in the swimming pool and floated around on the lilo for a while, until supper time.

After a good, healthy meal we went to bed under the gazebo again.

15th March '97.

We had a fruity breakfast and lay on the lilo in the pool until it was tea time. I picked up a red-hot tan in my swimming costume that says - do not expose to direct sunlight! (For lunch I had an apple and some cheese.)

A sunset like the Phoenix rising from the ashes!

Then we had supper and went to bed.

16th March '97.

We woke up at 6.30, had breakfast and after phoning Mum we left at 10.00 a.m. We left Beth’s - where Mum was staying and after telling Mum that we weren't going to Tucson or Saguaro Cactus National Park, we drove out of Phoenix to Gila Bend. (Gila pronounced heela.) At Gila Bend we had lunch at Burger King.

Then we went to Ajo (prono-unced Aho) then through Why to Organ Pipe Cactus National Park.

… Carry on in Organ Pipe Cactus National Park.

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ORGAN PIPE CACTUS NATIONAL MONUMENT

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is full of loops, trails and drives. The Park has the largest congregation of Organ Pipe Cacti and Senita - a close relative!

The park also is home to prickly pears, beaver tails, saguaro cacti and all other sorts of flowers, bushes and wildlife.

The animals include Gambel's quails, javelina, Gila woodpecker, rattlesnakes, Gila monsters and other birds and animals like mourning doves …

The Organ Pipe Cactus has no central stem like the saguaro cacti. In the North the Organ Pipe cacti's new branches' tips fall off and die, then the coming of the new season brings branches that grow just below the old dead ones.

The cactus' flower is a white to a pale <reg>lavender</reg> colour.

Usually they grow up to 15-20 feet and some grow up to 30 feet. Their elevation is 1,000 feet to 3,500 feet

I think they call it an organ pipe because when it dies its hollow skeleton rattles and whistles in the wind.

Organ Pipe Cactus.

Senita.

Saguaro.

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16th March '97. … Carried on from Phoenix 2.

We arrived at the park and drove to site number 89. We walked round the campsite - Mum and I. Then Mum, Dad and I went on Desert View Trail. It was 1.3 miles. We saw cacti flowers and Gambel's quails.

For three quarters of an hour Ernie, Mum and I went to a slide show about rattlesnakes and gila monsters by a ranger.

Rattlesnakes: * <sic>has</sic> to eat every day to survive.

* a rattlesnake is slower than 0.62 m.p.h. but can coil up and strike at 30 m.p.h.

Gila monster: * when it bites it holds on for at least 15 minutes.

* a person who was bitten tried pouring gasoline down a gila monster's throat but that didn't work so he had to take it off with what it was biting into as well!

* if a gila monster eats three quails' eggs it doesn't have to eat for a year.

* a person tried drowning a pet gila monster but when he took it out it turned around a bit him.

* a gila monster's skin is very tough.

* if a gila monster is annoyed or aggravated it will hiss.

* <reg>its</reg> fastest speed is 0.62 m.p.h.

* only one bite has taken place in the park, when a researcher was taking it to a laboratory in a bag in a car and the bag became undone, climbed up the back of his seat and bit him in the neck.

* a healthy gila monster has fat tail.

Then we went to bed but were woken up by the screaming coyotes.

17th March '97.

We had breakfast, see photo number 42. Then Dad and I walked to the visitor centre - it was 1.5 miles.

When we got there we went on a mini trail and saw cactus skeletons - organ pipe.

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Then we drove out of the park and out of Ajo. Ajo in Spanish means garlic, but this was the Indian word meaning red face paint. We saw copper mines which were like mesas but with green, blue and <sic>orangey</sic> colours running vertically down them. The altitude was 1,740 - perfect for organ pipe cacti although there were only a few outside the park and as you enter the park there <NOTE desc="word/s missing?"> millions!

We stopped at Yuma and alongside part of the road there was a metal fence, fencing you out of Mexico.

At Yuma we had a buffet.

Then we drove past date palm farms to Squaw Lake campground. There we saw a water vole. (We got there at 4.15 California time/5.15 Arizona time.)

We saw the comet and heard braying burros - wild donkeys and howling coyotes.

18th March '97.

We had breakfast and packed, we left at 8.15 a.m. Arizona time. See photo number 47.

We crossed the border to California and drove to Salton Sea, see photo number 48.

At 11.00 a.m. we saw a wonderful range of birds and we saw a rattlesnake. It was green with black arrows:

… Carry on in Anza Borrego.

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ANZA-BORREGO.

The Anza Borrego State Park is one of the largest in the Nation. It consists of parts of mountain ranges, deserts, valleys and peaks. Trails lead you up mountains and to overlooks and canyons and special items of interest, like Yaqui Well.

In this maze of canyons, mountains and creeks many different wildlife <sic>lives</sic> . Different small cacti live here, but no saguaro or other tall ones. Amidst the high and low, open and closed spaces is Borrego Springs, a village with shops, gas stations and a few houses. Near this village is the Visitor Centre that is neatly welded into the desert. They've built it and then put a desert garden on top of it and also sloped the back so that is also patched up with desert.

There is the Southern Emigrant Trail that the Indians took over 130 years ago. 10,000 year old petroglyphs have also been found here.

There are seasonal closures for the bighorn sheep to drink at the water undisturbed. From June 16 to September 15 Coyote Canyon is closed.

The bighorn sheep are a big feature of Anza Borrego as shown on their logo:

The Visitor Centre had an exhibit of the ways of life for the Southern Emigrants. It also had exhibits on fault lines in the park. It had a slide show and talk on wildlife and other subjects to do with the park. The centre sold postcards, bookmarks, books and maps. Also there were free leaflets and even one on what to do if you have an encounter with a Mountain Lion.

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DIARY 18th March '97.

… Carry on from Organ Pipe Cactus National Park.

Then we went to Anza Borrego, through part of it where the ocotillo thrived making the floor look like green stems, holding a red sheet up. We pitched up our tent at Tamarisk Grove at number 25. At 11.40 a.m. we had chicken from the supermarket on a roundabout with lush grass, palm trees that looked like film when the sun was behind the leaves and a small building in the middle.

We went back to the campground and looked around the cactus garden which was great.

We went on the Cactus Loop Trail, see photo numbers 50, 51, and 52. When we got back we had supper (Mum, Dad, and I went on the trail.) We heard the coyotes screaming again that night.

19th March '97.

We woke up and whilst we had breakfast a hummingbird came and flew very close to us.

We went to the Visitor Centre and saw the garden.

We also did the Loop Trail and saw a two-fringe-toed lizard, see photo number 49.

After that we went back to the campsite and had lunch.

In the afternoon Dad and I went to one of the dried up creeks, and saw lots of different cacti. As it was about 1.00 p.m. it was really hot and two bottles of water wasn't enough. The creek was between the main road and Tamarisk Grove. The sandy ground was carved into grooves, how water does in mud, from when the creek had water.

Some people found the owl in the campsite and we went to see <sic>them</sic>.

Dad, Mum and I went to Yaqui Well which was covered with reeds and full of flies. The walk there was full of cacti. We saw lots of birds too - phainopeplas, white-winged dove and another one. We came back and we saw a ruby-throated hummingbird.

We then had supper and went to bed.

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Anza Borrego - Yuccas, Brittlebush, Creosote Bush and in the Foreground, the Spiky Bush is an Agave Base.

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L.A.

DIARY

20th March '97.

We woke up at about 5.30 a.m. We had breakfast and packed up and left at 7.00 a.m. On the way to L.A. we went past the Palomar Observatory. Palomar in Spanish means 'stick in the ocean.'

… Carry on in L.A. no 2.

We arrived at 11.00 a.m. at Annabel’s. We then had lunch at Clearwater Café. I had grilled artichoke and for pudding a passion fruit sorbet. We went around town, then back to Annabel’s, had supper and went to bed.

21st March '97.

We woke up at 6.50 a.m. and went to town at 2.00 p.m. We went to a post office where you could put some money into a machine and you got stamps back. Then we went to Nordstroms, an expensive clothes shop, and bought me some tights for the Grammar School. We got home at 6.30 p.m. We had a pizza, then went to the jacuzzi.

22nd March '97.

We went to our friend's place, Jean, after breakfast and a game of tennis. With Jean, Mum and Dad we went to La Brea Tarpits.

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La Brea Tar Pits is one of the largest fossil sites in the world. The fossils are up to 40,000 years old, encased in natural asphalt

The earth's surface

natural asphalt

layered sediments.

As certain animals wandered into the asphalt and got stuck, they were followed by predators as they were easy prey. Say a wild horse got stuck, a saber-tooth tiger would lunge in after it and once they were half-submerged, scavengers like vultures and wolves would then venture in and also get stuck. So a whole ice age scene would be caught in one area of asphalt. Still prey and predators are caught in present day asphalt pits. An owl and its victims have been caught for future <reg>archaeologists</reg> to discover and even as we left the museum a policeman guarded an asphalt spill in the pavement. A whole woman was also found in one.

Saber-tooth tigers, vultures, bears, wolves, dwarf pronghorn antelopes, mammoths, sloths, American mastadons, tapirs, western horses, peccarys, camels, llamas, <sic>bisons</sic>, <sic>oxens</sic>, dogs, weasels, <reg>racoons</reg>, lions and rabbits, eagles, falcons, condors, teratorns, storks, turkeys, owls, woodpeckers, songbirds, sticklebacks, dragon-flies, flies and crickets are all creatures that have been trapped. Also plants were trapped.

The museum has exhibits of what kinds of birds there were and information, it has also a film about it, testing how hard it is to get out of asphalt. It also has an outside kind of jungle.

See photo number 56, you can see bubbling asphalt and three model <sic>mammoths</sic> elephants, one half submerged, it has a laboratory which you can see into and see researchers at work.

George C. Page is the founder of the museum.

The two coins above are the same but different sides, you can exchange one of these for a few cents.

After going to 'La Brea Tar Pits' we drove back to Annabel’s. For supper our other friend Claudia came, at 10.50 p.m. we went to bed.

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23rd March '97.

At 8.15 a.m. we had breakfast and played tennis until 11.00 a.m. Then Mum and I went to a shop called Clothestime and bought three t-shirts. Then we went to another shop, then to Thrifty and had ice-cream. We went back across the road and played tennis. We then had supper and went to bed at 10.15 p.m.

24th March '97.

Woke up at 8.15 a.m. At 10.25 a.m. we played tennis after breakfast. Mum, Annabel and I went to fetch Barry, Annabel’s 'flat mate', from the <reg>airport</reg> at Burbank. Then we went to Fry's Electronic Store which was massive.

That night we watched the <reg>Oscars</reg> live on T.V.

Then we all went to bed.

25th March '97.

8.40 a.m. I woke up and had breakfast. We soon after set off for 20th Century Fox Studios, where Annabel’s friend <gap desc="Personal name"> was doing translating, from English into French, for the director of Alien: Resurrection.

Getting there we passed through Coldwater Canyon and <reg>Beverly</reg> Hills. We also saw <reg>Beverly</reg> Hills Hotel.

We were met by one of the stage people called Eddie, after we had parked our car in the car park. - Which was guarded. He took us into one of the big studios, which looked like a warehouse full of cables and slimy bits and props etc…

We saw Sigourney Weaver, Nancy<gap desc="Personal name"> and some other people having a meeting. Nancy told us later that it was about Sigourney not wanting to be hung upside down in a <reg>cocoon</reg> in the Queen's Den but slung into a corner, covered in slime! See photos. 64 for <reg>cocoon</reg>, 59 for Nancy on the left and Sigourney on the right and 60 for the 'Queen' in her den.

Then Nancy took us to the 'Betty Spaceship', the <sic>goody's</sic> one. See photo. 58 - the cockpit and 61 - a game machine! In the cockpit, the cockpit, and the sleeping area were there and to get to them <NOTE desc="text continues on next page">

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you had to go up lots of stairs, because it was built on legs, still in the one massive studio.

Then we went to have lunch - battered beef, carrots and brownies. You got it from a kind of caravan stall!

We <sic>the</sic> wandered around another of the big warehouses that they were taking down. (We had our lunch in yet another warehouse which was completely empty and Nancy told us it was the place that they did underwater scenes, where there was a big square in the middle, the big pool was underneath it.)

Part of the set that they were taking down:

Also in the set being deconstructed there was the Clone Laboratory that was burned.

Then we went back to the main stage and saw everyone testing the lights and cameras. (Before we left the 'deconstruction zone' we saw Sigourney in her star caravan being 'made up'!)

We then got almost thrown out by the Publication Department <NOTE desc="text continues on next page">

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for seeing the 'Newborn' alien. See photo no. 59.

We wandered back to the car via the New York streets! See photos. 63 and 62. And this was all outside. It was all totally amazing!!!

We got back to our car and saw other peoples' cars being driven to them by some of the '<sic>patrolsmen</sic>', whilst they waited!

Our Visitor Pass:

for supper we had a Thai Takeaway.

Then we went to bed.

26th March '97.

At 9.10 a.m. we got up and had breakfast. Then at 11.00 a.m. we played tennis for 50 minutes. We had lunch and then I swam in the ice cold pool and after I'd dried we played tennis again. (Before going swimming Mum and I went to the post office <NOTE desc="text continues on next page">

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and <sic>has</sic> some ice-cream.)

Then after tennis Mum and I went in the Jacuzzi. Then we went to a Mexican restaurant called 'Acapulco' and I had Enchilado Enspinacos, which was kind of <reg>cheesy</reg> spinach in a thin pastry like roll.

Then we got home and went to bed very late.

27th March '97.

Woke up at 8.15 a.m. and had breakfast and then we went to Ralph's to do some last minute shopping. Then we came back and had a snack lunch.

At 1.15 p.m. we put our bags together and drove to the <reg>airport</reg>. After checking in and putting our bags - plus an extra suitcase onto a conveyer belt we went through the x-ray machine and Dad's camera got stuck, but we soon solved that one out.

Then Annabel went.

We got on our plane at 3.20 p.m. and left 45 minutes later, see photo no. 65.

Then we flew back to England!

My aeroplane ticket:

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Mum.

Dad.

And all the other people that helped.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anza Borrego Desert State Park. * Petrified Forest. *

Treasures of the Tar Pits. * All the Park Leaflets. *

All About Saguaros. * National Audubon Society * Guide to the Birds of Imperial Valley. * The Concise Birds of Britain and Europe. * And every other book and references. *

That's all Folks!

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