In the meantime, let me share a weekly dose of photography from the Joshua Tree area. Hopefully it will get our minds of the Corona virus, if only for a few minutes.
Today I'll be taking you out to the Wonderland Ranch. Also called the Ohlson House, the Pink Palace, and multiple other names, there are only a few walls and a fireplace left standing. However, according to Elliot who writes one of my favorite blogs over at Cali49.com, as recently as 1975 the house and its roof were intact. There may have been a fire, because the roof is totally gone, as are most of the walls.
The fireplace is still standing!
It's hard to pass by the Wonderland Ranch without taking a few photos, even though I've photographed it many times in the past. Most of these photos were taken late Sept. 2019. I was hiking into the Wonderland, so I took the photos above as I was starting my hike. Most of the photos below were taken late in the day after ending my hike. I'll probably share that hike with you on my next post.
There's a lot to see in the Wonderland Ranch area. There are a number of old rusty cars and trucks, but this one remains my favorite. Can't believe I took this photo back in Sept. of 2014! For quite a while I was using it as the header photo on my blog.
As the sun slipped below the horizon, I thought I was done taking pictures and put my camera in my backpack. The sky often fools me that way! Within about 10 minutes I had it back out and was taking photos (below). I didn't have a tripod, but I increased the ISO setting (between 1250 and 2000), and that did the trick.
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| Wall Street Mill trail under a beautiful sky... nearly back to the parking area. |
Thanks for joining me on this short hike out to the Wonderland Ranch.
Please stay safe and healthy. It sounds like we are all going to be wearing masks if we venture out of the house.
Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by!
Breathtaking skies as always. Wonder why somebody would try a ranch out there but it makes a very pretty volley now.
ReplyDeleteJust as what I feel every visit here, astonished! Those sky photos look fierce and sent me to a pool of wonder. My favorite for this week, that Lone Joshua tree over the window under the clear blue sky shot! WOW!
ReplyDelete...let me tell you my friend, you can NEVER have too many images like these! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDramatic and wonderful skies!
ReplyDeleteAm early for a change! Enjoying the mid50ties weather, but snow is in the forecast! We'll see! The colors you used here, are much brighter (pinks and reds) than most of your captures now! It tells about your love for the desert!On the country side here, you can't tell the difference. Normal amount of cars, more work trucks. Most stores are open, also the ones who are not supposed to be open. But I understand, the city views are more taxing to the mind. One more month! But we will have Easter in the middle, so that will help! Keep being healthy!
ReplyDeleteyour skies are always so impressive but the sunsets are absolutely amazing today - if you don't go to the desert for a walk, you could recycle some old photos - I don't think anyone would mind. Take care
ReplyDeleteThere is something about ruins that captures the imagination.
ReplyDeleteI bet you could write Friday posts nearly forever with all the photos you have taken, but I realize that is no fun. Still, nothing wrong with reruns. And, if I was your wife (OK, sorry, I'm a bit of a baby) I would ask you to stay home during this time.
ReplyDeletestunning ruins
ReplyDeleteI never tire of your amazing photos - I always feel like I am actually there with you and it is a lovely experience :)
ReplyDeleteStay safe, Mxx
Stunning clouds. Great post and pics.
ReplyDeleteThis desert has some amazing clouds and colours
ReplyDeleteI love the second-to-last shot--- but they are all great. Give some serious thought to not going out. Or if you do, keep it to yourself. Too many have gone out thinking that no one's around anyway and "no one" is often defined poorly. We're staying in, but using pictures from previous Aprils. The mountains and trees haven't changed. Stay well!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures as always. You wouldn't be allowed to make your proposed trip in the UK, though of course we don't have any such extensive untouched areas anyway. The problem here was that, with so many other attractions closed, everyone headed for a few well-known beauty spots as soon as we had some good weather. So now we're told to stay in our local area and only to exercise for about an hour every day. The rest of the time we must sit at home and drool over other people's pictures! :)
ReplyDeleteSweet an nice hike, and the sort of place I would be nosing around as well do like the sunsets at the end but the car takes pride of place
ReplyDeleteHello, I just loved all of your photos, it is a delight to see your new post every week. The skies and Joshua tree are beautiful. I like the 3rd photo framing the tree and the last 4 sky photos are gorgeous. Well done! I hope you can take your hike! I am itching to go on a road trip, I wish this would end soon. Take care and stay safe, wishing you a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteI remember that old rusty car as the header of your blog. What a great photo! All your pictures are so awesome, always. Stay well.
ReplyDeleteWow - stunning shots!
ReplyDeleteI love formations and sunsets, they always captivate, BUT the vehicles just ring my bells. You are so danged good with that camera. I can remember playing in the junk cars at my uncle Oscar's junk yard in the country side of South Carolina.
ReplyDeleteSherry & jack
These are phenomenal photos. The colours, clarity, setting...gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAll of these photos are simply stunning. The views from that old house were/are breathtaking. That photo with the old car is a prize winner.
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos---Oh my gosh. The house is amazing to be still standing so long abandoned. Gorgeous skies---Thanks for the Wonderland tour
ReplyDeleteMB
Not sure if I mentioned this before, but when I was in elementary school (a few years ago haha) my best friend's family homesteaded somewhere in the desert, I can't remember exactly where. They built a cinder block cabin and it was fun to go out there with them on weekend trips. For water there was a tank on the roof that a truck supplied. No electricity or other services. Maybe that and their off-the-grid hay ranch near Hemet made me develop a love for off-the-grid living. - Margy
ReplyDeleteThanks for you comment, Margy. That's interesting. A number of the desert homestead cabins in the 29 Palms/Wonder Valley area a cinder block construction and have water tanks on the roof. To this day, water trucks deliver water to cabins and houses that don't have city water. I wouldn't be surprised if your friend's cabin was out here in my area. Small world!
DeleteI personally have never seen Wonderland Ranch. It is so exciting that you have and shared these beyond wonderful images. My favorite is when the sun is going down behind vehicles. Amazing! I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed that your wife will ok your trip. Stay safe, my friend.
ReplyDeleteWhat beauty you captured. I love those skies, they are so dramatic. I remember the old vehicle when you had it as your header, I always liked it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, take care and stay safe.
Oh my goodness. These.are some fine sky photos. I think the pink farm house picks up some of that color in the sky. I bet it is even more noticeable in the mornings. I have in in your part of the country from time to time. I love the great expanses and the muted colors that make all pop off the the universe. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. Cheers.
ReplyDeleteYes we are in lockdown too and I've been getting cabin fever lately, can't wait until this is all over.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you for this wonderful photo hike with you ~ Love the Pink Palace and especially juxtaposed against those beautiful sunset photos ~ Wow!
ReplyDeleteBe Well,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Amazing pictures all!
ReplyDeleteLove your photos, especially the last one!
ReplyDeleteMost of the parks, walking trails, etc. are closed here (Mississippi) as of yesterday. Parking lot gates are closed so there is no place to safely leave a vehicle even for a short walk. We are only allowed to go out for groceries, take-out food, or medical reasons. I wonder how strictly they are going to enforce it.
Be careful, stay safe, and have a good weekend!
Beautiful desert photo series. Love the skies.
ReplyDeleteWonderful series with stunning skys and landscapes !
ReplyDeleteThe photo with the old rusty car is unique !
spectacular colours. your deserts are full of surprises.
ReplyDeleteSpectacular photos of an interesting place. I love the old fireplace, kind of unsuspected from the exteriour of the house. Your sunset photos are wonderful. You are such a master of your camera upping the iso for the captures.
ReplyDeleteYour outing would fit the guidelines for Oklahoma where we can go out for essential trips and exercise. Here though, if you are over 65 you are supposed to stay in place no ifs ands or buts. I'll be there in a few days but I will still go out for exercise.
My wife and I are wearing face coverings when we go out today in accordance with the new guidelines.
Betcha you’d be safe without the mask if you do that desert hike....unless a lot of stir crazy people decide to try desert hiking for the first time (what an awful thought). ..... we wear face masks when we go out for short strolls each day. and Bill wears gloves to pump gas ..,( we are social isolating together in a small tin can, going home to Oregon. Where the governor knows what she’s doing as opposed to Florida when we left there.). Stay well. Fresh desert air has to be good.
ReplyDeleteI would love all the rusty stuff. And the picture just before the sunset ones is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeletePhoto editing software is as important as the best photo management software. Even though photographers usually do a great job of taking photos that are almost perfect right out of the camera, they can often benefit from a little post-processing. image background removal
ReplyDeleteAnother Brilliant Series Of Photos From That Magical Place - I Am So Stoked About You Setting Out To Free Your Mind From The Daily Grind - Stay Strong And Enjoy The Family Time - Sending Vibes Brother
ReplyDeleteCheers
Awesome pictures. To imagine... life back then! Different challenges, but oh, I could imagine it was beautiful, too!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
That car really makes a great view.
Great pics! I'm a homebody too but going a bit stir crazy. I'd grown used to the daily runs to pick up/drop off kids at some activity and having somewhere to go.
ReplyDeleteThose skies are wonderful! Sure recognized those old vehicle remains. We walk out every morning in keeping with the exceptions to the "in place" order.Like you, we rarely see another human being in our early morning wetland walks. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunset skies. I would love to see what that house looked like when it was standing and occupied. I wonder what it was like to live out there alone like that too.
ReplyDeleteMission accomplished - you took my mind off the virus for MORE than just a couple of minutes. A fabulous hike and stunning scenes, especially the sunset ones at the end of the post.
ReplyDeleteIn Montana, we are encouraged to get out for fresh air as long as we observe all the social distancing requirements. If you're not going to see anyone in the desert, I say Go For It!