So, It's been a long time since I've posted, long story. To say the least of it my laptop is dead forever and I've been on the move. Quick stops in Beijing, California, and Nevada where a 12-hour ordeal in the desert left me exhausted and ready to return home to my current country of residence here in Japan. So where to begin is the real question I suppose. Perhaps the best part is to talk about why I returned to the US after 7 years abroad. And maybe even longer about why it's taken me so long to go home. Which I think is a hard enough question within itself.
So starting there, I received a call from my youngest sister last month informing me my grandfather was in the twilight of his time on earth and I needed to return home. Myself not really having the funds for an international trip was at my wit's end. So, after making several phone calls and gathering the funds through family and a small personal loan from my bank found a last minute flight to the US. But I didn't make it in time. Saddened by that fact but uplifted at the same time by the deep connections with my family I was happy to have made it home. The funeral was beautiful and my grandfather was buried with full military honors. It was Beautiful. The sunset that night looking over the skyline of my home was so calming it felt like peace had settled over the world for a moment.
While there I was able to take in some of the more touristy sites of my childhood like Balboa park which I have to admit seeing it years and years later, is definitely a place to stop through if you ever find yourself in San Diego. A quick History of Balboa Park. The park was named after Vasco Nuñez de Balboa, the first European to spot the Pacific Ocean while on exploration in Panama. It was begun in 1868 and has been developed continuously ever since expanding in size and fame.
The park has also played host to The Second worlds fair: The 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition held to boost the local economy during the great depression. Many of the buildings around the Pan American Plaza at the southern end of the Park were created for the 1935 Exposition and present a fascinating architectural history of the Southwest, from earlier Aztec influences through Mexican pueblo style to art deco and modern art.
A number of museums also surround the area providing the area with a multitude of things to do and see while visiting the area, conveniently the flight path of the San Diego Airport flies right over the Air and Space Museum highlighting it as an attraction to visitors as planes seem to just pass over it.
Unfortunately my time there was limited and I had a few errands and such to run before returning to Japan. So, linking up with some friends of mine from my time in the Army, I set off to Nevada. I'd forgotten about life in the deserts of the far west and looking back with newly opened eyes could only gasp at how breathtakingly beautiful the deserts I had taken for granted as a child truly were.
A brief stop through Vegas for a beer or two for myself and our other compatriot D. and shazam we were off, though of course, I took a few moments to shoot a few "happy snaps" as I walked along a small portion of the strip. Honestly, though it was too hot to really enjoy being outside at all so the time I spent outdoors before we left was brief to, say the least.
Continued on to J's house in the quaint backcountry of Nevada.
That said on to getting stuck in the Nevada mountains, in the middle of the desert. My buddy J. decided he would take us to one of the scenic areas located on BLM land to drive around and of course I brought my camera along. The ride was absolutely gorgeous I had no idea that there was any vegetation in Nevada aside from some of the little brushes and cactus that grow on the side of the road, he took us to the mountains where I believe mesquite trees and sage grow alongside small pine trees.
I was honestly astounded by the diversity of the plant life and the terrain.
with some of the bluest skies I've seen I figured it was a great opportunity to try some filters that had been languishing in my kit forever.
As we went deeper and deeper into the mountains we found ourselves in a light rain and then momentarily it began to pour down. I was once again struck with awe at the fact it was raining in the desert. I suppose all of the things I thought I knew were completely wrong. It was about this time that we turned down a road that had water flowing straight down it. Reaching a bottleneck caused by a stump J. decided to slow down the car. Bad move. we came to a stop and the back right tire started to dig. Now earlier J. had mentioned how 4 wheel drive was great but wasn't necessary if you knew what you were doing....yeah. I bet he was eating his words at this point lol.
I didn't have the opportunity to really take too many photos until the end but needless to say without a winch, shovel, four-wheel drive, cell service or water we were up shit creek, with no paddle either. Just as night began to fall, we had to make a judgement call, keep at it or run out of the last few ounces of water I had in my thermos or wait until morning and the next day of heat. We began walking.
about 30 minutes into our hike out, as if our prayers were answered a dog and his owner came out of the woods. Nothing in the world can describe the relief because instead of a 20-mile walk to the nearest civilization we at the very least had someone who could potentially drop us off. We spoke for a bit and he gladly came and pulled us out, and guess what. He had four wheel drive.
All in all, everything turned out fine, but for a while, it was looking a little grim. We did learn some valuable lessons that day though. One doesn't overestimate your equipment. Two bring supplies just in case. Three, if you're gonna do something dumb have some good guys along with you, makes life easier. and most important of all, four; blessings come at the most unlikely of times, and we should count them all.