Crows Landing

 

Crows Landing Facility Fence - Stanislaus County  2022

Covanta Sign, Crows Landing Facility - Stanislaus County  2022

So, slightly more journalistic work from me, compared to my December, 2009 post. This time I got off at the Crows Landing offramp, got out of the car to shoot some pix, then got back in and drove off. Yes, windy.

There's a Stanislaus Covanta website, for those who might be interested.

Grapevine Sightems

Pet Area (Rest Stop) - Kern County  2022

Poles, Mountains - Kern County  2022

Top photo taken in a rest area just off highway five coming over the Grapevine.

Bottom photo taken from a Starbucks parking lot near the town of Grapevine.

"The village and grade are named for the canyon the trail passed through, after the wild grapes that grow along the original road. Its Spanish name is La Cañada de las Uvas, that is, Grapevine Ravine."

Grapevine

Highway 5 (Grapevine) - Kern County  2019

Taken from the small Highway 5 off-ramp area of Grapevine. Some restaurants, gas stations, and this view.

Highway 5 South - 2

Highway 5 South - Stanilaus County  2019

Parking Lot - Stanislaus County  2019

Hali managed to take a quick snap of Mike at the viewpoint. Again, lots of rain!

Mike with Olympus E-M1II - Stanislaus County  2019

HIghway 5 South - 1

Aqueduct Viewpoint Parking Lot - Stanislaus County  2019

California Aqueduct - Stanislaus County  2019

On our way driving down to Los Angeles last month. I always like to stop at this particular viewpoint. Much more rain than expected!

Driving to L.A.

Powerlines - Central California  2018

Wildflowers (Lebec) - Los Angeles  2018

That is, driving "down" to L.A.(heading south) in April of this year.

Power lines at a rest stop.

Wildflowers over the Grapevine near Lebec.

Birding—January, 2010

The weekend was dank and foggy: great weather for birding. Hali, Barbara and Mike traveled first to the Yolo wildlife area just off Highway 80 past Davis, then early the next day to meet Dan at Cosumnes River Preserve. There was a great mass of tundra swans off the Highway 80 area, easily visible from the freeway. On the dirt road around the refuge we unlimbered Hali's new spotting scope, bringing the swans up close and personal. Mike's lens cannot reach that far, so he concentrated on reeds and water.

More: 2008 birding. 2009 birding.

Photos: Reeds & Water—San Joaquin Valley, 2010; Water—San Joaquin Valley, 2010

Crows Landing

Crows Landing Fence - Stanislaus County  2009

A lot of speculation in the blogosphere as to the purpose of the mysterious factory-like building and the tall fence surrounding it just off Crows Landing in Stanislaus County.

The definitive answer seems to be found here: "Ok guys, calm down, the big fence is to keep garbage (papers, cups, plastic, etc) that escapes the primary containment area from blowing out onto the freeway and causing a crash on I-5. If you take note of the fence, it is tall and lanky like one that might surround a golf course driving range. It is clearly *not* a high security perimeter fence. The fence is so tall due to the geographic location of the plant against the hills and the attendant high winds that are often present there. As for barbed/razor wire, I will have look next time I go by, but, I do not recall any but could be mistaken. The facility as previously outlined in earlier postings burns waste and generates electricity which is sold to PG&E."

For a fuller explanation of the facility, check here.

[Update: Some newer (2022) Crows Landing photos have been posted!]

Fresno! Dental

Mike particularly liked the exclamation mark.

Photo: Fresno! Dental—Fresno, 2009

The Way of the Geezer: The Drive to Fresno

After packing his gear away Mike drives into the small mountain town of Shaver Lake, famous for its Big Chunky. (A kind of cinnamon-y pull-apart bread.) Uh-oh, not being called a Big Chunky anymore. Just "Chunky Bread." Someday Mike must actually sample a Chunky.

Then down, down, down to a memorable Fresno moonrise photo op, but on the way down taking time to pull over to the side of the road to snap a photo of a ramshackle white shed.

Photos: Chunky Bread—Sierra Nevada, 2009; White Shed—Central California, 2009

Strolling Around Fresno

'Nuff said.

Photos: Cadillac for Sale—Fresno, 2009; VW—Fresno, 2009