Before returning to our familiar coastal terrain we drove through the high desert of the Panamints, arid eastern Sierra slopes, the stunningly rocky and flower-filled canyon of the Kern River, fruit and nut groves of the Central Valley, and the rolling green Lost Hills of South Central California. It was a spectacular drive!

Between the raindrops we saw as many flowers along the roadside as we had seen in Death Valley. A few hours from home, Steve joked, “All we need now is an eagle”, remembering last year’s Seattle vacation when he said the same thing and moments later no less than a half a dozen Bald Eagles showed up. It’s hard to believe but 15 minutes later I spotted a Golden Eagle taking off from a farmyard as we drove by! We turned around and went back in search of it. Not only were we successful but while we watched, a Turkey Vulture and a Red-Tailed Hawk joined in against a dramatic cloud-filled backdrop. I wasn’t able to photograph the eagle, but the moment, and the incredible sky, are documented in one of the photos below.

I’m having fun with panoramas. The rest of Part 2 of the Anniversary Trip will continue in the next post. For now, you get two more panoramas from the final leg of our journey.

Solitary camping next to the Kern River was a little more our style than the Death Valley parking lot experience. It was getting on towards evening, and raining, so we almost settled for a depressing campsite on the really ugly Lake Isabella. But we moved on, and not 10 minutes later, found the Keyesville BLM Special Management Area with the Kern River flowing through and primitive camping allowed wherever your 4 wheel drive can take you.

Moments after pulling off the road, the clouds parted to let the sun through and we were treated to a beautiful rainbow. It was meant to be. We were home.

Click on a picture for a larger version. Can you find our truck (it’s teeny) parked above the river on the left side of the second photo? Home sweet home …