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Seventy Years Old
I did not know what to expect. I’d never done it before, celebrated a 70th birthday. I was without fear, though. I figured it would just be another birthday except some of the birthday cards I receive will say “70!” or something like that - if anyone remembered.
Our three-night stay at Benton Hot Springs was the relaxing – and celebratory - beginning of a multi-week birthday adventure.
We left at the tail end of a snowstorm. We cleared snow with the tractor and front mount snowblower the morning of our departure, so we did not get an early start. Chain controls were in effect over all the Sierra passes and also south on 395. It was slow travel but we arrived at our campsite at Benton before dark. There was 3 inches of new snow. With the clearing skies, overnight lows would dip into the teens. The hot spring waters would feel that much more incredible.
The next morning, November 10th, we visited two petroglyph sites in the Volcanic Tablelands.
The snow capped Sierra Nevada soared above us to the west (above) and the White Mountains rose above us to the east (below).
We visited the first site many years ago. The ‘glyphs are on welded volcanic tuff cliff faces along a broad wash.
The site has a parking area with barriers to protect it.
Our opinion is that this site has the most varied and intriguing rock art of all of the Volcanic Tableland’s sites.
As we wandered, we continued to be awe struck by the beauty of this landscape surrounded by high mountains peaks.
What also caught my eye was the evidence of water courses gouged into the cliff faces. This arid land was telling tales of a much wetter past.
The Sierra Nevada was pretty darn nice in the west.
A new ancient rock art site to visit was within hiking distance for us. It is a much smaller site but well worth the time and effort, especially in the clear, crisp, frigid air.
Our trusty old truck remained alone in the parking area when we returned.
We wandered in the fading afternoon light after we returned to Benton.
As the length of daylight grows shorter and shorter as we approach the Winter Solstice, the Lady says, "This is the time of year Big Red likes to sleep in." Big Red is, of course, what the Lady calls the sun.
The following morning, the 11th of November, the Lady did something she’d never done before in her life – woke up in bed with a 70-year-old man. The restorative hot spring waters quickly turned back both of our odometers.
We pulled on our packs and enjoyed a long ramble away from camp. Our first stop was the historic cemetery.
Uphill is always Julie’s preferred direction of travel.
The first highpoint offered a wonderful panorama.
New deer tracks in the snow.
We climbed up nearby highpoints to take in the view and air. Being 70 years old was agreeing with me.
The Lady worked out a different route back to our campsite.
This route took us by the hot spring source.
We left Benton early on the morning of the 12th. Twenty years ago, we celebrated my 50th birthday with a visit to Death Valley National Park. Death Valley seemed so appropriate for the half century mark. We were now returning to Death Valley to celebrate my 70th.
What an adventure it turned out to be.
The story continues in the next installment. Please click for - Part Two.
