Whitewater Preserve visit

I got hubby out of his chair yesterday and over to the Whitewater Preserve.  First we stopped by the Whitewater Rock & Supply Company because the grandson is doing a rock collection for 2nd grade.  I wanted to pick up some obsidian there for him.  They had some in stock (sometimes they don't...) and picked out 2 nice, big chunks of it, and a nice, big pumice rock.  I found a rock from Baja, CA too and some smaller, broken samples.  My purchases came to $10 and I was pleased about that.  I even got to ride in their golf cart because their limestone supplies were all the way furthest from their gate!

Then, on to the Preserve.  That entire area is now C-L-O-S-E-D to ALL hiking, due to the fire danger.  Only the Preserve is open.  It's at the end of the road and one can hike either to the Whitewater River or up to the Pacific Crest Trail, but I'm not even sure if that is open right now.  Everything is very dry.

It was calm and peaceful when we arrived.  In fact, there were only 2 other cars in the parking lot!  What a difference from the Labor Day weekend, eh?  I've never been there when it was so quiet, but I've never been there during the week!  HA!

We both wandered around with our cameras and I let hubby do his own exploring.  He has a much better eye than I have...sigh...

We ended up talking to one of the rangers inside the ranger cabin before we left and he provided us with some useful information.  We, in turn, gave him some tips on the Mammoth area! I think he was exhausted from the Labor Day crowds.

It was a good day to get out.  Hurricane Newton's first clouds (and HUMIDITY) are approaching the valley today.  I can see a whole line of clouds to the east.  Ugh. Apparently it is heading toward Arizona and New Mexico.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/weather/sns-bc-tropical-weather-newton-20160907-story.html

 It was peaceful and quiet at the Preserve.

 No crowds!

 Empty tables

 Even the ponds were quiet!

One of my new friends!