California National Monuments

5/26/1996 Drove to Pt. Loma to Cabrillo National Monument. We were so early the road (on a military base) was closed so we circled around for a while. At the monument, first went to the visitor center for beautiful views of North Island, Harbor Island, etc. Down to the ocean to explore the tidepool area and more great views.

The park sign

Me being silly with a lens

A tidepool

The rocky beach

4/9/2019 We then set our sights on Castle Mountains National Monument. The park unit protects a section of the Castle Mountains, a range located in San Bernardino County and Clark County, Nevada. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mojave National Preserve, and it in turn surrounds the Castle Mountain Mine Area, an open pit gold mine. We got off on a side road east from the interstate with a plan of then heading down south from that road on a dirt road into the NM. However, as we looked at the time the GPS was giving us, plus the travel up to Las Vegas, we got quite concerned about when we’d get into town, especially considering we had planned stops there. We then decided to go with my Plan B which was to head down another earlier southerly road as far as we could go for views of the mountains; we noted that at this point we entered back into the Mojave Preserve. I thought we would get to an area where high clearance 4WD was needed, but even before the pavement ended there was a road closed sign. We pulled off there and stepped out for our photos, only to get blasted with the 30+ gusting to 60 mph winds that we were warned about. It was even hard to hold the cameras steady, especially for panoramas.

A panorama of the area

The Castle Mountains ...

... and a closer view

Me ...

... and Ken

4/9/2019 then arrived at the César Chávez National Monument in Keene, a relatively new unit tucked in the mountains (and ironically after two full days, the impetus for what was supposed to be a simple NPS Unit check-off trip for me). It is also the Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz NHL. The property was the headquarters of the United Farm Workers (UFW), and home to César Chávez from the early 1970s until his death in 1993. We took a stroll through the museum, learning about the strikes of the workers that ultimately led to the UFW and workers rights. The NPS building was actually used by Chávez, and the museum included his original office area staged the way he used it. Heading outside we walked through the very attractive gardens and saw the graves of Chávez and his wife near a pretty water cascade wall and fountain.

The park sign on the road ...

... and at the site with me

Home and headquarters

Farmworker cabin

Early leaders

Chavez's office

The memorial area ...

... with me and Ken

Chavez graves

Pretty garden area

9/12/1988 Drove to and hiked into Devil's Postpile [National Monument] - similar to Devil's Tower, WY only smaller.

An informative sign

Cool extrusions

A close-up of a pillar

Another view

5/13/2009 Arrived at Lava Beds NM around 3:30 and headed down to the visitor center, stopping at many cool pull-offs. The cinder cones all around were obvious, as were the extensive lava flow fields. At the VC, went on a trail to the Mushpot Cave. Down a ladder into a cool lava tube cave. The park has made a path lined with small red lights and a few information signs, so I could just see to walk. Unfortunately, while filming I whacked my headed on the low ceiling and got a cut through my hat – ow!

The park sign

A good panorama of the lava field

Close-up of the lava

A cinder cone

Mushpot Cave outside ...

... and inside

7/1972 Drove back to San Francisco, stopping at Travis Air Force Base and Muir Woods National Monument, and over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Ken on a bridge along the trail

A look skyward

5/1984 Drove to San Francisco, toured Muir Woods [National Monument], walked down to Muir Beach - very cold, lots of jellyfish.

A look at the deeply creviced bark

Friends Todd and Jim on the trail

10/28/1991 Drove across Golden Gate to vista point, then on to Muir Woods [National Monument]. Beautiful sunny, cool day to walk around woods - saw some deer close up.

Me by a cross-section of a tree

Some of the giants

Maureen showing the scale

A look up a tree

11/5/1993 Drove down to Muir Woods [National Monument], had lunch and walked around.

Maureen in front of a big one

8/25/1994 ... drove down to Muir Woods [National Monument] (had lunch right before getting there). Nice walk through forest, even took Hillside trail up on hill at mid-tree level.

National Monuments - California