Since moving into a new place can be hectic and tiring and not all that fun — and because I didn’t want to waste an entire day trying to mount a TV I don’t know how to mount — I decided to drive out to Devil’s Punchbowl with some friends. Ken and KT were up to the task. And, oh yeah, Jack is in town visiting! He’s staying with Ken and KT and apparently wanted to surprise me. So he showed up at my door last night unannounced (and drunk on wine!). Good times. He made pub trivia night slightly more interesting than it would be ordinarily. I say slightly because he kept almost falling asleep in the bar. Poor little guy was jetlagged.
Hey, remember like two years ago when I blogged for WFMU? One of my posts was about possible internment camps being built out by Palmdale, California. When I went out there to see for myself what was going on, a local steered me towards Devil’s Punchbowl. I’ve been trying to get people to go there with me ever since. Today was the first time someone actually took me up on the offer. So Ken, KT, Jack and I spent the day there.
The Punchbowl was pretty cool. Really pretty scenery, total silence (except for our loud-mouthed blabbing) and crazy wildlife. My favorite part was when a bee landed on my foot and Ken had to shoo it away because it wouldn’t leave no matter how hard I kicked and shook. It was just crawling around, waiting to bite me or sting me or whatever it is bees do that freaks me out so much. After he successfully flicked the bee off my ankle I leapt into his arms and exclaimed, “My hero!” before planting a big wet one on his cheek. Or something like that…
Here some pictures/captions from our day:
Devil’s Punchbowl, as seen from the recreational area near the trailheads.
Our intrepid leader Ken leads the way as the loop trail winds downward towards the creek below.
The trail continues. This one was one full mile around. Oh yeah, and the creek
at the bottom of the punchbowl was totally dry.
Lots of rocks everywhere.
I think this was where someone spiked the punchbowl.
Jack (or “Camo Polo” as he became known around this time) points out a tree.
“Its bark is worse than its bike,” Nature Teacher Camo Polo says.
That’s a Mojave Rattlesnake. I think it’s the most venomous one you’ll find in the area>
Somewhere I have video of another snake getting angry and rattling, but I can’t find it right now.
That disgusting shithole is Los Angeles, covered in a beautiful layer of smog,
as seen from the Angeles National Forest. We drove home through the forest, it was
a beautiful ride. I would recommend it over those boring-ass freeways.
PG Six – The Weeping WIllow
Mike G (feat. Earl Sweatshirt) – Stick-Up
