We crossed three deserts after leaving Tucson and before alighting in Phoenix. I thought it would be interesting to provide photos of what we saw just from Sid’s window. First, we drove across parts of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts on our way to Gila Bend. We traveled through small portions of the huge Tohono O’Odham Nation and Barry M. Goldwater Air Force [Bombing] Range properties.
Next, we traversed more of the Sonoran Desert on our way to the California Pacific Coast. Leaving Yuma on I-8, we passed the southern tip of Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, and for a short distance paralleled the All American Canal along the border with Mexico.
We decided to exit the interstate at El Centro to cross Enzo Borrego Desert State Park on scenic California routes 2 and 78. CA 2 follows the Great Southern Overland Stage Route (circa 1860s) until intersecting with CA 78. The Sonoran terrain (and heat) ended essentially after we passed the Valecito Creek Oasis as we approached the end of CA2. Signs of water at last. How did the stage coach passengers survive?
Finally, after 3-weeks of visiting with family and friends in SoCal, we crossed the Colorado Desert to return to Phoenix to meet up with the Gomez family. With the exception of lush riverbanks along the Colorado River at Blythe, this section of desert had much less vegetation and significantly more mountain formations than the other two more southern deserts, .
Our only opportunity to see any desert wildlife was when we stopped, and we only stopped for gas. As a result, we only saw one creature across 500 miles of desert. MFI spotted this guy when we filled up in Coachella, CA, 23 miles east of Palm Springs. The temperature was 112 degrees F, and we believed this fellow was hoping for some water from the sprinkler system. He was about 24 inches long including tail, and is known as the Colorado Desert Fringe-toed Lizard (Uma notata).
Until now, my total perception of the desert was based only on what I had seen while stationed in Saudi Arabia. The desert there was mostly a sandy, rocky expanse with little to no vegetation. And yet, except for the heat, we found our US desert environment experiences to be extremely interesting, diverse, and fascinating. So we recommend that in your travels, don’t hesitate to stop, observe, and take in this unique ecology. You will be hot but not disappointed.
