Video: Total Solar Eclipse July 11, 1991

Posted on by Dick Dorkin

The decision was made. Drive 1,000 miles south, to the tip of Baja to watch one of the longest solar eclipses ever: totality for six minutes, 53 seconds. The sun’s shadow traveled over Hawaii and then Baja California — most eclipse fans opted for traveling to Hawaii (which was overcast during the eclipse).

Eric and I camped near Punta Colorado on Baja’s East Cape to wait for the noon event. We’d done our homework on what to see, what to expect, but nothing prepared us for the sensations during the eclipse: much cooler, a noon-time sky with stars, and dusk 360º along the horizon. To say “surrealistic” would be an understatement.

Ahhhh … 1991 VHS quality!

Nine Days in the Eastern Sierras

Posted on by Dick Dorkin

This gallery contains 23 photos.

Nine days to kill in the Eastern Sierra — what a great problem to have. Of course there was the usual mountain biking, most likely relegated to Lower Rock Creek or other non-Mammoth Mountain locations. We wandered into the eastern side of Yosemite Park a couple days, and also hit a lot of other trails […]

No Love from Laurel Lakes

Posted on by Dick Dorkin

This gallery contains 8 photos.

Time to take Dennis to Laurel Lakes — he’s never been there. The 10-mile out-and-back road starts a little south of Mammoth Lakes in the Eastern Sierras and climbs 2,700′, topping out a little over 10,000′. We were hoping to make our destination, but given the amount of snow the area received that winter, failure […]

High Desert Wildflowers

Posted on by Dick Dorkin

This gallery contains 11 photos.

Earlier this spring, Carol and I made our pilgrimage to the Mojave high desert to see the wildflower bloom. This part of the Mojave is located about 3,000′ elevation, so spring doesn’t arrive until April and later. Many people choose to visit the bloom at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, a state-sanctioned wildflower viewing […]

Video: LA Traffic • 1.6 Miles in 13 Minutes

Posted on by Dick Dorkin

Pershing Dr. north to Culver Blvd. east: 1.6 Miles in 13 Minutes.

While viewing, keep an eye on distance vs. duration.

According to Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin’s office, these roadway changes are part of a pilot program, with an evaluation of its benefits and drawbacks to be conducted sometime in the future. Bonin’s office has expressed an openness to community feedback and is going “to gather data and public input, analyze whether impacts are positive or not, and adjust accordingly.” All residents who wish to comment on the roadway configurations are encouraged to contact Mike Bonin‘s Mobility Deputy Jessie Holzer at jessie.holzer@lacity.org or 310-575-8461. Music by Meatloaf: “Back Into Hell.”

Extra-Credit:

 

Old Postcards

Posted on by Dick Dorkin

This gallery contains 16 photos.

Uncovered from an archaeological dig in my grandmother’s old desk, this is a group of old postcards dating from the 1960s and ’70s — some even earlier. Beginning in the west then heading east.

COPS Racing at the 50th Mexican 1000

Posted on by Dick Dorkin

This gallery contains 54 photos.

This is the daddy of all off-road races: the Mexican 1000. It started exactly 50 years ago by the National Off-Road Racing Association, the first sanctioning body dedicated to off road racing. The first event began in Tijuana and finished in La Paz, while this 50th Anniversary running would start in Ensenada and finish in […]

A Long Weekend in the Desert

Posted on by Dick Dorkin

This gallery contains 25 photos.

Our base-camp for a long weekend in the desert was about 60 miles east of Palm Springs, near the Red Cloud Mine Road. From there we could wander and explore large areas of eastern California desert. Links to extra-credit videos are near the bottom of the page. What the Red Cloud Jeep Trail would like […]

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