Imperial Beach

Located very close to the California-Mexican border, Imperial Beach is the southwestern-most city in the United States, a small, unpretentious beach town not nearly as affluent or well-known as Coronado. Which is probably how they like it.



Located close to the beach is the Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center, where there are miles of trails and abundant bird-watching.

We had the reserve to ourselves, except for a birder who had already spent the entire morning waiting to see something. He became very excited by the appearance of a rare bird, which he pointed out to us (seen below). We have to admit, rather sheepishly, that we are not birders and therefore don't know how momentous viewing this bird was. We also can't say what it was (although it may have been a bar-tailed godwit). If anyone can positively identify this bird, please let us know.

Walking across to the uncrowded beach, we came across one of those scenes that defines the archetype of Southern California--surfers. One had brought his black Lab, who was ecstatic to get out in the water, rush back to shore, and repeat the process. He may have had a better time than his master, who wiped out.

Card of the Week: Ashford Mill, Death Valley

It might sound odd, but Death Valley is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and one of our favorite spots to visit. Despite its funereal name, there is plenty of life in this extreme environment. Even a little bit of rain can spur a bloom. Here is an abandoned mine now full of the wildflower desert gold.

This is one of our most popular cards. It is available for $2 each, with free shipping. A pack of 10 costs $16. To order, please contact us at info@mozaicstudio.com.

Card of the Week: Leaning Tree

Here's a new feature for our blog: Card of the Week, where we showcase some of our best cards. This one, "Leaning Tree," was shot at Maroon Bells, Aspen, Colorado.

Mozaic Studio cards are printed on recycled paper, and available for $2 each, with free shipping. Packs of 10 are only $16. To order, please contact us at info@mozaicstudio.com.

PickensPlan

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We've been all though the U.S., mostly on road trips through national parks, vast deserts, along Route 66, in sequoia forests, deep gorges, across wild rivers, and in parts in-between. This is a beautiful and amazing country full of ecological treasures. To diminish any of it is to lower our quality of life here.

At the same time, we must come to terms with our gross and ruinous reliance on oil--particularly foreign oil--as the fuel that keeps us moving. America must reduce, if not eliminate, this reliance. We have joined other proponents of the PickensPlan in urging the increase of wind power as a source of energy. It's clean, it's environmentally friendly, and it doesn't require despoiling anything to get it.

You can be cynical and protest that T. Boone Pickens, the plan's chief architect, stands to profit financially from any increase in wind power, and that his main motivation is the bottom line in his own fortune. Personally, we would rather hand our fuel dollar over to another American than to some hostile petro-billionaire who despises us. You can also dismiss wind power as a micro-solution that won't replace anything. We would argue that the long journey to fuel independence must start somewhere, however modest.

Check out the PickensPlan. Better yet, join. Since American leaders can only suggest offshore drilling as the answer to the current fuel crisis--oh, right, let's not change anything about what we use, let's just change where we can get more of it--take matters into your own hands and join a movement.

Wildlife Coming Back at Mono Lake

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the restoration of Mono Lake has led to a burgeoning recovery of lake wildlife.

Mono Lake, located in Central California near Bishop, was drained and nearly destroyed when the water from tributary streams was diverted to Los Angeles by the city's Department of Water and Power. The lack of fresh water left the lake with deadly salinity levels and created salt flat dust storms. The Save Mono Lake conservation group sued the DWP in 1978, and California courts ordered Los Angeles to reduce its water diversion.

While the lake is still below a normal level, and the Save Mono Lake group still believes it has "a long way to go," the tributaries have fostered newly lush grasses and other riparian vegetation. Trout, warblers and other birds have returned to Mono, and it seems to be on its way back to life.