Mono Lake - The major draw is the Tufas, apparently. So I’ve included the obligatory photos. Personally I think they are quite unattractive and not worthy of the attention they receive. I get that the are formed from build up of calcium from calcium-rich springs. Yeah ok that’s cool, fine. I would rather focus on the startlingly beautiful bright emerald green of the water bordered in white calcium and salt (its thrice as salty as the ocean) as seen from the north in the afternoon (photos don’t do it justice). The green-water photos of Mono Lake were taken on my return trip from Bodie…

Bodie - Historic gold & silver mining ghost town. Extremely interesting and certainly historic. I’d been there once before, many years ago. This time however I seemed to be much more interested in the equipment, the “gear” of the late 1800s, rather than the old weathered buildings. The quality of craftsmanship and ingenuity back then, with much cruder tools than we have today, was quite impressive to see. Most seemed to come from San Fransisco or Pennsylvania. Another thing that seemed interesting is; there are absolutely no trees in Bodie or the surrounding area. Not a single tree. Which means all the lumber (some massive timbers) had to be brought to Bodie by horse and wagon. All the wood for the thousand or so buildings (only a fraction remain), the framing and siding, not to mention all the furniture etc. All brought in over the mountains. These people were badass.