Windmills and a Cowboy Film Set

My overnight stop was at 6,760 feet above sea level and the temperature in the morning was very cold. With being at such a high elevation for this part of California, I was happy knowing that I would soon be getting to a lower elevation, so I didn’t mind leaving relatively early.

I soon regret that decision as the road I took to leave Big Bear Lake climbed even higher into the mountains. Soon I was at 8,400 feet and it was even colder, so on went the heated grips, thicker gloves, bluffs and just about anything else I had handy!

I stopped at a few places to look at the views. On the road towards Angelus Oaks....

Just off California Highway 38 to the east of Redlands....

Just off I-10 near to Palm Springs are a huge amount of windmills. I can understand why these are located here, as it was very windy on the day I went through!

I rode up a steep dirt road to where the windmills are located on the top of a hill. I am sure I wasn’t meant to go up there, but I was curious....

The Leading Ladies at the top of the hill in front of the mills....

Some people would call this environmental heaven, others environmental hell....

Nearby is the White Water Canyon with its river flowing down it at a fast pace. In order that the scale can be seen, I deliberately included my shadow at the bottom of the picture....

I spent some time visiting Pioneertown in the Yucca Valley. In response to a need for a permanently built film set, a group of Hollywood personalities founded Pioneertown in 1946. Roy Rogers broke the ground that marked the start of construction. Scenes from over 200 movies and TV serials were filmed here. The “town” is really just shallow depth buildings with proper looking facades....

This old wagon hasn’t moved for a long time....

Now doubt a recent prop....

This picture shows the building are really just facades. Some do have small rooms inside, but mainly just to film actors walking into them....

Of course, being actresses themselves, the Leading Ladies felt right at home here....

My nights stop was in the interestingly named Twentynine Palms, near the entrance to Joshua tree National park. The town gets its name as when settled in the 1800’s there were 29 palms at the oasis. I read most are still there today, but I didn’t go looking for them. I liked the sign announcing the entry to the town....

There were some terrific looking and detailed murals painted on the walls of the town....

I considered continuing to ride through the Joshua Tree park, but I wasn’t sure how long it would take and I didn’t want to ride through it in the dark, so I found a hotel and waited until the next morning.