I wonder what’s making all those tracks in long lines in this big pile of sand.  What’s making all the holes and tunnels?  It’s 9 o’clock in the morning and I can feel the sun’s intensity biting into the back of my legs and neck. I was going to climb a lot higher towards the top, but that little voice in our minds that keeps us out of trouble most of the time is saying, “No.”  Plus I noticed earlier that my windshield wiper blades had become stuck to the glass as I was tucking some road runner feathers behind them to sterilize in the sun that I had plucked from a dead one along the road. They’ll make nice hat ornaments. I drove here from Cibola N.W.R. south of Blythe, Ca. between the Colorado River and Trigo Mountains on US Rt. 10, then north through Joshua Tree N.P. to Twenty-Nine Palms, where I saved my appetite for one of my favorite bars/restaurants, the Palms Inn; but it was closed, so I drove on to the Mojave National Preserve passing $4.89/ga. gas after paying $3.59 in Arizona the last time I filled up, and $3.97 in 29 Palms for enough to get to Las Vegas, my next stop after here to watch March Madness Finale on TV. I’ve been wanting to camp here at Kelso Dunes (http://www.blm.gov/ca/pa/wilderness/wa/areas/kelso_dunes.html) for several nights, but didn’t know if it was a designated camping area, although I’d seen others doing it. Me, I’d get one of those mega $$$ citations the rangers (Revenue Agents) like to give out. Many rangers love to write them and yes, they are $100s. To avoid one I sent an email to the Preserve and asked if it was OK, thinking fat chance that they’ll answer.  Surprise, surprise they did, said it was fine, and gave directions to the campsites. There’re some good rangers left!
    I’ve retreated to the shade of my nest’s (slide-in camper on a pickup). On my walk back, I saw a “lil” chipmunk-sized rodent and what I thought was another variety of gecko, as they raced at lightning speed across the sand. Then one stopped in the shade of a bush. Gecko-like critter, but more sophisticatedly colored.  After I sat down in the shade I noticed movement as I was writing. I looked up and it was another type of lizard. This guy’s tail is so long making him nearly a foot long and hard to get head and all that tail in a closeup photo. The tail is making the lines, the rodent the foot prints, and the Lizards at least some of the tracks. Who said wildlife only run around in the desert in the night! These guys aren’t afraid of the sun.
    Kelso Dunes is the biggest pile of sand I’ve ever seen. It’s mountain sized. It was 72 degrees when I sat down here (Friday April 1). The mercury has climbed to 85 and there is a pleasant cool breeze that unfurled my Maryland Flag, but when I went to photograph the long-tailed guy, the sun’s intensity was burning hot. I wonder if my solar panel that’s capturing reddy kilowatts of electric will do it faster here.  I’d like to take a walk, roll over some rocks to see scorpions and other critters hiding beneath, and maybe see a sidewinder snake slither down a dune, but I think I’ll just cool it in the shade and sip a cold one. It’s April Fools’ Day and I’m not playing the fool!  I had thought of walking up the dune to the apex, but not in this sun, although I’m watching others do it. Maybe someone should call 911 ahead of time.  
    As I sat there I had no idea what Mother Nature had in store for me the next morning. I awoke, thought I had plenty of time til sunrise as I opened the door to go to the comfort station, when, WOW, the sky was 360 degree of vibrant pink. I got my cameras, tripod and hurriedly charged to the nearest good vantage point and began shooting, because who knows the color may fade instantly. To see more photos go to http://picasaweb.google.com/o.c.fotoguy2009. Any and all would look great on your walls or make a great gift and may be purchased.
    If you and yours want to do a family photo on the beach here in OC give me a call (410-289-733), send me an email (ocfotoguy@aol.com) or go to PhotosAsYouWantThem.biz.  EZ2CY photos on the beach are a SHORE THING!  
    Wow, did you see the OC Air Show.  Wow!!!  A helicopter diving at 90% while upside down!!!  Truly a World Class Event.  Check my photos on another page of this paper. There’s more at my picasa google site and they can be purchased, too.