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Thursday, December 17, 2015

Up and Down the 190


When Arthur and I are driving the 190 we have land marks we look for.  The conversation about what they look like and what is the best name enlivens our little journeys out for groceries.  

The Pierpoint Flamingos below delighted us every time we passed them but, naturally, they had to retire when the snows came. 


 When we pass by the Artesian Spring just below Piewrpoint we always check to see how much is coming out of the pipe.  It would be lovely if someone build a spill basin of local rock.  Of course, gathering rock always reminds me of Les Bailey and the dynamite.  (see The History of Nellie Marshall and Cedar Slope, written by Arthur F. Pillsbury.)


 Now we are on the look out for the HairNet, a grid of metal which protects drivers from being struck by stones falling from the sheer cut which so improved the road.  I am still looking for a safe place to take the photo.  

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That will be coming.  But Arthur and I have lively speculative dialog about the Mill, which shows up on the right, upside of the drive, after the Hairnet.  For that, there was lots of room to pull off and take photos.  If you know the story, please, please share!




And then we wait for the Cave to appear, either going down or coming up.  The Cave was a huge, intriguing sight when I was little and nothing has changed.  Arthur stood at the entrance once, when he was small, but never ventured in.   

The Cave sighted on the way down.

The Cave sighted on the way up. 
 Then, we begin looking for a landmark which has changed over the years.  Mother picked it as 'her rock.'  At the time a Century Plant was growing out of a rounded whorl in the cliff.  Eventually, after Mom, Mary Alice Reasoner Pillsbury, died, the Century plant disappeared and we saw a round hole.  Then, another appeared.  Now it looks a little like Mom's eyes, a comforting thought. 

Mary Alice's Rock (eyes) Going Up.

Mary Alice's Rock (Eyes) on our way down
 And now the most named landmark on our journey along the 190.  We call this the Clam, the Oyster, the Shell - and the Hippie Rock, though we adopted that from a man Arthur knows.  He told Arthur Hippies used to congregate there.  Well, we wondered why, but always remember. 



At this point we begin looking for the sharpish turn leading to the Power House.  We still need a photo but, again, need to look for a place to stop and take it.  

Place Reserved

And how, we come to Point Mugu Rock, which is on the down side of the road.  Arthur said it reminds him of Point Mugu, so naturally that caught on. 

And then, the Flume.  I remember it fondly from when I was very small, but not easily nauseated so I sat in the back seat while my older brother, Cappy, who was very, very easily nauseated sat in the front passenger seat.


Flume, going up!

The next photos are all going up because stopping was easier that way.   So, now we report from the POV of approaching the Power Plant.  Eventually, we will have accumulated photos each way. 

And there it is.  Wishon Road on the Left and ahead a glimpse of the Power Station.  


 
Approaching Power Station!

 
And now, the Big Bend leading upward to Paradise

The next thing we look for going down is the Truck Crossing Sign, although it no longer says that we remember when it did so, forever after that is what we will call it.  



 And that completes our tour of amazing landmarks - for the moment. 

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