Alabama Hills

 I had put in a vacation request for half of this week for other things but that plan got shelved. Instead of canceling the vacation I decided we should do something. While I was at work yesterday ( Tuesday) I researched a few things during the lunch break and told my husband to pack his clothes for 2 days so we could leave the same evening after I got home.

I was home by 4 pm. Threw in a few sarees into my bag along with other essentials. Found a place to stay that night and completed the booking online. Had a quick dinner and we were on the freeway by 6 pm. Prior to this I don’t remember leaving home for a road trip this late in the day. It was a beautiful drive through the mountains around sunset hour. As we crossed into the Mojave dessert the skies had adorned the most gorgeous decor that I can’t  recall ever seeing before. At every turn I was going crazy watching wherever I turned to look. Finally I just stopped on a turnout and took a few pictures. We reached Lone Pine by 8:30 pm. Filled up gas before checking into our hotel room. Ironed the saree I had worn that day and one I would wear the next day before going to bed. 

I was up by 3:45 am today( Wednesday). Took shower and then got to the difficult task of waking up my husband. After a lot of resistance finally managed to check out of the hotel by 6 am. 

It was still dark outside. A nearly full moon was getting ready to bid adieu on the western skies. A bright Venus shone on the East with a fainter Mars just a bit below it. The town was asleep except for an occasional vehicle passing through its Main Street. I followed the directions I had gathered the night before to go see Alabama Hills. 

( These were named after the namesake confederate ship that sank during a historic battle. They are located in California, not Alabama.)

These hills are at the base of the eastern Sierra mountains and stretch several acres. In contrast to the spiky peaks of the mountains these hills have rounded stone formations. My plan was to make it to one of the popular arches in this area before sunrise. Alas! The entire area was so dark when we entered and even though it started to gradually gain visibility we couldn’t make out the road signs and missed the turn out for the arch. 

Yet the entire phenomenon of dawn and sunrise over the snow capped mountains and the Alabama Hills was a spectacular experience to say the least. 

The road that runs through these grand formations is called Movie Road. Several western films have been shot at this location. Lone Pine has a wonderful museum in town dedicated to these films. It wasn’t open when we left the place.

After watching sunrise in the Alabama Hills plan was to drive up the scenic Mount Whitney Portal and have breakfast at the cafe there. But it was not meant to be. A few miles on to that road there was a sign that read “ Road Closed”. A major part of the day’s plan was crushed right there.

So I had to hatch up plan B. We drove back to town . Found a nice cafe named after the Alabama Hills. 

After breakfast made a stop at the local Visitor center, picked a few maps and got tips about what to see on the way. The Film museum had still not opened. So decided to carry on northward on Highway 395.

Read about the onward journey in the next post.

Saree in the morning was a Odisha weave in black with red phoda kumbha ( temple) borders and a very colorful double pallu with ikat bands amidst double weft woven design.