MONSOON

THE MONSOON SEASON RUNS FROM JUNE THRU AUGUST.  IT’S NOT UNLIKE THE THUNDER STORM SEASON AT HOME.  THE WEATHER BECOMES VERY HOT AND IF THERE IS ANY MOISTURE IN THE AIR (HUMIDITY) IT COOKS UP A MONSOON STORM, JUST LIKE A GULLY WASHER IN THE HILLS OF NORTHEAST IOWA.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT IN THE HARD BAKED DESERT AND MOUNTAINS ALL THE RAIN WATER RUNS OFF. THE DRY WASHES AND DITCHES QUICKLY BECOME RAGING RIVERS.

WE’VE BEEN LUCKY THIS SUMMER AND THE STORMS HAVE GONE TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH OF US.  MOST OF THE TIME THE HUMIDITY RUNS VERY LOW (8%), MAKING FOR AN AMAZING BLUE CLOUDLESS SKY, BUT WHEN A LOW PRESSURE SCOOPS IN OFF THE PACIFIC, THERE COMES THE HUMIDITY AND MOISTURE.

SO WHEN WE LEFT FOR WORK IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON THE SKY LOOKED LIKE THIS.

AREN’T THE PUFFY WHITE CLOUDS PRETTY?

THE STORM HIT AT 5PM.AND AS WE WERE DRIVING OUT OF WORK IN THE DARK OF NIGHT THE ENTIRE CASINO WENT BLACK AS THE POWER WENT OUT.  OF COURSE THE CASINOS HAVE BACK-UP GENERATORS THAT KICK IN SECONDS AFTER THE POWER IS OUT.

THE STOP LIGHT AT THE MAJOR INTERSECTION ON THE WAY HOME WAS OUT AND THE INTERSECTION WAS CLOSED DOWN IN A TANGLE OF EMERGENCY VEHICALS AND FENDER BENDERS.  WE DID A U-TURN AND FOUND OUR WAY UP INTO THE BLACK MOUNTAINS TO SEE IF WE COULD GET BACK TO OUR SUMMER CAMP.

IT’S A DIRT LANE OFF OF A DIRT ROAD, AND MADE FOR A SCARY DRIVE.  I GOT OUT TWICE TO WALK AHEAD OF THE HONDA TO SEE HOW DEEP THE GULLIES IN THE ROAD WERE, BUT WE MADE IT, ALTHOUGH SOAKING WET.

IN THE MORNING WE HIKED DOWN TO TAKE SOME PICTURES.

THIS IS THE DRY WASH ON THE LANE.

AND SOME ERROSION ON THE LANE.

BUT THE PROBLEM WAS WHERE THE LANE MEETS THE MAIN DIRT ROAD.

THE LANE GOES OFF TO THE LEFT IN FRONT OF THE BROWN POST.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MAIN ROAD WHERE THE SHOULD IS WASHED AWAY.

AND THE WASHED OUT DITCHES.

A SPOT IN THE DITCH WHERE THERE IS AN UNDER GOUND GAS LINE.

AND THE GAS LINE IS EXPOSED.

AS THE COOLER DRY AIR (SUNNY &80) COMES IN AT THE END OF SUMMER, ANOTHER MONSOON SEASON COMES TO AN END.