A few miles north of I-8 near Gila Bend in AZ is the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site.

Since we had not stopped here before we decided to take a bit of time and see what was there. We're in no hurry and it is never good to miss a "glyph".

The site is not large, in fact is is just one big pile of rocks, but it is a well used pile of rocks. Tons and tons of glyphs plus some "we were here" type stuff from settlers going through the area.

There are 2 styles. The older Western Archaic left by hunter-gatherers 7500BC to 1AD and the GIla Style 300BC to 1450BC which will have more animals and insects.

Highly recommed this little detour if you are in the area.

We are staying at La Jolla Cove. Our hotel sits up on a hill - no surprise to folks who have been to California most beaches have hills behind them - and overlooks the Ellen Browning Scripps Park.

The beach area is not wide but it is full of life. The walkway that follows the water gives great views and access to tide pools and the animals who inhabit the area.

As we started our stroll along the coast we saw a plethora of birds.

We have seen lots of cormorants before but these are Brandts Cormorants - they have a bright blue plumage under the neck.

There are also California Brown Pelicans, which are a lot snazzier than the usual brown pelicans we see in Florida.

Guess everything in California is just more colorful

So, all I know is seals are quieter and sea lions are loud.

There is also a thing about their ear flaps and flippers but since we really couldn't see their ears or see if they had toe nails I was at a loss to tell which was which.

Thankfully a 5 year old boy set me straight.

Sea Lions walk and bark. Seals flop and grunt.

So, out of the mouths of babes you can now distinguish which is which.

With each natural wonder comes a little man-made point of interest.

Or schlock, depending on your point of view.

One of the "must do" things here is Sunny Jim Cave.

In 1902 Gustav Schultz hired 2 guys to dig it out. He believed he could make money charging people to see the ocean from inside the cave.

Guess he was right because we're still doing it today.

Today we left the coast and drove inland to San Diego proper to tour Mission Basilica.

It was the first of 21 Franciscan Missions built by the Spanish.

It was founded in 1769 and moved to the current site in 1774.

It is a beautiful example of the true mission style and we enjoyed touring the grounds and admiring the architecture.

As always George finds the best places to visit. Who knew dinosaurs, giant scorpions, saber tooth cats and more lived in the Anzo-Boreggo State Park?

Obviously George did because he added it to our list of places to see.

Ricardo Breceda created over 130 animals based on the fossil remains documented in digs around the area

So get in your car and go pet a t-rex, or a saber-tooth cat, or an elephant, or...well you just get out there before they go extinct again.

With over 130 of these statues I thought breaking them into groups would be easier.

Mr. Breceda seems to do a lot of research and strives for lots for detail.

I have no idea how long he works on each piece but he is truly dedicated to the project.

Moving on from things that will eat you to things that will just stomp on you.

First we saw gomphothes - or 4 tusked elephant type animals - not really elephant family - but what the heck. This is not a science site.

Mammoths seem to have been everywhere so he gave us a few of those.

And of course, our beloved regular old elephant. It's big enough as is

Now just so you don't think there are only extinct animals in Mr. Breceda's menagerie, and for a nice change of pace, I give you horses, mountain sheep and a camel.

No idea what drives the artist but I guess the muse struck and he made some more mundane critters to enjoy.

After your respite of sweet horses and sheep it's back to the extinct stuff.

First, big hairy sloths - Mamma & Baby. Cute if not cuddly.

Then a huge bird of prey - probably the same as the one sitting on the nest earlier. I didn't like it because it has a poor sheep in it's talons.

Last, a non-hairy looking sloth.

Can't help you with the 2 types, whether they existed or not, but as I said before it's not a science site.

Once again we return to the non-lethal or threatening animals we all know and maybe love.

Desert tortoises - large desert tortoises.

Pigs - cute little piglets, mamma and a boar.

Last - at least on this page - a tapir. No you will not see one here since they live in South & Central America now.

Mr. Breceda thought the people - past and present - who live, work and play in the desert were worthy of attention.

There is quite a nice piece dedicated to those who grow and pick grapes..

A miner and his mule.

Spanish Padre.

A tribute to the Native Americans.

And last, but not least, our good old Jeep and those who love to ride in them

Oh what can you say about something that was once so vibrant but now is a monument to man's - well not sure what it is a monument to.

Salton Sea - the current one - happened in 1905 when irrigation canals became flooded and broke spilling water into the Salton Sink.

With no drainage a sea formed, and folks made the most of it, at least for several decades.

With no water inflow it is drying up. The salinity level is so high most fish can not live in it.

The communities that surround it are dwindling as the sea shrinks and the dust rises.

Yet another odd but interesting stop on our way home was Salvation Mountain which is just next to Slab City.

Never heard of either? Well you are not alone I am sure.

Salvation Mountain is the creation of Leonard Knight to praise Jesus. It is built of adobe, straw and non-toxic paint.

Leonard died in 2014 but a caring group of folks looks after the sight and endeavors to preserve it.

Just after Salvation Mountain is Slab City.

In the 40s this was a military base, but it was abandoned when no longer needed sometime in the 1950s.

The structures were taken down but the concrete slabs remained. Perfect for squatters

It is a kind of limbo; quitclaim deeded from DOD to California in 1961 with no recapture clauses or restrictions it's basically a no-mans land.

Most residents are snowbirds although there are some hearty souls who stay year-round. No laws, no electric, no water, no sewage.