Rocks from Arles, France; Death Valley; and !!!

( 3 photos)

1523

As we drove between Arles and Les Baux, France, we followed a sign that directed us to route D82, and to the ruins of the Roman Aqueduct, the aqueduct of Barbegal, 4 km south of Fontvieille, that supplied water to towns and to the countryside in this part of France, all those centuries ago.

A portion of the aqueduct had been demolished so the road could be built, and ancient, original stones were scattered along the road. We didn’t feel a bit out of order, when we picked up a small stone that had been run over, many times, by passing and parking cars.

We know that if everyone took a sample, the ruin would disappear, but we also know most people aren’t as curious as we are.

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1546

One year as we drove across Death Valley in our RV, we passed a large smooth area, that obviously had been a lake that had evaporated, leaving a thick layer of salt, and other minerals. This salt encrusted small stone was lying all by itself on a flat place, and you could see the mark made when someone had thrown the rock. An official government car was parked nearby, with two National Park Officials sitting inside. We asked, and were told it was OK with them if we took the rock, as it was not where it belonged anyway.

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1638

We have visited Yellowstone National Park six or eight times over the years. The most outstanding visit was by snow-cat in the middle of the winter. It was 23 degrees below zero that morning! We bought a ticket on a Snow Cat, with maybe a dozen passengers, and went into Yellowstone. No cars were permitted, only snow mobiles and snow cats. Snow mobile clubs, from back east or in the midwest, would rent a big truck to haul their snow mobiles, and they would spend a week just touring this park.

Can you imagine geysers erupting in the snow, with elk and buffalo between the viewers and Old Faithful! And swans swimming on the rivers that were kept warm with geyser water, even in the middle of winter. Under one Geyser, don’t remember which one, this little piece of wood had been sitting under eruption after eruption. Again, since we know there is a limit to how many things can be taken from such places, we asked the driver if it was OK, and he said, “Sure.”
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