California Central (San Joaquin) Valley

C-46D Commando. This particular aircraft flew with what was known as the Tiger Fleet over the Himalayas (the Hump), so I guess that is supposed to be a tiger on the nost. Each camel painted on the side represent a trip over the Hump (the Himalayas). From what I could find, the camels used in the Himalayas are two hump camels, so don't know why a one-hump camel is used in the markings. See: www.worldwar2headquarters.com/HTML/museums/castle-air-museum/c-46-commando-castle.html

Curtiss C-46D Commando, used extensively in WWII in Asia for carrying troops and cargo over the Himalayas (the Hump). worldwar2headquarters.com/HTML/museums/castle-air-museum/c-46-commando-castle.html

In the lower portion of the picture are oil fields (noted) near Buttonwillow , the large white patch in the upper half is Soda Lake at Carrizo Plain National Monument; barely visible in the upper portion of the picture is the Pacific. Though this isn't the same oil field, this is what nearby oil fields look like from the ground: Kern Westside oil (2877) From a Burbank -> Oakland flight; apologies for the quality of the picture. I wanted to get photos showing the size of the oil fields, but it was a quick trip and I only had my older point-and-shoot camera.

Just west of Lost Hills, CA, an oil field stretching 4 miles in length and 1 mile in width. Just below the oil field is the California Aqueduct and the town of Lost Hills. Though this isn't the same field, this is what nearby fields look like from the ground: Kern Westside oil (2877) From a Burbank -> Oakland flight; apologies for the quality of the picture. I wanted to capture the size of the oil fields, but it was a quick trip and I only had my older point-and-shoot camera.

A second, and smaller (1.6 miles long), oil field at Lost Hills, just north of the field in the adjacent picture. The section just above the oil field appears to be a reclamation site for remnants of the oil operation.

Interesting geological "bowl" formation north of Lost Hills. I've flown over the Central Valley multiple times, but somehow never noticed this. If you look very close, you can see a canal off the the California Aqueduct cutting through the hills on the north end (right side of picture) of the "bowl".

Another view of the "bowl" (see adjacent picture, #5287)

The hills along the lower edge of the picture are called the Pyramid Hills -- from the ground they do look like pyramids. The straight line cutting from the bottom to middle on the left edge of the picture is CA-41. Not visible, but noted, on the lower left side of the picture is a the small Pyramid Hills oil field that is covered in other photographs. Given the California drought conditions, it was a relief to see the mountains increasingly green as we flew north. Here's a view of the Pyramid Hills from the ground: Pyramid Hills (1517) Here's a view of the Pyramid Hills oil field from the ground: Pyramid Hills oil (1549)

Similar view as previous picture (#5290), showing across the Coastal Range. The intersection in the lower portion of the picture is CA-33 & CA-41. The too famous Jame Dean death site would be roughly in the upper middle of the picture. The blue at the very top of the picture is the Pacific, just a little below that is the mountain range that is directly on the coast and then the Salinas Valley. From a Burbank -> Oakland flight; apologies for the quality of the picture, it was a quick trip and I only had my older point-and-shoot camera.

Coalinga CA with one of its oil fields on the right, center, portion of the picture and a solar facility on the lower edge of the oil field. Other major, and very large, Coalinga oil fields are roughly under the plane and not visible. Here's a photo from oil field of the solar facility: Coalinga solar (3550)

More of a focus on the oil field closest to Coalinga, and to the solar facility. The solar facility at Coalinga is a concentrated solar power faciity where a bank of mirrors reflect heat back on a collecting tower. Here's a photo from oil field of the solar facility: Coalinga solar (3550)

I mainly took this due to how the sun was reflecting on the mountains, but I later realized that if you look closely at the valley running across the picture just above the center, you can see New Idria road that runs from Panoche to the former New Idria mining area. Here's a picture from New Idria road: New Idria Rd (0431)

Running from the lower left towards the upper right, Panoche road and the remote Panoche valley farming and ranching area. Though this is one of the last remaining areas of open grasslands in the state, consideration is now being given to install a large solar facility here. Here's a picture from Little Panoche road, the road running relatively horizontal across the picture: Little Panoche Rd (0425)

Dam at Caples Lake (reservoir). The lake is at 7800 feet. I could not find the history of this dam, but a nearby second, earthen dam on the lake was built in 1922.

Caples Lake (reservoir) on CA-88 at 7800 feet.

Dam at Caples Lake (reservoir). The lake is at 7800 feet. I could not find the history of this dam, but a nearby second earthen dam on the lake was built in 1922.

The central post office in Visailia. I was mainly planning to use Visalia as just a place for lunch, but luckily saw the central post office as I was coming through town. The post office is a wonderful example of the art deco architecture supported by the New Deal through the Works Progress Administration in the early 1930's. Particularly striking to me was the effort in preserving the building, including the preservation of the relatively ornate newspaper racks in front of the building. See nearby pictures for more detail, see Wikipedia regarding history: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Post_Office-Visalia_Town_Center_Station

Detail of the intricacy of the metal-covered entrance alcove to the post office. See also nearby pictures.