717 January 29-30, 2022 Quiet Weekend

Saturday, another great walk in the state park. The time passed quickly as I chatted with Kyle and Allison and my mom.

Tim and I took our bikes into the circle and went for a great 8-mile ride.

We took a break at the Indian head sculpture.

The turtles are one of my favorites.

We also stopped at the Borrego Valley Hawkwatch. We walked the short distance to the benches and waited and watched. No hawks today…but gorgeous views of the mountains all around.

It was really cloudy today and it looked like the mountains were holding the weather back.

We actually had a few sprinkles for about a minute late in the afternoon.

I cooked salmon on the grill, watching the sky.

Sunday morning was a beautiful morning to be in Borrego Springs! I saw this tree filled with doves. I am not certain if they are mourning doves or white winged doves. They coo every morning here in the campground. It’s a lovely soothing song.

I saw a club of about 30 4WD pickup trucks all modified and with big, noisy engines…lots of testosterone right there!

I felt really good and walked 4.5 miles. I did take a break in this courtayrd by a fountain while I talked with my mom.

I also saw a cycling club biking through.

The rest of the day we spent quietly. Tim biked for awhile this afternoon and watched NFL playoff games. I cleaned and did laundry. We both packed suitcases. Tomorrow we are going on a field trip to the coast. We are leaving the RV in Borrego Springs and will spend a night in a hotel in Solana Beach and then a second night in Oceanside. We are excited to go. We have not seen this part of the California coast and we are looking forward to seeing something different!

716 January 28, 2022 Friday Farmers Market

I walked to the circle in town and Tim met me there with the Jeep. 

We walked through the Farmers Market choosing croissants…but just 2!

Mediterranean treats like hummus and falafel and dolmas.

We picked cara cara and blood oranges, spinach, avocadoes, asparagus, and strawberries.

Tim took our goodies back to the RV and went to finish his workout.  I took a long walk home, walking past the park and churches. 

We stopped at a small roadside stand yesterday. Tim likes to try new things and he chose these pickeled quail eggs…I haven’t tried them but he says they are very good!

Today was a little bit cloudy and a little chillier…yes, we are certainly becoming spoiled!

We each rode our bikes but most of the day was spent quietly.

We did pack salads with grilled chicken and all our fresh produce…and of course, those croissants!  We went to the Borrego Springs Park.  We walked after dinner, enjoying the sunset.  We noticed the plaques in the sidewalk corresponded to a walk in the Cosmos.  It was fun to walk among the planets.  Each foot represented 3 million miles in space.

715 January 27, 2022 Julian

We left today after our morning routines were accomplished.  We took the Jeep to nearby Julian.  The road to get there began as a winding road that climbed.

We have traveled this way before and we were surprised again by the drastic change in landscape.  The diversity was evident as we drove from the barren desert ascending into the mountains and then descended into the greener valley with trees and streams and cattle ranches.

Last year we passed through Julian but due to COVID, we elected not to stop.  It had been a weekend and the town was extremely crowded.  Today, we were able to snag a parking spot and we walked along the streets, popping into nice stores with all kinds of beautiful gifts and clothing.  There were shops filled with honey and preserves and cheeses.  There were lots of restaurants and a brewery, a cidery, and a winery. 

There were lots of pie shops.  There are orchards here and Julian is famous for their pie.  We were able to leave without buying any pie…or anything else…as fun as it was to look, we really don’t need to buy anything!

It has been our observation that people who live here in California are different that those people we know back east.  Not in a good way or a bad way…just different…and that’s okay!

We drove to Jeremy’s on the Hill for a late lunch.  The food was outstanding.  Tim had lobster bisque and we shared a plate of the restaurant’s famous crispy Brussel sprouts.  Tim had salad topped with ahi tuna and I had been craving a burger.  They featured grass fed beef and I knew that it would be delicious.  The menu offered a burger keto salad bowl…no bun, no fries.  This was an amazing alternative and I was thrilled with my meal!  I should have taken pictures of our food…it was beautiful.

We took another way back. 

On our way out of town, we saw a mountain lion crossing the road.  It was the highlight of our day!  Of course, he was moving too quickly for a picture!  We then saw a coyote standing not far from the road.  There were lots of hawks and other raptors hunting today as well.  The apex predators were out today!  It makes sense that these animals were more plentiful in the greener areas where smaller mammals and other tasty treats might be more available.

We took a detour onto Plum Canyon Trail.  There is a very sweet little campsite at the end of the canyon.  We will have to see if it is warm enough to go back and stay there.  It has been in the 30’s at night and that’s a little chilly for tent camping. 

We had another great day!

714 January 26, 2022 Desert Wandering

We are really enjoying our home here in Borrego Springs.

This morning I was up and quickly finished my walk.  I had someplace to be.  I had scheduled a hair appointment with Charlie at Simpson Hair Designs.

I had a great experience!  Charlie was smart and wickedly funny.  He was also a talented hairdresser.  He made me feel like a million dollars and I left there really happy. 

This afternoon, Tim and I went Jeep wandering in the desert.  We were looking for potential campsites.  We traveled in The Ocotillo Wells area among the mud hills.  It was a gorgeous day and it was fun to wander without a true destination.  We used the Ride Command App to find our way on the winding and bumpy trails. 

We drove almost all the way to the Salton Sea.

This evening, we went back to the heart of Borrego Springs and had dinner at Carlee’s.  We have been eating outside and tonight got a little chilly.  We were lucky to have a table right next to a patio heater.  The food was good and I got to see part of the sunset above the fence.

713 January 24-25, 2022 Just Us In Sheep Canyon

We have become very rigid about getting our workouts done each day before we play.  I took a good walk to town, and back while Tim did his exercise routine.

Around noon, we left for a trip into Sheep Canyon.

We have traveled this road before and we both remembered it as unmaintained and very rocky.  Today, there was a machine operator smoothing the road.  Our journey was therefore more pleasant and a lot quicker!

There were several water crossings.

View of the valley below.

We were happy to get the very best camping spot in this very primitive campground.  The amenities did include a picnic table, a fire ring, a trash can, and a pit toilet!  Fairly luxurious accommodations for a site in the middle of nowhere…and beautiful!!!

A pretty little kindness rock.  I know that some people don’t think they should be left behind…it supposedly detracts from the natural environment and I guess in a way it does…but seeing one always makes me smile!

We took a short hike up into Sheep Canyon along a stream.  It was such a pleasure to listen to the gurgle of the water.  This area is a nursery for bighorn sheep and is closed to all traffic during lambing season.

We had a hummingbird flitting around.

For dinner, we made our traditional omelets but this time I filled them with spinach, goat cheese, bruschetta, and kalamata olives…they might have been the best omelets I have ever made!

It was another relaxing evening.  We were so content to just sit and absorb the peace, the sunset, the fire, the darkness, the starlight, and the crisp, cool air.

In the morning, we had several of these little birds hopping around the table, looking for crumbs. 

They were very comfortable being around us.  I used the bird app to identify them.

We wended our way back across the desert and down toward Borrego Springs. 

We stopped for breakfast along the way.

I decided to walk on ahead and Tim picked me up about 20 minutes later. 

There is plenty of traffic here and we saw this Jeep excursion coming in.  7 Jeeps all traveling together…we would HATE that!  We need to be meandering at our own speed!

It seems as though we always need the remainder of the day to recover.  We unpacked and cleaned everything and then had a quiet afternoon.  Tim did ride his bike and I did make myself walk and do squats.

This evening, we went back to Red Ocotillo for our meal; soup and salads.

712 January 22-23, 2022 Laying Low

Happy Birthday John!

Saturday morning walk in town.  This is an arty kind of place.  Today, I took pictures of the electric boxes as I walked. 

I also got to talk to Lois, a dear friend…always a pleasure!

Saturday afternoon I gathered everything to send to the accountant for our 2021 taxes.  What a relief to have that particular task accomplished…every year I dread it…but it is done!

We enjoyed sweet corn, poblano, and cheese tamales for our dinner with raw cauliflower and those sweet baby tomatoes…vegetarian and yummy!

Sunday, I began my day with a walk in the park.

We took our bikes and did an 8-mile ride.  It was a gorgeous day and a great ride.

The future…

We packed our cooler and headed to Fonts Point.

Sunday dinner was another vegetarian experiment.  Butternut squash risotto with mushrooms and asparagus. Dinner was delicious and the scenery was pretty amazing as well.

We drove to Thimble Wash and climbed to the top of the hill to watch the sky change color.

We are planning an overnight tent camping trip Monday evening in Sheep Canyon.

711 January 21, 2022 Friday

I had a great walk in the state park and enjoyed the “company” of my friend Vicki.  We chatted as I walked and the time passed quickly.  It is a goal for me to try and stay more connected…I am not really good at it but I know how important it is especially as we have decided to live such a nomadic life.

The Borrego Springs Farmers Market happens every Friday from 8am to noon.  We planned our schedule around this event.  I love to walk through a market and this one has a lot of delicious choices.  We started at the French Gourmet Bakery.  We allowed ourselves 2 fresh croissants.  We visited the tamale lady and chose two different vegetarian options.  The organic produce vendors had busy stalls and we stuffed our bags full of healthy vegetables…asparagus and greens and avocadoes and cauliflower and Brussel sprouts and snap peas.  Then we picked fresh fruits and berries.  We stopped at the Mediterranean guy and got hummus and beet salad and stuffed grape leaves.

This afternoon, Tim biked and I went back to town to gather a few groceries. 

I had a chance to talk with another old friend, Melinda…so nice to catch up.  I enjoyed our visit very much!

We packed salads and took them to a new park that we have never visited before.  We loved those buttery, flaky croissants and the fresh spinach and strawberries.  I also got these tiny little sweet yellow tomatoes.  When you eliminate most of the fatty, sugary, processed foods from your diet…it is amazing how wonderful whole foods taste!

We walked the trails in the park.  There are pretty little churches across the street with lovely mountain views. 

Since our last trip to the desert the other day, our thoughts have often drifted to the “hiker.”  As we drove through Fish Creek Wash, on our way to Sandstone Canyon, we passed a guy hiking.  As we always do, we stopped to ask if he was okay, if he needed water.  He said he was good and we went on our way.  We had both noticed and commented on the fact that he had no gear and it looked like he was only carrying a small hydration backpack.  We decided that he must have a car parked somewhere nearby.  Around dusk that same evening, about three hours later, the “hiker” walked past our campsite.  We were surprised to see him still walking.  He had hiked at least another 7-8 miles since our encounter earlier in the day.  We stopped him and asked him if he needed water.  He said he only had about one-half bottle left.  We tried to give him several bottles but he took only one.  He intended to hike through and said he would probably have to negotiate his way in the moonlight.  We asked him if he had eaten, if he had food and he said he had eaten awhile back.  We gave him a couple of protein bars.  We asked him where he was going and he stated he was headed to “Hollywood Campground a destination south and west of here.”  We knew that the hike through the remainder of the canyon was at least a mile long and then there were mountains.  We knew of no campground within walking distance and no campground at all by that name.  We asked him if he had a map and when he said he did not, we asked him to look at ours to orient himself.  He said that he had his phone and if he ran out of battery, that he had picked out some landmarks along the way.  He seemed resistant to any help.  He walked away from us then, on into the canyon, into the darkness.  He was wearing long pants, Tevis sandals, and a short-sleeved shirt.  The forecast was for 45 degrees.  We felt bereft after he left us…should we have done more?  We were concerned for his safety.  We were in a very remote location and he was walking even further into the wilderness.  Would he be, okay?  We immediately wished that we had told him to come back to us if he ran into trouble.  When we took our hike the next morning, we kept looking for signs of his passage…we hope that he made his way. 

710 January 19-20, 2022 Overnight In Sandstone Canyon

Happy Birthday Debbie!

After a nice walk in the state park and after Tim got done with his stretching and weight lifting…Tim is really liking the fitness room at this resort…and his bike ride; we drove to Sandstone Canyon for another overnight camping trip.

We have been to Sandstone Canyon several times before and it is one of our favorites!  It never disappoints!

We drove as far as we could and decided to camp at the far end of the canyon.

Before we got set up, we took a hike past the campsite, where we found a slot canyon.

We enjoyed our dinner by the fire.  Because we were in a canyon with deep walls, it got dark very early…and very dark!  The sky though was lit with stars and gorgeous!  The full moon had not yet risen when we climbed up into our loft.

Sometime during the night, the moon came out and brightened the whole world.  The sand around us glowed white in the moonlight.

Tim was up at daybreak watching the rising sun and the setting moon.

We took a hike back into Sandstone Canyon.  We walked 1.5 miles and there was still no end in sight.

Many people have said that the desert just looks like more rocks.  To us, the desert is alive.  The allure for us here is the starkness and the resilience of the place.  The Anza-Borrego Desert only gets 6 inches of rain each year.  The plants and animals here have all adapted to survive and thrive in this atmosphere.  Seed pods are carried by wind or water or animals into the wash. Seeds can lie dormant for years until there is enough moisture to propagate and grow.  It amazes me to see recognize these signs of life.  As we walked through the wash, there were scattered wildflowers some green and some just starting to blossom.  I see so much more than “just rocks!”  This was a great hike!

Bits of cholla break off and are carried along…sometimes caught in the fur of an animal, sometimes by water or wind, sometimes in Tim’s foot/tennis shoe. The only cholla growing here are high on the ridge. This bit will try to root itself in the sand and grow…but the wash isn’t such a great growing place for a cactus…

We walked by these pictographs three times before noticing them on the canyon wall.  We wondered who put these here and how long ago…someone trying to survive here in this desert.  

We drove the long way back to Borrego Springs windows down and music up!

This evening, we went into town to try the Mexican restaurant, Pablito’s. We ate outside on the patio; the evening mild and the food delicious. It brought back thoughts of dinner here three years ago with Kyle and Allison with pitchers of mango margaritas…such fun and such wonderful memories

709 January 17-18, 2022 Borrego Badlands

We began the day with our exercise; my walk today in the State Park.

In the later morning, we packed the coolers and the Jeep for our overnight excursion.  We drove into the Anza-Borrego Desert.

We were looking for a campsite.  There were newly posted signs…No Ground Fires…Only Fires in Metal Containers…and there were NO metal containers.  We usually build a firepit in the sand with a ring of stones.  The park is trying to eliminate fire scars and charring and trying to reduce the wildfire risk.  This is California and it is very dry here.  We decided to travel further into the Badlands where the vegetation is sparser and where we could make our ground fire.  We opted to sacrifice some view for a more wind protected site.  Even so…the vista was amazing.  Tim and I both made a video of our surroundings…dueling videos!

It was really cloudy and the shifting light was mesmerizing…I took lots and lots of pictures…here are a few of the best. 

Gathering firewood…I was really proud of this find. It turned out to be dry and good hard wood!

The sunset was tangerine and lavender…pictures are unworthy.

We made our omelets as the Wolf Moon rose.

We were serenaded by a choir of coyotes…haunting on this full moon night.

Back to pavement!

During the night, we had some rain.  In the morning though everything appeared to be dry…except the tent!  When we got back to the RV, we re-opened the tent and it dried quickly in the warmth and sunshine.

After unpacking and cleaning gear, Tim used the fitness room and biked and I walked again in the State Park.

Tim went out in search of a metal fire container and found a suitable pan for $8.00… yahoo! Now, we can camp wherever we want!

Late this afternoon, I was able to connect with a friend from childhood…such a nice phone visit.

This evening, we drove into town and had dinner at the Red Ocotillo.

We are hoping to go on anohter Jeep adventure tomorrow night! We just love this stuff!

708 January 15-16, 2022 Getting Settled

We arrived in Borrego Springs at mid-day on Saturday. We knew we had arrived when we saw the first of the metal sculptures.

The community park was studded with tents and we were hopeful that it was the Farmers Market…but it was a craft show. I wandered through but have not much use for crafts these days.

We spent our afternoon getting settled. We plan to be here for a month.

On Sunday, I walked from the campground all the way to Christmas Circle and around the park and back. It was a great walk. I was able make calls and listen to my book so all was good and the time went quickly! As I passed the gas station, I took this picture…yes…we are definitely in California.

We spent the day shopping for groceries, doing laundry, cleaning and of course since it is Sunday…we watched NFL Wild Card games.

I know that most of you are getting icky weather. It seems rather surreal to us…we have flip flops on and the windows are open! Please be safe and stay warm!

Tomorrow, we are planning to take an overnight Jeep excursion.