892 February 4, 2023 Riding Around In The Desert

Another pleasant morning walk in the desert.

Our Jeep adventure today took us first to Jojoba Wash.  Here we rode among the Volcanic Hills.  The desert plants were almost lush; so verdant and dense.  The road was sandy which made for a pleasurable journey.  The scenery was outstanding. 

We came upon a section where the trail lead into the wash.  It was steep and lumpy.  Tim got out to check and determined that we could make it.  He had me act as spotter at the bottom of the hill.  My job was to make sure the Jeep tires straddled the deepest portions.  Tim and the Jeep did great!  This new Jeep is bigger and does not have the same ground clearance that our little Jeep had.  It will take some time to learn what it can do…until then we evaluate the rough spots.

It is so unusual to see puddles here in the desert.

We drove through the wash for a long while and then suddenly it dead ended.  The area ahead was full of large boulders.  We backtracked and found an egress road out and to the top.  It’s fun figuring it out together. 

We made our way out to S2 and then headed to Mortero Wash.  The views were spectacular and there were lots of places that would make nice tent camping sites. 

This was our lunch spot.

We drove to the railroad crossover. 

I sat on a rock just taking it all in.

We could see a line of Jeeps coming from the other side of the tracks and we went to see.  As we approached, we could remember coming here before, Piedras Grandes is a Native American Cultural Site.  We drove past today but we plan to come back and tour the site again and camp overnight in the tent.

We got back to the RV tired and happy after having another fun day exploring. 

We took a walk before dinner and then ate outside. 

The moon was already up and full and gorgeous. 

891 February 3, 2023 Exploring Indian Gorge

Last night was so bright.  The moon shone on the white sands.  I had my window shade up so that I could see.  I was looking for coyotes.  We have seen them almost every time we have stayed here.  I think that we could have gone walking around without a flashlight. 

Tim watched the sunrise.

My beautiful surroundings are a powerful incentive to get out and walk.  This morning, I walked out to the main road and then back to the RV across the desert.

We took the Jeep to Indian Gorge.  This is one of my favorite Jeep trails.  As we approached, we startled wildlife from their hiding places.  We saw a red-tailed hawk struggle to lift off, a small rodent caught in his talons.  We saw several black tailed jack rabbits bounding across the desert floor.  Quail shuffled along our path.

A crow making a whole lot of noise in this otherwise peaceful place.

It was warm but mostly cloudy with only a few smudges of blue in the sky and no wind blowing.  As we ascended into the gorge, the flora was greener and denser and there was more variety. There has been a lot of speculation about whether or not there will be a superbloom in the California desert this year.  Wildflower seeds can lie dormant for years.  When there is enough summer and winter rain, these seeds take root and this can result in lots of colorful blossoms.  We have already seen more flowers blooming than we usually do when we are here.

These bushes were swarming with bees.  We could here them buzzing and we steered clear!

We took the spur on the right to the end and got out to hike to the palms.

I decided to continue walking down the trail and Tim met me a short while later.

We took the spur to the left to its end and took another short hike there.  We enjoyed our lunch sitting on granite rocks and gazing at the view. 

Crunchy peanut butter with a honey crisp apple and Turkish figs was my perfect picnic…Tim ate his gruel!

Tim collected some firewood.

As we were driving, I noticed a huge domed boulder that looked like a cave.  There was a sign indicating that this was a sensitive area.  We parked the Jeep and went to look.  This has been a shelter.  There are fire scars inside.  Native American people have occupied this area for more than 10,000 years.  There is no way to tell how long this shelter was used.  On the back side there was a slab of rock that had cleaved off.  We could see manmade indentations in the granite used for grinding and collecting water.  Often, when I see something like this, I am reminded of all the people who have walked here and lived here before us.  Our lives and all our worries are so very small in the grand scheme. 

I was continuously scanning and looking for bighorn.  Looking for creamy colored haunches, for the telltale curl of the horns, listening for the clatter of hooves on the craggy rocks…but no sheep today.

We took the Old Stagecoach trail just enjoying the ride!

Can you see the purple verbena on the hillside?

It was nice enough this afternoon to sit outside in sunshine.

One more walk.

Watching the sun go down while grilling bison burgers and brussel sprouts with apples, walnuts, cranberries, garlic, and fig dressing.

I sat by the fire for a short time.  The last two nights we have seen bunches of bats flying together out of the rocks. 

890 February 2, 2023 Mountain Palm Springs

I was able to walk today on the trails at the Desert Museum.  It was 50 degrees this morning and the windmills were perfectly still…no wind!

The Spirit Of The Desert sculpture welcomes travelers to the museum.

Purple Cactus Sculpture.

I took the road to its end before turning back.

We drove on S3 through the small town of Ocotillo. 

We drove through fields of wind turbines.  We stopped to watch these cranes, hopeful that we might see them move this tremendous blade but that didn’t happen while we were there.

We passed through a Border Patrol Checkpoint and then we entered Anza-Borrego State Park.

We arrived at Mountain Palm Springs Campground before noon. 

Tim took a rather rigorous hike into the ravine.

I did a gentle hike to the palms.

We spent the afternoon sitting outside.  It was a gorgeous day and we were soaking up some rays!

I love that we can camp in this remote part of the desert in the RV.  We had to travel about a mile on a sandy road but we have the best site.

Grilled salmon and beet salad for dinner followed by a campfire.  Life is certainly good!

889 February 1, 2023 Imperial Valley Desert Museum

My walk this morning was through farm land. 

The Imperial Valley is at 150 feet below sea level.  The Colorado River in Yuma is at about 150 feet above sea level.  More than 100 years ago, farmers decided that they could use gravity to their advantage and with engineers, a system of irrigation was created to bring water from the river to the very fertile valley.   Because of this ingenuity, water rights to this area were established first.  Imperial Valley has primary access to the apportionment from the Colorado River.  90% of the nation’s winter produce is grown here and in southern Arizona.   The average annual rainfall is less than 3 inches.  Without that water supply, there would be no yield…no water, no farms, no food.

Our host owns alfalfa fields.  Alfalfa can be harvested and left to regrow for about 5 years.  It accounts for about ¼ of the crops in the valley.  The alfalfa is cut and baled.  The bales are stored outside until the moisture content is about 16%.  At that time, the bales are compressed to one third of their former size.  350 tractor trailer loads of alfalfa leave Imperial Valley 365 days a year.  One third of this alfalfa is taken to San Diego and shipped to Asia.

We left the valley and traveled to Ocotillo on S80. 

Spring mix.

This route took us through the area where the alfalfa is processed.

We could see the wind turbines from 20 miles away; some on snowcapped mountains.

We had a short ride to the Imperial Valley Desert Museum.  This is another Harvest Host site.  We toured the museum.  There we learned about the culture and heritage of the Kumeyaay people who have occupied this land for more than 10,000 years.  There were carefully preserved artifacts that included tools and pottery.  The exhibits were thoughtful and professionally designed.  We watched videos about bow and arrow making, indigenous legends, and the water supply in the Imperial Valley.  There were other displays about the desert flora and fauna.  We enjoyed our visit.

Later, at the suggestion of the director, we took the Jeep into the desert to see the Yuha Glyph.  This has been badly damaged by vandals and attempts to restore it to its former glory have been unsuccessful.  What a terrible shame to lose such a valuable piece of art in such a careless and disrespectful manner. 

Diesel for $6.99…and regular for $5.99…YIKES!!!

There was this old International Harvester desert truck at the gas station.  Tim liked the rock on the hood, it was his favorite part.

Back at the museum, we took our dinner out to the picnic area.  We enjoyed some sourdough wheat bread that we dipped into our EVOO and aged balsamic vinegar from our friend Clyde at the olive farm.  We had shrimp and fresh sugar snap peas and fresh blackberries. 

We had a good day!  I believe that it is so important that we stay curious, hold onto our sense of wonder, keep learning, and maintain our adventuresome spirit.

888 January 31, 2023 Desert Olive Farms

Overnight there was gentle rain for several hours.  When we awoke, it was 46 degrees, windy, and spitting rain.  I walked to the dumpster and back and then decided to wait for a short time and try again!

One last walk in the park.

Hummingbird posing for pictures.

Bougainville…so colorful and pretty.

Tim drove the RV to a gas station to fill with diesel before leaving Yuma.  We thought that the gas prices in California would be higher and this proved to be correct.  It was $5.79 per gallon once we left Arizona.

We passed the Imperial Sand Dunes not far from the state line.  It was very windy and sand was drifting across the highway. 

It was a short drive to Desert Olive Farms in Brawley.  This farm has a store in Yuma but it was never open in the evenings when we were downtown.

We arrived here after noon.  The host was not present but we were welcome to park and explore.  We took a walk.  The property is lovely and also serves as a wedding venue.

Acres of onions.

Romaine lettuce.

The olive grove.

The last vestiges of the pomegranate season.

There are rules to help keep the food supply safe.

A farm worker in a white pickup truck stopped to talk to us.  He let us know that they were going to have a helicopter spraying the romaine fields. 

We walked back to the RV, got into the Jeep, and drove out to watch the crop dusting.  First, the helicopter perched atop this truck and filled with chemicals.

We watched the pilot fly in great loops.

This evening, we watched the sunset.

Cowboy Clyde was our host this evening.  He was a wonderful storyteller and has a clever wit and dry sense of humor.  We learned about the history of Imperial Valley, farming, and water rights.  He took us into the workshop and taught us about how olive oil is made.  He taught us what real extra virgin olive oil is.  The mass-produced olive oils that are sold in our grocery stores are not are not the pure product that we think we are buying.  The food industry has lots of clever ways to label things. 

Clyde shared samples of olive oils and balsamic vinegars and at the end of his presentation, we purchased some to take on the road with us.

I loved this unique experience and am grateful for the opportunity to stay in this beautiful place.

887 January 29-30, 2023 Getting Ready To Move

Sunday we walked and biked and exercised.  We did laundry and washed sheets.  We got groceries.  I got a pedicure and Tim watched football.  We vacuumed and washed floors and cleaned the bathroom.

Monday, we walked and biked.  The sky was filled with clouds and the forecast was for rain.  We had a few sprinkles as we went about our errands.

The remainder of the day was spent making final preparations, getting fresh drinking water and supplies, emptying and filling tanks, and organizing everything.  We wanted to have as many groceries as we could stocked in the RV.  When we move to California, things will be much more expensive.  Groceries are about a dollar more per unit.  We will also be in a fairly remote area where there are few resources.  That drives the prices even higher.  Now we feel ready! 

One last delicious meal at Prison Hill Brewing Company.  We even splurged and shared dessert…the Ghirardelli brownie baked with their coconut stout…an amazing choice!

We are getting ready to move.  We have certainly accomplished a lot during the two weeks we have spent here in Yuma.   We will move west into California and slowly make our way to Borrego Springs.   We plan to be at an olive farm, a Harvest Host site on Tuesday evening.  After that we will wander.  Not sure how much cell/WiFi service we will have but we will catch up as soon as we can.

886 January 27-28, 2023 Another Ferguson Lake Adventure

I had a great 4 mile walk in the park this morning.  There was no wind and the sun was warm.

Tim and I both took a six-mile bike ride to the river and back.

We packed the Jeep for an overnight adventure.

We had to stop at Imperial Date Farm for fresh homemade date nut bread.  We tore off chunks and ate a snack as we traveled down the road.  We took Senator Wash Road to a rough gravel road.  We were surrounded by coffee and cream-colored hills.  It is very rocky and barren.  There is very little vegetation. 

Tim stopped in a wash where he saw a dead and downed tree.  He cut it for firewood and we moved along.

We set up camp overlooking Ferguson Lake.  We have camped here 2 other times before.  The view is spectacular.  It is so still and quiet.  We sat on our perch watching the changing light and looking for burros. 

All at once, we heard a raucous braying.  Tim walked to the edge and saw this burro.

As we sat in the dark by our fire, we heard others braying and then packs of coyotes with howling coming from all around us.  The stars came out and we sat mesmerized by tiny pinpricks of light in the velvety blackness, the flickering flames and the desert noises.

Just us.

We were chilly overnight.  The temperature went down to 37 degrees.  I heard Tim get up and I waited until he had the morning fire going and the coffee hot before I emerged from our cocoon.  There is a 30 degree diurnal variation in the temperatures.  It only gets really cold right before dawn and then the sun rapidly warms us. 

We drove the Jeep down to Ferguson Lake.  There is another really sweet campsite on the water’s edge.  Next time, I want to stay there!

We drove back toward civilization and stopped for breakfast on our way out.

Tim hiked on the rocks. 

I elected to walk down the road.  He followed a while later and picked me up.

We drove through an area on BLM land open to long term campers.  I have heard it said that camping is the great equalizer.  Here in the desert, we saw people of humble means parked next to luxury rigs…coexisting in the same neighborhood.  I’m quite sure that there are people staying here that have nowhere else to go.  If you have the chance, watch the documentary called Nomadland or read the book!

We took the remainder of the day as a rest day…we felt like we needed one!

885 January 26, 2023 From Somerton To Yuma

Thinking of you Uncle Don and hoping that you have a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹

I started my day with a 3 mile walk in West Wetlands.  I chose not to walk on the elevated bike path on the levee because of gusty winds.  Instead, I walked the interior of the park, walking laps around the duck pond and then on the path through the trees along the river. Mexican bird of paradise is blooming here.

Tim wanted to do another long bike ride to Somerton.  He had factored in the wind.  For a 4 mile stretch on the levee road he encountered fairly hefty crosswinds.  Gusts were greater than 20mph.  Once he made the turn to head south he was pushed by those same winds.  The biking then was not as hard, in fact he had lots of help.  While he was biking, I ran to the store for fresh water and firewood.  I met him in Somerton.  It took Tim about an hour to go the 13 miles.

Tim drove the Jeep the long way back to Yuma.  We drove through farm land.  There are fields lying fallow.

Fields newly planted.

Fields thriving.

Fields being harvested.  How often do you think about how your food gets to the table?  We stopped to watch workers harvesting romaine lettuce.  This is back breaking work.  The crew was chanting as they harvested perhaps to keep pace with the machine moving down the furrows.

The romaine is cut and sanitized and bagged right there in the field. 

The produce is boxed and ready to be transported to cooling facilities in Yuma.  Within 24 hours, the vegetables are on the way to grocery stores across the country.

The fields are littered with the remains of the picking and then the process begins again.

This truck dips water from the canal and sprays it onto the farm road to keep the dust down.

The farm fields were to the east.  To the west, was the wall.  From Somerton there are miles of these low crossbars that are meant to serve as a boundary.  Border patrol is present here. 

Then all at once a long section of “the wall” rises up.  The wall runs for miles and miles.

There are gaps in the wall as we approached Yuma.  The gaps are going to be closed and there were work crews present beginning construction.

The dam in the Colorado River. Arizona on this side and Mexico on the other. By the time the river reaches the border, it is a mere trickle compared to the mighty Colorado up north. Multiple dams and reservoirs in the US control the flow of the water as it moves south.

The border wall and the farm fields filled with migrant workers are literally foreign to us.  We don’t have anything at home that compares to this.  It is an experience to come here and witness.  Each time we have visited we are struck anew by the complexities of the issues here.  

This evening, we went to downtown Yuma for dinner at Eduardo’s.  Afterward, we walked.  The winds had died down and it was a pleasant night.

884 January 25, 2023 Los Algodones – Medical Tourism

We were due dental cleaning back in the Fall.  We had thought that we were going to go back home before Christmas but then our plans changed and so we missed our appointments.  There is a Mexican border town called Los Algodones just 20 minutes from our campground.  This is a town that specializes in medical tourism.  In peak snowbird season, there can be as many as 450 dentists practicing here in 200 clinics.  We thought about going there to get our teeth cleaned.  We had gone there before to walk around and have lunch but we had never used the services.  We were not sure and we didn’t know how to find someone we could trust. 

When we were hiking in Organ Pipe National Monument, we met a guy, David, on the trail.  We started talking and he said that he was spending the weekend in Ajo awaiting a dental appointment in Los Algodones.  He had been using Dr. Zuman at Fine Quality Dental for the past 6 years. He talked about the professionalism of the clinic and he recommended we go!  He also has a friend, Gilbert who works at Arkansas Optical.  Tim had wanted an eye exam and a new pair of reading glasses.  I wanted a backup pair of glasses.  David was kind enough to supply us with contact information.  We called and made appointments.

We set our alarms for 6am this morning.  We had 9am appointments at the optician.  We had carefully calculated the time difference in Mexico and we left Yuma before 7am in order to arrive on time.  As we were nearing the Mexican border and the Jeep clock recalibrated the time change, we realized that we were arriving 3 hours early for our appointment.  Ugh…we failed that math problem!

We drove back to the RV and fit in some exercise and then left again shortly before 9 here in Yuma so that we would have plenty of time to park on the US side, and walk into Mexico.  You are immediately aware that you are no longer in the US.

Gilbert had called to confirm that we were coming and he met is at the crossing and walked us to the office.  We had cursory exams and ordered our glasses They were ready two hours later!

Our dental appointments were not until 12:30pm.  We had lots of time to pass.  We started by having breakfast at a little hole in the wall restaurant.  We had really tasty breakfast burritos.  We listened to wandering musicians and several street vendors came through trying to sell their wares.

We wandered after that through the town.  I saw a hair salon.  When I went to sign in, the hairdresser said that there would not be enough time before our dental appointments to get my hair done…I was very confused.  I told her we had 2 ½ hours and she very patiently explained that although the official time in Los Algodones was Pacific time or California time…The town businesses followed Yuma time…so all that wasted and incorrect math…yeah…that actually meant that we were late for our eye appointments…

We had a great experience at Fine Quality Dental.  I actually feel like I got better care there than I get at home. 

With new glasses and shiny teeth, we went to El Paraiso for a late lunch.

We made one more stop at the purple pharmacy.  I was able to purchase some medication for super cheap.

We made our way to the line to get back into the US.  The line extended all the way to the end of the covered sidewalk. 

As we stood waiting for our turn, I was struck by several things.  There were so many street vendors peddling their stuff.  They walked through the crowd desperately trying to make sales.  School children came a little later, also trying to sell.  There were some disabled people begging and lots of young mothers with nursing babies and small children with baskets to collect change.  It was hard to walk by without helping and we used all our small bills and change.  Sometimes I am embarrassed by our excess especially when faced with the poverty and desperation of people trying to care for families. 

Our wait was long.  I chose not to complain or even to feel irritated.  In fact, I felt incredibly fortunate.  I was standing in line to go back home…to a place where I have had lots of opportunity.  A place that offers relative safety and freedom compared to other countries.   Standing in that line made me realize all over again how very lucky I am.

883 January 24, 2023 Out for Dinner

I started my day with a good 4 mile walk in the park. 

Tim finished his morning exercise routine and then decided that he wanted to ride the 13 miles to Somerton.  I gave him a bit of a head start and then drove the Jeep to meet him.

He cycled through farm fields.

We made another trip out for supplies. 

Later in the afternoon I took a short bike ride to get those rings closed!

I made quinoa bowls for dinner with sweet potatoes and chicken and spinach and walnut and goat cheese all drizzled with a fig balsamic dressing.  We drove to the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex and enjoyed our meal by the pond. 

After eating, we walked through the ballfields and around the perimeter of the parking lots.

Another good day in sunny Yuma!