TORREY UTAH, TO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

October 28, 2014

We leave Torey, Utah and descend the mountains toward Las Vegas.  As the altitude drops, John's breathing as well as our attitudes improve remarkably. It is amazing what altitude and oxygen levels do to our bodies.  

Late in the afternoon, we enter Las Vegas and find ourselves in a forty foot Tiffin Allegro Bus towing at sixteen foot trailer with our Miata aboard rolling down THE STRIP!   John did just fine, as usual.  

Finally, we pull into the Silverton Casino lot for our dry docking experience.  We are close to McCarran International Airport and it's landing and take off runways. 

Take offs are quiet, but landings are annoying.  Would we stay there again?  No Way!  Free overnights are one thing, but noisy, aggravating overnights are just not worth it.

                                                                                        After a great breakfast, we headed into the city.  We meet the "boys" from Toy Story.  My, they seem to be very tall, or am I really, really short?                                                                                                         
  I am modeling the terrible haircut that I got in Moab, UT. It has been said that the difference between a bad haircut and a good one is two weeks.  It is going to take more than two MONTHS for this cut to grow to my desired length.  I have found that good haircuts are hard to find when traveling.

                         

                                                                                                                                                                                  

We visited many of the high end boutiques and marveled at the prices some pay for clothing and accessories.  

                                                We worked up an appetite for a non-vegetarian, burger and wanted to find Bobby Flay's restaurant, Bobby's Burger Palace.                                                                     The Bobby Blue was calling our names.

   

                                                                                                      The colors were warm and inviting, reminding us of the atmosphere of a '50's diner.  

                                                                                         How did we begin our meal of blue cheese burgers?  We shared a chocolate milk shake!                                                                             Then we indulged in the Bobby Blue, onion rings, and fries for John.

                                                With shrinking wastes of our pants, we headed out to see the night sights.  Thank goodness we had the opportunity to walk off a few of the calories.

                                                                                                                                                Evening approached before we could see everything we wanted. It is going to take another day.  But, Las Vegas at night is beautiful.                                                                          We will need to see more of Las Vegas at a later time.  

Our arrival time at Borrego Springs, California was rapidly approaching.   

We begin the short trip to California and our daughter Jojo's home to collect our mail and lemons from her tree. 



You know you are in southern California when you see dust storms on the horizon.    

Soon, we are on the road to Borrego Springs and our favorite camping area at Clark Dry Lake, BLM land just south of the Springs.

Ahhhh, our home in the southwest.  No more travel for a while.  It is time to enjoy the mountains and the quiet desert! 

Today, this blog ends and begins with photos of the Anza Borrego desert, our favorite place!                                                                                                                                                                              Thanks for visiting our blog today.  It has been a long time since I posted.  The rest has been good, but now, it is time to share some of our activities.  More to come.  

And thanks for making your purchases through our Amazon link.  By linking to Amazon through this blog, we earn a very small percentage.  You pay nothing extra.  

God bless.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

AND THE HEAT GOES ON

Anza Borrego Desert State Park was not getting any cooler and we decided to throw in the towel and move to the nearby State Park.  

Our last day at Clark Dry Lake was spent relaxing in the shade of the motorhome and let the breezes keep us feeling cooler than the temperatures were indicating at ninety nine and one hundred three degrees.

The sky was full of wispy clouds and we were hoping for a beautiful a evening sunset.  

Due to the heat, Oliver, Olivia and Noah were not interested in eating and bulked at taking their walks to take care of their business. 

                                                                   They, like John and I just rested while waiting for sunset.

 I enjoyed watching this cloud formation as the evening progressed.    

The air currents created a beautiful scene as you will see in later photos.   

I would love to know why cloud watching is so relaxing.  I can sit and make up stories, find interesting figures and just daydream while gazing at the glorious sky.   

A pink tinge is beginning to color the lower edges of the clouds!  Hallelujah, it is beginning to cool down.  


The fur kids are up and feeling a bit of energy.


Oh, oh, watch out. They will not be this quiet for very long, I promise.


After being quiet for so long, they are ready to play.  

Olivia is just baiting Oliver. She is such an instigator.  


Let the wild play begin!

And they are off!

This goes on and on. Both toss and roll each other over the desert floor ending up as two huge dust bunnies...Or is that dust puppies?    
  
Sunsets are not only beautiful in the west.

I love to see the eastern sky as the sun plays on the distant clouds in the east.  

I decide that this cloud appears to be an amoeba with it's tendrils flowing from it's sides.

Desert sunsets have a beauty of their very own with the mountains and the desert floor to provide contrast between soft lights and hard and harsh mountains and desert floor.  

This cloud formation reminds me of a rocket flying through the sky. 

Fire seems to be lighting the sky.  The orange, yellow, lavender, pink, purple and blues all do their magic act.

And the sun's last hurrah promising that it will be back in the cool, early morning hours to trek through the desert sky once more.

Our Anza Borrego Desert hikes have ended for another year. 

Thanks to all who make your Amazon purchases through our blog.  Amazon donates a small sum to us when you make your purchases through them.  

And a huge thank you to all who take the time to join us in our adventures.  Be safe out there and most of all.....
May God go with you in your lives.      

SNOW IN THE DESERT? KUMEYAAY NATIVE AMERICANS.

Anza Borrego State Park, CA
Clark Dry Lake


You will never guess what was on the desert mountain top when we came outside Saturday morning.  


Keeping in mind that the days have been very hot, would you believe snow at about six thousand feet?  And it lasted well into the day.  

Our day was a bit cooler and we had a full day of activities on our agenda. 










The visitors center and the Anza Borrego Foundation and the Begole Research center were hosting an Archaeology Weekend.

  









There were seminars and activities for adults and children.

Clay pots were created by budding artists.  As they were working the clay, they heard how the Native Americans, in this case the Kumeyaay, made water vessels, bowls and other useful items for their everyday living.  

There were Kumeyaay attending to sell their pottery, jewelry, and to demonstrate weaving with reeds and grasses.

I was eager to ask the ladies questions.  I tried the small amount of Spanish that I know to no avail.  Thank goodness there was a translator. The ladies speak their own Kumeyaay language!

There was also a display of native plants and their uses by the Native Americans.

When I grew up, the Native Americans were called Indians. Now, that term is 'politically incorrect.'  I agree. Native Americans were here longer than our ancestors, unless your ancestors are natives that is.  








The visitor's center was crowded with guests there to learn about the animals and the culture of the area.  

The extra volunteer staff was extremely busy answering questions, selling merchandise and giving directions.

Each display had visitors learning about the birds and animals that populate the Anza Borrego Desert. 

How many animals can you find in the photograph on the right?  Can you name them?  




The day ended with a silent auction and ice cream social at the Begole Research Center. 





They served chocolate and vanilla ice cream with every topping that you can imagine.  

The volunteer on the right was also making root beer floats.  All a nice treat on a warm spring afternoon.   

For the auction, there were almost two hundred items donated by Borrego Springs businesses.    

Many beautiful items were displayed, but they were too large or too heavy for a motorhome.  We went home empty handed.  

John and I are considering volunteering at the Beogle Research Center next winter.  

This is one of our favorite destinations.  It is relatively close to our daughter, Jojo. And we have so much more to see and do here at the Anza Borrego State Park.

Thank you for visiting today and a big thank you for shopping Amazon through our blog.  

God bless you - especially during this Holy Week as we remember the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.  

CLARK DRY LAKE HIKE

Since the weather is cooperating with us, we decide that we are going to take another hike.  This hike is right in our own front yard here at Clark Dry Lake in the Anza Borrego desert. We decide to leave Oliver and Olivia home.

In comparison to last year, the desert looks dead. Plants, Creosote bushes, grasses, Ocotillo, cholla cactus; they all are not dead but have gone into dormancy.  What we see this year is grey and brown,  with one exception, a tree that I cannot identify.  

Rather than starting from the motorhome, we drive the Miata about a mile north  toward the dry lake that looks close enough that we could walk to it.  In the desert, everything appears to be closer than it actually is. 

As we walk, little sights draw our attention. We marvel at what wind, rain and heat can create.                                           Here, the shrub and grass are the same color as the sand. 

                                                                                                                                                                Talk about monochromatic!  At least in this next photo, I am able to get a touch of the sky and clouds.                

What creature of the desert has lived in here?  Is it still in there?  Did it cover it's track while inside sweeping the floor?

 




Looking north, the sky and the varied hues coming from the mountains provide distraction from the desert floor.

The tree stands in the wash waiting for next winter's rains.  Hopefully, the drought will end and next year bring green in the sleeping desert.  

 I climb a nearby hill and look out toward the dry lake.  Ahh!  I see something green!  Maybe there is water down there?  Let's go see.  

John says he has walked far enough knowing that we have yet to return to the car.  Good decision on his part as we have lost sight of the car long ago.


I continue on and on and on.  Until I reach my goal.   

There must be an underground water source.  But it is deeper than the other desert plants have reached.  

Since I have totally lost sight of John, I turn back and spot this interesting formation in my path.   


 What do we have here?  A mini volcano?  An aunt condo?  What desert creature lives here.  

Any ideas?  Where do the scorpions and tarantulas escape the hot sun only to come out at night?  That reminds me why I am so thankful that we have a black-light flashlight.  Those critters only show up at night with that kind of flashlight.

Continuing to walk back to where John is supposed to be resting, I find he is not there.  OK, where did he go?  I look around expecting to find him venturing out of the wash. Nope, no John.  

I look for shoe prints in the sand.  They all point North.  If he were returning to the car on his own, some would be in a southerly direction.  

I continue to walk south looking for tracks.  Only a Black tailed Jackrabbit darts across my path startling me enough to make me scream.  Tense?  No!  I'm not stressed...

Ahhh, after a while, I find John's tracks heading south. Rounding  a curve in the wash, there sits John in the midst of rocks.  That's my rock hounding husband all right. Geesh.

Oh well,  we return to the Miata and drive back to the motorhome.  We have had a great walk.  It was longer than the previous day, therefore we are both making progress.  

Did we arrive at Clark Dry Lake?  No.  It looks just as far away as it did from the motorhome.  Now, I am wondering how far from the motorhome the dry lake is.

The day was so nice that we could have taken the dogs with us.   

Thanks again for joining us on our desert walk. It is getting warmer so I think we will take Al's suggestion and hike the slot canyon next time.  Come back again and we will take you with us.  

God bless!

SOUTH CARLBSAD STATE BEACH

After leaving Sycuan Casino in El Cajon we continued westward with the final destination being D.D.#2's location. 


But first, we made another stop.   South Carlsbad State Beach, right on the Pacific Ocean.  The thundering surf greeted us with pounding waves, foam, sea birds, enthusiastic surfer dudes and plenty of rocks for John to treasure.  

We settled into our spot right on the Pacific.  Site 204 was perfect for our forty feet of motorhome and fourteen feet of trailer that carries our Miata.  

As soon as the slides were out and a few things put in their places, we were down the stairs from the high bluff and onto the beach.  

John was searching for his rocks and I was on the hunt for sea glass.  

There was only one problem.  The ocean greeted us with huge waves and surf that would chase us out of it's reach.  Twice, the surf won the race. 

Both of us had on our hiking shoes, on the beach - need I say more?   My hiking shoes are waterproof as long as the water does not go over the top of the shoe.  

Yep, you guessed it!  I was soon walking in sand and water that had taken residence in my shoes.  (It was freezing cold for just a short while.) 

I cannot imagine that the wet suits could keep these surfers warm.  But, I have never had one on, so how would I know.  They just looked cold.  They would sit out there for what felt like hours waiting for the perfect swell that would give them the thrill ride of the day.  

Perseverance provided a good ride for these surfers.  

What surprised us was the ages of these surfer dudes!  Some are as old as us.  And of course, we are older than dirt!  

So......does that make them older than mud?

As I was walking the beach in my less than successful hunt for sea glass, I did spy one shore bird that I am unable to identify.







 Help!   Name that
      Bird!!!!

 From the shore-side of the beach, I  moved to the cliff side.  Nestled into the rock cliffs, there would be little caves.  This one had rocks washed into the opening.  




And I found many of these little creatures scampering among the rocks and larger boulders.  

The issue with these guys is that they are burrowing in the soil parts of the cliffs and breaking down the stability of the cliffs.  

Hopefully, the powers that be will be able to find a way to relocate these guys.  

It would be a shame to see these cliffs washed into the Pacific.  

Being the artist I am, I found great beauty 'painted' in the sand.  A wave would come thundering onto the shore bringing sea weed, moving pebbles and rocks.  Then the ocean would return to its self and start anew.   

It would leave patterns that looked as if the Pacific used big heavy brushes on the seaweed and fine bristled brushes to fan out the grey shades, giving me ideas for paintings. 

A strange occurrence happened as I was walking Oliver and Olivia.  Suddenly I was attacked!  A bird whizzed by my head.  It came back again flying right over my shoulder screaming at me.  

All I could think of was a Blue Jay.  It was not a Jay, but a Mocking Bird.  I have never been before been attacked by our Mocking Birds at home, or what was home.  

The campgrounds were full of color from various plants.  The first, I do not know the name, but this plant also lines the highway leading to the State Beach.  


The second is the Bottle Brush plant.  Phil Dahl has a much better photo on his blog.  Of course, Phil called it a Toilet Brush plant.  

Our last night at South Carlsbad State Beach was a beautiful evening.  I played with the sunset photos for a change of pace. 

The previous night, we did not have a sunset.  Actually there was one, it was hidden by thick clouds. So this was a treat.  I took about ten photos.  



Thank goodness, I did not choose to post all ten sunsets.  

After dumping and taking on water, we left South Carlsbad State Beach and continued our trek to Jojo's.  

At first, it was just cloudy.  The clouds grew heavier as we worked our way north to a higher elevation. 

Then, there was mist.  

But, when we arrived at the top of the mountain, the sun was shining!  The pavement was dry!  No clouds, no mist!  

We drove further down the highway, then another then to I-5, then I-15 and on to 215.  Always changing lanes kept John on his toes and my eyes and ears tuned to our not always correct Garman GPS. 

Finally we arrived!  We are parked in a church parking lot for a while.  Saturday, we begin the process of installing the skimmer and waterfall in Jojo's pond, so get out your shovels and come join us!
  



THE END!



May you be blessed with the richness of God's everlasting love.