Friday, February 25, 2011

RECOGNIZED IN BORREGO SPRINGS

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ACTIVITY CENTER AT THE ‘SPRINGS OF BORREGO’

Anyone who has boon docked at the Clark Dry Lake Bed near Borrego Springs knows about…..the wind!!!!  We actually left early last March because of it & last night the wind was back to remind us just who was the big Boss around this place!!  We rock & rolled all night with all the usual flapping slide awning sounds.  Surprised to see our satellite dish still up this morning but my unsightly jury rigged ropes seem to have done the job.  Nice fiery sunrise straight out our windshield to start the day:))

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DESERT FLOWERS ARE COMING INTO BLOOM

Today we welcome new blog Follower, Molly Pinner.  Thanks for climbing aboard Molly, hope you like dogs…….:))

DSC_3061We Canadians often have concerns & worries about our border crossing entering the States every fall.  Never hear too much about the American folks & their concerns when entering Canada though.  Donna has some thoughts about that as well as some ‘do’s & don’ts at the border.  You can read her post at, OUR ADVENTURES WITH TASSIE.  And, excitement is building over at ON THE ROAD TO RETIREMENT as the final few days are counted down to ‘hitting the road’ for these folks.  Sticks & Bricks is about empty & the Rig is about full & ready to roll:))  In another blog I am reminded of winter’s gone by & how we have a tendency to complain about the weather. Jenny remembers back to the days as a child when there was no electricity, no running water & no indoor plumbing.  I recall some of these same things as well.  Check out Jenny’s post on what it was like on a cold winter’s night with no central heating & sharing a cold bedroom with 5 Siblings.  HUNKERED DOWN & REMINISCING.

DSC_3060 The Desert Nature Center on Borrego’s main street puts out a publication called, The Sand Paper in which it lists all it’s upcoming events & interests for people.  Hiking, Jeeping, desert flower tours, bird trips, field trips of the area & Astronomy are but a few of the many, many, interests offered.  The visitor’s center at the Anza-Borrego State Park in town also offers a weekly series of events & happenings as well.  This is but one of the many reasons I like Borrego Springs.  So much to see, do & learn.  And, the majority of these programs are free.  A person can be on the go almost daily if so inclined.  We have done a couple Jeep tours through PALO VERDE & GRAPEVINE CANYON & I have enjoyed 2 Astronomy seminars, an EARLY MORNING PHOTO CLASS, a GUIDED HIKE UP GHOST MOUNTAIN & an informative talk & static demonstration by Anza Borrego’s only flying pilot who in a blog last year I referred to as, MIGHTY MOUSE.  Mighty Mouse’s gender might surprise you.  If you have an adventurous & inquisitive mind plus the time & interest in nature then Borrego Springs California is for you. 

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OUR CLOSEST NEIGHBOR IS BEHIND US.

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WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO CARRY THE MOTORMOUSE BECAUSE SHE DOESN’T LIKE ROUGHER GROUND

Consensus from commenters & emailers seems to be the problem with our slide may very well be centered with the slide switch.  I will follow the suggestions sent in starting with unscrewing the panel & give it a good blast with compressed air in there around the switch itself.   As readers have suggested we’ll have a good look at the wiring on that switch as well.

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HEADING INTO BORREGO SPRINGS LOCATED AT THE FOOT OF THE SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS IN THAT LINE OF TREES

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OUR TRADITIONAL JILBERTOS STOP

Despite saying we were going to relax for a couple days it didn’t take us long to end up at the Farmer’s Market on Christmas Circle this morning.  Quick stop at the grocery store & then it was off to Jilbertos for my yearly burg & fries.  Great as ever I may add.  Borrego Springs looks exactly the same as we left it last March except we noticed they must have got that hard freeze awhile back because we can see the frostbite damage to some of the trees & shrubs.  Kelly wanted to stop in at THE SPRINGS OF BORREGO to check out the book exchange.   Took some pics as we drove in & around the beautiful palm tree lined onsite golf course.  Sure is a nice looking place & it was here we had another one of our amazing coincidental blog reader encounters.

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A FEW PHOTOS AS WE DROVE THROUGH ‘SPRINGS OF BORREGO’ TODAY

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Just as we parked the Jeep outside the Activities area building a fellow walking by glanced at the Jeep’s windshield where we have a ‘Bayfield Bunch’ sticker.  He hesitated, turned around & as Kelly climbed out of the Jeep he asked, “are you really the Bayfield Bunch?”  Kelly assured him we were & he said, “well, it’s because of your blog that my wife & I now come to Borrego Springs.”  Apparently while they were over on the other side of the Salton Sea a few years or so ago his wife accidentally stumbled across our blog after Googling some RV sites.  She began following our blog & became interested in our enthusiasm for Borrego Springs & decided to come over for a look see.  Like us, they fell in love with the little town & have been returning here ever since.  His name was Chris Church & he said they were staying in the RV Park there for a few days.  He told us his site number & said his wife Sheryl would love to meet us.  Minutes later we were sitting in Chris & Sheryl’s beautiful Allegro Bay Bus chatting about the coincidence of meeting, reasons for coming to Borrego Springs, travels & other wild stories.  RV folks do that you know:))  Chris phoned another couple to come over & meet us as well so it turned into quite an unexpected 30 minutes of socializing for the elusive Bayfield Bunch.  Always great to meet nice people though:))

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SPOTTED THIS 1967 MOTOR TYPE HOME ON BORREGO’S MAIN STREET

We were back to the rig shortly after 1 p.m. & spent a relaxing afternoon inside.  Nice sunny day but the wind gusts buffeting the rig felt cool.  We were both tired from Thursday’s all night rock & rolling in the wind.  I see this ‘being tired a lot’ as another down side to this not so nice aging thing!!

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There is a Jeep tour in the morning heading out for South Palm Wash but with a limit of only 7 Jeeps we have missed the registration cut.   Lady said come anyway because if the predicted bad weather shows up some folks won’t go anyway.  We’ll see how things shape up in the morning.  Another Jeep tour went out today over to Ocotillo Wells but we were to late to register for that one as well.  I remember the the last couple years no registration was required.  Folks just met Saturday morning at Christmas Circle & with a leader, headed off out into the desert to predetermined spots.  We are not normally group people but the advantage of the Jeep group for us is the driving experience & knowledge of seasoned Jeepers.  The 2 previous Jeep tours we have been on here have been very informative in learning the history & geography of the area.

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A check of the weather tonight tells us we have a 90% chance of rain in the morning & it’s probably going to be a lot colder over the next couple days.  After that it’s back to warmer weather.  In the meantime it looks like an inside day for us tomorrow.

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GROANER’S CORNER:((   Gallagher is in Boston and he is waiting patiently, also, he is watching the traffic cop on a busy street crossing.
The cop stops the flow of traffic and shouts, 'Okay pedestrians'.  Then he allows the traffic to pass. He did this several times, and Gallagher is still standing on the sidewalk.
After the cop has shouted 'Pedestrians' for the tenth time, Gallagher approaches him and says, 'Is it not about time ye let the Catholics across?'

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EMAIL THE BAYFIELD BUNCH:))
stargeezerguy@gmail.com
 
BISBEE PHOTO ALBUM
http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/BISBEEARIZONAAFEWFINEPHOTOMEMORIES
 
Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
BLOGGER WEBSITE http://thebayfieldbunch.com/
OUR PHOTO ALBUMS http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/
 
The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
 
The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.

13 comments:

  1. how great to be the 'famous Bayfield Bunch'..so popular and you didn't even know it!!!

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  2. Nice Blog Al, I enjoy traveling with you and all the beautiful pictures. Sure would have liked to know more about that old RV you showed. Stuff like that interests me, who made it, etc.

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  3. Don't know about where you are, Al (but it does sound wonderful!) -- but here in Benson, snow is predicted for Sunday down to 3000 feet, and we sit at 3580.

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  4. Pretty neat encounter with your fans. Sounds like it was a fun day.

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  5. You and Kelly better get some security to travel along...You could get mobbed at any time!!
    Your spot there looks so peaceful..except for the Wind Gods knocking you around sometimes...Enjoy the weather..ours sucks pondwater..

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  6. Looks as though you are getting that saturation setting about perfect on your new camera, Al. Kelly looks great, by the way, and Borrego Springs? Well, it's on our list for the March trip, thanks to you. Too bad you will be heading back home. Someday I too, want to meet the elusive "bayfield bunch"

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  7. Thanks for the mention in todays post... You are really in a heavenly place. The pictures are so incredible and makes me want to be there too. What fun being noticed on the go... it's like you are a legend in the west. ☺ Which you are to us bloggin Rvers.
    Have fun & travel safe
    Donna

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  8. Al your blog and pictures are the usual above 34 stars, but we all know Kelly is the star of the show,I loved your groaner, We lived just down the street from a large Presbyterian Church and every once in awhile my Dad (who was Catholic) would be asked if he was a member, never one to discuss politics or religion with strangers, he would always answer , "No I'm a pedestrian" which usually brought a smile to the other persons face.Thanks for bringing back a funny memory. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

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  9. Getting Famous! Next they will be asking for autographs!

    I suppose all those big winds coming this way are from you guys last night? We are almost to New Mexico and might hole up for a day till they pass us by.

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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  10. The colors in your pictures are sure nice, you must have that new camera pretty well calibrated by now.

    I sure hope folks don't start flocking to the desert boondocks now to meet up with the Bayfield Bunch! Being famous has it's drawbacks, you may have to move farther and farther into the boonies to get the privacy you like! Ah!! The price of fame!

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  11. I think I'll follow Chris and Sheryl's action and make Borrego Spings one of our CA stops. You know, I don't even need travel brochures anymore...blogs are enough, complete with reviews!
    Thanks for sharing the desert flowers...they made me smile!
    Kathy

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  12. Sure understand about the wind there at the dry lake bed.
    We had our introduction to it last month when we parked at that same place.
    It seemed that the wind kicked up just about the time we were headed to bed.
    After one night of not sleeping, the next windy night Ken pulled in the slides to see if it helped any. It surprised us what a big difference that made in the amount of noise.
    I'm glad since we have every intention of many returns to that area!

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  13. Great photos today, especially the flowers. Been off the grid for a few days so will have to catch up to your adventures. Nice that you met some new friends. We are three days into our motor home and having a great time...but could use some warmer weather!

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