Friday, November 22, 2013

TOOK A MORNING WALK UP ON COYOTE MOUNTAIN TO SEE IF THE BIG STONE SNAKE WAS STILL THERE…..

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SUNRISE…BORREGO SPRINGS STYLE

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NO PHOTO SHOP ON THESE SUNRISE PICS BY THE WAY…COLORS ARE JUST AS I SAW THEM

It was somewhere between a squeak & a honk I heard first thing this morning.  It was the sound of a happy little dog playing with her funky Rooster Chicken .  As soon as Kelly or I stir, Pheebs is into immediate ‘excitement mode’.  Another 24 hours of happy has begun for her.  This morning she kicked off our day with her squawking Rooster.

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Fiery sunrise this morning as Pheebs & stepped out of the rig.  Warm air & the only sound meeting our ears was a couple distant Coyotes.   Other rigs in the area were too far away for their generators to reach us.  It was a nice peaceful start to our day.  Just the way we like it:))

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Couple quick things from last night’s post.  Water, dumping, etc is free at the Arco station east of Borrego Springs on S22.  Our gusting winds subsided before we went to bed & we had a quiet night.  We did stop & have a look at the ‘Oven site’ here just off Rock House road but decided on a site a few hundred yards north of there beside the old & now filled in gravel pit closer to Coyote Mountain.  Someone wondered if we had been to 17 Palms & the answer is yes.  Same day we found the PUMPKIN PATCH.  Question about our old batteries.  They had not been maintained properly before we had the coach & cells had been allowed to drain.  One battery was poorer than the other.  Mike said they would work but just wouldn’t work well & we could have trouble with them.  We didn’t see the logic of having new solar equipment installed & then trying to make it all work with older weaker batteries.  Batteries are the heart of the system so we swapped them out.  A question about dust.  We have never worried about dust interfering with the slide mechanisms but it’s a good idea to keep them well greased which we do.

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Didn’t get myself organized enough to make the beginner’s Bird walk in Borrego Springs this morning.  Next time.  Instead Kelly, Pheebs, & I headed ourselves over to the walking trails on Coyote Mountain & started heading up.  For the past few years I have always made it a point to walk up there & check on the big stone snake.  Happy to say it was still there this morning & looking as fine as ever.  Trail seemed to have more loose rocks on it in spots so Kelly had a few difficulties coming down.

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MY CAMERA IS POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE GREEN OASIS CALLED BORREGO SPRINGS

Didn’t turn out to be a good Solar day with a double layer of clouds overhead.  Lower level clouds shrouded some of the surrounding mountain peaks.  It all made for a very moody sky.  Light breeze & a tad on the cool side.

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TOPPING A RIDGE I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE LONG STONE SNAKE WAS STILL THERE

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Loaded up the Pheebs & Jeeped ourselves into Borrego Springs around noon.  Kelly had a couple thrift stores to check out.  Been a few years since I had an egg pocket at Calicos so we stopped in.  Good as ever.  Kelly had a spicy bowl of Chicken Enchilada soup.  Spicy enough to make her cross-eyed for a few seconds.  On the way back to the rig we took us for a little drive through the Borrego Springs Resort.  Hadn’t been through that part of the Springs before.  Streets were quiet.  In fact all of Borrego Springs is quiet & we figure it’s just the time of year.  Snow Birds really haven’t landed yet.

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WHENEVER WE REACH CHRISTMAS CIRCLE NOW WE STOP, LEAP OUT ON THE GRASS & RUN AROUND IN CIRCLES SHOUTING & WAVING OUR ARMS…THERE GOES KELLY STOMPING BY A TREE NOW…YES WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO STOMP OUR FEET ON SOME REAL GRASS

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CRUISING UP BORREGO SPRINGS MAIN DRIVE TOWARD THE SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS

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ALWAYS LOTS OF JEEPS IN TOWN

And I see we have a new fella over there in our Friend Connect box.  We welcome CARL HARTUP as he joins our travels over here in Borrego Springs this week.  Thanks for dropping by Carl:)) 

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CALICOS

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ONE BOWL OF CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP & ONE EGG POCKET

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With a rather dull looking day outside we just hunkered down in the rig.  I concentrated my efforts on a few camera problems & got things sorted out.  We have been finding our loveseat just a tad crowded with all three of us on it vying for space.  Poor Pheebs kinda gets squished in the middle.  A solution had to be found. DSC_0160

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AND THIS PHOTO JUST KINDA SUMS UP OUR CLOUDY AFTERNOON

I need more room because of my camera gear all the time & things were just not working out so I was the one voted off the couch.  I now reside in the rig’s driver’s seat which we have partially turned around.  This set-up actually works much better for me.  Kinda my own little room where I don’t gotta share my space.  I’m sure the other 2 Dudes are much more comfortable with me off the couch as well.  Especially our furry little four legged creature.  She loves to stretch out on the couch with Mom.  A few other benefits of my new spot is I now have a table for my mouse & snacks.  I have in-dash radio control, a drink holder & room to set my cameras down when downloading the days pics.  Also have a much better view out the windshield & drivers side window.  Tonight I watched the sunset & now I can see the lights of Borrego Springs right from my driver’s seat chair.  Can put my feet up on the passenger seat too.   Geeeezzzz, when have I ever had it so nice.   Ahhhh, the luxury of finally settling in & adapting to change.  About time I’d say!!

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MY NEW COMPUTER CAVE

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YEP I WOULD SAY MY DAYS ON THE COUCH ARE PRETTY MUCH OVER:((

Noticed while walking on the Coyote Mountain trails this morning there isn’t much color in the landscape because of the time of year.  We have been here in March when the Borrego flowers are blooming in the desert.  Shrubs are alive with greening leaves & colorful buds.  Desert lilies adorn the Borrego Valley floor.  Scenic wise it is a better time to be in Borrego Springs & I remember taking lots of colorful flower photos when we were here.    

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THAT’S US BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER

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A PROBABLE COYOTE DEN & LOOKING DOWN ON PEG LEG SMITHS

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A SLOW MOVING RAINBOW QUIETLY DRIFTED BY US

At 9 Friday morning we have to meet a group of ‘off-roaders about 15 miles east of our location at a spot called Truckhaven Coral Wash.  An Ocotillo Wells State Naturalist will lead the caravan of 4 wheel drive vehicles into the wash with geological stops & short hikes up hidden side canyons.  This expedition will last 5 hours so we will be taking water & food.  I don’t much care for drinking water so it’s Cran-Raspberry for me.  Looking forward to getting out & doing some new & interesting things for a change.  And yes, the Pheebs is coming along as well:))  Oh-Oh…..just started raining!!

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TONIGHT’S SUNSET FROM MY NEW DRIVER’S SEAT COMPUTER STATION:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  The Lone Ranger and Tonto were riding across the desert when a line of mounted Indians appeared to the right of them. They looked to the left and saw another line of mounted Indians. Behind them they saw another line of mounted Indians.
The Lone Ranger said, "Looks like we're in trouble, Tonto."
Tonto replied, "What do you mean WE, white man?"

--------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- 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.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

15 comments:

  1. That sure is a great snake! Glad no one has disturbed it.

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  2. I like your office. I am hoping to change my driver and passenger seats so that they swivel. You should dilute the cranberry juice with water, saves money and cuts down on the amount of sugar.

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  3. That's a pretty nice setup you have in your computer cave!

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  4. We camped at Peg leg Smiths a few years ago and really enjoyed the area. Nice place to stay for a while and explore.

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  5. Do you have a meter to tell you how many amps you are using? I don't see one. That was my most important meter. Maybe I just can't see it.
    It amazes me how you always know the names of all the mountains and peaks, etc. How do you know that. I always just wonder!!:-)

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  6. We had a sunrise similar to that yesterday morning, but I was too lazy to walk down to the lake to take a picture. So thanks for putting yours in.

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  7. That was a spectacular sunrise. Wish we were taking Pearl( our Jeep ) with you all on the ride. Sounds like fun. We sure do miss the rides and hikes!

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  8. Great photos as usual Al. I have an assignment for you. There is an V-22 OSPREY base to the east of you, and a bit south. Perhaps you have seen them flying over your camp. See if you can find that base and take some shots of it for me with V-22 on the ground. I wasn't able to get over there last march when we were there.

    over & out.

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  9. Thanks for taking me back! We had such a wonderful time in Anza Borrego. Our Jeep was purchased just prior so we had a blast breaking it in. Can't wait to get back.

    Love the photo of Kelly on the rock:)

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  10. Such beautiful sky pictures. I can remember many times when our doggies had their first choice of seats! Just the way it should be as far as I'm concerned haha!! Pheebs seems to enjoy the couch and the passenger seat. What a great dog.

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  11. Nothing can compare to the sunrise and sunset out West!...Isn't is just great to be out in the open air again?? FYI, as a fellow kidney stone groupie, you really should opt for the water...just sayin'..

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  12. Beautiful sunrise pictures - so many colors. I've been following in the background but want to say how much I enjoy your posts. You make me feel that you are talking to an old friend about your adventures. Safe travels to Kelly, Pheebs, and you.

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  13. I sure am glad to see you back in Borrego Springs. So nice to get Al sunsets even if I am here in the land of very few sunsets. You know how that is, Al, too many trees in the forest. Once in awhile I get a sunrise but the sunsets are blocked by the Cascade Mountains right behind our house.

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  14. Stunning sunrise shots. Love your new computer cave. Great how the Pheebs has access to either area.

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  15. Looks like a great place to visit. I am putting it on my list of stop's, maybe next year. Question, what breed of dog is Pheebs? She is a nice looking dog.

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