Wednesday, December 24, 2014

THIS POST IS COMING TO YOU FROM BORREGO SPRINGS CALIFORNIA:))

DSC_0045

Our intentions were to head for the MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE but after checking weather for that area over the next few weeks we decided at the last minute we would sooner be in warmer air.  Lots of sunshine at the Preserve but the 10 day forecast showed temperatures sliding into the low 60’s & high 50’s during the day with low 30’s at night.  Figured February’s warmer temps would be a better time for us to explore that area. We’ve been on the cool/cold side in Congress for awhile now & it’s always cold in our house so we were both needing to just get away & feel some warmer air for a change. So where to go??

DSC_0025

HAD US A SLEEPY LITTLE TRAVELER TODAY >>>

Last year we spent Christmas in the Kofa Mountains just south of Quartzsite Arizona.  Christmas of 2008 was spent at Ogilbe Road west of Yuma but it was another favorite area calling to us this year.   With lots of sunshine & temps in the mid 70’s we at the last minute decided on Borrego Springs California.  Our travel plans came together rather quickly as we hurriedly loaded up the Big EEE Monday. 

DSC_0039

Thankfully a heavy gusting north wind in the night let up enough just before we rolled out at 9:30 this morning.  A quick stop to top off our propane tank at the B&B garage & Congress was soon fading fast in my drivers side rear view mirror.  As always it just felt good to be on the road going somewhere again.  This sitting around for weeks or months on end in the same location just really gets me down.  But let’s not get into all that.  Let’s just get our travel hats on & head off down the road in search of some new adventures. 

DSC_0043

Not a cloud in the sky & hardly a vehicle on the road all the way to I-10 just east of Quartzsite Arizona.  It was evident right away traffic was heavier that usual.  About the same number of trucks but a lot more 4 wheelers on the road.  Figured it was the Christmas rush because I saw cars going by us with stacks of gaily wrapped Christmas presents in the back seat.

DSC_0004

ROLLING WEST THROUGH QUARTZSITE’S MAIN INTERSECTION

DSC_0001

BIG NAME RV DEALERSHIPS ARE ALREADY HERE GEARING UP FOR NEXT MONTH

DSC_0005

LOVE McDONALDS GREEN GRASS…A RARITY HERE IN THE DESERT

Thought we’d try out the newer Chevron gas station at the east end of Quartzsite to top off our fuel tank.  Nice big spacious concrete area & I think from now on we will always refuel there when passing through this area.  Much more big rig friendly than the Pilot station beside McDonald’s or Loves at Quartzsite’s north end.  And oh now nice to feel warmer air again.  Our usual stop at McDonalds for Wraps & coffee & we were once more westbound at the stroke of noon.  Winds had picked up significantly blowing large clouds of desert dust obscuring distant mountains.  Luckily it was hitting us on our passenger side rear corner & aside from a few gusts trying to land us in Mexico it wasn’t too bad.

IMG_1808

HERE’S MY MCDONALD’S ‘CRISPY CHICKEN’ WRAP WITH ONE BITE OUT OF IT 

1475962_10152577423792749_3623825497583906657_n

I DIDN’T KNOW KELLY HAD SNAPPED THIS PHOTO OF ME WITH HER BLACKBERRY UNTIL I SAW IT ON FACEBOOK 

DSC_0010

DSC_0008

BLOWING CLOUDS OF SAND & DUST

DSC_0011 DSC_0012

THIS UPCOMING 29 PALMS EXIT IS OUR SHORTCUT THROUGH BOX CANYON

Decided on the I-10, Box Canyon, Mecca route again only this time instead of heading down the east side towards Niland & Slab City we slipped over top the Salton Sea’s north end & picked up highway 86 heading south on the west side for Salton City.  Always nice seeing all the green agricultural fields in this area.  Grape Vineyards, cabbage fields, red peppers, lemon orchards, & all kinds of other leafy things we didn’t recognize.

DSC_0014

SLIPPING THROUGH BOX CANYON FOR OUR 5TH TIME IN THE PAST 6 WEEKS OR SO

DSC_0018

ALWAYS LOVE THIS 1RST VIEW OF THE SALTON SEA AS WE ROUND A CORNER OUT OF BOX CANYON

DSC_0019

DSC_0020

VINEYARDS

DSC_0021

NO IDEA WHAT THIS CROP IS

DSC_0024

DSC_0026

We had tanks to dump & water to take on so we pulled into the big Arco station at the turn off onto S22 for Borrego Springs.  Isn’t it always great when there’s nobody else at the dump station.  Emptied our gray & black tanks & hooked up a hose to try out our black tank flush system.  Never had that on an RV before.  Seemed to work fine but unless one sticks their head down the toilet with a flashlight how does one know.  Filled up our water tank & picked up some milk at the Dollar Store just a couple parking lots north of the Arco station.  Between Arco & the dollar store we saw some building going on.  A new ‘Jack In The Box’ is going up.  Oh & by the way, water & dump are still free at the Arco station despite some rumors we had heard about having to pay now.

DSC_0027

LOOKING EAST ACROSS THE SALTON SEA…SLAB CITY IS OVER THERE SOMEWHERE

IMG_1809

TAKING ON WATER AT THE ARCO STATION

It’s only a 20 minute drive from Arco west on S22 to the Clark Dry Lake Bed, our destination.  Always one of my favorite drives as the Borrego Valley opens up with it’s long sweeping vistas.  Knowing where to look we began seeing slight pin point glitters of reflected sunlight far ahead in the desert.  We knew these tiny points of light to be RV’s scattered about the desert floor on the right side of the highway.  Closer we got the larger these RV’s became & we soon were able to identify 5th wheels, Motorhomes, Travel Trailers etc.  Probably a couple dozen rigs scattered about.  Wasn’t long & we were at our Rock House Road turn-off.

DSC_0033

DSC_0035

OUR DESTINATION IS DEAD AHEAD RIGHT WHERE COYOTE MOUNTAIN COMING IN FROM THE RIGHT MEETS THE DESERT FLOOR

Most RV’ers prefer the flatter low area east of Rock House Road & that’s where we camped out the first few years here.  What we like about the Rock House area though is it’s slightly higher elevation with views of Borrego Springs at night.  Internet reception can be a tad better as well but what I like most is it’s close proximity to the southern end of Coyote Mountain.  There are easy close by hiking trails within walking distance & I like to hike up there in the mornings for the great views of this whole valley.  It is also home to the great stone snake if you know where to look.  Luckily I do so in the morning I’ll probably hike up there to see if it’s still around or has slithered away.

DSC_0047

THE YELLOW GOLDEN GLOW OF TWILIGHT WILL SOON BE UPON US

Found us a fairly good spot & with any luck nobody will crowd in on us.  We are soooooo happy to be here again.  We’ve been coming to this Clark Dry Lake Bed area & Borrego Springs every winter for 8 years now.  Our longest stay was about 2 weeks one time & our shortest stay was a couple days 2 years ago.  For us, Borrego Springs is like coming home.  We have so many great memories here.  How great to see the mighty Santa Rosa Mountains again, to watch the sun playing across the mountain sides casting deep shadows into canyons & crevices.  Spectacular sunrises & sunsets.  It’s all here & I haven’t even mentioned the picturesque palm treed little town of Borrego Springs yet.  But I’ll save that for days to come.

 DSC_2435

AHA, TIS NINA FROM WHEELING IT & THE FOLKS OVER AT TECHNOMADIA WE SEE HERE…NO IDEA WHO’S IN THE WHITE RV THOUGHDSC_2434

LONG SHADOWS INTO THE CANYONS

 DSC_2437

AND BY GOLLY THAT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE GAELYN FROM GEOGYPSY OVER YONDER

And how nice to be warm again, to sit outside in short sleeves.  Outdoors after dark looking at all the glittering diamonds in the sky without having to be all bundled up against the cold.  Ahhhhhhhhh yes how sweet it is……………

DSC_2444

TONIGHT’S CRESCENT MOON COMPLETE WITH A GREEN LENS REFLECTION

GROANER’S CORNER:(( Now that they are retired, my mother and father are discussing all aspects of their future. "What will you do if I die before you do?" Dad asked Mom.  After some thought, she said that she'd probably look for a house- sharing situation with three other single or widowed women who might be a little younger than herself, since she is so active for her age.
Then Mom asked Dad, "What will you do if I die first?"
He replied, "Probably the same thing."

14 comments:

  1. Hi neighbor! Glad you have decided to join us. Did you feel the earthquake that happened about an hour ago? We are looking forward to seeing you and Kelly once again.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A hint on the black tank rinse. I use a short 4" CLEAR plastic tail piece hooked to my dump valve, just before the sewer hose. You can get straight pieces, 45* pieces or 90* pieces; available at most RV parts departments. Then as I dump I can see all the goodies flowing out and eventually the clear rinse water. I even shut the valve for a couple minutes and dump again watching for clear water rushing out. Ya never new black tank dumping could be so much fun, did ya!

    ReplyDelete
  3. We had hoped to get to Borrego Springs A bit earlier this year, Maybe in the new year. We drove stopped at The Arco and made lunch on Monday.
    Have fun there and a Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I also do as Paul Weaver suggests.
    Merry Christmas to the whole Bayfield Bunch

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am seconding Jim's second of Paul's recommendation. A good "black tank flush" every once and awhile is good for the system and very satisfying ad the clear tube is essential to knowing you "got it done." When you stop and think about it, it is kind of weird what entertains an RV'er. ;-)

    We've never been to Borrego Springs but since next year we will be headed to the beautiful SW, I'm hoping we finally make it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Have fun, enjoy the warmth and Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sorry we missed you, enjoy Borrego. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Enjoy a nice quiet relaxing Christmas. Give Pheebs a Christmas turkey, maybe?

    ReplyDelete
  9. The snake was there in March. Hope it hasn't been destroyed.
    Have a merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Welcome to the 'hood! Mighty fine place here, and a pleasure to finally meet you!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Al & Kelly,
    have a Merry Christmas over there. Looks like another great spot.

    ReplyDelete
  12. It seems the gang's all here. Nice shot of my rig. Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete