AND ONE DAY WE ENDED UP AT A MONASTERY

Because of our close proximity to the Great Lakes here in southern Ontario we are subject to very damp cold in the winter & a heavy humidity factor in the summer.  We are a few degrees below freezing at the moment & it's a damp kind of cold that just gets right inside your clothes & makes you feel like a dripping ice cube.  We've noticed the same temperature in Arizona is not nearly as bad.  I also believe what they say about the southwest's drier weather being much healthier for people.  Max, Checkers, & I all have problems with arthritis & we are hobbling around here like a bunch of old bruised & bent rodeo clowns at the moment.    Looking forward to reaching Arizona in a couple of weeks, strapping on the old hiking boots, & heading off into the Chiricahua mountains to kick this aching arthritis out of my legs. 

  Last November while at the Kartchner Caverns near Benson Arizona we stopped by to visit another RV couple we had met the year before near Why, Arizona.  We had been emailing back & forth with Bea & Herb & knew they were at an RV Park in the area.   When they said the RV Park was at a Monastery I was a little apprehensive about going but they were quick to mention that the Monastery had no religious affiliations with the Park itself so we headed over to the little town of St. David just south of Benson Arizona to the HOLY TRINITY MONASTERY .  A lot of information about this Monastery can be found by typing Holy Trinity Monastery St. David Arizona into the Google search engine.  I do know that it is well known for it's pecan orchards &  products.  I will put to-gether a short photo album of our walk around the Monastery grounds with Bea & Herb.  As mentioned, the RV Park, although on the same grounds, does not have a religious affiliation with the Monastery & fortunately anyone can go there.

We did take one of the Kartchner Cavern tours but I was very disappointed when I found out camera's were not allowed on the tours so all I have are a few pics of paintings in the State Park's lobby.  I really do think the Carlsbad Caverns are a much bigger bang for your buck by far.  Just my opinion & I do have to careful about my opinions don't I!! 

Our unusual cold snap is continuing here in southern Ontario & my favorite time of the year has been very disappointing so far & is quickly slipping away.   Most trees are still very green so we just may miss the Autumn colors this year.  Some of the snowbirds in our Park are flexing their travel wings already with one lady leaving for Florida to-day, another couple heading for Georgia next week, & some other folks heading for the Rio Grande Valley in Texas very shortly.  Just a few short years ago Kelly & I were the one's keeping an eye on some neighbor's places for the winter & now we have to have someone come in every week & check on ours while away.  Some folks shut their place completely down, draining all the water lines, etc.  No heat whatsoever during the winter.  We thought about that this year but in the end I think we'll just end up leaving a bit of heat on again & take our chances with the money grubbing electricity company.  No, I'm not going to rant about them again, it doesn't do any good anyway.  All those large companies have put a lot of years into perfecting the art of greed & that's pretty much the end of the story for all the little guys out here!! 

HERB, KELLY, & BEA, LOOKING AT THE KOI IN THE PONDS

PECAN LOAD	QUIET PATH
SAN PEDRO RIVER	THE HERMITAGE
PECAN PICKING
	QUIET SPOT
BEA & HERB'S
	Hover your cursor over the photos for captions & click to enlarge

You might want to slip over to Randy's, ROAD SIDE CHRONICLES to-day for a look at some trials & tribulations of having a motorhome breakdown & the towing problems that can ensue when proper equipment is not sent out to help you.  I would be out on the road jumping up & down on my hat but I think Randy & Pam have handled matters quite well....considering!! 

GROANER'S CORNER:(( The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

WHY WERE THEY SO STIFF & STODGY?

A TOUCH OF FROST ON THE CLOVER THIS MORNING

Well, my "no news is good news" approach to CNN's morning news (or any other news) is working well & it's been a couple of weeks since I turned my back on that whole repetitive 'doom & gloom' factor.  And 'how sweet it is' to be rid of all those never ending bone jarring loud ridiculous & practically non stop commercials to boot.  I think CNN has been taken over by one big long jumble of infomercials anyway!!!!

Oh Oh, now what did we get.	It's looking like a new Coleman
Yep, burner on left, grill on right	Very compact & storable

(Click on any photos in the blog to enlarge them)

Had a 'LIVE WRITER' question that asked........"I'm using Live Writer  but when I get a picture in my blog post, it won't expand with a click like yours do."

Open up a photo in your live writer & then click on it.  Whenever you see the white dots around your photo it means you can work on it.  Look to the right side control panel & click on the word 'Picture.'  Look down to where it says 'Link to' & make sure it says 'Source Picture' in the little box.  Now, click 'Options.'  A 'Source Picture Options' box opens.  Click arrow & choose 'Large (1024x681)'  Also make sure both little boxes have check marks in them & then click 'OK'.  Now, the important & easy to forget part.......Look over to your control panel at right & go to the very bottom looking for 'Save settings as default' & click that.  If by chance you don't see that settings control just try minimizing or maximizing your screen because on my desktop computer the 'Set categories' bar at bottom left has a habit of covering up my default settings button on the bottom right if the screen is maximized.  That little problem cost me about 3 handfuls of hair before I finally figured it out........

 

Ever wondered why people had such serious faces & never smiled in those old black & white portrait photographs you see beginning back in the 1800's.  How could so many people feel so sour for so long.  Well, the problem wasn't with the people, it was with the camera itself.  Back in those days there was no such thing as shutter speeds, or for that matter, no shutters in the cameras at all.   The photographer had to insert a negative photo plate into the camera, remove the lens cap & count in his head how many seconds (or minutes) he thought would allow enough subject light to imprint itself on the negative plate.  The length of time mainly depended on the lighting situation in front of the camera.

THE MIGHTY MAITLAND RIVER HEADS FOR GODERICH ONTARIO WHERE IT EMPTY'S INTO LAKE HURON

Many portrait studios used available light coming in from large angled windows.  I remember the LEMP STUDIO  in Tavistock (my home town) Ontario was a good example of that many years ago.  The subject in turn had to remain perfectly motionless or else any movement would blur the image.  Now, have you ever tried holding a smile on your face for any length of time.  Maybe half a minute or more.  Not likely, so people were told to just relax their faces in a normal deadpan stare & concentrate on not moving a muscle & especially not any smile muscles. 

THE BISBEE KIDS ARE LOADED UP & READY TO RUMBLE

You will also notice in many old photos that people's heads may be slightly tilted up giving them kind of a royal & regal look.  This also had a practical purpose because behind the subject was a steel up & down rod with an iron hoop on the top of it for folks to rest their heads against for those long exposures.  That resulted in a slight uplifting of the chin, thus the royal pose.  And also notice most portraits were done with people in a sitting position.  This simply made it more comfortable for people & lessened the chance for movement.  Whewwww, thank heavens for the digital age:))

THESE PHOTOS SHOW HOW WE HAVE THE RIG CONFIGURED FOR TRAVEL.  MAX LIKES TO LAY ON THAT FOLD DOWN BED & LOOK OUT THE WINDOW

I have never felt comfortable photographing posed people so you will rarely see that sort of thing in my pictures.  I do enjoy grabbing candid photos of people though.  More natural & less stress for the people & the photographer plus I would much rather catch folks being themselves. Don't care for those phony smiles when in reality they would rather hit the photographer over the head with his own camera.  I tried my hand at a few weddings many years ago & immediately decided that was something I would never try again!!  Also tried some portrait stuff with friends & they all seemed to come out looking like grotesque cartoon characters.  Those friends have never spoke to me since!!  So, I just stick with doing things I like best & Mother Nature offers a never ending array of ever changing beautiful subjects.

WE TOOK THE BIG CLUNKY TV OUT OF THIS UPPER AREA LAST SUMMER. YOU CAN READ THE FIRST BLOG OF THAT RENOVATION HERE

Turned on the rig's propane tank yesterday & test fired the furnace, water heater, stove, & blue flame heater this morning.  Everything checked out A-OK but had trouble lighting the Legacy Blue Flame heater.  Tried repeatedly but no luck so had to call in our resident Top Gun.  Kelly hit the switch once & it was running!!

BOUGHT A FLAT SCREEN TV & MOUNTED IT HERE.  BELTS SECURE IT FOR TRAVEL

Check out RICK'S BLOG to-day if you are confused about air cards, wifi connections, & routers etc while on the road.  He does a good job at de-geeking the confusion.  We have a Verizon air card while traveling & just love it:))  And, if your into Motorhome renovations be sure to stop by BIG BACKYARD & check on Karen's on-going series of posts about changes to their older motorhome.

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

THE RV LIFESTYLE...... I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND IT

One of the full time mobility van drivers is off this week so I've been lucky enough to end up with a little extra work these past few day.  London & back yesterday, the small Lake Huron community of Grand Bend this morning & back to Grand Bend on Thursday.  Wow, at this rate I might even make enough money this week to buy half a tank of motorhome gas next!!  Whoa, let the good times roll eh.

I remember when I was first trying to stretch my blogger photo this past summer.  I was very confused about something for awhile & just wanted to mention it here.  My desktop screen is more rectangular than my laptop screen so if I stretched the photo to fit within the photo frame of my desktop but it ended up not being enough to fill my laptop screen.  So, then I would go to my laptop, work those 900 numbers again until I had the picture fitting perfectly on the laptop, but.......when I went back to the desktop our blogger header photo was now too wide & spilling off the ends.  I ran back & forth between the 2 computers like a mad hatter for awhile until I realized I would just have to settle for either the laptop fit or the desktop fit.  I went with the desktop fit so that's where my 910 number came from.  The laptop 900 number I think was larger.  I know this makes absolutely no sense to anyone except the folks who are presently wrestling with their blog photo header size. 

As an add on to the old times theme I posted a few days regarding television themes years ago, here's a great site I've had for years regarding old time radio.  Amos & Andy episodes, Great Gildersleeve, Gunsmoke, Gangbusters, The Green Hornet, Intersanctum, & the list of old radio programs just goes on & on & on.  Sure takes you back to your childhood real quick.  OLD TIME RADIO .....it's all there:))

I've had a few nice comments lately about our blog being popular in regards to the feedback we've had by the tourist information organizations in the towns of Truth or Consequences & Borrego Springs.  I really don't think these folks follow our blog though.  They probably have programs running on their computers that alert them to whenever the name of their town or business is clicked.  I know that's how Producer John McDonald from the Ghost Mountain documentary found us too.  Yes, it would be nice if these people were interested enough to travel along with us but I'm afraid reality tells me that is probably not the case.  But hey, thanks for the nice comments guys, my coffee went down much smoother this morning:))

I find it difficult at times trying to explain to non-RV friends or family members about the RV lifestyle & so have learned to simply not talk about it.   We find that the RV life is generally a subject that rarely comes up in conversations with people we know unless they are other RV'ers or strangers.  The majority of our emails, messages, & comments coming in are from other active or formerly active RV folks some of whom we've met & many more whom we haven't. 

I think we RV people quite often take the whole RV lifestyle for granted & assume everyone understands it when in fact, few do.  Here at home we are rarely asked about our travels, our blog topics, our photos, our thoughts or opinions, our adventures, or our life on the road for 5 & 6 months of the year.   Yet, on the internet we are in constant communication daily with other like minded people with questions, comments, interests, hobbies, ideas, plans, & events, etc.  These are all people who are energized & on the move & they are an inquisitive lot.  They have also come from the sticks & bricks houses, the suburbs, the farms, & the cities.  RV folks & especially the fulltimers seem to be alive, exciting, & interested in their ever changing surroundings moreso than are many home folks.   They have that sense of adventure & free spirit which I admire.   They had the courage & vision to make a life altering lifestyle change  at some point & to this date I have never met one of them who has regretted that decision.

Now, if I could just convince Kelly that maybe someday we too should somehow make the switch from 6 months on the road to 9 or 10 or maybe more.   To live these final years attuned to the ever changing scenery,  the open roads, new vistas, exciting adventures, & new challenges.............

Come on Santa, this wish has been at the top of my list for quite awhile now & I've been a really good boy lately.  I really have..................honest:))

GROANER'S CORNER :((  Today is just the tomorrow you worried about yesterday!

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

THE 'TWO COLUMN BLOGGER STRETCH'

WON'T BE LONG & MY PLANTING EFFORTS WILL HAVE OUR HOUSE COMPLETELY HIDDEN:))))   (Click photos to enlarge)

Turned the outside water off & drained all the garden hoses Saturday & this morning disconnected all the outside garden light timers.  Slowly working my way down the pre-trip checklists.  Temps were 36F this morning so we'll be glad to get on the road soon.

Had a couple questions about the blogger wide template that we use.  Lot of blogger folks are on the 2 column template like we were but I was worried about trying to do a 3 column template after reading about the chances of loosing the whole blog.  Noticed Laurie & Odel at SEMI TRUE TALES  had a wider look to their blog yet it was still 2 columns so emailed them awhile back & Laurie sent the instructions on how to 'stretch' the 2 column blog & fill the screen from horizon to horizon.  WANDERING WILLY  tried it out last night & stretched his blogsite so far he can hardly get into his computer room now & I just noticed ROD did the big stretch as well except he's having a little problem getting his hot air balloon to stretch across the screen.  Put some more air into that balloon Rod.  The secret of enlarging the header photo lies in the number you input into the Picasa photo Export.  Remember, your blog stretch & your blog header photo are two separate monsters & each are slain with a different sword.  Do battle with your blogger stretch first & then come back & slay your header photo dragon.  Our current Pilot Knob header pic is sized at 910. 

Couple the 'blogger stretched template' with Windows Live Writer & throw in Picasa 3.5 as your photo editor & you are well on your way to putting yourself to-gether one mighty fine blogsite.  Here, in part are those instructions for anyone wanting to enlarge the look of their blog site...............................

Blogger has canned "stretch" templates.  They are two column templates where the "blog post" column is stretched across the width of two columns.  First, go to "Layout", then pick "Edit HTML".   If you haven't saved your current blog template recently (or ever), pick "Download Full Template", which will save your current template as a file on your own computer, so you can upload it easily if you make any boo-boos when checking out new templates

Then, go to "Pick New Template'.  Scroll down to the second row of templates - the Minima Stretch templates are the second row, far left (there are a few other stretch templates, too).  Click the radio button for one of the stretch templates, then click "preview template" (under the radio buttons).  You will get a little preview of how your blog would look if you made the change.

Making the change itself is very simple, BUT... you lose any customizing you have done.  All your posts will be there, and all of your "widgets" too so you will just have to re-do your color schemes & font sizes, etc.   If you have added any special bits of HTML code to your current template or widgets I think you lose that so it is a bit of work, but not too tedious.  If your 2 column blog is pretty straight forward then you should be OK.  Give it a whirl...I did, & if I can do it......anybody can do it.  AL:))  And a big thanks to Laurie for these instructions!!

Been thinking lately what I really need here is a treadmill that will power the computer.  With the increasing amount of time I'm spending on the puter & the lessening time I'm spending outdoors doing physical things, I am definitely going to have to come up with something for the betterment of my health.  Need to have a treadmill with keyboard & monitor affixed to a front hand rail panel.  The treadmill would have to have some kind of device to generate power from the physical walking portion of the treadmill to the electronics of the computer.  A slow walk might be good for emails, a brisker walk would get you on-line, a fast pace for larger downloads, & a  speedy jiggy jog for those You Tube videos.  Perhaps a direct in-line oxygen feed & handy defibrillator might be wisely added safety features as well.....Hey, it was just a thought!!

RAINDROPS

GROANER'S CORNER:))  Did you know the  sentence 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' uses every  letter of the alphabet.

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

"OH OH"...DID IT AGAIN:(( EMAIL FROM BORREGO SPRINGS TO-DAY!!

A VERY SOFT MIST ON THE POND

I have always felt that music is the fastest way to transport the brain matter back into the mists of time.  How often have you heard a jingle on the radio or put on an old record or cassette tape, popped an 'oldies' CD into the player, & let it take you back to moments & whole eras of time in your life.  Remember all those good old television shows years ago with their catchy tunes you were always humming or singing along with.  Gunsmoke, Leave It To Beaver, Newhart, & Petticoat Junction, just to name a very few.  Came across this TV theme site in my files this morning.  Sit back, relax, & let those old familiar tunes take you back to a time & place long ago & don't feel embarrassed if you find yourself humming & singing along with the OLD TV SHOW THEMES

A few comments recently have asked what kind of camera I use for obtaining sharp clear images.  In October of last year I happened to post a blog answering that very same question.....  October of 08 was a difficult financial time for many folks so disregard my blusterings in the first paragraph of the CAMERA BLOG & skip to the camera part beginning with the second paragraph. 

ALONG THE BANK OF THIS MORNING'S POND

As an update to that blog I would like to add that I generally use the 'Sharpen' feature in the Picasa photo program as well.  It allows you to adjust the sharpness of your image.  I also like the newer 'Retouch' tool in Picasa 3.5 & it does wonders for dust specs, etc.  Your photo program is every bit as important as your camera.  Even with cheaper cameras colors can be enhanced, images sharpened, lightened, or darkened with contrast features, etc.  Many times your eye sees vibrant colors but depending on the lighting your camera may not see those colors the same way you do & the results may be disappointing.  But, not to worry, chances are you will be able to restore those colors to the way you saw them in your photo program.  Picasa 3.5 is a great easy to use little photo program, it's a free download from Google, & you can find it here PICASA 3.5

THE FOREST FLOOR IS ABLAZE WITH COLOR

Photo programs came with both my Nikons & Canon but I don't use them.  I upload my photos directly from the camera right into the Picasa 3.5 photo program.  No confusing Nikon or Canon programs in between.  And speaking of the old never ending Canon vs Nikon rivalry.  It's the same argument as Chev vs Ford, Motorhome vs 5th Wheel, diesel vs gas, hamburger vs cheeseburger, Michelin vs Goodyear, Tim Hortons vs Starbucks, or Wal-Mart vs itself.  Bottom line is the same in that they are all fine products with varying degrees of pros & cons & it boils down to individual tastes & requirements.  For example, Canon camera's are mainly used in Astrophotography because of their different metering system than Nikon.  I have never suffered from the narrow mindedness of brand loyalty so whatever car, camera, motorhome, peanut butter, lawnmower, shoes, or pants, suit my needs at the time.......that is the one I go with!!

AFTER THE RAIN

Oh, & before I forget........a big resounding "yes" to the question about a darker background in the blog making the photos 'pop' out.  That was my number one reason for choosing the dark background for our blog.  I wanted the photos to stand out!!  You will notice the same thing over at Laurie & Odel's blog..... SEMI TRUE TALES.

AUTUMN REFLECTIONS

White is not my favorite color anyway & I didn't want the blog looking like a standard run of the mill ho-hum newspaper article so I've got it looking like a local popsicle stand with all the different colors.  And it is those popsicle colors that compliment the photos.  Yes, I know it looks a bit like a circus carnival at times, but.................:))

DAPPLES OF FOREST COLOR

In yesterday's blog I had a few things incorrect about Borrego Springs in California & was fortunate enough to receive a nice email to-day from Dan Wright, CPO & President of the California Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds tactfully pointing out my errors.  I'll let Dan set the record straight in his own words......

Hi Al and Kelly,
I appreciate your nice blog posts about Borrego Springs and The Springs RV Resort. The photography is quite good!
Couple of minor points; The name of our project is "The Springs at Borrego". ( Minor detail, I know.) Also wanted to point out that there are no permanent dwelling units of any kind at The Springs. The ones you saw along the golf course are part of The RoadRunner Club, a 55+ Luxury Golf Community next door.
Anyway, keep up the good work and we would love to see you in sunny and starry Borrego. By the way, if you make it to Borrego Days (Oct 22-25), don't miss the headline act Saturday evening at 5PM - Its Jacqui Foreman, an amazing young and beautiful singer-songwriter who is going to do a knockout 2-hour show at Christmas Circle.
Hope to see you there!

Dan Wright, CPO
President
California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds
www.camp-california.com
General Manager
The Springs at Borrego RV Resort and Golf Course
PO Box 70 - 2255 DiGiorgio Road
Borrego Springs, California, 92004
Cell phone: 206-295-6921
RV Desk and Pro Shop: 760-767-0004
www.springsatborrego.com

General Manager
The RoadRunner Club
55+Luxury Golf Community
PO Box 308 - 1010 Palm Canyon Drive
Borrego Springs, California, 92004
Cell phone: 206-295-6921
Office: 760-767-5374  Golf Pro Shop: 767-5373
www.roadrunnerclub.com

Thanks for the email Dan & unfortunately we will still be in Canada on those October dates you mentioned but hope to make it down your way sometime early in 2010......... Al & The Bayfield Bunch:))

RAIN DROPS ON PINE NEEDLES

GROANER'S CORNER:))  A man is recovering from surgery when a nurse asks him how he is feeling. 'I'm O. K., but I didn't like the four-letter word the doctor used in surgery,' he answered.  'What did he say,' asked the nurse. 
'OOPS'

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.

BORREGO SPRINGS CALIFORNIA....WHAT A GREAT LITTLE PLACE:))

OUTSIDE THE BORREGO SPRINGS LIBRARY & MINI SHOPPING CENTER

We have a steel roof on our mobile home here in Bayfield & right now it's raining so hard I can't even hear my own mumblings.  The weatherman sure hasn't co-operated for our Canadian Thanksgiving week-end so far.  Even the turkeys are soaked. LOOKING WEST ALONG BORREGO'S MAIN STREET FROM THE CHRISTMAS CIRCLE

Two weeks from this morning we will be busy loading ourselves into the rig for our trek to the southwest.  I will be happy to finally pull the gearshift lever into drive & end all this apprehensive waiting.  These final 2 weeks would be very exciting if I was still a kid but as an adult the excitement is always a bit subdued by the reality in thought of the journey ahead with it's concerns & unknowns.   Once the big wheels are rolling those thoughts quickly diminish & it's on with the business & enthusiasm of the journey ahead.  Nice to once again see the countryside rolling by, feel the gentle roll of the big rig underfoot, & hear those traveling tunes cranked up on the stereo.   Let er rip Mr. Nelson.......On The Road Again:)) 

GOLF COURSE & LANDSCAPING AT THE 'SPRINGS AT BORREGO'

WANDERING WILLY  had 3 posts recently about his early RV camping & trailer days which reminded me of a unique RV trailer park in Bisbee, Arizona that we saw last winter.  Called the SHADY DELL it consists of vintage travel trailers laid out in a park setting that you can stay in for the night or by the week.  Check to-days blog photo album for our walk-through the 1950's style nostalgic RV park earlier this year.

View Full Album

We were in Slab City California a couple seasons ago having our solar panels installed when a passing comment from a fellow RV'er about a place west of the Salton Sea led us to the quiet little desert/mountain town of Borrego Springs.

We spent 17 days boondocking at the Clark Dry Lake Bed area that time & another 17 days just this past season again.  We will likely end up there this year for a few more days as well.

ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK VISITOR'S CENTER

BORREGO SPRINGS is literally an oasis in a harsh desert landscape nestled into the foot of the towering San Ysidro mountains .  Palm trees, green grass, lush flowers & vegetation along with acres of orange, lemon, & grapefruit trees make Borrego Springs a true diamond in the rough.  No traffic lights here, no car crazy chaos, no big box stores or chain restaurants.  No endless acres of paved parking lots with ticky tacky stores as far as the eye can see.  Main street stretches east & west for about  half a mile or so & has retained its early western flair tastefully blended with modern facilities like a great library & small shopping complex.  A large round-about & wide traffic route called Christmas Circle begins the main street from the east & is the center of events for flea markets, farmer's markets, etc.  An award winning design for the Anza-Borrego State Park visitor's center is here complete with RV Park & can be found at the western end of the main street.  There are 2 or 3 other RV Parks as well including one very high end park complete with a large beautifully landscaped golf course called THE SPRINGS OF BORREGO.  This are also permanent living units here as well. 

OVERLOOKING BORREGO SPRINGS BELOW FROM NEAR THE CULP VALLEY CAMPGROUND

TOURING THE BORREGO BADLANDS ON A JEEP TOUR WITH LOCAL BORREGO SPRINGS RESIDENTS

Despite the harsh appearance of the surrounding desert, Borrego has a very ritzy side to it so be sure to see our photos of both the ritzy & the dusty side.  Borrego has a small airstrip as well & it's nice to drive around the backstreets to see the beautiful homes with their ever creative desert landscaping.

 CHRISTMAS CIRCLE

If you check our side bar to the right you can scroll down to our archive section where you will see the months & years listed of our travels.  We have spent a total over 34 days in Borrego Springs over the past couple of years so check out 2007 for the dates between December 21rst & 31rst.  Also January 2008 from Jan 1rst to the 7th.  Also have a look at December 31rst of 08 right up to January 17th of 2009.  All photos for those dates can be found in our photo albums for those dates as well.  PHOTO ALBUMS.  You will find our day trips to the Borrego Slot Canyon, Palm Springs Canyon, Hell Hole Canyon, Marshal South's Ghost Mountain, the little mountain town of Julian, Salton City by the Salton Sea, a couple of Jeep tours with local Borrego Springs residents, the Borrego Badlands, & a drive along the old Butterfield Stagecoach route heading towards San Diego, plus hikes & drives in & around the desert landscape.  This is a very friendly little RV town with lots of activity put on by the Anza-Borrego State Park & the local townspeople themselves.  I should add that Borrego Springs is totally surrounded by the vast Anza-Borrego State Park system.

 KELLY BUYS A COUPLE DOGGY BEDS FROM A VENDOR ON CHRISTMAS CIRCLE

Oh, & I should add that the nearest Wally World to Borrego Springs is a leisurely 58 mile drive to Brawley.  That is an important factor to RV'ers for sure & I might add this is a new looking Wally World with with a real southwest design to it having only been constructed in the last couple years.  And they have a McDonald's as well as all the assorted fast food places in Brawley as well so it's is a popular last stop if your heading to Borrego Springs from the southeast. 

THE BORREGO RANCH & SPA RESORT

Turned out to be a busy afternoon here at home in Bayfield to-day as Kelly scurried back & forth to the motorhome with armloads of this & that.  Wanted to take advantage of the sunny day because next week is looking cold & wet again.  Two weeks from now we should be stopped for the night somewhere north of Indianapolis.  Yay team:))

BOONDOCKING AT THE CLARK DRY LAKE BED NEAR BORREGO SPRINGS WITH NEIGHBOR'S CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON THEIR AIRSTREAM TRAILERS

GROANER'S CORNER:))  Two Mexican detectives were investigating the murder of Juan Gonzalez. 
'How was he killed?' asked one detective.
'With a golf gun,' the other detective replied. 
'A golf gun? What is a golf gun?' 
'I don't know. But it sure made a hole in Juan.'

OUR PHOTO ALBUMS  http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/

The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.