IT'S KELLY SITTING ON THE ELEPHANT'S TRUNK

Just over a hill to our west is the RV area that a lot of Canadians frequent during the winter months. It is called Peg Leg Smiths & there is actually a monument there to the man himself. You can read about Pegleg's lost gold mine here...http://www.desertusa.com/magnov97/gold/nov_gold2.html

From our campsite to Peg Leg is only about a half mile or so & this morning we hiked up the hill that separates us. Nice view & I took some pictures for the web album from atop the rocky hill. A lot of Canadian RV'ers come to this spot each year & it was actually an RV'er from Peg Leg that told us about this area when we were in Slab City a year ago. Borrego Springs is only a short drive so it's an ideal spot for the Canadian snowbirds.

PEG LEG SMITH'S IN THE FOREGROUND

Kelly's ankle is getting stronger so we figured on a hike south of Ocotillo Wells. Book said an easy 1 mile loop trail leads to a rare elephant tree. We had been looking for elephant trees in the Mountain Palm Canyon area earlier & that was where Kelly originally hurt her ankle. We had heard of Ocotillo Wells before but had never been down around that area. Ocotillo Wells is only about a 25 minute drive & there really isn't a town of sorts there. It is known as a prime off road recreation area & each year hundreds of thousands of kids descend on this place with their dune buggies, dirt bikes, ATV's, Jeeps, & just about anything else that has a motor. RV's, tin shacks, adobe huts, some nice houses, & a lot of tumble down places are scattered for miles across the desert floor. Luckily for us everything was peaceful & quiet this morning. We headed south out of Ocotillo Wells for a few miles until we came across the turn off that lead to the Elephant Tree Trail. The sandy road started off ok but got very rock infested by the time we reached the trail head. Good thing we brought water because it was very, very, hot. We had been told that rattlesnakes will come out this time of year if the weather is hot to sun themselves, so that was foremost on our minds as we hiked up the sandy wash & onto the rocky trail. No snakes but I did see 3 small lizards skittering about. About 15 minutes of walking finally brought us to the elephant tree. Not a very big tree as far as trees go but when we looked at the trunk section it was easy to see why they are called Elephant Trees. It had a very sweet aroma to it as well. We took a few pictures & then headed back for the car. Just too hot to be out tramping around in the desert this morning & Kelly had a headache by the time we got back to the parking area. MAX, ON OUR MORNING WALK

We were hoping to drive to Split Mountain & hike to the Wind Caves a little further down the road as well but it was not to be. Turned off the highway at the marker for Split Mountain & headed up a sandy wash for about half a mile. Sign had said 3 miles to Split Mountain but I didn't like the feel of the soft sand grabbing at the tires. Our Hyundai Santa Fe is only a 2 wheel drive & the sand was definitely feeling like 4 wheel drive country to me. Didn't want to take the chance of getting stuck way back in there because not many vehicles pass this way, maybe no cell phone coverage in this remote area, & in the heat of to-day we just didn't want to make any wrong decisions. Turned around & headed back to the highway, back through Ocotillo Wells & eventually back to Borrego Springs. It had been a nice way to spend the morning because we got to see some new territory & it got us out doing something. My favorite days are out exploring new roads or trails. I don't mind sitting around the rig once & awhile but I sure get bored fast if I don't have something to do or a challenge in front of me. That's why I've never understood people who just spend the entire winter months in one place sitting in their rigs. And each year they go to the same place & do exactly the same thing every day that they did the day before & the year before that. But, it's different strokes for different folks & that's what makes this whole thing work.

Before we reached Borrego Springs we stopped at the Borrego Ranch (formally, La Casa Del Zorro) near the little community of Montesoro. We weren't sure what it was but there was a lot of greenery & palm trees so we drove in. Wow, what a swanky-do place. We ended up for nearly an hour in there driving & walking around looking at how the rich folks spend their time. I took a lot of pictures & will post them to the web album sometime Saturday but not to-night. To-nights pics will be from the Ocotillo Wells area. We couldn't help but notice the lack of people in this posh playground to-day & that's probably why we got away with taking so many photos of the place. Here is a link to the newly renovated & recently opened, Borrego Ranch.
http://www.borregoranch.com/ bet this place is going to attract movie stars, if already hasn't. I did get a long telephoto shot of the pool area with a blonde in a white bikini but the person was very far away so no positive ID on Britney Spears. Yep, could be Hollywood alright.

MOTORDOG & HER NEW FOUND DINOSAUR BONE

We had only been back to the rig about 5 minutes when a Class C rolled in & parked a short distance away. Acres & acres of room, countless campsites & this guy rolls in & sets up camp next to us. I call those types of people, "huddlers." As soon as they see another RV they feel compelled to come over & huddle. I don't mind friends parked nearby but we don't care for the those strange huddler types!! Anyway, that's all I'm going to say about that. We'll see how things go to-morrow.

We were going to try the earth oven to-night with a couple of small pizzas but when Kelly saw the price of them in the grocery store this afternoon, that was the end of that idea!! I suggested we try some ice cream in the earth oven but Kelly gave that idea two thumbs down. Women huh!!

Another totally beautiful star studded night with no wind. Kelly had a nice campfire going again & all was quiet in the neighborhood. Even the new neighbor's were keeping things quiet. Not sure what's on tap for to-morrow but as long as it's got something to do with something I've never done before or somewhere I've never been or seen before, I'll be a happy camper....................................

OK, WHICH ONE'S THE ELEPHANT TREE

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

AT LAST, MY VERY OWN EGG POCKET

IT IS ANOTHER NICE SPOT WE HAVE

For the past 6 years we have lived in a pine forest back home in Bayfield Ontario & for somebody like myself with an interest in Astronomy, that doesn't make the night sky very accessible. Once again as I stepped out of the motorhome last night here in the desert I was greeted with an awesome canopy of stars from horizon to horizon. An unobstructed view across the great arc of the night sky. The diamond like stars were shimmering against the coal black heavens as the cooler desert air beckoned in the distant constellations & star formations. The Andromeda Galaxy, the Orion Nebulae, the Pleiades, the Hyades, the bright star Betelgeuse & constellation Pegasus, the flying horse, just to mention a few. So nice to sit quietly & enjoy the peacefulness, the stillness, & overall serenity of another tranquil desert night.

As mentioned in last night's blog we have used up all our Verizon gigabytes for the month so this morning we drove into Borrego heading for the free wifi access at the library. Stopped at Calicos for coffee & egg pockets & the boss actually let me have my very own egg pocket this time. Didn't have to share one this morning. Men are not good at sharing stuff, especially when it comes to food. Always figure that whatever is on my plate is mine....MINE!! Walked over to the library with the laptop & got set up. Kelly was on one of the library's computer & I set up the laptop at a station by the window. But, no matter what I did I couldn't connect. Kelly had been having trouble accessing her webmail for the past week or so & made some changes to our connection settings yesterday & that seemed to affect our computer. She worked on that computer for the best part of half an hour or more before she finally figured out the problem. If I had been there alone I would have given up after about 2 minutes, thrown the computer in the car, & drove out of the parking lot madder than a hatter heading for home & complaining to myself all the way about the miserable world of rotten computers!!!!

BORREGO SPRINGS LIBRARY

We are still doing our DVD movie every night & to-night's movie will be "August Rush." Last night was, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore".....didn't care for it that much. Night before was a movie called, "The Hours." That was 2 days ago & I still don't have a clue what that movie was about!! Tuesday night we tried, "Kite Runner" but had trouble reading the subtitles so ditched it. Next, we tried a Will Smith movie about being the last man on earth......dumped it after about 15 minutes!! I thought "Atonement" was well done & had a quality about it. "Tsotsi" started out ok but by the end I didn't care for it. Kelly watched, "Breach" but I didn't. About 5 minutes into it I figured it was nothing more than one of those two bit boring run of the mill cheap cop shows that infest the television airwaves every night of the week. Don't get me started about the garbage on television these days!! Yes I know Rod, it's my post!! (thanks for the Shout)

Want to say thanks to everyone for all the nice emails we receive. The comments in the blog posts, the notes in our Guestbook, the comments in our Shoutbox, & the messages in our Facebook. The comments come from all across the country including some very nice emails from people back home in our own Bayfield area. As a result of our blog we have met some very nice people along the way & am sure we'll meet many more. I try to answer all questions people send in & enjoy the internet friendships that spring up. I worry that in the jumble of communications, sometimes I miss people or forget to return an email or a comment. Too many Senior moments, not enough Jube Jubes!!

And a word about to-night's DVD movie we just finished watching......"August Rush." This was one of those feeling good fairy tale ending type of movies. Inspirational & uplifting. It had to do with one of my most favorite things.....music. If someone were to ask me someday what one single thing has brought me more pleasure, joy, & entertainment in life, my simple answer would be.................................Music:)) HARK......HORSE & RIDER APPROACHING

No photos for the web album to-night.

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

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

CHECKING THE PORK CHOPS

Just got me a few things to straighten out first. Noticed last night that the date on my post was incorrect & looking back I see that other blog dates are incorrect as well. Checked the computer clock & date calendar & therein was the problem. Somewhere along the line Gremlins were at work in our laptop & the inboard calendar had leaped a day ahead making the dates on the blogs 1 day earlier than they occurred. Hopefully I've got the problem straightened out.

Secondly, we've been very pleased with our Verizon air card's ease & comfort of use. Reception has been reasonably good as well but with 3 days to go we are butted right up against our 5GB monthly limit. We don't download music, movies, or anything like that but something has really eaten up our Gigabytes this past month so we have had to stop using our Skype phone program for starters. Over the next 3 days I may not upload the blog or pictures at night. Might just drive into Borrego Springs in the morning & get all that done at the library. The monetary cost for going over the 5GB limit is grossly absurd!!!!

And thirdly.............Sometimes, because we are human beings we have a tendency to say some things, or in my case, write some things that are not always well thought out. I did that a few days ago at the end of my "Traveling With Our Best Pals" blog. I made a reference to liking my dogs better than people. Well, although there is an element of truth in that I should have explained myself or re-phrased that better. Sometimes if I'm little ticked off with the human element, whether it be inconsiderate RV'ers crowding our site, crooked Wall Street CEO's, shifty politicians, maniac drivers, or the all round human greed factor that pervades our society, I have a tendency to set my typing fingers in gear before engaging the brain matter sometimes. It's why I've been called, Mr. Blabberfingers of course. And so it was the other day as I was merrily blabbering my way along. Let me say that I have met & known many fine & wondrous people over the years. Have had lots of best friends & am enjoying meeting new people out here on the road all the time. Guess I just get myself into a snit at times with all the "goings on" in the world. No, I didn't receive any criticism about that statement except that it kinda kept eating away at me. Hmmmm, wonder if it's a sign of mellowing.

So, if you are a human being & you are reading this, then let it be known that Al still loves ya all, even if ya aren't furry critters:))

Oh, & by the way, there is often a good side to the bad side of things & in the case of the inconsiderate campers the other day I will say this.....Thanks. Thanks for ticking us off bad enough to move because we now have a much nicer site:))

Now, back to the enjoyment of the RV lifestyle. We sure had ourselves a rollicking dust up of doggy toy games this morning. Before the sun was even over the mountains, the toys were flying through the air, dogs were barking their heads off, & the kibitzing was in full swing. Didn't have to worry about waking up any neighbors, so me & the furry guys were really kicking us up a storm. And, we never even got yelled at once by the Momster who was diligently working away on her morning computer stuff. Great way to the start the day I'd say:)) Well, at least for us guys anyway.

Very happy with our new campsite & kicking ourselves that we didn't scout out the area better when we first rolled in here a couple weeks ago. Much better here where we are. Better hiking because there are hills, ravines, & gulleys. The landscape is far more interesting than the flat desert where we were. And I love the view of Borrego Springs at night with all it's little twinkling lights at the foot of the towering San Ysidro mountains. Found some other great sites nearby on our walk this morning so if we are ever back in this neighborhood again we'll definitely come to this area just off Rockhouse Road. It's just too bad there isn't a little more greenery but this area was bulldozed years ago for some kind of gravel pit operation. The desert is slowly regaining back it's rightful place but it will be years before the man made scars are gone. Ocotillos & some scrub grass are taking hold now. Sure would be nice to see Saguaro cactus here, but what the heck, stop your complaining Al & just get outside & enjoy the day with the rest of the lizards & fellow desert dwellers!!

We're still taking things easy & trying to give Kelly's ankle as much rest as possible. It has been steadily improving but she noticed some tingling in it this morning when we got back from our walk.

And an update to yesterday's blog about the earth oven. (not solar oven) Thanks to several other RV friends we found out who actually built this oven & that they have a website where you can actually see photos of them building it with a friend last year. They are Laurie & Odel & you can find them here...............http://laurieandodel.blogspot.com/

Just noticed a comment in the Shout Box on our website suggesting maybe my comment about older folks & loud music must be untrue. He/She has a good point there. Re-reading it, I said, "a loud radio station" & that was true but a little further on I said, "no point in asking them to turn the music down." That's a mistake on my part referring to the loud radio station as music because when I heard it they had a news cast on. Another RV'er camped nearby had 2 dogs outside at the time barking loudly & we have since wondered if the folks cranked their radio to drown out the barking dogs. And no, they were not our dogs. So, I understand the person in our shoutbox doubting my story, because for sure......older people & loud music just doesn't happen. Thanks to that sharp eyed reader for noticing the word "music" when I should have used the word "radio." Awwww, what a life, what a life, and don't ya just love it:)) No photos for the web album to-night.

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