catch up

Wednesday we payed it forward.   In the past, Pam and John have taken us places we never would have been able to see without their Jeep.  Wednesday we took MonaLiza and Steve to some of those same places with our Jeep.

We picked them up at their campground at Ocotillo Wells, headed south on Split Mountain road and turned into the Fish Creek Wash.   The wash was in pretty good condition considering the recent rains.  The surface was a bit squishy and quite wet around the edges but the main trail was fine driving.

Our ultimate destination was the Wind Caves but the journey was as interesting as the destination.

We stopped many times along the way to immerse ourselves in the Canyon views, high and low.

Once again, I was awed at the variety of rock along the way.   Each side of the wash looked totally different.    

small flowers bloom in the rough rock

evidence of feline visitors, most likely a bobcat
(Dave saw one nearby the other day)

roar!

the "anticline"

you can do it Steve!

Some of us were good sports and did what they were asked to in order to help the photographers showcase different formations......Thanks Steve, thanks Dave.

Eventually we reached the trail head for the Wind Caves,  took our lunches and headed up the trail.     Its not a long trail but I'm out of shape and the climb really whipped me.....I made it to the caves with a few stops along the way.   As usual I complain a bit but I'm always so happy, and feel so lucky,  to be able to see these cool places.

We climbed around and explored a bit then settled down for lunch in a shady cove.

Well, three of us ate in the shade.   My husband, the lizard, remained on a rock in the sun.    Yes, he did have lunch there.

After lunch we scrambled around some more before climbing down to the jeep.   A much easier trip!

MonaLiza contemplates the hugeness of it all

there's my lizard.....

We had a few other places on our soft agenda but when we stopped at the Lowe's campground to "use the facilities", MonaLiza persuaded us to stay and relax in the sun with promises of lumpia and Lodi wine!  

Lumpia anyone?

We're suckers for lumpia and wine......and relaxing in the sun.

It was a lovely day.   We hope to have another chance to explore later this week.  The weather doesn't look good, but we're all up for a spur of the moment trip!



Yesterday Dave and I were able to get on the golf course for a quick 18 in between those rain/wind storms.    Staying a hundred yards from the course makes us able to play on a minute's notice.    The downside, however, is that we may be a target for errant balls.....

glad this little bush was there.....

don't judge, you've been there......

 

the coming storm's clouds are reflected in the course's pond

Today, Friday, the skies were wild.   In one direction it was brilliantly blue, in another a shallow rainbow appeared, and to the west the mountains were sometimes visible and sometimes covered in heavy black clouds.  

  In San Diego these training rain/wind storms are wreaking havoc, flooding streets, uprooting trees and allowing sewage from Mexico to turn the Tijuana River into a raging, brown mess.     It has been raining on and off here all day.   Luckily we had plenty of inside things to keep us busy.    I made a list when I heard the weather forecast for this week!