time spent

Our last full week here in the Borrego Springs area was filled with good company and exploration.

a single Lupine

As always, we were on the lookout for wildflowers.   This area often has a super bloom that brings thousands of people here.    Then, the ground was carpeted with color, yellow, purple, white, chartreuse.    Last year we enjoyed an early preview but this year there are few flowers to be seen.

fragrant flowers of the Desert Lavender

Oh Dave.....

tiny blossoms

One day Pam and John, Dave and I headed into the badlands looking for adventure and flowers.

see Pam and John on top of that ridge?

the watchers

We explored Coachwhip Canyon and Smoke Tree Wash.    We had a wonderful time crawling around the rocks but saw very few blooms.

From a casual, quick look everything looks alike, tan and sandy.   Upon close inspection, life is beautiful here.

Colorful rocks among the sand catch our eye as we walk along, slowly.   Or stop to rest or blow our nose.

Still in search of the spring bloom we headed for Inspiration Point where a few Desert Lily's have been sighted.

down the sandy wash we go - our drivers are so patient with us

searching on foot

out onto Inspiration Point

she closes in......

the illusive Desert Lily!  (the only one we saw ALL day)

In between desert adventures we play golf.   Actually, John and Dave play golf, Pam plays John's caddy and I drive the trolley, cheer them on and take a few pictures.     To each his own.

It's a beautiful course, hard not to be distracted.

this Widgeon tries to escape my camera

We also watched the Westminster Dog Show on one of the cable channels provided by the RV Resort.   We really appreciated that.   For me, the show signals springtime.    For Lewis is triggers contemplation.....how would he look with that Continental show clip instead of his devil may care, tousled coif?

Dave took one unusually inclement afternoon to finish his leveling jack repair job.   He identified the problem while we were in Tucson, engineered the "fix", and did the final, physical work here.    One would rather not have these little challenges, but when they appear, I think he enjoys working out the puzzle.

Yesterday we had a day's adventure near the Salton Sea.     I'll show you pictures next time.

pie

One of the things we like about this area is the proximity of Julian Pies.    I make good pie, it's not really that hard.    But buying a really really good pie is much easier.    And getting there today was half the fun!

Culp Valley Road

Pam and John joined us and we headed out on the regular route....paved roads through the mountains and down the other side.   On today's drive, however,  we took Culp Valley Road and a few other dirt roads in order to cut the corner into Santa Ysabel.   Our destination was the large Julian Pie Company store there.  Dirt roads are always much more fun for us.     We took lunch along in order to get an earlier start since we all had early dinner reservations at the Coyote Steakhouse in the Palms at Indian Head. 

We selected a large, sunny rock out of the wind for our lunch with a view spot.   Sorry, I took no pictures of the actual eating.      We did see a fire in the distance, we all hoped it was a prescribed burn and not the start of a forest fire.

Pie (multiple pies - don't judge) in hand we returned home using paved roads all the way.   We capped off our pleasant day with an equally pleasant, well priced prix fix dinner.      Once again,  no photos were taken. 

Mmmm Strawberry Rhubarb!

 

dinner view

Ho hum.....tomorrow looks to be another beautiful day in the desert, golf will be played.     

Borrego Springs

One more long, very windy day brought us to our next destination - Borrego Springs, California.

As we passed through the Algodones Dunes area, blowing sand filled the air and drifted across the road, not unlike the blowing, drifting snow of our home town at this time of year.

dunes above the All American Canal

We both smiled as we approached the Texas Dip on Borrego Valley Road, knowing we'd soon be in and parked at our site at The Springs At Borrego.      Dave would finally be able to relax his shoulders and arms again.

Lewis was delighted to learn his dear friends were here and just a few rows behind us.   He thought he'd never see them again.    He was also happy to find that, evidently,  Gramma Pamma isn't the only one with treats for him!

During our first morning's happy hour we were entertained by an F-18 Hornet, a T-28 WW11 Prop Trainer and another unidentified (by Dave at least) Turbo Prop military trainer flying formations over us.    It was hard to have a conversation with him during this entertainment.

Today was a golf day.   The course here is in beautiful condition.  The weather was perfect....warm in the sun, cool in the shade.

everyone loves the sunshine

John herds a flock of Widgeons

That's all for now.

 

Moving on again

Our time in Tucson went by quickly but we didn't really "do" a lot.  A fun off road drive with Pam and John,  a  few knock-out burger meals at Tiny's, a mexican dinner, taste testing a new flourless chocolate cake recipe at Pam's, two, yes two, trips to the Apple Store, grocery shopping, reading, getting two stone chips in Beluga's windshield fixed.    Dave took one afternoon to run some new wires in preparation for a situation that he knows is coming.   Our jacks have been acting up and he's just waiting for the time they refuse to obey.

Friday afternoon we (the Banks and the Wrights) took salad and dessert and headed to Tombstone to see Jodee and Bill and their new desert home.    Of course, I didn't take a single picture but neither did Pam or Jodee so this time is wasn't just me.     We got the grand tour (what views!) of this perfect for them house, had a big bowl of chili and got caught up on what we've all been doing.   

We enjoyed our time in Tucson and now we've moved west again, heading for Borrego Springs, California.

Lew rests with his red fish after winning a rousing game of "the rug ate my fish"

 It was a very windy driving day so we only went as far as Gila Bend this afternoon.   Once we were set up in our spot at the Gila Bend KOA (and discovered our jacks are not working, grrrr) I fortified a tired Dave with a bowl of delicious Tiny's chili (we brought some as take out after our last meal there!).  Tomorrow, after this weather front moves through (taking the wind with it), we'll arrive at The Springs at Borrego for our next stay.   We always love our time there.    It's so quiet and peaceful and it has Julian Pie!

hang on Dave!

The Pecan trees are beginning to show a little spring blush

Part of our travels this year will take us to some new places and to some very familiar, favorite spots.   The problem (in terms of the blog) with those familiar places is that I've already showed them to you.   There isn't much new to see in Tucson or Borrego Springs, but that is part of their allure.    New and old, it's all fun for us!      Stay tuned.....