And once again I am behind in updating the blog. Currently I’m at Lake Isabella in California, but was in Arizona last week and Nevada the week before. Been going and doing. So, here’s the post-Yuma happenings.
After Fortuna Pond I had to wait around for a package and spent a night at an RV park and one night back at the Paradise Casino where Randy was still camped. Bob Wells had a camp going off Sidewinder Road, in CA just west of Yuma, and I wanted to go hang with those guys. It was pretty windy and some folks headed over to Mittry Lake, but some stayed. Riley and I got to take a daily walk with Bob and his dog Homer. On our first day Bob showed me the biggest Ocotillo plant either of us had ever seen. Had to get a picture with Bob to get the full perspective of the size:
Bob (and Homer) with the giant Ocotillo
The desert plants were budding out and just starting to bloom. We passed a lily type plant each day and it looked like it would be blooming soon. It did bloom right before we left. So pretty.
Desert Flower
We had a good site and visited with Bob, Katie, Tara, and Tricia.
Sidewinder Road Spot
On 2/25 we headed on, popping across the border to Algodones, Mexico to see about getting some new glasses and maybe a dental checkup (I’m on a high-deductible health plan). Didn’t find a good deal on glasses but picked up some Amoxycillin to have on hand. We moved on up I-8 a little to Ogilby Road and then to American Girl Mine Road, where RVSue and Wheeling It had written about good boondocking locations.
American Girl Mine Road Site
There is a lot of space further back off the main road, and rigs are pretty well spaced out. Riley and I hiked the old mining roads and hung out. I finally got back into some bookbinding. I hadn’t done any since before I got busy selling the house and stuff. I picked up some leather pieces on my recent travels to make leather journals. I also like making these hardcover journals with calendar inserts and pockets. I’d like to eventually get some stock built up and set up an Etsy store online.
Hardcover calendar/journal
Also, I got out my hummingbird feeder at Ogilby. Fun watching the little guys feeding. Especially when the wind is blowing and they hold on tight as the feeder rocks back and forth. I really like this feeder with the foot perch and suction cup hook thingy.
Ogilby Hummer
Of course I have many sunset pictures. Can’t help it.
Ogilby Sunset
On March 4th we headed over to Anza-Borrego State Park. Again, I had read RVSue and WheelingIt writings about the area, and it looked like a good stop as I moved north. Plus, the wildflowers were supposed to be peaking around Mid-March. My folks had sent off my mail and it was waiting for me at the Borrego Springs post office. I drove through the town and up to the State Park visitor center. The lady at the V.C. said the wildflowers would be poor this year due to weather conditions. Maybe later, if they got some rain. Bummer. We did get to have a good hang though – desert hiking, checking out the large sculptures at Galleta Meadows (Ann and Jerry have a good write-up on those), farmer’s market in town, watching hummingbirds, etc.
Anza-Borrego Hummingbird
Borrego Springs
View from my Anza-Borrego site. A little bit of snow on those mountain peaks.
Serpent Sculpture. If you look close you can see the first 3 sections are on one side of the road, with the next section and tail on the other side. So amazing.
Serpent Sculpture Head
For my sister-in-law Bev, who has a metal scorpion (about 4 ft.) in her front yard. This would go nice next to it, huh?
Anza-Borrego sunset
Eventually it got pretty hot and I was ready to hit my next stop, Joshua Tree National Park. I went by La Quinta and Indio on the way to do chores. [Note to RVers – the laundromat in Borrego Springs is horrible. If passing by Indio, use the one at 81106 Hwy 111. So much better and nice folks keeping it clean. Also, Stater Bros. grocery in same shopping center.]
Too many pictures already. Will pick up on Joshua Tree next.
OnTheRoadWithRiley 