TOOK A MORNING WALK UP ON COYOTE MOUNTAIN TO SEE IF THE BIG STONE SNAKE WAS STILL THERE…..

SUNRISE…BORREGO SPRINGS STYLE

    

 

NO PHOTO SHOP ON THESE SUNRISE PICS BY THE WAY…COLORS ARE JUST AS I SAW THEM

It was somewhere between a squeak & a honk I heard first thing this morning.  It was the sound of a happy little dog playing with her funky Rooster Chicken .  As soon as Kelly or I stir, Pheebs is into immediate ‘excitement mode’.  Another 24 hours of happy has begun for her.  This morning she kicked off our day with her squawking Rooster.

Fiery sunrise this morning as Pheebs & stepped out of the rig.  Warm air & the only sound meeting our ears was a couple distant Coyotes.   Other rigs in the area were too far away for their generators to reach us.  It was a nice peaceful start to our day.  Just the way we like it:))

Couple quick things from last night’s post.  Water, dumping, etc is free at the Arco station east of Borrego Springs on S22.  Our gusting winds subsided before we went to bed & we had a quiet night.  We did stop & have a look at the ‘Oven site’ here just off Rock House road but decided on a site a few hundred yards north of there beside the old & now filled in gravel pit closer to Coyote Mountain.  Someone wondered if we had been to 17 Palms & the answer is yes.  Same day we found the PUMPKIN PATCH.  Question about our old batteries.  They had not been maintained properly before we had the coach & cells had been allowed to drain.  One battery was poorer than the other.  Mike said they would work but just wouldn’t work well & we could have trouble with them.  We didn’t see the logic of having new solar equipment installed & then trying to make it all work with older weaker batteries.  Batteries are the heart of the system so we swapped them out.  A question about dust.  We have never worried about dust interfering with the slide mechanisms but it’s a good idea to keep them well greased which we do.

Didn’t get myself organized enough to make the beginner’s Bird walk in Borrego Springs this morning.  Next time.  Instead Kelly, Pheebs, & I headed ourselves over to the walking trails on Coyote Mountain & started heading up.  For the past few years I have always made it a point to walk up there & check on the big stone snake.  Happy to say it was still there this morning & looking as fine as ever.  Trail seemed to have more loose rocks on it in spots so Kelly had a few difficulties coming down.

  

MY CAMERA IS POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE GREEN OASIS CALLED BORREGO SPRINGS

Didn’t turn out to be a good Solar day with a double layer of clouds overhead.  Lower level clouds shrouded some of the surrounding mountain peaks.  It all made for a very moody sky.  Light breeze & a tad on the cool side.

TOPPING A RIDGE I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE LONG STONE SNAKE WAS STILL THERE

  

Loaded up the Pheebs & Jeeped ourselves into Borrego Springs around noon.  Kelly had a couple thrift stores to check out.  Been a few years since I had an egg pocket at Calicos so we stopped in.  Good as ever.  Kelly had a spicy bowl of Chicken Enchilada soup.  Spicy enough to make her cross-eyed for a few seconds.  On the way back to the rig we took us for a little drive through the Borrego Springs Resort.  Hadn’t been through that part of the Springs before.  Streets were quiet.  In fact all of Borrego Springs is quiet & we figure it’s just the time of year.  Snow Birds really haven’t landed yet.

WHENEVER WE REACH CHRISTMAS CIRCLE NOW WE STOP, LEAP OUT ON THE GRASS & RUN AROUND IN CIRCLES SHOUTING & WAVING OUR ARMS…THERE GOES KELLY STOMPING BY A TREE NOW…YES WE ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO STOMP OUR FEET ON SOME REAL GRASS

CRUISING UP BORREGO SPRINGS MAIN DRIVE TOWARD THE SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS

  

ALWAYS LOTS OF JEEPS IN TOWN

And I see we have a new fella over there in our Friend Connect box.  We welcome CARL HARTUP as he joins our travels over here in Borrego Springs this week.  Thanks for dropping by Carl:)) 

CALICOS

 

ONE BOWL OF CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP & ONE EGG POCKET

With a rather dull looking day outside we just hunkered down in the rig.  I concentrated my efforts on a few camera problems & got things sorted out.  We have been finding our loveseat just a tad crowded with all three of us on it vying for space.  Poor Pheebs kinda gets squished in the middle.  A solution had to be found.

 

AND THIS PHOTO JUST KINDA SUMS UP OUR CLOUDY AFTERNOON

I need more room because of my camera gear all the time & things were just not working out so I was the one voted off the couch.  I now reside in the rig’s driver’s seat which we have partially turned around.  This set-up actually works much better for me.  Kinda my own little room where I don’t gotta share my space.  I’m sure the other 2 Dudes are much more comfortable with me off the couch as well.  Especially our furry little four legged creature.  She loves to stretch out on the couch with Mom.  A few other benefits of my new spot is I now have a table for my mouse & snacks.  I have in-dash radio control, a drink holder & room to set my cameras down when downloading the days pics.  Also have a much better view out the windshield & drivers side window.  Tonight I watched the sunset & now I can see the lights of Borrego Springs right from my driver’s seat chair.  Can put my feet up on the passenger seat too.   Geeeezzzz, when have I ever had it so nice.   Ahhhh, the luxury of finally settling in & adapting to change.  About time I’d say!!

MY NEW COMPUTER CAVE

YEP I WOULD SAY MY DAYS ON THE COUCH ARE PRETTY MUCH OVER:((

Noticed while walking on the Coyote Mountain trails this morning there isn’t much color in the landscape because of the time of year.  We have been here in March when the Borrego flowers are blooming in the desert.  Shrubs are alive with greening leaves & colorful buds.  Desert lilies adorn the Borrego Valley floor.  Scenic wise it is a better time to be in Borrego Springs & I remember taking lots of colorful flower photos when we were here.    

 

THAT’S US BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER

 

A PROBABLE COYOTE DEN & LOOKING DOWN ON PEG LEG SMITHS

A SLOW MOVING RAINBOW QUIETLY DRIFTED BY US

At 9 Friday morning we have to meet a group of ‘off-roaders about 15 miles east of our location at a spot called Truckhaven Coral Wash.  An Ocotillo Wells State Naturalist will lead the caravan of 4 wheel drive vehicles into the wash with geological stops & short hikes up hidden side canyons.  This expedition will last 5 hours so we will be taking water & food.  I don’t much care for drinking water so it’s Cran-Raspberry for me.  Looking forward to getting out & doing some new & interesting things for a change.  And yes, the Pheebs is coming along as well:))  Oh-Oh…..just started raining!!

TONIGHT’S SUNSET FROM MY NEW DRIVER’S SEAT COMPUTER STATION:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  The Lone Ranger and Tonto were riding across the desert when a line of mounted Indians appeared to the right of them. They looked to the left and saw another line of mounted Indians. Behind them they saw another line of mounted Indians.
The Lone Ranger said, "Looks like we're in trouble, Tonto."
Tonto replied, "What do you mean WE, white man?"

--------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.

BACK TO ONE OF OUR ALL TIME FAVORITE PLACES…BORREGO SPRINGS CALIFORNIA:))

HELLO BORREGO SPRINGS:))

Had been hoping for a full sunny day to test out our solar charging rate but we had a partial cloud cover.   No problem though & our charge rate was right up there with a 14.1 number.  That is good….but this was bad.  I left the ignition key on ‘Accessory’ all night & forgot to turn off some electronic stuff we had plugged into the cigarette lighter.  Winnie’s battery was stone dead this morning.  Luckily in this rig we have something called ‘Battery Boost’.  Turn the ignition, hold the battery boost button in & the rig’s coach batteries will start the engine.  While I was stomping around in my PJ’s getting ready to go outside & move the Jeep closer to jump start the rig Kelly remembered the boost feature & calmly started the rig using the 'battery boost button.  Some days I’m lucky if I remember to put my corn flakes in the hollow part of the bowl………………

CHRIS LIVES IN A BIG GRAYHOUND BUS & LOOKS AFTER THE COLORFUL SCHOOL BUS ON THE RIGHT FOR A LADY (BARB) WHO LIVES ON SALT SPRING ISLAND BRITISH COLUMBIA

Nice walk through a large desert wash first thing this morning.  Chris had told us there is a Naval Seal training area just north of the Slabs & this morning we could hear a lot of automatic gunfire coming from that direction.

I KNOW THERE IS A NAME FOR THESE STONE CIRCLES BUT CAN’T THINK OF IT

 

IN MONSOON SEASON THERE IS A RAGING TORRENT OF WATER GOING THROUGH HERE

 

KELLY CHECKS OUT AN OLD TV IN THE WASH IT’S TIME TO ROLL OUT

Solar Mike had determined Tuesday that our 12 volt cigarette type plug in the bathroom that we could never get to work was wired backwards.  He said to stop in this morning & he would fix that for us.  Only took him a minute to pop the outlet & reverse the wires.  Just one of those things a worker at Winnebago got wrong I guess.  We said good-bye to Mike & Chris while Pheebs said so-long to Granny.  Say what you will about the Slabs but Mike has always done us right.  A gentle soul with a soft personality who always has time for people.  He knows his Solar business & we have always trusted his word & wisdom.  Thanks for another job well done Mike & our solar power is working just fine over here in Borrego Springs:))

MIKE FIXES OUR 12 VOLT PLUG IN THE BEDROOM

 

 

 

HOPE THESE PHOTOS WILL ANSWER SOME OF THE QUESTIONS READERS HAD ABOUT OUR SOLAR INSTALLATION

SAYING GOODBYE TO SOLAR MIKE THIS MORNING

Always a little sad whenever I leave somewhere because I never know if & when we will ever be back again.  And so it was as we rolled out of the Slabs this morning at 9:53.  With the Jeep tethered to the Winnie Wagon we bounced the lightly rough road to Niland, made a left turn & headed south.   Destination:  Borrego Springs.

LOT OF AGRICULTURE GOING ON IN THE AREA AROUND CALIFORNIA’S SALTON SEA

First time using the Brawley by-pass & we were surprised the time it saved from not having to go through downtown Brawley.  We were at the big Arco station in Salton City in no time.  The location of this Arco at the junction of highways 86 & S22 is like an Oasis in the desert.  Fuel, water, dump station, eats, propane, etc.  Only thing we needed this morning was water so we topped off our fresh water tank & headed west on S22 for Borrego Springs about 25 miles away.

TOPPING UP OUR FRESH WATER TANK AT THE BIG ARCO STATION

We all have our favorite places we like.  Favorite drives, hiking areas, boondocking spots, etc.  The drive on S22 after we enter the ANZA-BORREGO DESERT STATE PARK is one of my all time good feeling drives.  Big mountains, deep canyon, badlands & a gently curving road.  There is a point where one begins descending into the huge Borrego Valley ahead & this is one of my all time favorite spots.  Coyote Mountain dead ahead with Borrego Springs just on the other side.  I always have a good feeling come over me when I’m coming down this stretch of road.  Kind of like coming home.   The valley opens up as the huge Clark Dry Lake bed comes into view off to the right.  We always start looking for little white dots in the desert at this point.  RV’s scattered about.  Quickly realized we had picked a good time to be here.  Not a lot of rigs in November yet.  Other years we have always come here in late December, January, February, or March.  Those are busy Snowbird months.  Made a quick mental note for the future.  Come to Borrego Springs in late November or early December before the other Snow Birds all come fluttering in.

 

BADLANDS ON THE LEFT & THE AREA WE WILL BE DOING A JEEP TOUR THROUGH FRIDAY

 

COYOTE MOUNTAIN DEAD AHEAD

CLARK DRY LAKE BED CAN BE SEEN AT THE EXTREME RIGHT

 

THAT DRY LAKE BED HAS A MILITARY HISTORY WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE

A FEW RIGS SCATTERED ABOUT & WE ARE HEADING FOR THE AREA WHERE THE BROWN COYOTE MOUNTAIN SLOPES DOWN TO MEET THE DESERT FLOOR

PEG LEG SMITH’S IS A POPULAR CANADIAN BOONDOCKING SPOT JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM ROCKHOUSE ROAD WHERE WE GO

When all is said & done someday I will look back to Borrego Springs & the surrounding Anza Borrego area as one of my all time favorite places to go.  We have created many a pleasant memory here over the past 7 Snow Birding seasons & it is one of the those rare places I feel very much at home.  It is a land of mystery, big winds, & history.  It is also a place with many things to do if one wants to get off their Keister & do them.  Between the DESERT NATURE CENTER & the Anza-Borrego State Park they have a never ending stream of activities going on.   Astronomy & Photography are just 2 of my favorites.  Star Parties, Off road Jeep tours, Birding hikes, & countless organized theme activities.   In fact there is a beginners Bird Walk at 8 Thursday morning which I might go to.  Jeep tour this Friday & an astronomy group explaining the benefits of binoculars for viewing the night sky.  All interests right up my alley.  For anyone out there with a keen interest for learning things, Borrego Springs has enough to offer in keeping you busy while you’re here.  If interested you can see many of the things we have done here in Borrego simply by typing Borrego Springs into our ‘Search Bar’ at the top of my right hand column…….Should add that many of these programs are free with some costing little & some costing substantially more.  We just stick with the free ones.  

THE TOWN OF BORREGO SPRINGS LIES A COUPLE MILES AHEAD AT THE END OF THIS ROAD NESTLED UP AGAINST THOSE BIG SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS

Normally we would slow down & make a right hand turn onto Rockhouse Rd & right away look ourselves up a good boondocking spot.  I always like to get as close to the hiking trails on Coyote Mountain as we can.  But today we had a more immediate destination.  One which Kelly suggested & I wholeheartedly agreed with.  We were just going to head right straight into Borrego Springs, rig & all.  Our destination was Jilbertos:))

KELLY HEADS FOR BORREGO SPRING’S CHRISTMAS CIRCLE

 

JUST LOVE ALL THIS GREEN GRASS & JILBERTOS IS DEAD AHEAD UP MAIN STREET

We know our way around Borrego Springs well so no problem finding a place to park the rig.  We were out the door walking across the soft green green grass of Christmas Circle in no time.  What a big treat it is for us each year to walk on this thick carpet of green.  Had just been watered & I inhaled that great scent of freshly watered green grass.  Stopped at the Nature Center across from Jilbertos first to pick up a brochure of upcoming events.  We quickly signed up for a Friday morning Jeep trip in the Badlands.  More about that later. 

QUICK STOP AT THE DESERT NATURE STORE TO PICK UP SOME ACTIVITY PROGRAMS

 

A QUICK DASH ACROSS THE STREET & RIGHT INTO JILBERTOS

AND HERE COMES THE YUMMIES

I figure this is our 7th trip to Borrego Springs since December of 07.  There is a little Mexican restaurant near Christmas Circle called Jilbertos & we have got ourselves into the custom of stopping there every time we come here.  Nothing fancy & that’s part of the reason I like it.  Kelly likes her Mexican whatever stuff & I always enjoy my hamburger & fries.  Just one of my favorite little places.  I was thinking of the late Doug Dubrouillet when we were eating.  I think Doug liked his Fish Tacos there:))

 

NOTICED THIS WELL DONE LANDSCAPING BUSINESS BETWEEN CHRISTMAS CIRCLE & JILBERTOS

From Jilbertos it was back to the rig to take Pheebs for a walk on the grass at Christmas Circle.  She loves grass as much as we do.  And she has always loved eating grass wherever she goes.

 

PHEEBS LOVES HER GRASS…..& WE DO TOO

About half way back to the Clark Dry Lake Beds we were suddenly buffeted by heavy wind gusts & blowing dust.  Just Borrego Springs way of saying, ‘Welcome back Bayfield Bunch’ we missed ya.

Rockhouse Road quickly led us to our favorite area & oh happy days…..nobody around.  There were about a dozen rigs in the area about a mile or so east of us & that was plenty close enough.  Saw one through my binoculars flying a Canadian flag.  Had the binoculars out to see if I could spot Wandering Willy somewhere.  Last reported sighting a week or so ago of that wandering Willy fella was the the old radio tower not too far from us near the highway.  Looks like he has moved on.   The high temperatures a week ago may have driven him higher to cooler ground.  We are only a few yards from the spot we were a couple years ago here.  No TV channels but we do have Verizon coverage.  And here’s another reason I love this site, we can see the lights of Borrego Springs at night.   We’re thinking we just might hang out here in Borrego longer than we had anticipated.  Besides I have to do my annual Ghost Mountain climb again too.  My personal fav:)))))))))))))))

FOUND US A NICE QUIET SECLUDED SPOT WELL AWAY FROM THE OTHER RV FOLKS

As I type this tonight we are being rocked to & fro by Borrego’s big winds rolling over the San Bernardino mountains & whipping up through it’s narrowly wide canyons.  Aw yes Borrego……you really did miss us after all.  And no, you are not chasing us home this time like ya did last time:))  And may I just say how absolutely super swell it is being back to our solar boondocking ways again.  No long running noisy generators anymore.  We once again feel tree to independently go wherever it is we wish to go……quietly.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  You Know Your In California When:

-The fastest part of your commute is down your driveway.

-The primary bugs that you worry about are electronic.

-Left is right and right is wrong.

-Your monthly house payments exceed your annual income.

-Your cat has it's own psychiatrist.

-You don't exterminate your roaches, you smoke them.

-You see 25 lawyers chasing an ambulance.

-More than clothes come out of the closets.

-More money is spent on facelifts than on diapers.

-Your children learn to walk in Birkenstocks.

You consult your horoscope before planning your day.

-------------------------------------------------------------
- Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.
- Home is where your pet is:))
- "If having a soul means being able to feel
love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals
are better off than a lot of humans."
(James Herriot)
- The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails -William Arthur Ward
- The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...AL.
- It is not so much having nothing to do as it is not having the interest to do something....AL.