A FEW RV MEMORIES

I didn't get around to taking any photos again today and didn't feel much like writing anything so I will leave you with a Facebook Memory from a dozen years ago about now.  We were ranch/security sitting north of Elfrida Arizona.  And Before I knew What Happened.....I was in a J.C. Penny Store.  The following day we were in the Jeep heading west, took a wrong turn and came nose to nose with the Mexican border out in the boondocks.  Destination....Parker Canyon Lake.  Following that.....Wily Coyote Kelly Outfoxes Me Again.

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GROANER'S CORNER:(( "Mr. Wilson, I'm afraid I have bad news," the doctor told his anxious patient. "You only have six months to live."  The man sat in stunned silence for the next several minutes. Regaining his composure, he apologetically told his physician that he had no medical insurance. "I can't possibly pay you in that time."  "Okay," the doctor said, "let's make it nine months."

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FOR ME SPRING IS ALMOST LIKE BEING REBORN AGAIN

Just me in the Jeep this morning heading East for the little town of Seaforth Ontario.  My good buddy Jim and I met at the Tim Horton's coffee shop there.  Had been a while since we'd last got together for a chin wag.  Jim lives in Stratford.  We were in the coffee shop from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and for the most part, we were the only ones seated in there which of course was quite fine for we two old Geezers without all that usual surrounding chattering of noise in the background.  We covered all the bases today and caught up on things.  We'll do it all over again when it warms up outside in a few months and maybe next time we'll drink our coffees under a big old shady tree in a nearby Seaforth Park.  We did that last year.  You can find Jim's cleverly humorous musings at Lifetime Sentences

 THERE WERE TIMES THIS MORNING WHEN JIM AND I WERE THE ONLY CUSTOMERS IN THE WHOLE PLACE

It was undoubtedly the best weather day of the year so far with our temps bouncing off the 60F mark under clear sunny skies.  When I headed out first thing this morning it was 27F so I was dressed for cold weather complete with mitts.  Coming out of the coffee shop in early afternoon I tossed my coat in the back of the Jeep along with my mitts, rolled the front windows down, cranked up the tunes, and boogied all the way home.  What a great feeling to be driving again without a big bulky winter coat on.  And yes, I even had my arm out the window.  From way back in late October this fine Spring day was sure a long time coming.

 OUR AFTERNOON WALK TOOK US THROUGH A HARDWOOD BUSH IN OUR PARK

 AT THE BOTTOM OF THE VALLEY BEFORE ME FLOWS THE BAYFIELD RIVER AND ACROSS ON THE OTHER SIDE CAN BE SEEN A FEW SHINY ROOFS AT THE WILDWOOD BY THE RIVER RV PARK

 SPRING IS SURE SPROUTING 

 IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THIS FOREST FLOOR WILL BE COVERED IN TRILLIUM FLOWERS

Turned our outside water on this afternoon, replaced the winter glass in our front door with summer's screen, and started on the metal shed's clean-up project.  It was so nice today we had our doors wide open.  Autumn is my favorite time of year followed by Spring.  Spring is always like being reborn again after winter's snowy cold miseries. New ideas, new outlooks, renewed energy, a healthier attitude, and the list goes on and on.  For me, Spring is the sunshine after winter's long, dark, and exhausting storm.  Bring on the flowers, buds, and blossoms:)))))))

Gene, over in the Shout-Box asked what some of our favorite reference materials were when we were traveling in the Southwest.  We had an old out of date printed copy of the 'Escapees Day's End Directory' which we found helpful as well as Harvest Host and Free Camping Sites, Campendium, and The Next Exit.  Also, Mountain Directory West and the Atlas's we used at the time were/are called Benchmark.  We had California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Colorado. Nice to hear from you again Gene and I still remember our brief walk along the trail from the morning's Borrego Springs photoshoot to the parking lot.  I think from there we all went over to Coyote Canyon and shot us up some wildflowers:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Wisecracks!!

I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.

If I throw a stick, will you leave?

If I want to hear the pitter-patter of little feet, I'll put shoes on my cats.

Does your train of thought have a caboose?

Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.

A PBS mind in an MTV world.

Whatever kind of look you were going for, you missed.

Suburbia: where they tear out the trees & then name streets after them.

Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.

Not all men are annoying. Some are dead.

I'm trying to imagine you with a personality.

Stress is when you wake up screaming & you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

Too many freaks, not enough circuses.

Nice perfume. Must you marinate in it?

Chaos, panic, & disorder - my work here is done.

I plead contemporary insanity.

I meander to a different drummer.

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WENT LOOKING FOR SOME DESERT FLOWERS

This is Monday's post,  Having all kinds of Verizon connection problems tonight.  If it isn't one frustration with this blog lately it's another!!

We were up and out the door shortly after 7 this morning with our destination being Glorietta Canyon just up the road from us.  Kelly had read on a Borrego Springs Facebook page there were Ghost Flowers growing near the trail head but look as we did we could not find them despite clambering around on some rocks and walking a nearby trail.  No matter, it was just a beautiful morning to be out and about at the foot of the San Ysidro mountains.

GLORIETTA CANYON IS UP THERE TO THE LEFT SOMEWHERE

DON'T HAVE AN RV?? NO PROBLEM, JUST BRING A TENT

WE SEARCHED FOR GHOST FLOWERS HERE BUT NO LUCK

EVEN PHEEBS WAS ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR GHOST FLOWERS

KELLY CAREFULLY MAKES HERE WAY THROUGH SOME BOULDERS

ALMOST BACK TO THE JEEP

NO THESE ARE NOT GHOST FLOWERS

AND NO THIS IS NOT AN AUSTRALIAN KANGEROO

ROLLING OUT OF GLORIETTA CANYON

Our second destination was Coyote Canyon where we knew for sure we would find wildflowers, and we did.  Up until late last week Coyote Canyon had been closed due to severe flooding a few weeks ago.  With it open now to 4 wheel drive vehicles we headed ourselves out and right away began snapping a few flower pics.  We followed the Jeep road for a few miles to a place called the Desert Garden where we knew the road to be closed due to more flood damage.  Too bad because we've been out there before and it gets very scenic with a few shallow creek crossings.  

In another week or two this will be a very popular spot as people flock to this area when flower blooms reach their peak.  Borrego Springs is well known for it's sometimes massive blooming desert flowers.  We saw a lot more flowers in this area a few years ago.  I remember the ground being covered in purple Verbena blooms.

AN OCOTILLO BLOOM

ANOTHER DESERT PATHWAY LEADING WHO KNOWS WHERE

WE COULD SEE THE ROAD WAS CLOSED AHEAD SO THIS IS WHERE WE TURNED AROUND

HEADING BACK OUT OF COYOTE CANYON

We were here a number of years ago in March and I did take a bunch of desert flower photos at that time.  But I also remember it as being hot and I think it was the only time in our RV travels out here in the Southwest we ever had to fire up our A/C for a couple days.

NO THAT IS NOT A BLUE BIRD OUT THERE IT'S SOMEBODY TAKING A FEW FLOWER PHOTOS

NINETY FIVE PER CENT OF THESE FLOWEER PHOTOS WERE TAKEN FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT SO ONE REALLY DOESN'T HAVE TO GO SEARCHING FOR THE FLOWERS....JUST BRING YOUR WHEELS AND YOU WILL SEE THEM

I TOLD KELLY NOT TO PICK ANY OF THOSE LEMONS OR IT MIGHT SET OFF ANOTHER 'LEMONGATE........OLDER READERS WILL HAVE THE INSIDE TRACK ON MY REFERANCE TO LEMONGATE:))

From Coyote Canyon we beatled back to Borrego Springs first taking us for a drive through the beautiful Springs At Borrego RV Resort and Golf Course where they have a high end RV Park and a beautifully scenic golf course.  If ya got the bucks this would be a nice place to hang out for a few weeks and especially if your a golfer.  It seems no matter where you are on the golf course there is a majestic mountain view in the background somewhere.

A GOLF COURSE WITH A MOUNTAIN VIEW...….CAN IT GET ANY BETTER

'HEY DAD THERE'S THE PROPANE FILL UP PLACE'

With the day warming up nicely we were back to our rig before 11 and as is so often the case with us nowadays that was the end of our running around for the day.  We have always been morning people ever since we met back in the summer of 1993.  Get out, go fast, get everything done in the morning then just cruise through the afternoon.  Works for us:))

On a short walk with Pheebs this afternoon I felt the first pangs of sadness knowing we would be leaving Borrego Springs shortly.  We haven't done as much this year or last year as previous years but it's been great to simply be here one more time and touch base with so many great memories.  For me Borrego Springs will probably go down as my all time favorite place to visit.  The big mountains, the picturesque desert, the quaint little town, and the abundance of things to see and do will remain in my mind forever.  It was my nearly dozen hikes up and down Ghost Mountain to visit the Marshall South homestead over the years that really bonded me with Borrego Springs.  I always felt something very special there at the Marshall South homestead standing high on a rock overlooking the sweeping Vallecito Valley.  Early one morning I was even there on Christmas Day standing in the ruins of what was once the South's kitchen remembering how the once happy little family celebrated their own early Christmas mornings.  You can find my Marshall South postings by typing 'Marshall South' into our Search bar at the top of our right hand column and you can find the captivating story of the Marshal South family on the internet.  I have the book Marshall South and the Ghost Mountain Chronicles.

Now that we are back out at the Borrego Springs Legion I have to drive back into town each night to download all my post's photos.  Library is closed today so I will park on Christmas Circle and use the town's free Wifi.  Tuesday and Wednesday night I will likely be back to their nice new Library to finish off my posts.

No plans for the next couple days so we'll just wake up and see what happens:))

GROANER'S CORNER:(( Earl and Bubba are quietly sitting in a boat fishing, chewing tobacco and drinking beer when suddenly Bubba says, "Think I'm gonna divorce the wife... she ain't spoke to me in over 2 months." Earl spits overboard, takes a long, slow sip of beer and says, "Better think it over... women like that are hard to find."
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Many years ago, in the south pacific, there was a small island kingdom that was ruled by a kind and benevolent King. Each year, on the King's birthday, the residents of the island gave the King a new throne as token of their love and respect for him.  And each year, the King would put last years gift up in the attic of his small grass house. After many years of ruling the island, the weight of the large number of birthday presents stored up in the attic became too heavy and caused the house to collapse down on the King.  Moral to the story is: He who lives in grass house, shouldn't stow thrones.
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