Sorry, A Little Late

This week we are back in Yuma with time spent visiting and planning a special celebration.  Our friends, Gary and Marleen, celebrated 60 years of marriage - a very special occasion!  They were joined by their son and daughter and a small gathering of friends.  The afternoon was spent visiting, a few laughs, a toast of champagne,  and best wishes.

We have had many calm and warm evenings this winter.  Nothing beats a campfire with a gourmet menu - hot dogs and bush pies.  Here we have the makings of a bush pie which makes for a great supper.

I often post a photo when I see something different and/or unusual.  Here we saw an amazing park job.  I don't know who would deserve more credit for it - the driver, or the person guiding.

We are so fortunate to not have to endure the bitter frigid weather that has been blanketing so much of the country.  Hopefully, it will moderate quickly and better temps are promised for next week.  I hope you all have kept warm and you have a good week!

Good-bye Borrego Springs

 This year we are only doing a  two plus weeks in Borrego Springs and this was our last week.  We did a couple of fun things and also did something a bit more challenging (at least for me).  We started off by  hiking Palm Canyon which is in the Anza Borrego State Park.  It isn't a particularly difficult trail but there definitely some challenging areas - some areas are really quite rocky.  The canyon itself is beautiful as you climb up to an oasis at the end.  The trail itself is pretty well travelled so is pretty easy to follow.  On the other hand, there is an alternate trail which we took on the way down, which isn't quite so easy to follow.  In fact, in one spot, we lost the trail so had to change plans and cut across a wash to find the original trail.  All was good and we got down safely, although I had had enough hiking for the day.  The trail is 2.9 miles return with an elevation gain of 450 feet - enough to get this old gal puffing more than once.

Just behind where we were camped there is some stone art, or as we call it - The Snake.  Years ago, someone started with building a rattle snake out of rock.  Over the years, there have been a number of additions - some which are very good and some which look much like a pile of rocks.  Every year some old ones disappear and some new ones show up, but "The Snake" remains the same.

One especially nice drive is up Grapevine Canyon, and probably my favourite.  This 4x4 road is a historic road that was used as a horse and wagon route for settlers and miners.  The scenery is amazing and on a clear day at the top, you can see the Salton Sea - 20+ miles away.

The weather continued to be warm, and calm which was perfect for a little campfire.  We would sit around and visit, and then later on after supper we would roast marshmallows for dessert.

Our friend, Fred, who is in the camper next to us gave a presentation at the elementary school on living with a disability.  We went along so we could take his wheelchair as he rode his bike into town.

We finally found a desert lily blooming.  It's been several years since I had seen any and sure enough, this year they are back.

On our way back to Yuma, the sand dunes were busy with folks and their toys playing in the sand.  The flowers along the ditch were spectacular.

This brings another week to a close so until next week, have a great week!

2026 - Week One

 The weather this week was less than perfect weather - we had cloud, cool temperatures, as well as a day of wind.  The week did, however, end up with perfectly clear skies although it was a bit cool with a chilly breeze.  We still were able to get out and do and see a few things.

We went and had a look as some of the wild flowers that are blooming near by.  It is early to have so many flowers out but it is not wide spread and mostly confined to the one area near us.  I still find it quite amazing to have such growth and colour in a normally totally arid area.

As always, we are often entertained by the goings on of other campers.  Here is one of a motorhome which pulled in after dark and parked in a spot that was not easy out.  Lesson number one is to make sure all your lights are working, particularly on the tow vehicle.  The poor lady was giving hand signals, running to the front window for instructions, to the back for more hand signals  Back forth she went until she was called over while the driver came out with a sheet of paper and gave her instructions on the "correct" hand signals.  The driver then decided to back up to try and get turned around so he could leave.  Obviously new to all this and found backing up with a tow vehicle is quite challenging.  More hand signals and running back and forth.  She likely got her steps in before they even left.

As usual, Gerry goes out in the morning and wanders around.  If anyone is outside, he will stop and chat; he will pick up some garbage that he finds stuck in the bushes or elsewhere.  This week, he hit the jackpot.............

Next door we met Fred.  Fred is from France,  is a paraplegic, and road races.  He spends several months in this area, spends some time back in France, and spends several months in Cadillac, SK.  You may wonder why Cadillac?  He says they have a great little campground, perfect training terrain, the weather is good. When I took this photo, he had just completed 100 km.  That is pretty amazing when he does this while dry camping.

We met a couple from Seattle, Poul and Carla Pedersen and today we went to do some sight seeing.  We went to the pumpkin patch.  This is an area of concretions, which actually look like concrete pumpkins, and Carla was particularly  interested as she is a geologist. 

Caught between a rock and a hard place

When we stopped for lunch, a couple of folks stopped to chat and said they were off to see the little people which was just a short distance away - so off we went. This is an area where folks have made people out of the concretions and have dressed them.  Some were very cute and clever.

There are  many sculptures around town.  This year there are two new ones.  These sculptures are all made of steel and they are all amazing.

And here is one that has replaced a moose pulling a plow!!

The week was busy, especially the past couple of days.  Next week we are promised warmer weather so a bit more travelling around.  I hope you have a good week and you will be back next week.

Happy New Year

 

Although it is a few days into the new year, we would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year.  We hope it is filled with peace and love.

This past week we spent still in Yuma.  There were a couple of projects Gerry had wanted to work on with Gene from next door.  The big one was to replace the gutters on Gary and Marleen's house.  The old ones came down quick and easy.  The new ones went on relatively quick but the purpose of these gutters was to keep the rain off the patio.  Well, that it did - in most spots.  It was quite a challenge!!  It looks like perhaps that was mostly accomplished; however the final test will be when we get back there later on in the month and all the caulking has cured.

New Year's eve was spent pretty similar to what folks our age do - did some visiting, watched some TV, but no midnight revelry for us.  New Years Day we enjoyed a wonderful steak supper, with all the trimmings.

Over the past few years, there has been some chickens in the wash just down the street from Gary and Marleens.  You can often hear a rooster crow at all sorts of odd hours.  Well, this week we saw them - looks like maybe just one rooster and one hen!

Friday, we were off to another favourite - Borrego Springs. 

They have had quite a lot of rain this past while.  In fact, they have 15 inches New Years Eve and New Years Day.  Everything is certainly nice and green.

In spite of all the rain, we only saw one spot where the road was likely flooded.

As always, we see some unusual camping gear.  The fellow next to us is from Minnesota.  He told us that he never thought that he would have to worry about the rain in the desert.  Here is his bed that he puts a tarp over for the night.

Today we went into town for the weekly market, and to go to the Bargain Barn.  Well, no market the Barn was not open, and there was nobody downtown.  Hopefully things will pick up some this coming week.  Even the off road area across the road from us is almost empty.  There were quite a lot of people at the sand dunes on our way out as well as at a popular off road area down by the main highway.  We did see quite a striking vehicle - an electric VW van.  It was very nice looking but it had not been converted for camping.

Last night there was a launching of a SpaceX shuttle.  We had seen one before but not knowing about it ahead of time, we almost missed it.  We were ready for the one last night but unfortunately, it was mostly cloudy, it wasn't a great viewing.

I will end my week with this view just outside our door.  Have a great week.