Happy Hour With Friends... (A Walk in the Badlands)

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Today started with, you guessed it, our morning coffee. I have to admit the start of our days is very predictable but enjoyable. After our coffee time Tom grabbed three batches of our wash I had sorted earlier and took off to get those out of the way. There was still three more batches to do but I wanted to do those myself later this afternoon. We had decided to attend Mass at Queen of Peace Catholic Mission here in Quartzsite, I was so sure I had read it was at 4 o'clock, then after Mass take care of the rest of the wash. Nothing like pulling up to a church when everyone is leaving and reading on the sign it was at 3 o'clock. So basically today we did wash.

Done and heading home as we approached the light at Kuehn Street Tom said lets just eat out for dinner and I suggested we just grab something and take it home. So we turned and headed towards Carl's Jr. for hamburgers.

Clouds above the Dome Rock Mountains 
with the sun peaking out.

Going over I-10 the sun is lighting up Quartzsite 
and the mountains beyond.

Heading home on US-95 the sun peeked out 
of the clouds for a few seconds.

Arriving home there is some color in the sky.

As the sun set this evening it looked like we would
have some fire in the sky but the color we could see
soon started to fade.
It was still a beautiful sunset!

Well, today did not turn out exactly as we planned but on the bright side we do have clean clothes, sheets and towels and that is a good thing.

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Today started slowly and we enjoyed our time drinking our morning mugs of coffee. Going outside after lunch we noticed that several rigs have quietly left the area. I am guessing when we ride out tomorrow to go into Quartzsite we will see more empty spaces.

This group across the way out our door is
several rigs smaller then when we came in.

Behind us all the rigs that were directly 
across the wash are gone.

Looking out towards the front we gained a rig.

Sitting outside waiting for our expected Happy Hour guests we could really feel the heat from the sun so Tom decided to put up our sunscreen and he was just finishing up when we could hear a vehicle approaching. Looking out we could see Black Beauty coming our way with Patsy and Bill inside. It was so nice to see them again and get some welcoming hugs. They had brought there own chairs and set them up even though we had four out; we soon found out why. We had just started catching up when we heard another vehicle coming our way a blue truck this time with Cheryl and Dave inside. Patsy had contacted them earlier today and invited them to join us. What a wonderful surprise we had not seen them in over two years. After another round of hugs we settled in to talk about this and that and the other thing. The time flew, it always does when we are enjoying the company of friends, and it was hard to believe we had been sitting and chatting for almost three hours when I noticed the time after they left. Looking forward to more Happy Hours when we come back this way in a couple of weeks. Maybe even a trip to Silly Al's.

Left to right: Dave, Bill, Patsy, Cheryl, my chair, and Tom

Missed the Actual Sunset this evening but this was the
glow my camera picked up.

After everyone left we took a ride around the area. The last place we parked out her last year was a nice spot and we were hoping to find it again. We think we did and if it is open when we come back this way we will be parking there. I have to admit that even though our first impression of this spot was not that exciting, though it is flat, we have come to enjoy it. 

It was a good day!

Sunday, January 22, 2023

Our day started with Mass at St. Richard Catholic Church in Borrego Springs. This is a lovely small church. We have been to Mass here in the past and have always felt welcomed. There is something special about attending Mass at a small parish. You can tell the parishioners are "family" yet at the same time are welcoming of their visitors. At least that has been our experience over the years. 

Upper right: there is always a picture or statue of 
Our Lady of Guadalupe in the churches we attended
in the Southwest. This one is lovely.

Out front an Ocotillo with tiny green leaves!
Upper right: they share the parking lot with the church
next door and everyone parks facing their own church.
Bottom right: a marker at the entrance to the parking lot.

We stopped for breakfast at the Red Ocotillo.
Though there were people sitting outside we chose to sit
inside in our opinion it was a little to chilly out there.

Christmas Circle

After breakfast we took a quick ride to check out a new grocery store I had seen when we came through the day before. Nice to know you do have a couple of options, there is another grocery store across the street, if needed but I would still recommend anyone coming this way come supplied. We then headed back home after Tom made two circles around so I could get the above picture...lol

Checked in with Deb when we got home and it was still a go to take a small hike to find an arch she and Doug had talked about. So after changing out of our church clothes and checking with Doug, who decided to stay home and watch football, we were off to where the Igloo is parked. 

Deb had already taken off towards the badlands behind them before we got there but she texted saying just stay on the road and keep heading back. The question was, how would we see her out in the vastness of the area? Then we came around a hill and we could see this tiny person in the distance wearing an orange sweatshirt, I will not use the word bright...lol...but she did stand out, waving so we headed towards her. She had already been below walking and found one arch but did not think it was the right one. Directing us up to a parking spot on the ridge we parked and walked down to where she met us. (I should have taken more pictures. It seems like somedays I take way to many and other days, like today, not enough.)

Top picture looking out over the badlands
the rest were taken below.

Top pictures the first arch Deb found.
I find it fascinating that the beauty we saw down here
is basically all compacted sand.
Bottom right: a way out.

Standing the way we were at the time we took a left and
found the arch Deb remembered. 

Doug and Yuma showed up just as we found the arch and again no pictures. Yuma had fun running up and down and checking out a lot of the nooks and crannies. 

Turned around and Tom had disappeared then reappeared
up on top. That is him in the bottom right picture.

Deb decided to crawl in and out one of the openings.

The Jeep up on the ridge. It doesn't look
like we are very deep at this angle.

Doug was parked up there also. Deb and I walked up and out of the badlands while Tom walked up the sand hill to get the Jeep and meet us where we had first seen Deb. We then headed back to the Igloo where Riley joined us for a Happy Hour. Doug and Yuma soon took off and then not long after with the sun setting we followed behind. 

Looking back at the our friend's home with the glow
of the last of the sun's light behind them.

When we got back home I took a picture
of the last of the light over the mountains.

It was another good day, one of several we had parked out overlooking the Borrego Badlands. This is my last blog about the time spent here with special friends enjoying the slow but quickly passing days, There is a quiet flow of time that happens when we are parked in the desert yet at the same time, time itself goes by quickly. There is calmness that takes over, if you are willing to let it, then comes the wonderful realization, we do not need to apologize or make excuses for not doing and going all the time. With that realization is the freedom to enjoy the days just as we want to and on some days do nothing at all. Sitting in the quietness as the inky black of night surrounds us there is a peacefulness that fills the  soul and a satisfaction in knowing we are living our life in this moment and enjoying the journey. 

We are glad you stopped by!

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