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!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.

The White Lion Heads East...Fonts Point..(Walk Through the Calcite Mine Slot Canyon)

I wrote and published this post on Wednesday, January 25th. I can even see it on Facebook though when I click on it, it says the page does not exist. I have no explanation for what happened because it shows as a draft, shows it has 10 comments (which I remember replying to), and 201 views. Plus it does not show as being published. I am going to re-publish it and see what happens.   

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

We started today with our first cup of coffee inside the Stinger "B". We brought our second cup outside to enjoy Coffee Hour with Deb and Riley as Doug got ready to head down the hill. Doug then decided to join us and we spent some time talking about this and that including where we would all be headed next. It quickly became time to say our "see you laters" and the White Lion was off. After watching Doug pull away the four of us sat and chatted for a little longer. Tom and I had decided to take a ride out to Fonts Point and we asked if they would like to join us; happily they agreed and we decided on a departure time after lunch. 

Our last sunset parked out near the Borrego Badlands.

The view of the sun setting standing by the Igloo
parked at the Ocotillo Wells BLM

Up the hill and this is the view of the sunset 
standing by the Stinger "B".

While I was taking pictures of the sun setting 
this guy went buzzing by.

He was up above the hill where we are parked then
down below above where Deb and Riley are several
times. It looked like he was having fun.

The sun is gone but I can see our friends home
as the night descends upon us. 

Back to the beginning of our day. I might as well just admit it now and get it over with; this blog has a picture overload. Or I could say it is filled with pictures when looked at in the future will bring back special memories of a time spent with friends enjoying the days and Tom and I will smile.

Doug and Yuma are on their way.

Fonts Point is part of The Anza Borrego State Park. Looking for information about Fonts Point I found one description of it as one of the most breathtaking places to visit in Southern California. We have not visited very many places in California but I will say the views are spectacular. They are worth the 4 mile ride in the sandy wash, though, it is recommended you do it with a 4 wheel drive vehicle Then it is an easy walk up the hill to see some wonderful views looking down over the Borrego Badlands.  

The views of the canyons, crevices, mountains, and Salton Sea in the distance seem to go on forever.

Click on the next two pictures and they should open in a new window and you can read more about this beautiful spot and how it came to be what it is.

Turning into the wash that will bring us to Fonts Point.

From the parking lot we can see the Clark Dry Lake 
with the Santa Rosa Mountains behind in the distance.

We have walked up the hill and these are our views. I know I have said it before but it is the truth, the camera does not do what the eyes see justice.

The Salton Sea is out there.

All smiling and looking the same with the
Borrego Badlands behind us.
Yes, those are my arms and hands holding my phone 
perfectly reflected in my glasses.

One last picture and we headed back to the 
Jeep to make our way back out to H22.

One last stop on our way out.

Patsy you are just going to have to believe me.
There were to many large rocks to get any closer. 
It is filled with tiny green leaves! 

Our home in the distance with the Sultan Sea behind it
and the Chocolate Mountains behind the sea.

Another good day spent enjoying some of the beauty that is in this place. Our last in this spot for this Adventure. Tomorrow we will head out looking forward to were the road will lead us as we continue the Journey.

(The Rest of the Walk Through the Calcite Mine Slot Canyon.)

Friday, January 20, 2023

I had stopped but Deb, Doug and Tom continued on. Tom offered to stay back and then Doug said no he would stay back with me since he had been there earlier in the week but I convinced them both to keep going. I felt perfectly safe and did not want anyone else to miss out because I did not feel I should continue.

After they moved further on I stood looking around at the spot I would wait for them.

It sort of makes me dizzy looking up but
the colors of the sand/mudstone against the
blue sky are beautiful,

 

Looking down I could see rocks imbedded in the
sand/mudstone along the path.
Basically they are cemented in there.

Standing there looking at the path we had just come through it is again a reminder of the force and strength of the water that flows through here.

Tom's pictures of what was ahead of where I stopped.

Then they were back and we started the hike back out. I always find it fascinating how the views on the same path take on such a different look going in the opposite direction. 

High Five, I actually remembered to take a selfie of us 
while in the Slot Canyon and I got us all in and smiling on the
first try...lol I think you can tell we are having fun.

Do you see her holding a baby?

The shadows and sunlight, bring out the variation

of colors and textures of the walls as we walk along.

Tom took these looking 

down a slot.

These three

pictures are of the walls

just outside the slot.

Is that some one up there?

Tom taking a picture while Deb and Doug
have stopped ahead to discuss something.

Small boulders holding up the walls

or has Deb stopped to do so?

Face?

Layer after layer of packed sand.

Almost back to where we started this lovely hike.

How much longer will the column be up there?

Turning the corner Doug has beat us to the Jeep.

It was a great hike and I think we would all agree we had fun.  We headed back home and Deb stayed and visited for a short time before heading back home herself.  

I just liked the look of the landscape and
mountains in the distance.

The sun going down

on what was a good day spent with friends.

We are glad you stopped by!

If you have time to leave a comment we would enjoy hearing from you.