Taxes, A Ride, and Revisiting Metal Sculptures in the Desert

(Clicking on the pictures will open them larger in a new window.)

February 19, 2018

Today I managed to get out of bed in time to see the sunrise.

Looking out the door it was just starting to peek up over the
mountains way off in the East.

There it is and we are hoping it brings its warmth to our day.
It is still very windy and that makes it a little chilly.

Tom decided today was the day to finish with and submit our income taxes. Doesn't that sound like fun? Since, I did not want to take away from his having this fun, by possibly talking, I decided to take a ride into Borrego Springs. We want to do some exploring while we are here and it was my job today to get some information on the area. First stop, the Chamber of Commerce then on to the  Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Welcome Center to pick up some maps and information about the area. After I accomplished this task I stopped to pick up a few things at the market. I am having fun, also, just not as much as Tom is having...lol

Borrego Springs is a small community of  around 3,400 permanent residents but like so many southwest communities is "home" to thousands more  looking for the sun's warmth in the winter months. It is a beautiful place sitting in the middle of Anza-Borrego State Park surrounded by mountains. The list of things to do and see is endless. There are the metal sculptures in the desert (which I will share in the next couple of blogs), so many different trails to hike and Jeep, Font's Point where you can stand and look over the badlands, there is a beautiful drive up into the mountains that includes delicious apple pie in Julian California, and, if you know the place, a hike to see a stone snake. Just to name a few. Or it can be a place to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the view.  Tom and I will spend time exploring, some places we will revisit and some will be new. We will also spend time just being here knowing there is always next time and this is not a quest, like pre-retirement vacations, it is a lifestyle to be enjoyed. How long we will stay has yet to be determined.

 

Shadows on the Santa Rosa's.

Stopped on my ride into Borrego Springs to take a few pictures
of the beauty surrounding this area.

If we wanted to live in California this would not be a bad choice.
The views go on forever.

I decided to take the long way home and turned down Borrego Valley Road.
These palms lined the road on my left for a short distance. They totally
block what ever is on the other side. I wonder if that was the owner's plan?

I never get tired of these views and I cannot seem to stop taking pictures.

Citrus trees with beautiful majestic mountains as a back drop.

Did I mention the views go on forever?

I took a ride into Peg Leg. I could see this monument and wanted
to take a picture of it.

Who is Peg Leg Smith?
Click on the picture to enlarge it and find out.

Suzie and George, I  thought of you as I drove in Peg Leg today.
Not many rigs parked in here right now.

Home off of Rockhouse Canyon Road.
We are presently living in the shadow of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

Clouds low over the mountains continuously changing our view .

A cloud stretching across the top of the mountain as the sun set was gorgeous.
(I am going to run out of descriptive words soon.)

One last burst of light

and the sun has left for the day.

If we were at home in the UP and saw this cloud formation
we would be saying here comes the rain.

As the sun slipped behind the clouds and mountains. The last of its light
seemed to push through the clouds towards my left.

You can see how much it has traveled past the small white travel trailer.
(The middle one.)

The last little bit of light before darkness descends on our day.
(Borrego Springs is a certified Dark Sky Community and has very
little light pollution to spoil the view of the night sky.)

The taxes are done, yeah!

My fingers were freezing as I captured the sun setting in the West but it was beautiful to watch.

 We spent the evening sitting cozily inside the Stinger "B" as the wind howled outside.

It was a good way to end the day. Hope you looked back on your day and felt the same way.

February 20, 2018

Today's plan, until we checked the weather, was to take a ride up to Julian for apple pie. Somehow a high of 42 degrees did not sound inviting. Looking ahead we are thinking maybe Sunday or Monday when there is the possibility it will get up into the 50's. (The ride to Julian for pie is a must in Tom's book though I would have to agree the ride is wonderful and the pie is delicious.)

Plan "B", lets go and revisit the metal sculptures in the desert. Last year we did see them all but we spread it out and did this on three different days. I am here to tell you with determination you can see and photograph all of them in one afternoon. By the end, though, it does become less and less fun to get in and out of the vehicle.

Di Giorgio Road
We saw sections like this in several different areas today. 

Mountains surround us on all sides.

There are Velociraptors in front of the Chamber of Commerce.

The sculptures in the desert were commissioned by Dennis Avery
the landowner of Galleta Meadows. The sculptor is Ricardo Breceda. 

I took 303 pictures today, mostly of the sculptures and I have included a couple in today's blog. The "plan" is to organize the pictures and publish them in there own blog. I had planned to do this last year but never got around to it. I, sincerely, plan to do better this year. So more information and pictures will be coming shortly.

The Serpent slithers across the desert.
It even goes down and under Borrego Springs Road.

 I believe this is a Diamond Cholla.

The entrance to the De Anza Country Club.
We took a wrong turn.

The Saguaro.

Barrel Cactus

The Teddy Bear Cholla, cute but not cuddly.

Our last stop and as we left I noticed the Tyrannosaurus Rex
was looking out over his kingdom.

More to add to my collection; it is amazing what can be seen on the floor of the desert.

I saw this and thought "Angry Bird".

A dragon.

You have to really look but I see a tiny baby alligator.

Looking out over the Clark Dry Lake.

The sun setting on our day.

It has slipped behind mountains

and with one little last burst of light it was gone.

"Each day is a little lifetime.

Enjoy every moment."

                                                                   ~unknown

The wind has died down but the temperature has dropped, the highest we saw today was 58 degrees. The sky made up for the cooler temperatures as it was a beautiful clear blue

 and when you sat still in the sun you could feel the warmth. 

As I am writing this tonight it is 42 degrees outside and there is an overnight frost advisory
but we are safe and warm inside the Stinger "B". 

Our wish is that where ever you are you feel safe and warm. 

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