A Visit to the "Big Tent"...(A Saturday Ride to Buy Pie in Julian, California)

Friday, January 27, 2023

Today's plan was to visit the "Big Tent" then take a couple of batches over to the laundromat. Yes, we had a plan and who knows it could all work out.  Up after the sun was up in the Eastern Sky we could feel its heat coming in our front window as we sat and leisurely enjoyed our morning brew. There really was no hurry because our plan included leaving here after 1 o'clock. We had a late breakfast before heading out. 

When we got to the parking lot it looked full but after riding around Tom decided to try the row next to the fence and there like a mirage was a parking space about ten cars away from one of the gates. We really did not need anything but it was nice walking around and picking up some information, plus, some free camping in an area we wanted to check out. As we were walking around it hit me as to what a good job Nancy did describing what was there in her Blog, Kissack Adventures. There really was a lot of stuff we did not need but it is fun walking around and looking. One thing I will never understand, though, is why??? so many people choose to bring their dogs with them to this. Big, medium, and little dogs on leashes (some short and some long leashes) and in strollers. If they are service dogs it makes perfect sense. Otherwise, I do not know about the rest of you, I do not enjoy spending time avoiding them and honestly I feel sorry for dogs needing to deal with all the confusion. (Just a small little rant and I am done.) One more thing, I do love dogs almost as much as cats just not underfoot at places like this. 

Could that be a small dinosaur in the tree
across the wash from us?

On our way Tom pulled over so I could get a picture
of the Sleeping Indian.

There it is the "Big Tent".

After leaving a few dollars behind and picking up our hitch that Tom dropped off yesterday to be serviced we drove over to the laundromat. The hope was to get three washers and our luck was holding as there was a whole row of washers available I should have brought a couple more loads...lol After getting everything going I left Tom to move the batches to the dryers and headed over to Gem World for a quick walk around, they have beads and yes it is a "sickness"...lol, then a stop at Dollar General for a couple of things. As I pulled back into the parking lot at the laundromat Tom was walking out with our laundry. Perfect timing if I do say so myself. Last stop was at the VFW here in Quartzsite for their Friday Fish Fry it is sort of a tradition to stop there at least once when we are here to support their VFW. Sadly, the other couple we started that tradition with have not been around the last couple of years. Maybe next year Kathy and Rick???

Heading home after dinner the sun had already slipped 
behind the mountains. This is the glow the camera on my
phone picked up all I did was crop out the utility pole.

Not a bad day at all. We had a plan and it all worked out what more could we ask for.

Saturday, January 21, 2023 (Back a week this was our ride to and from Julian, California)

As I recall we left around 10:00AM. Doug and Yuma in the Little Silver Jeep with the Little Black Limo carrying Deb, Riley, Tom and I following close behind. The goal, at least for Tom, was an Apple Pie from the Julian Pie Company in Julian. There would also be beautiful scenery along the way, lunch, and a walk up and down the street. I pretty much only took pictures of the ride. Deb, On a long and lonesome highway... and Doug, Miss Adventure Travels both took some great pictures not only of the ride but also of Julian.

I am pretty much going to let the pictures speak for themselves. Honestly, for the most part I do not know what mountains we are looking at. All I know is the views are beautiful and I enjoyed looking out the window at them as we drove along. 

We are on our way with the beautiful Santa Rosa Mountains

ahead of us and somewhere in the distance a Little Silver Jeep.

Can you see the heart in the middle of the picture?

This is the place.

We are heading back.

Deb started it and then what can I say
we did not want to be left out.

We have stopped to take pictures from above 
Borrego Springs.

Large boulder please stay up there.

We are down from the mountain top.

Back home we were sitting and chatting about the day
when a couple that Doug knows stopped by. 
Left to right: Fran, Jeff, Riley, Deb, Doug, and Tom
Always nice meeting fellow RVer's!

The sun going down on what was a wonderful day
spent with special friends. 
I am smiling as I remember this day.

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.