AND YOU THOUGHT WE CAME HERE TO GET OUT OF THE SNOW

We try to start each day with some physical activity. I usually ride my bike and here in Borrego, the loop I do is 13.4 miles. Malene takes a hike during the same time and tries to keep her heart rate in the aerobic zone for at least a half an hour out of the hour walk. On Sunday we took a long strenuous hike together. We met a guy on the trail who took our picture for us.

We hikeed up Coyote peak and, although we didn't make it to the top we took this picture of the desert below us.

The next morning the sunrise was beautiful, but the dark clouds were an ominous indicator of a rainy day. Sure enough, a storm blew in and the wind and rain came and went all day.

That evening there was a great double rainbow just about sunset.
Tuesday's plan was to drive to San Diego where Marlene was to meet with her fourth cousin to do some genealogy work. As we started climbing the mountains between here and there we reached the snow line which had dropped to about 3000 feet during the night.

In Julian, where we stopped for coffee there was about a foot of new snow. Hey! That's why we come here. The variety here in the desert is incredible.

The sun was brilliant and the sky was clear and blue.

We met people on the road who had stopped to chain up. A couple of times I put the Jeep in 4 wheel drive to add some traction on the ice.

The icy branches reminded us of the ice storms we have in the Portland area on occassion.

San Diego was a good experience. We met Joan, who's great-great-grandmother was a sister to Marlene's great-great-grandmother in Germany. Marlene had been in correspondence with Joan for several years.


When they met, they got right down to work comparing notes and research records. Each had copies of family records the other didn't have. Fortunately I had taken a book with me to read while they were working. Three hours later we left Joan's house and went to her son's business where Joan and Marlene made copies of records they each wanted for their files.

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AT BORREGO SPRINGS

We are parked here in Borrego Springs on a small hill about 6 miles south of the main downtown. Looking out our windows we get a panoramic view of a couple of mountain ridges. On cloudy days, watching the changing cloud patterns on the mountains is a lot like watching the waves on the ocean.

We have our humming bird feeder in place and there are 3 different varieties or at least 3 different color variations of the birds that come to feed.

About 3 miles down the road is our supply of grapefruit and oranges. It's an on your honor system and for $3 a bag we keep up our fruit intake. The fruit is grown in groves surrouding the stand.

One of the new additions to Borrego Springs is a display of sculptures done by Ricardo Breceda. He was commissioned by Dennis Avery, who is heir to Avery/Dennisen Label products and owns hundreds of acres of property in and arround Borrego Springs. The property is open to the public for walking, picnicing, and camping. The sculptures are scattered among the properties he owns.

The other evening we joined with several other couples for happy hour in the shadow of elephants. These were some of the newest works.

A few miles away on the other side of downtown are the camels and other prehistoric beasts.

I'm not sure what you would call this one. It looked like a friar in the desert.

There are more that we have not seen including birds, turtles, sloths and reptiles. As we find them we'll post more pictures.

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SOMETIMES IT RAINS IN THE DESERT

It's not always sunny down here. Yesterday the wind began to pick up around noon. Then the clouds moved in and a little later we had showers. After dinner it rained and we went to sleep with the pitter patter of rain on the roof.

So, what do you do when it rains? We hunker down and read. Marlene just finished "The Potter's House" and I'm reading "China Boy".

Friday is market day in Borrego Springs. We wanted fresh vegetables and this is the best place to stock up.

Marlene is being selective.

It looks like we're having brussel sprouts for dinner.

A couple of local trubadors let me join in on a couple of songs. They were doing some of the old favorites.

A rainbow added a nice touch to the morning.

Now the wind is coming up again and I expect we will get some more showers soon.

FROM MEXICO BACK TO BORREGO SPRINGS

Monday was another beautiful sunny day in San Felipe, Mexico. Steve and Diana wanted a day by themselves and we wanted an Opah/Omy day with the boys so it was a done deal. They took off early in the morning for a breakfast out and a day of hiking and exploring the beach and desert south of San Felipe. We had breakfast with the boys and then headed downtown. Our first stop was the ice cream store. Casey had fallen asleep by the time we reached down town so he missed the first bowl. Ryder ordered a bowl of bubblegum flavor, the rest of us had a bowl of coconut and every one was happy with their choices.

Our next stop was a taco shop for lunch. You may have noticed we have our priorities in order. Life is short, have dessert first. At the taco shop, we were the first customers of the day. So after we placed our order, the proprietor sent her son out to buy fresh corn tortillas to make the tacos. Ryder ate two beef, Phelan had beans and rice along with Marlene, I had 3 fish tacos, and Casey ate some of everyone's order. After lunch, we played on the beach and headed back to the beach house. A neighbor had given the boys a kite he found in the desert. Appearantly someone had let loose of the string, the kite flew away and finally hooked on a cactus. The neigbor retrieved it and gave it to the boys. Ryder got it into the air on his first try.

The next morning the "big" boys set out on an ATV adventure. The same neighbor that gave the boys the kite also had 2 ATVs that he let Steve borrow. With Ryder in back of me and Phelan riding with Steve, we set out for a couple of hours in the desert.

At the end of the ride Ryder said to me, "This was more fun than Legoland". Now that's really something. He loves legos. After the ride and warm shower to knock off the dust, Marlene and I said our teary goodbyes and headed back to the boarder at Mexicali. It was hard to leave. We sure enjoyed spending time with their family

It us a couple of hours to drive back to Mexicali. Than an hour extra to stop for lunch at a roadside restaurant we discovered on the way down. We reached the boarder at about 3;00pm and it took us 45 minutes to make the crossing. The line was 3 lanes wide and about 1/2 mile long. We had no problems crossing. The inspection was minimal. We retrieved our coach from storage with no problem, boondocked that night in a Wal Mart parking lot next to a Costco, did some shopping and headed for Borrego Springs, Calif., the next morning. We arrived to find the spot near our earth oven open. The oven as you can see is still in good shape. Another layer of clay will put it back in baking condition.

The only problem I can see is that is that a small lizzard has taken up occupancy. I'm hoping he will move out when I start adding more clay to the outside.

SIDE TRIP TO MEXICO

We are on a short side trip to visit Steve, Diana, and the boys who are in Mexico. They have rented a small house in a "Campo" in San Felipe.

The house is right on the sea.Mornings are pleasant and the tides are really high and low, as much as 18 feet swing on some days.

The first night we all went out to a taco shop. We walked a mile down the beach to the center of town.

Casey eats all by himself and loves beans and rice.

In the mornings we sit on the deck in the warm sun.

It's hard to beat this kind of grandkid fix.

One day, Diana took Ryder and Phelan to the local bakery so they could learn how bread and sweet things are made here.







Casey, Steve and I stayed home and played in the sand.

Here's a shot of the house taken from the beach. Theirs is the grey one just to the right of the white house.

I even got to do a little fishing with Ryder, but we didn't catch anything.











Watching birds and shrimp boats was another part of the day.

One day after breakfast outside we headed out on a tour of the local area.




Here's a house for sale that we stopped to look at. It is selling for $100,000 and the annual fee to the "Campo" or condo for maintenance is $400.

In the afternoon we headed down the coast to see the giant cactus.

These are really old. As much as 1500 years. They are in a preserve and you have to pay a small fee to enter.







Ryder is trying to push this one over, but not having much luck.

The whole small valley is filled with the cactus.

This was our picnic of oranges, boiled eggs and peanutbutter and jelly sandwiches.

Steve, Diana and I hiked about a mile out into the valley and came across these buzzards roosting on top of the cactus. Small birds and even eagles nest in them.

This one was unique because it had no arms.