CALIFORNIA...Part 7...Anza-Borrego Springs State Park

By

Minuet in G

(a 1979 Argosy made by Airstream that is thankful for electricity and water)
After dry camping for 5 days at the Rose Parade, we were over-the-top
excited to have the conveniences of electricity and water.

Note the Starbucks coffee...
First stop after leaving Pasadena.
Vannie and Dave were desperate for a cup of coffee.
When they saw the Starbucks sign, they immediately pulled off
at the next exit.  The parking lot was kinda small, but they managed to
find a place for me, and they headed inside for some refreshments. 

It was a good thing that they tanked up on caffeine, because
as they got closer to Borrego Springs, the road got hairier and hairier.

Up a hill
Down a hill
Jiggidy Jog

They had to pull over at one point to let the truck cool off.
I was starting to sweat a wee bit, too.

...but we made it all in one piece.  Whew.!
Anza-Borrego Springs State Park located in the
Colorado Desert of southern California
Anza was a Spanish explorer and Borrego is the Spanish word for sheep.
It is the largest state park in California.

When Vannie found out about the ranger-lead
"Art-Journaling in Nature" class, she was the first one in line.
Ranger Regina was a great teacher and introduced
some fun ideas about art and journaling.

Who'd a Thunk It?
Meeting friends in this small corner of the world...
V and D met Mary Lou and Bob way back in 2013
at an Airstream International Rally in South Dakota.
They saw each other briefly at a later International in Farmington, NM.
When Vannie contacted Mary Lou about traveling in Mexico,
she found out that Mary Lou and Bob were going to be in
Borrego Springs at the same time as Vannie and Dave.
What a coincidence.!

They had a delightful lunch at Kesling's Kitchen.
Vannie said that the cactus/green chili soup was to die for.
After lunch they visited a fascinating art gallery, Borrego Art Institute.
This one was a favorite..."Little Frida".
Artist...Barbara Rivera

Sunday Morning led them to the Community United Methodist Church.
Dave said that the service was so inspirational,
and the people went out of their way to make them feel at home.
After the service V and D were invited to have coffee/tea and cookies.
...and they truly felt "at home".

Massive and Metal
Monsters and Mythical
Art in the Desert by Ricardo Breceda.
They are spread out all around the town.

Some are fierce and ferocious.  

...and others are peaceful and serene.
There are 130 statues in all.

Vannie and Dave love a good hike.
While visiting the Visitor Center at the state park,
they discovered that there was a slot canyon
about 45 minutes out of town.
This was their last day in town, so they put on their hiking boots,
and headed out.
A slot canyon is a long, narrow, deep "slot" with sheer rock walls.
This ocotillo plant was at the entrance to the canyon.

Dave was interested in the blooms on the ocotillo, and
later found out that they are often used in salads and have a tangy flavor.
He told me to not tell Vannie, because
he would soon be eating kale salad with ocotillo blossoms.
He is not a big fan of kale...but, as Vannie says,
"it's so healthy".


Well, my goodness...guess who V and D saw at the canyon.
Yep...Mary Lou and Bob
They were just finishing up the hike, and
highly recommend it.


Vannie had just climbed down to the main trail,
when she heard Mary Lou calling her name.
"YOU ARE GOING THE WRONG WAY"
Whew...sure glad they noticed her mistake...
where's that GPS when you need it???


Dave says, "This is not so bad."


...then he saw this BIG rock that he had to walk under...
Yikes.!


...and this one...
Don't make a wrong move...
"And the walls came tumbling down."


The "slot" is closing up...
"I think my foots stuck."  Help!!!


Come on, Vannie...
"Move that Rock"


They made it too the end...
...but where was the "pot of gold"?


Vannie said the way out got a little tight at times.
"Literally...cheek to cheek"
(an old Native American form of measurement)


The sun is going down...
The moon is coming up...
The shadows are beckoning...
"Hurry up, V and D, it's time to call it a day!"


Nestled in their beds
With visions of palm trees swaying in their heads.

Good Night, Borrego Springs...
May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

I'm going to spa for trailers tomorrow.
V and D are spending the night in a hotel,
and heading down into the Baja.
I'm not going to be blogging while at the spa,
so you'll have to wait for the next episode in about 2 weeks.