It is Hummingbird Central Down Here!

I think this weekend we will go to the hardware store (it is a bit if a mini Walmart) and get a feeder that can attach to your window with a suction cup. And I think this would make a good painting for the art show this spring with the theme "Wings".

If you get up really early this is what you see!

More beautiful than words can say!

Font's Point is the most amazing place, we went up there with Brenda and Barry and it was a bit overcast. Borrego is going to get some rain this week, it is tropical and the desert flowers need it to bloom! Just imagine the great photos of those flowers I hope to get next month!

We went up in Barry's pickup, Larry rode up in the back of the pickup as there is just room for 3 of us in the cab, when you see the video that I have linked and you see the ride being bumpy, times those bumps by at least 10 as it is rough and washboarded the last 4 miles. Larry would say they were 20 times more rough than in the video!
Here is the video on a website, a must watch http://www.desertusa.com/video_pages/fonts.html
and here is another one as well
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/fonts-point-in-the-anza-borrego-desert-higher-res-version/1960128657


We took up some margharitas, wine, cheese etc and the propane firepit. Suffice to say that we were the envy of the others that were up there that night viewing the sunset. There is a picture of Larry and Barry bringing up the cooler and some of the campfire.

There is a picture of the moon coming up in the East, it was actually a burning red colour but the camera would not catch that colour and I had trouble steadying it for the long exposure that night photos take.

I took a million photos but will show some of them here as uploading a million is just not possible as much as I would like to show all of them!

Comments! Did not know that some were there!

We just saw that there were comments on the beginning of the blog at the first post, so I am sorry for not acknowledging them before this!! I put a comment there to all of you that left one, sorry for the delay on answering and thank you for your comments, loved them! I have set up notification so that if there are new comments I will be notified, I thought that was automatic but it needed setting up I just found out!

livin' and playin' in the desert

Playing the course on our resort, a beautiful view from everywhere on the course. We are playing about every second day and loving it! We played a neighbouring course on Wednesday, the Road Runner. A little 18 hole par 3 next door that was a great short game course much like Langley Golf course at home.

This is what Larry looks like after golf!! note the dotted and spotted rump beside him on the floor!

We had dinner last night at the Crazy Coyote Bar and Grill at the Palms Hotel here. It is very art deco, built originally in 1947, burned down in 56 and rebuilt. In its heyday it was the spot that the stars flew into in their own planes to get away from crowds, one being Marilyn Monroe and also our Canadian Raymond Burr. This is how it still is in Borrego, a place to avoid traffic lights, overcrowding and fast pace. Their website has photos on it but it actually is neater in person than the photos show. I would stay there in a minute. Here is the website http://www.thepalmsatindianhead.com/

We were there with Brenda and Barry, from Victoria, and Susan and Bob from Washington state and Pete from Northern California. Great food, great presentation and very reasonably priced martinis and wine. I hope to go a few more times before leaving here.

I am going to cycle to town now as we have done our water aerobics this morning already, I hope to find a bathing suit and one store has a good selection I have noticed. Karl has a playdate at 3:30 with Bojo, his best buddy down here.

There was a wine and cheese party on Thursday night here as there is one every Thursday night, Garvie brought his guitar and there was some harmonizing going on which Larry joined in on as he has the voice in this family!

Wish you all could be here, keep it in mind as the trailers are already here to rent!

The Dog Park just built, now there is everything we could ask for here!

Karl and Bojo


Just to give you an idea of the size of this play area

Bob has treats always!

The Springs at Borrego just put in this dog park, up until now we used a sand field that is out back, but this is fantastic and Karl and Bojo are great buddies. Bojo is just 6 months old and is not too rough with Karl even though he is bigger, they have a ball and go for an hour or more. There are few more pups here that Karl loves to play with, I will have to get pictures of them.

Here are some of the water aerobics people 10 minutes before class. There are about 12 people that come out. You can see Larry at the very back, baseball cap on for sunshade!





Here is the natural springs hot tub, one of 3 that are here. And there is a large hot tub as well as these 3





Here is the little propane firepit we bought here, Margarita Time after golf




Today we are cycling around the side roads, I want to get some photos of Adobe style houses with their beautiful desert landscapes. It is going to be a warm day today again, yet the motorhome stays cool with the awning out and the screen door left open all day. No one locks anything here.

Boy it is a busy life down here! I found time to take these pictures today. Sun, Sun and Sun!

We have met a few people here now, Barry and Brenda from Victoria, who we have been out to dinner with and who we have had a few gatherings in the evening with other Canadians from Kelowna, Mark and Marilyn and a San Diego couple, Janice and Bill. Lots of long term people here and we love it. They have 2 fifth wheel trailers here for guest rental which are very nice.


Hole number 1 on the course, Larry and Barry play almost daily, Brenda and myself usually play nine only with them. But she and I found time to shop in Borrego, there is an outstanding boutique and we got some nice things, me I got golf wear that we do not have in Canada.

We played at another course last week with Mark and Barry. Everyone has a vehicle down here except us so we get taken around. Barry and Brenda have given us the go ahead to use their truck anytime which is so very nice of them. I will use it today to get my hair done in town, could cycle but would have helmet hair and that would not be good!





one of the farm market vendors

and a flower vendor had these gorgeous hot pink lillies!

Here is the golf clubhouse, look at those gorgeous purple cactus!

the farmer's market this morning, got the usual oranges and grapefruit to make juice, got a great juicer at the hardware for 20.00 and it makes a little pitcher in 2 minutes. Rarely we mix this with vodka, very rarely!!! not




this is the pool where we all do water Aerobics on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturdays, we love it. It is more strength work than aerobics, using noodles and weights, lots of fun. there is a good turnout, I will get a picture of the class next week and of the hot tubs we use in the evening
I also need to get pics of Karl at the dog park with his friends, he has many.
Today it is too hot for them to go out midday, close to 80 I think.

We love this motorhome, there are many newer very deluxe ones here some that have 3 slides and are our length or longer. but this one is great for us, it is only 350 square feet but laid out perfectly for us to stay organized. And with the sun coming in the windows there is little to complain about. We have decided to stay here until March 4th, we cancelled our Palm Springs park reservation. Everyone said it is too busy, too noisy and nothing like this place. Barry said to take his truck up and see for ourselves but we did not need to be encouraged to stay here longer, this is probably the nicest RV spot in the desert. Sacramento TV said it was the greatest secret in California and I hope no one saw that news show! We have booked for next year already!

Friday is Farmer's Market Day in Borrego Springs

We got up pretty early and the sunrise was a coral flame in east. The dogs are enjoying it here, particularly Karl. He has made a few more friends and the camp hosts, Garvie and Trish, have a 4 month old Yorkie, who is just like Karl, wants to play and has no fear of a bigger dog. They have a playdate for 4:00 today, while the parents have their afternoon cocktail!

We walked into the farmer's market in town and bought a huge bag of grapefruit and ingredients for a fresh salsa. The produce selection is great there.

We started to unpack and set up, getting the bikes of the rack and all that stuff that has to be done. After we enjoyed the mineral spa with a Manhattan.

I will get photos of the mineral spas etc in the next few days, meanwhile here are some photos of the campsite we are in, one with the bikes still on the back and covered in a blue tarp, one looking down the row we are on and one from our spot out to the mountains and you can see half of our table at the bottom, they supply these tables and one of a purple cactus on the grounds.

cheers!

Montezuma is what the locals call the hill we took in!

Coming into Borrego Springs the hard way, the 17 mile downhill had Larry in the lowest gear and eyes on the road. It was a beautiful view all the way down that hill and worth it to see that view. I do not think these pictures do the view justice, cameras never capture what the eye sees!

We are in love!! This resort is more beautiful than the online pictures portray. We are surrounded by mountains that when we arrived late afternoon yesterday were a combination colour of purple and copper. The golf course with its lovely palm trees surrounds the RV sites. They are really nice and not too close to each other. This resort is spotless and gorgeous, pricey compared to many others here but worth it. There was a wine and cheese party last night, not for us arriving, just what they do here. We met many people walking our dogs and Karl fell in love with Alli, a little white cutie his size and age. Lots of dogs here. The park is not a city, there are not that many sites, which is more to my liking than the giant cities that are mostly down here.

We are walking to the town for the farmer's market this morning to get some fresh fruit. I will be snapping pics so stay tuned!

Still on the road!

The dogs are bored!!! Driving is not fun for them and we do a lot but today will be the last day of driving as we arrive at our destination Borrego Springs today and stay to February 17th.

The sunset photo is arriving in Bakersfield to spend the night at River Run RV, we thought we would be on the river but it was dried up and the freeway was right beside it! A beautiful park though, all new and clean.

We left the next morning, yesterday, to drive to Hemet.

The next two photos are on the road to Hemet, out the windshield.

Below Bakersfield and before LA, the road sign said Gusty Wind Warning, no campers or trailers advised. Well Larry had a death grip on the wheel for a few hours of driving it and the wind whistled through cracks that we did not know exists or may never hear from again!! Quite amazing!

This Hemet RV park is called Golden Palms and it is huge, a city really. Lots of senior activities and I am sure loved by many, but not my cup of tea. No wilderness in sight, right in Hemet and a mall accross the street. But we wanted to try it as it looked quite different on the web. Onward to Borrego today!

Love this sun!!!!

Leaving Sacramento

We arrived here the day before New Year's Eve and spent two nights here, we are in the old Expo grounds right in Sacramento downtown area. The sun has been shining since we got here and it is just what the doctor ordered! This spot is great for the dogs, even though the RV park itself is all pavement, it is very clean with great shower facilities if you needed them. But the really great part is the endless miles of bike trails to walk.

I took this picture of Larry walking yesterday, we saw some very interesting birds and a few hawks. There were a lot of fireworks here for new year's and lots of events for kids going on. Sacramento has always been a favorite spot for me. I would like to investigate Old Sacramento on the return trip.

So we leave today and drive to Bakersfield.