Borrego Springs

Borrego Springs

Looking for the Big Horn Mt. Sheep. Everyone but us seems to find them hiding on the rocks on the mountainside. A great hike up the canyon to a palm oasis about 3.5 miles round trip and still no sheep, even though Barry sat poised leaning on a rock with binocs for a long time.

Another day we hiked to a place called Coyote Canyon – way out on some really back country roads past acres and acres of lemon, grapefruit and orange groves. Not quite picking time there do to the colder weather.

We met some hikers having lunch at the bottom of the canyon who advised us about the trail up the ridge – strenuous. They haven’t hiked in ME over the rocks! S curves and steep grade but good exercise and aerobic workout! Just as we approached the top of the mountain there was a loud, huge roar and before we could focus on the noise an eerie looking jet fighter was headed over the valley beyond.

Breakfast outside for the first time in awhile. That drew our neighbors all around. Over cups of coffee we swapped stories and planned a day “in town” which is one street of interesting shops, a very inadequate grocery store, coffee shops, a library and very busy post office for all the retired folks who spend a quite winter here.

Interesting discussion over the campfire at happy hour with folks from UT who live near Snow Canyon in St. George (Gerry & Lynn) and WA state at Fridays’ Harbor (Tom & Jo). Last night a guy named Patrick wandered by with his bottle of Scotch. He was in a small tear drop type trailer that he made himself. A rather large guy – would like to have seen him pour himself into it. Patrick had lots of tails to tell about his years running his barge fro tourist on a canal in France and stories of his clients and the process of running through the locks etc.

His ex-wife still runs the barge while he enjoys living in Mendocino in summer and Phoenix in winter when he isn’t visiting the desert. He gave us lots of tips about Death Valley camping area with hot springs etc.