A DAY IN ANZA-BORREGO STATE PARK

We went out to Anza-Borrego to visit with a NPS Ranger that we knew from our work at the North Rim. Gaelyn is boondocking (Camping on open land where there are no established campsites. This could be State or National lands, U.S.F.S., B.L.M.. It is understood that you camp where someone has camped before so you do not impact the wilderness too much.) She has been there since just before Christmas and is heading to Quartzite, to rendezvous with other No. Rim workers.

We met up with her about 1100 and delivered some of our bake goods - dark chocolate chocolate chip cookies, and homemade sourdough English muffins. She recognized the items right away and was most appreciative.

After visiting a while she took us on a hike to see a 30+foot rattlesnake. It has been residing in a small valley for a couple of years. Along side of it is a scorpion, and possibly a turtle. 

Rockin' Rattlesnake

Rockin' Scorpion

We returned to Gaelyn’s camper, enjoyed a lunch, and some more visiting. As she travels in a large Ram pickup with a large camper in the truck bed, we took her on a tour of some of the metal sculptures located in Borrego Springs. They were made by Ricardo Breceda, http://www.abdnha.org/borrego-springs-sculptures-of-ricardo-breceda.htm. We toured a number of them and took quite a few pictures. The sculptures are on private land within the town of Borrego Springs. They are quite extensive and fun to see.

These are only a few of the many that are displayed. Along the way we stopped and picked up a 10# bag of local grapefruit for $3!! They are delicious.

As the sun was setting we headed back to the camp and watched a desert sunset which we photographed from the campsite. Then we were off for home via Cuyamaca State Park and a stop at the Lake Store for dinner.

Sunset Light on the Santa Rosa Mtns.

 

WINTER FUN

 

Friday was a play day for all. We played with our presents, read some good books, and enjoyed a great afternoon of cross-country skiing for Tina and I, and snowshoeing for Klara and George. 

Snow Shoeing

Exploring on Snow Shoes

After 10 Inches of Snow

Winter Wonderland

Get Ready ---

Quiet Afternoon

We enjoyed good Mexican food as there is a very good restaurant right in the small town of Ashton. We enjoyed a night of not cooking as we packed our bags for tomorrow’s departure.

Cold Outside

Farmer Clearing Road

Tetons from Back Door

Reading Time

Saturday morning we headed out of town about 0800. Once again the drive went very smoothly. We let Tina do the driving to Salt Lake City, and we arrived in plenty of time for their departure home to Toledo via Detroit. We pushed on South to St. George, UT so that we would have a relatively easy day of driving on Sunday. The traffic from Las Vegas to Riverside was fast and heavy, but there were no accidents. We were happy to get south of I-10, and pulled into our driveway about 1400. After unpacking the car and gathering our mail from our neighbor, Marty, we enjoyed stretching our lets with a two mile walk with our good friends, Kelly and Cathy.

This was a wonderful trip. We enjoy going to experience winter for a week or two, and then heading home. We found out from Klara that three hours after we left Ashton it started to snow and that storm dropped 15 inches of snow in the town, and around the area. We were very grateful that we missed that.

CHRISTMAS

Christmas Eve started with freshly baked croissants by Klara. They were delicious. Domestic chores included laundry, making an apple pie, Putting up and decorating the tree. We all got out in the afternoon for a good walk on the North River Road before preparing for the Christmas festivities. (The reason for the walks on this road is that there is very little traffic on it, it is scenic, and the pavement is generally clear, and occasionally we will see wildlife. :-)

While we were celebrating the Season, it started to snow. By Christmas morning at sunrise, we had about 10 inches of fresh light fluffy snow. We also had a good wind blowing which caused drifting in a number of areas. My morning walk was a plow through the snow drifts as I was one of the first people out on some of the roads. I was bundled up and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. In the afternoon the wind had subsided and I enjoyed another walk around with camera in hand before cooking the small turkey. 

We all counted our blessing of love, health, and being together at this time of the year.

 

You caught me with Peter Rabbit on top of the Tree!!!

Wrapping Candies to be hung on the Tree

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS

of love, health, and being together at this time of the year.

JACKSON WY IN Winter

Tuesday we were off to Jackson, WY to share a bit of the town with Justin who had never been there. The drive over Teton Pass was uneventful but there still was some snow on the road. Klara would not let us stop for any pictures on the way, but here are a couple of the West Side of the Tetons seen in early morning light

through a frosty window of the car.

 

A View from the West at 35 mph

A Frosty Window

Breakfast was at the Bunnery, a well established restaurant and bakery close to the Square. We then spent a couple of hours at the National Museum of Wildlife Art which is located just North of Jackson, and overlooks the National Elk Refuge. 

Elk Preserve and Mountains

Bronze Moose and Valley

Bison Statue outside N.M. of Wildlife Art

Leary Moose

Golden Eagle

Bison Statues

Elk Bugling

 We also visited a couple of Galleries in town including the Tom Mengelsen Gallery and the Henry Holdsworth Gallery. Before we knew it, it was time to head for home and get over the Pass before dark.

CHRISTMAS TRAVELS 2014

This year the family Christmas was held in Ashton, ID, where our daughter, Klara, Lives. We traditionally drive from San Diego in two days with a layover in Cedar City, UT.

The drive North went smoothly with no weather problems though we did have some light rain as we started out, but it was gone by the time we left San Diego County. We had gotten up early enough to miss the main congestion around Rtes. U.S, 60, CA 91, and I-10. Early enough was that we were on the road by 0430! The reward for the early departure was a nice walk/hike up a the Canyon that runs East out of Cedar City. It was the first time we have done this hike when there was NO ice on the biking and hiking trail. :-)

On Friday, December 19th we pressed on North and stopped to pick up our other daughter, Tina, and her husband Justin, at the Salt Lake City Airport. We had to wait a while in the cellphone lot for their arrival as they had been delayed in their departure from Detroit for de-icing the plane. There was little snow on the ground, and the roads continued to be clear and dry. The first snow flurries occurred as we turned into the driveway in Ashton. and onto a white Christmas about 1630.

On Saturday we had snow a good part of the day though it was quite wet. After a hearty breakfast we were off to chop down a Christmas tree in the forest. Klara had a permit so we enjoyed a very fresh tree. It was a small lodgepole pine as the house is small and it was going to be standing on a desk once inside. After the tree harvest, we went for some cross-country skiing, and George did some snowshoeing. The skiing for me was quite frustrating as at first I could get no traction with the skies, then after several attempts at applying wax, we had too much wax and the result was I could hardly move!!

Off in a Snow Storm to get our Tree

Fresh Crab Omelet in the Making

Winter Wear

Our Mighty Lumberjack

Cross-Country Skis with too much Snow

 

The next two days were spent in and around the town of Ashton. We enjoyed each others’ company, some walks around town and on the North River Road where Tina and I took some winter snow pictures. 

Buck and Rail Fence 1

A Little Twig

Buck And Rail and Snow

Storm Brewing

Old Barn

Buck and Rail and Trees

George and I visited the Chocolate Moose Cafe and enjoyed a mocha and a visit with Beth, the owner. Dinners were prepared with lots of variety as everyone took a turn at preparing the meal. We were blessed with lovely sunset before dinner.

Storm Cloud at Sunset