I
joined a group of photographers from Darkroomers Camera Club last weekend for a
trip to Borrego Springs. About eight of us opted to camp off of Rock House
Road. Several people came out with their RV’s, while four of us were tent
camping. I went out on Thursday afternoon, and returned Sunday morning after
breakfast.
The
drive out was pleasant and it was a beautiful day driving through Cuyamaca
State Park, and then down Banner Grade into Borrego. I set up my camp about 100
yards from the RV’s so that I would have some
privacy. I joined Rich, his wife, Linda, and Roger for a corned beef and
cabbage dinner cooked by Roger.
During
the evening as we enjoyed our dinner the wind started to pick up. We planned to
go to Font’s Point for Milky Way Photography at 0300,
and set our alarms accordingly. However the wind had gotten quite strong by
then, so we all went back to bed. All was not quiet in my
tent as it was being buffeted quite a bit by the wind. Did not get much
sleep that first night.
 |
| SUNRISE IN CAMP |
On
Friday, after battening down the tent and table, I was off to rove the area
with my camera. I visited Henderson Canyon Road for its
field of sunflowers, primrose, and verbena.
 | |
| SAND VERBENA |
 |
| DESERT COLOR |
 |
| BEAVERTAIL CACTUS BLOSSOM |
It was a good bloom, but
not very dense with blossoms. Then I visited the Anza Borrego Desert Natural
History Association store before heading on over to the Visitor Center where
there was a good variety of flora, and color. Probably the most intense flower
for color was the indigo bush which has a beautiful deep purple color.
Beavertail cactus, barrel cactus, and cholla were also in bloom.
When
I returned to camp I spent some time making sure all of the tent poles were
secure, etc.
 |
| WINDY TIME |
Tonight’s dinner was private and simple with
two leftover tofu burritos that I brought along and heated in my small frying pan. They were supplemented with
some miniature peppers, and carrots. The wind was still blowing and getting
stronger as the night progressed. Once again we
planned to go to Font’s Point in the morning. The wind really picked
up and my tent was bending quite a bit with the wind. Result: little sleep. At
0300 it was still blowing hard so that trip was cancelled once again. I had trouble exiting my tent because of the force of the wind.
 |
| MORNING WIND, SATURDAY, 0530 |
Saturday
morning it was still blowing! The group of 12,
was meeting in town for breakfast, and so I joined them. We ate at
Kendall’s Café, and because we were there before the main breakfast crowd we
got in and out in a timely manner.
After
breakfast, Rich, Cynthia, and I went to Henderson Canyon, and to
the HAWK WATCH site. There is major migration of Swainson’s Hawks through
Borrego Valley this time of year as they fly from South America to their summer
home in Alberta, Canada. They stop and feast on the caterpillar of the sphinx
moth which are abundant. I was able to get a few photos of
the hawks, though they were quite a distance away.
 | |
| SWAINSON'S HAWK |
 |
| SWAINSON'S HAWK |
Cynthia
and I then went up the start of Coyote Canyon to see how the flowers were
there. Again there was a good show, and we enjoyed wandering about and taking
pictures. The ocotillo was also in
bloom, and blowing in the wind! Got a few pictures of desert dandelion, desert
sunflower, beavertail cactus, barrel cactus, desert pincushion, and gold poppy.
 |
| DESERT GARDEN W/ PINCUSHION & CACTI |
 |
| BEAVERTAIL BLOSSOM AND BUD |
Back
in camp, it was time to straighten up camp, reattach the tent to
the poles, and once again tie things down.
I also was able to take about an hour nap, which was much needed. Once
again Roger treated us to dinner, this time pork loin tenderloin BBQ.
Afterwards we went off to pick a Sky Art metal statue created by Ricardo
Breceda to use for a foreground for Milky Way photography in the morning.
We
settled on the two sparing borregos.
 |
| SPARING BORREGOS WITH JUPITER OVERHEAD |
After some practice shots there with the
group, we headed back to camp for a couple of hours of sleep. It was still
blowing, and my tent was swaying, so I collapsed the tent and settled into my
car. It was a bit cramped due to the other gear the car, but I did get some
sleep in the quiet of the vehicle.
Sunday
morning came early….0245. In 15 minutes, I was dressed and off to photograph
the Milky Way. It was a beautiful clear morning, and
where we were set up we had no light pollution from the town. We
were standing down slope from the Borrego, so we were also protected from the
wind. We watched and photographed as the Milky Way rose and created a nice
composition framed by the borrego for two hours. It was fun and as you can see,
quite beautiful.
 |
| MILKY WAY AND BORREGOS |
 |
| SPARING BORREGO AND MILKY WAY |
 |
| MILKY WAY BEFORE DAWN |
I
got about an hour nap back in camp, before I started to break camp and pack the
car. (The wind was still blowing, but not as hard as before.) After my camp
breakfast of yogurt and granola, I headed for home. Along the way I stopped for
coffee in Borrego Springs, (The power went out as I waited to make my order, so
no mocha, but still
some real coffee.)
As
per tradition, I also stopped at Dudley’s for some of their bread for us and a
neighbor.
It
was a good trip, and I am looking forward to my upcoming trip to Saguaro
N. P., and Organ Pipe N. M. for their spring bloom. Will also be
exploring a couple of Slot Canyons in the Page area, as well as White Pocket.
Stay
tuned.
