The Trek West — Anza Borrego State Park

Ouch . . .  crossed back into California, and gas prices have jumped.  Two stations, side by side – $5.40 and $6.50 . . .  Chevron is always the most expensive.  Still waaay cheaper than Canada . . . and way, WAY less than Europe (in the region of £11+ per gallon).

Walls of baled hay on the roadside advertise the type available . . .  straw-coloured … golden . .  . brown . . . green (latter being alfalfa).

First major Border Patrol check.  The usual hanger-like structure . . .  freight trucks to the right, other traffic to the left.  Smile pleasantly, but get a steely eyed response and a slight beckon forward . .  . does he want us to stop? I guess we don’t look too suspicious, and the dogs haven’t detected anything, so he waves us on through.  Immediately the highway splits – 78 to the left . .  . 86 to the right.  We go left.

Landscape changes like going through a door . .  . sand, sand everywhere . . . little hillocks with tufts of greenery . . . dry, dusty hills in the distance.  Apart from a couple of small habitations, there’s not a lot out here.  Road to Anza Borrego  and suddenly there’s a huge downward dip and rise the other side . . . talk about roller coaster!  I hope there’s a place to buy milk, water and a few supplies before we enter the State Park.  Needn’t have worried, two miles from the park is the delightful town of Anza Borrego Springs is  laid out around a giant traffic circle – Christmas Roundabout!  A lovely town plaza . . .  in the round.  A small grocery store . . . but it and the Mall were brand new and well stocked.  Supplies no problem . .  . great-looking tenderloin steaks, mushrooms, asparagus and potatoes for dinner.  Mmmmm.

And Wow . . . although our campsite is compact and cosy, just look at those palm trees with their hula skirts and ‘elephant feet’  . . .  wouldn’t Mum have liked those!

Got the bikes out and had fun riding around the campsite . . . down the road to the visitors’ centre . . . and looping back to the campsite.  There were cactus in bloom . . . what looked like a ‘lipstick plant’ . . . and miniscule blue and white flowers.

Wind picked up overnight . . .  chairs are still there, but blown over.  SO glad our tenting days are over . . .  there are people out there bundled up in jackets and toques . . . hanging onto cooler lids, flapping tents, plates of breakfast, small children . . .  struggling to get camp stoves lit for coffee.  No … thank … you!    When you hear on the news about wildfires in California, NOW one can see what a huge factor wind is. A matter of minutes and a whole valley could be engulfed.  Um . .  . was that . . . next doors’ chihuahua that just went by? <just an observation – as we tucked into scrambled eggs, toast and marmalade>.

NOTE: Inadvisable to check that the stove hood vent is open, while fan is running.  One way to trim your nails, I suppose!

Mid morning . . .  calm and hot once more.  There are sandy trails criss-crossing the whole valley floor and up into the hills.  Took a moderately steep half mile track up to a view point – overlooking the campsite, valley and surrounding mountains.  Spotted a family of 5 mountain sheep/goats on the rocks below – warily keeping an eye on us.  As you can see from the leader’s blue collar and ear tag, these are obviously monitored by parks people.  We could have done with their sure-footedness on the loose shale and rocks on the way down.

Back at camp we were serenaded by a noisy Cactus Wren, but also the lovely fluted calls of a Northern Mockingbird . . . switching effortlessly from one ‘borrowed’ song to another.  A cheeky ground squirrel peeped out from under a bush, sitting up to nibble something it had found.  A road runner just ran through our campsite!  I gave chase with  camera and managed a reasonable photo.

Clouds began to drift over the mountain tops . . . small, white fluffy ones  . . . then bigger ones like large meringues . . . more ominously, darker ones blocking out the sun and threatening rain . . . you could see shafts of rain all ’round the mountains.  Thunderclaps . . . but no lightening.  A splattering of rain drops . . . the ‘rain event’ had blown over and blue skies returned.  Drove into town for a few groceries and a look around.  Both grocery stores have a great selection for such a small place.