Borrego Springs, California: After a pretty decent sleep (we added a fluffy mattress pad to the hard mattress) and a quiet night since we didn't need the air conditioning, we woke to clear skies and no wind.
But first: one more odd item to add to my Bitch Fest rant of yesterday. You know how most RV's have mirrors everywhere - to make it seem roomier? Well not this RV. This RV has one mirror. In the bathroom, on the medicine cabinet door above the sink. 8"x 19". The cabinet mirror is placed so high on the wall that I can only see my eyes in the mirror. I need to stand on tiptoes to apply lipstick. Rant over.
Today was going to be a normal day. We would do what we would normally do while in Borrego Springs, but we would do it on our bicycles. It was only 1.5 miles to Carmelita's Mexican Grill, our (new, Dave changed his mind and wanted Mexican food) planned lunch spot. We also wanted to visit the bike shop nearby and poke our heads in Borrego Outfitters which seem to have everything from gourmet cheeses to hiking gear to wine to greeting cards to clothing. The bike shop has closed. The owner retired. We locked our bikes and headed to Carmelita's, where we found ourselves in the bar at a high-top table as nothing was available in the dining room. Actually pretty sure we have never dined in the dining room at Carmelita's.
Good thing, or we would have missed overhearing the convo going down between three old timers at the bar, sipping beer from bottles. One of them was under house arrest (no reason heard) and was wearing an ankle bracelet. How can you be under house arrest and go to a bar? What, possibly, could a man so old do to be arrested? (Do I even want to know?) Maybe Borrego is so remote his tracker can't be located? Who knows. The men were complaining about the work ethic of kids these days. These guys reminded me of another old dude Dave met at the bar in Carmelita's years ago. He told Dave he lived here year round in a trailer way out in the desert. Dave asked him how he could stand the 120° summer heat. The man said, due to air conditioning, it was always 82° in his trailer, 82° in his truck, and it was always 82° in Carmelita's where he drove every week for a beer. So there.
Goodness, I couldn't even eat one enchilada - and I was so hungry. Such massive portions. I didn't realize I had ordered the platter (DT had my reading glasses). Wish we would have split, especially since Dave ordered a burrito the size of a football. Ridiculous. Will we ever learn? Probably not. But that's why I planned a salad for dinner.
After lunch we poked around a few shops in the "mall" before heading back to the RV park, only stopping at the new DG Market (a Dollar General grocer) for a jug of water. DT went inside, while I waited outside with the bikes. My Driver reported it was part grocer (limited selection), lots of empty shelves (only opened a few weeks ago) and a bunch of junk you would find at a dollar store. DG Markets is the third grocer in town, plus a fabulous farmers market on Friday mornings. 3,000 people live here year-round, but since Borrego Springs sits in the middle of Anza Borrego State Park, it is a prime tourist destination for bikers, hikers, bird watchers, flower watchers, star gazers, golfers, and nature lovers of all types. There are probably a dozen restaurants - and most are pretty good. There are several funky motels where starlets (Marilyn Monroe) and the Hollywood elite would come to hide out when Palm Springs became too touristy.
We spent some time at the pool today and soaked our bones in the natural hot springs. Very relaxing. Talking to a lovely couple from Utah with the same-ish RV. We discussed hitches, and heavy electric bikes.
Dinner tonight was (as I said) a salad. Panzanella (tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, and home made croutons in a light vinaigrette). Add a bit of the left-over chicken from last evening. Dinner is served.
I kept laughing because our "weather station" kept reporting rain, but dang, if it didn't rain a bit late this afternoon. The little drops evaporated the moment they hit the earth, but it did rain.
Tomorrow, we golf!
Until my next update, I remain your bicycling correspondent.
Campground Information: The Springs at Borrego. The Springs is a fantastic place. Perfectly maintained. Pull-through, back-ins and front-ins. Paved sites will full services. Picnic tables. Natural hot spring pools and spas. Fitness center. Regulation 9-hole golf course. Activities. Small shop. We are paying $109 per night.