Borrego Springs, California: Not a restful night here in the desert. We were shaken from our bed several times with strong aftershocks from yesterday's earthquake. One was centered only a five miles from our RV. It felt nearly as strong as the original trembler. Oy vey. How's a girl expected to get her beauty sleep with all this rumbling?
When we decided to get out of bed - on our own power - we found this:
Who took our sun? And, put it back, will you? It was sprinkling and windy too... with rain and high winds predicted for the afternoon.Our plan was to go hiking after we ran (doesn't that just sound so stoopid?). We ran. We enjoyed the natural hot spring hot tubs - even though the tubs were an extremely hot 105 degrees. In the end, we decided against the hike. Probably not a good idea to head into a desert canyon during a rain storm.
Just sayin'.
(If you want to see my 2008 photos of our Palm Canyon Trail hike click here.)
Instead, we spent a while touring through the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center (with every other bored tourist who decided against hiking this afternoon).
Friendly rangers and volunteers answer your questions at the subterranean Visitor Center. The volunteers said during the earthquake yesterday, it was very scary inside their "cave"!
Look what we saw in the wild on display inside the Visitor Center - Ovis canadensis cremnobates!
Nearly fooled you? No? Didn't think so. DT reads a display about the rare bighorn sheep while touring the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center.I bought a ton of postcards today - if you would like a bighorn sheep postcard, let us know right away - just email us (postcards "at" rvgoddess.com) with your mailing address and we will send you a postcard. Easy as that.
Outside the visitor center, the park has provided a labeled display of native plants - and many are in bloom now.
Indigo Bush
Brittle Bush
As I said, the visitor center is built into the ground. On the "roof" is a vista point with a view east over the entire valley and the little town of Borrego Springs.
What a view!
If the skies were not so threatening, we would be up this canyon right now. Scrambling over boulders and fording streams to reach the palm tree oasis - and hopefully spot a bighorn sheep. Not today. We brought ourselves back to the RV.Something about a basketball game?
The NCAA Championship game was one of the best I have watched in years. Wow. I have no allegiance to either school (though an Oregonian - Kyle Singler - does play for Duke, and his brother plays basketball for My Ducks). I think I was pulling for the underdog. No matter - what a great game!
Tonight My Driver grilled herbed chicken breasts and I roasted sweet potato disks in a garlic-balsamic glaze. A yummy meal. No leftovers tonight.
It really has turned quite chilly here in Borrego Springs. Outside temperatures are into the 50's. The earth continues to move occasionally.Never boring.
PS: In some strange quirk of NCAA basketball fate - I won one of my bracket pools. Just proves this was a very strange year in college hoops. I am already thinking of next year for the Ducks. New Arena. New Coach. It is going to be fun! GO DUCKS!
We have a pleasurable adventure planned for tomorrow and our field trip will occur no matter the weather. Until my next update, I remain, your shaken-not-stirred correspondent.
RV Park: The Springs at Borrego. Full-service, luxury resort with a regulation 9-hole golf course. Naturally-fed hot spring hot tubs, pool, exercise room, party room, activities, fabulous pet-run, lake-side fire pits with community gatherings. Just a great place to spend a few days... or weeks... in the sleepy village of Borrego Springs. We highly recommend this park.