Kit and Carol on the Road

I haven't taken a photo since we left Anza Borrego. We went out for a nice walk today--and got rained upon. It was 48 degrees here today. This is getting old. I would turn around and head for home except it is such a long way. The weather guy keeps saying it will get better.

Kit says Ajo would be a very fine town--in Mexico. If you think that there are two dollar stores (that's two stores) here and imagine everything was half price that's about the size of this town. I have never seen such poverty in this country. There is one nice section which seems to be where the snowbirds have settled. We actually looked at a house. To backstep a bit--Ajo is a Phelps Dodge town. Everything here was built for the employees of the copper mines and the company. Back in the 60's they did an experiment with aluminum houses. Prefab on a slab. Aluminum siding inside and out. The neighborhoods are still nice and neat. The house we looked at had the original orange shag carpet. It would be a fun project house but it's two hours to the nearest Home Depot.

Our TV is going blinkers again. We have to hit it to get it to start. But then we are heading away from cable TV. Out to Organ Pipe tomorrow for 2 weeks if it gets warm enough. I shall take lots of photos to share later.

We have left California and come to Ajo Arizona. A good days drive --so tomorrow is a day of rest and grocery shopping. Monday we head out to Organ Pipe for 2 weeks give or take. We had planned to shadow the folks who are doing the bufflegrass work we turned down--but the program has been curtailed--because of security. Don't know when next I'll have a chance to update this blog. We are thrilled to be back in Saguaro country. The skies are sunny but it is still chilly--though the forecast shows upper 60's for next weekend which sounds pretty fine to us. We are staying at a nice RV park (Shadow Ridge). Tomorrow morning there is a camp breakfast--biscuits and gravy.

It’s raining in the desert. First rain in 140 days so I’m told. And today is the day we came back to Salton City for some bike riding and pool time. Got cold and wet on our bike ride so the hot pool doesn’t seem too tempting compared to the warm dry trailer.
We are looking at snow in the mountains out our window.

We had 3 wonderful days up at Anza Borrego State Park. (Anza is for the explorer and Borrego is for the bighorn sheep). We had never stayed in the campground there before because we had heard it was impossible to get into—but midweek in the cool weather it was never full. Our first day there we did the hike up Palm Canyon. This is the driest we’ve ever seen the canyon. Usually the brittle brush at least is blooming. But we did get to see the sheep again. We saw them the first year we came here but lost the photos. On Wednesday we drove 30 some miles to Blair Valley (including 5 mi on dirt/sand track) to do the hike up to the Pictographs and to the end of the trail where it tumbles over a dry waterfall. It was still a bit chilly up at 2000 feet plus. Thursday Kit had several long bike rides and I hung around camp and had a few short hikes. Thursday night we went out to dinner. Borrego Springs is a lovely small town with hardly any traffic but lots of resorts. Found a fine restaurant for the last dinner out we’ll have in a long while and the first since Calistoga.

It seems that the warmest it's gotten here in the last few days is 57 and with the wind perpetually blowing it seems much colder. I am BORED! Tomorrow we are going up to Anza Borrego State Park for 2 days--hope we can get a site with hook ups but if not... Hopefully there'll be opportunity for hiking and photos there. We have reservations for Ajo Saturday night.

I tried a tiny picture and it still takes forever to download. This is the photo meant to go with my last entry. The sky is now blue (in the daytime) and the wind has abated. But it is still cold for this part of the world. I guess low 60's doesnt sound bad to those still on Guemes where it is now 26. I have been sick for two days so no exciting adventures to report.

A picture goes here--dark sky and palm trees blowing in the wind. I am still having trouble with picutres.

It looks like a dark and stormy day and the wind sure is a-whipping—but the dark clouds are to the north. No rain makes it to the desert where we are hiding out. Actually Salton City is one of our favorite rest spots but it’s too cold and windy for the hot pool to be open. Kit is still not feeling well so he’s happy to lay low. I have been at the line dance class. There are two couples from Sweet Home in this park.

Yesterday we had our first desert hike. I am trying to post picture but having trouble. So it goes. At any rate we are staying an extra day at Shadow Hills. The pool here is divine. Today is the last warm day for awhile--temps will be dipping into the 50's! Kit is not feeling well so our plans (to take me shopping) are on hold for awhile.

The alternate title to this post is "Grapes to Oranges to Dates". Yesterday we left the Napa Valley without visiting a single winery or buying a lot of wine...and drove the long bumpy I5 down to Bakersfield. I sent the last message from the library at Calistoga. This is still one of our favorite small towns but notice that there are more restaurants than shops and most of the stores are the tourist kind. On to Bakersfield which I doubt is anyone's favorite town. It was a long day but we like to stop at Orange Grove RV park where we can pick oranges (all we can eat). This morning it was frosty. Before we left we watched an old fart with a motorhome wipe out a water hookup--driving where he had no business. If we ever get that stupid--take away our car keys. Today was up through the mountains and wind farms--and very windy passes and down to the Coachella Valley where it was indeed 80 degrees. We quickly switched to shorts and T shirts. We are in a very nice RV park --but spendy so are only staying two--maybe three--nights. This afternoon we stretched our legs and walked across the road to a Del Webb Sun City development. Walked the mile and a half to the model homes. (I like destinations). We were suitably impressed. Are we ready for a "real home" in the warm lands. Kit thinks there is most likely more water here than in Arizona--but no Sonoran desert.
I have taken only one photo on this trip so far so nothing to post. Tomorrow hope to go hiking and then sit by the pool.

We are in Calistoga, CA. While not quite warm it is at least warmer and we went for a bike ride today. We did not get out of Eugene early as there was a problem with turn signals and Kit had to go to the Dodge dealer. So we didn't make it to Fortuna, a favorite stop. But a long day brought us to Calistoga so we are taking a no drive here. More driving tomorrow.

We are only as far as Eugene and already it's lighter later. We almost didn't get on the road on January 1. Got up at 5:30 am and planned to catch the 6:30 ferry. But the truck wouldn't start--dead battery. Tried jump starting with the car. No go. In the pitch dark morning Kit did an internal transplant--removed truck battery and inserted trailer battery. After more jumping the truck finally started. We rushed away and made the 7am ferry by a hair. Stopped at Gwen and Jim's for breakfast and still made it tidily to Sweet Home before dark.

Two nights in Sweet Home visiting my mom and today we came to Eugene. Apologies to friends we aren't taking time to visit. This is a quick stop for an oil change and some shopping at REI. Tomorrow we head out either down I5 and hope the pass is passable--or down the coast if snow looks to be a hazzard.