Thanksgivng Trip

This year for Thanksgiving we decided to join our WIN friends in the Anza-Borrego Desert of Southern California. As we like to say, we celebrate Thanksgiving in the desert with 100 of our closest friends.

But first we stopped for a couple of days in Yuma where we saw my sister Diana and friends Sue and Ken, along with many other wonderful people. We stayed on BLM public land behind the VFW on US95 north of Yuma. This is a favorite winter spot for boondockers desiring a free place near town (two week limit), but there is a catch - the mainline of the Union Pacific is right across the street, with trains running all day and night. Luckily, I like the clickety-clac of the iron horse and have no problem sleeping through it.


I didn't get a picture of the conglomeration of rigs, parked every which way, but this one was pretty unusual with the roof patio. It turned out to be a fellow WIN that I didn't know.


But the most unusual sight was this Schwan's truck which drove through the area honking his horn and looking to make a sale. I don't think they realize how cheap boondockers are.
On Sunday, we continued our trip to our rendezvous point near the town of Borrego Springs. We arrived at the traditional Thanksgiving spot just before dark and hurried to find a spot.

On Monday, a group of us did the popular Palm Canyon hike - three miles round trip with some rock scrambling at the end. We were greeted by the walrus log.


The Palm Canyon hike is very popular for good reason. As you travel up the canyon, you are treated to colorful cliffs, a variety of desert plants, hummingbirds, and sometimes Desert Bighorn Sheep. We weren't lucky enough to see the sheep this time, but the ocotillo were nice and green after recent rains.


You have to wonder where these giant rocks came from. Since the most likely answer is the canyon wall, I kept a sharp ear out for any sounds of cracking from above.


There is always water at the head of the canyon, but we were all amazed at how far down the canyon it flowed this year.


You have to cross the water three times on this hike and this is the first time I remember having to use the logs rather than just walk across. Nancy's doing a fine job here while Joel watches.


At the end of the 1 1/2 miles is an oasis of native California Fan Palms - quite a sight.


Joel, Claudia, Nancy, Maynard, and Rich enjoyed a rest in the shade of the palms.


Here's Bill heading back through all the cattails. I love all that green in the desert.


The Sacred Datura, although beautiful, is poisonous and may be fatal if swallowed. Even the desert plants without thorns are dangerous.