Anza-Borrego State Park, California

The Ocotillo are blooming in Borrego Springs and many travelers are here to wander and wonder within the beauty.  Other flowering varieties like Prickly Pear and Barrel cactus,  a multitude wild flowers and perfect weather have come together to create a very enjoyable desert experience.  This part of southern California suffered through a ten year drought cycle but ample rainfall during the winter awakened the dormant and we are reaping the rewards.  Our friend and guide, Sandy, took us on a jeep tour of the valley yesterday and we saw desert scenes that varied from the most barren badlands to a stream that flows throughout the year and is lined by willows and desert flora.

Geographically speaking Borrego lies about ninety miles east of San Diego and south of Palm Springs within the western fringe of the Sonoran Desert.   It is still a sleepy little community thanks greatly to difficult access for the hordes that live along the coast.   Much of the surrounding desert has been protected either by State Park designation or by a Trust so it is a progressive area in the environmental sense.  

Let me say thanks to our old friends who live here and have welcomed us once again to their homes within this desert oasis.  Thanks Woo for allowing us to set up camp in your yard, our personal campsite.   Thanks Dave and Genie who have fed us and entertained us since our arrival, wow, friends have made this trip so memorable.  My history with the Borrego group goes back to the foggy days of yesteryear, better known as the 70's.   I won't go into that. 

From here we will make our way to the coast just north of San Diego and then head towards JH for some summer fun.  We are looking forward to seeing all of you but not until the snow melts.