The good life here in the Anza Borrego Desert isn't just about living off the grid or "boondocking" as we call it; keeping our batteries charged using the solar panels on the roof of the motorhome, maximizing our 110 gallon water storage to eke out 10 days. Or the beautiful views that surround us with the ever-changing patterns and colors lighting up the mountains as the sun moves across our sky and the cloud formations come and go. Or the obvious sunset possibilities, hikes up Coyote Mt. and jeep rides into Rockhouse Canyon. Or the WWII history of Clark Dry Lake bed, an eerie landscape we often frequent, that was used for desert maneuvers & aerial gunnery practice, then later for the Clark Lake Radio Observatory (CLRO), a powerful low-frequency radio telescope which was dismantled in the early 90s. Remnants of both events are still in evidence.
There is also a bit of culture in our midst. Every year in March Borrego Springs is host to the Circle of Art Show at Christmas Circle, an island park in the center of a large round-about, in the heart of town. Organizers select about 60 artists for the show each year, exhibiting quality paintings and art works representing a variety of media including oil and watercolors, photography, sculpture, ceramics, pottery, weaving and jewelry. Proceeds from the show are used for grants & scholarships for educational purposes to the residents of Borrego Valley.
We followed last weekend's art show with a fine lunch at The French Corner Restaurant, one of several good local restaurants that also features a quality display of antiques. I jokingly remarked that finding good French food in Borrego Springs was akin to good sushi in Yuma, so I am biting my tongue as we speak, and hope abounds for Yuma sushi lovers!
The local Performing Arts Center features music and theater performances, lectures and even a wine tasting fund-raiser event on the 28th that may be calling us. Check out the website for the history of the Arts Center which usually comes as a surprise to anyone not closely associated with this unique desert community.
The wildflowers remain a puzzle. When we first arrived they appeared to be post-peak, certainly not as prolific as years past. The Sahara Mustard plant, on the other hand, has pretty much taken over the usual quality locations, especially along Henderson Canyon. However, every day when I walk the "property", I see more popping up out of the sand and rock landscape with colors of purple, yellow and white blossoms. It never ceases to amaze me!
When we left Yuma the temps were in the 90s but here there has been a wide range of hot, cold, windy, a few drops of rain, but not nearly the fierce storms, cold and rain experienced further west and north where our families are. Our friend Walter was here and asked if we would join him on a 50' sailboat he plans to buy for a cruise to the South Pacific. He intends to, once and for all, escape the One World Government's conspiracies and the dollar meltdown. Darn, Walter, we can't...got our own sailing trip planned for November!
Lastly, there are no words to describe the series of horrific tragedies confronting the Japanese people and we are saddened and humbled, ever aware that life is precious and unpredictable. Also, that Cali could be next. We watch the news updates nightly to hear the latest on events in Libya, Egypt, Syria, with much of the Middle East poised to follow suit. Can the US afford to police, protect, and defend all these uprisings in the name of democracy and freedom? I just don't see how!
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