Thursday, January 3, 2013

2012 End of the Year Run to Anza Borrego

Happy New Year!

I am a bit late in posting as December is always a busy month for us with Christmas and family get togethers.  Plus, I have been sick for the last two weeks and haven't felt like doing much of anything.  I figured since I called in sick to work today, I might as well take the time to blog a bit about our latest adventure to Anza Borrego Desert State Park.

On December 15th, a group of us met up at the Visitor's Center in Anza Borrego to make a drive through the desert.  The weather had cooled significantly, in fact it was raining when we left the house that morning, but it turned out to be a great day in the desert.


With our group all together, we left the pavement about 10:30am and disappeared into the wide open space that is Anza Borrego Desert.    The storm that had dumped rain on us on our drive from home, had left the desert sky full of clouds and perfect for us photographers.  There was even some snow at the higher elevations.



We passed by some sand dunes and saw coyote tracks.  We've been to the sand dunes many times, as it is a favorite place for exploration, but I can never remember exactly where they are.  Perhaps near Blow Sand Canyon...?



We stopped for lunch at the San Gregorio Historical Landmark.  The Anza Expeditions of 1774 and 1775 made there camps in this area.  Quite possibly in the same spot were we relaxed and enjoyed the great company of our friends.


This phainopepla kept watch over us during lunch.  Probably hoping to snag some scraps, but there was nothing left over.  We were hungry!


After lunch we took another short break at Hawk Canyon and at The Slot, where the shadow people came out to play!  Thanks Jen, Rochelle, Frank and Heather for embracing the silliness.



But all good things must come to an end - at least for now - and it was time to head home....