Week 32: the one where I won a million dollar bet!
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Hey friends! Hey fam! Hope you had a great week!
Us? We started the week off at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona and then headed on down the road to Yuma, Arizona to run some errands.
After getting a few groceries we decided to camp for the night at Mittry Lake.
Mittry Lake Wildlife Area, Yuma, Arizona
We got to the lake just as the sun started going down and were surprised to see how many people were camped there already. So we jumped in the first open spot — and woke up to the sounds of birds and this amazing view:
Wow! Reading more about it, I found it’s an oxbow lake of the Little Colorado River.
Those ominous looking clouds and a red flag warning encouraged us to head on down the road.
Leaving Arizona for Imperial Valley, California
As we were heading out of Arizona to Imperial Valley, California the winds started picking up, and we started seeing more and more fields.
The last time we were out this way back in 2018 we saw fields of carrots being harvested — the workers were putting them in dump trucks — yes, there were dump trucks filled with carrots! My mind was blown.
This time we mostly saw lettuce, kale and cauliflower.
According to Wikipedia:
Although this region is a desert, with high temperatures and low average rainfall of 3 inches (76 mm) per year,[14] the economy is strongly based on agriculture. This is supported by irrigation, with water supplied wholly from the Colorado River via the All-American Canal.[15]
Growing up in Northeast Ohio, J and were used to seeing fields of corn — sometimes you can see corn all the way to the horizon. But it’s all harvested by machines, not people. It really made me stop and think about where our food comes from, and all the labor that goes into it.
Feeling more thankful for every bite.
El Centro, California
We made our way to El Centro, California to get vaccinated — we don’t want the flu or covid to slow us down again because we have a busy few months ahead! I was also past due for my tetanus/whooping cough booster and J’s sister was recently exposed to it and we didn’t want to take any chances. So I got the covid and flu vaccines in my left arm and the TDAP booster in my right.
We hoped to get to camp before symptoms set in…
Driving was a little slower than usual because it was super windy — and with our tall van the wind really hits it — and there were dust storms, whoa. Look at that funky light! I was so glad J was driving.
This was also the day that the Santa Ana winds fanned the fires in LA. Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the fires. Here’s a link if you’d like to find out about making a monetary donation or volunteering.
We’ve been keeping an eye on the situation but we are not in any danger.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
We made it to camp right before sunset, whew. I was feeling the vaccines taking effect but J was still in pretty good shape. I was so glad we didn’t have to set up a tent! We went to bed and zonked for hours.
The next day we woke up to blue skies and sunshine!
We took it easy and hung out around camp. This area only had 1/10” of rain since March of 2024, but there were still desert lavender plants and chuparosa blooming.
As you might guess, chuparosas are hummingbird magnets! We loved watching them.
I also get a huge kick out of the open air restrooms here!
Here’s a little bathroom tour for ya:
Yep, that’s it! When I use them I walk up and say “Hello! Anyone in there?” to make sure they’re unoccupied since there are no doors lol!
Definitely a different experience!
Hiking Palm Canyon
Yesterday we just had to hike Palm Canyon. We hiked to the trailhead right from our campsite, first walking past dry desert:
And then up a wash to a canyon. You’d never guess there was an oasis not far from here, right?
The first glimpse of the palms never fails to amaze me — they’re just so cool!
I love seeing the shaggy ones in their natural state. They remind me of a shaggy — but loveable! — beast. Kind of like Snuffleupagus from Sesame Street.
Further up the canyon the palms have blackened trunks and no lower fronds due to a fire back in 2018.
When we were there back in early February of 2018 there was water and frogs singing in the canyon — and the fire broke out just a week after we were there. The water saved the palms.
On the hike back to camp we heard the family ahead of us taking bets about whether or not they would see bighorn sheep. So Jason and I jokingly made some bets too. We’ve always wanted to see one but never have.
And now he owes me a million dollars, because as we came around the corner that same family was excitedly pointing at — drumroll — a …
Peninsular Desert Bighorn Sheep!
I was in total awe.
Check out this awesome video that Jason captured — they’re hard to spot even when you know one is there:
I can’t believe how close he came to us!
Feeling so lucky that we finally got to see one. Thanks again to the family from Boston for pointing him out.
All too soon it was time to head back to camp.
What an amazing day!
Fish Creek Wash
Today (Sunday) we left Palm Canyon campground, headed into the town of Borrego Springs to get a few groceries, and then headed back into Anza-Borrego State Park where we had an advanture driving up a wash to find a dispersed camping spot.
Can’t wait to go hiking to Wind Caves and explore the area.
See you back here next week with more California adventures! — Lisa & Jason
Hi Lisa ….. Now you are more in my territory. A group of us hang out annually at Bow Willow campground at the south end of the park you are in. Have a great time. I wanted to mention another very favorite spot that I love to camp in which you missed near Yuma, but if you go back that way, try to visit KOFA (King of Arizona Mine). It is in the Sonora Desert, remote and beautiful. Great for walking. No trails. Just dirt roads or cross country. Kathleen
The pictures of the bighorn are amazing! We have them here in Tucson but have never seen one.