WE MADE TO JOSHUA TREE PARK (this time)

Today was great with the temperature reaching 25C.

Along the way we took a few pictures of the various farming we noticed yesterday.

Sod growing with date trees in background.

Notice ladders attached to tops.

This one had bags over the dates - for protection from birds?

Wind turbines in distance.

We changed our tactic by checking out the scenery and roads to the west of the park and then entering the park from the north after lunch. The plan worked well, when we reached the high lands (above 3,000 feet) the temperature was 14C so we were happy we brought the warmer gear for our comfort. The views were great and the Joshua trees are very plentiful in the northern half of the park and disappeared in the southern half. The Joshua tree is a species of yucca growing up to 40 feet tall at a rate of 1 inch per year.

Some of the first Joshua trees of many we saw.

This park protects 794,000acres where the Mojave and Colorado deserts converge and contains a section of the San Andreas Fault.     

The ridge in the middle is part of the San Andreas Fault.

Driving through the park and seeing these piles of various rock sizes and rock/sand mixes makes you think some huge giants have been using the area like a sand box and used huge dump trucks to dump the material about forming the piles.

   

 Another ride tomorrow - yea!!

WE STARTED THE DAY WITH GOOD INTENTIONS

We were up ready to start the day off early. It was sunny and nice and 15C by 10 o’clock and a high prediction of 23C so off we went. Our plan was to check out Joshua Tree National Park about a 45 minute ride to the north of our campground. Instead of taking the main highway we went back through the Box Canyon we came through when arriving. It was a nice ride and no traffic. The whole area is an Indian Reservation, it  used a lot by atv’s and people with jeeps.

When we entered the Park it started to get a little breezy which wasn’t really creating a problem but we noticed we were climbing in elevation and that was what brought on a chill. We didn’t factor  in the elevation temperature drop along with the wind chill on the bike and when I checked the temperature it was 12C.  

We were dressed with our lighter jackets and light liners and never even thought of bringing the warmer gear. So we turned around and headed west on highway 10 and followed it into Indio about a half hour drive. We searched out a plaza and found a Starbucks and had a warm drink. Being in a valley it was nice and warm 18CJ.

It was now getting close to lunch time so we took another road back to the campground and saw some more crops being harvested and even passed a location growing sod.

We didn’t have the camera out so there are no pictures with this post. Sorry.

The rest of the afternoon we just relaxed. Tomorrow is another day to try the route again - but with warmer clothes.

Hoping for a warmer ride tomorrow......

TRIP AROUND SALTON SEA

It was another cloudless day here in California, the high reached 22C. The night temperatures are getting down to 3-4C.

Today we took a ride around Salton Sea which is just down the road from us. It is a saline lake located directly on the San Andreas Fault and it’s surface is 226 feet below sea level. It is also the largest lake in California. Wikipedia indicates it is saltier then the Pacific Ocean.

Boon docking on the shore.

On the east side of the lake a few miles away there are the Chocolate Mountains and when the area gets the heavy rains in the summer the water rushes towards the sea so they have created many ditches along the road for the water to take without washing out the road. There is one about every 80 feet.

Ditch created from mountain run off, 5 to 10 feet deep.

It was interesting seeing the different types of agriculture taking place around the lake. At our location

 on the west side of the lake there are vineyards, orange, lemon and grapefruit crops, and date trees.

Date trees

Going clock wise over the north end of the lake they were mainly growing peppers that we could see.

Acres and acres of peppers

The farming as we approached the south -east side changed to a lot of livestock hay. We passed a huge cattle feeding station which would have covered many acres and of course being on the downward side of the station and being on the bike we were able to enjoy the fresh air created by the livestock.

Cattle feeding station

On the south side of the lake they were harvesting lettuce carrots and more hay. 

Unloading carrots

Overhead in this area we saw 4 jets doing close manoeuvres as if they were practising for an air show. Then coming up the west side of the lake there was nothing green - it was all desert. It was a scenic road with nice scenery having the mountains in the back ground and the different features in the foreground.

Just outside the town of Borrego Springs in the middle of the desert we saw metal sculptures placed there by the owner. There are 129 of them in total but we could only see the ones closest to the highway as the road going into the desert was too rough for the wing to navigate. These are quite large and as we looked into the desert we could see more in the distance.

Coming home we were back into the citrus crops and vineyards again.

 

Till tomorrow...

CLEANING DAY

Today was without clouds and it reached 21C with a nice slight breeze.

Entrance to Campground - nice to see the green grass.

It has been a long time since we washed the wing, trailer and coach so today we tackled the job. It was nice to see them clean again.

We did take a small bicycle ride up the road and took a few pictures. The campground has lemon, grapefruit and orange trees all over it. The owner says help yourself so we collected a few oranges to make juice this morning. The owner also stated there are at least 30 different types of humming birds in the area. We saw a couple of different ones today. Some are larger than the ruby red throated ones we have at home.

Snow on a mountain in the distance.

Gas is more expensive in California.

Another type of hummingbird.

View from campground - they are starting to clean up an area for expansion.

I should mention “the engine light indicator” looks like it has finally been corrected after the second sensor was replaced in El Paso.  

Yesterday I mentioned we could watch the 11 o'clock news at 9 but with the time chance it will be 8 o'clock to check it out. I am sure someone picked up on this.

(Forgot the map yesterday)

http://goo.gl/maps/8iimR

We'll be checking out the area tomorrow...