Desert Hot Springs and Joshua Tree National Park

The windmills of Windmill Valley, as it is nicknamed, in the San Bernardino Valley, number in the hundreds. What a sight to see these huge blades turning in this windy desert valley or on the mountain cliffs above. Crews are erecting many more in this area; blades face in different directions, so depending on the prevailing wind, only some turn at onetime, one of the ways in which California is trying to "Go Green"!
Our drive of Joshua Tree National Park found two blooms in this "tree" only! The Joshua Tree, is not really a tree, but a type of yucca. Many of the desert cacti are beginning to bloom after all the rains in California. Buds are forming on the prickly pear, the beavertail and the lush green ocotillo are already blooming with their orange poker tips.





The Mohave and Colorado Deserts make up Joshua Tree NP. Joshua Trees,(spent blooms on their tips), are found in the Mohave only, while ocotillo and cholla or the"teddybear"(not to be cuddled) aka the jumping cactus are found in the Colorado, two very distinctive desert landscapes. We hiked in Hidden Valley and to Barker's Dam, two shorter hikes, with the promise we would return for more. We drove to Kelley's Viewpoint where, down in the mountain pass, the Andreas Fault is evident on a clear day.

Hike #4 Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

This beauty, an Agave Yucca, was along our most rigorous hike, an 8 mile, 3800 foot descent along the California hiking and riding trail near Anza Borrego. Yes, the beautiful cacti and desert flowers are just beginning to emerge after the rains! I have muscles I didn't know existed; the next couple of days were painful reminders, even after a soak in the hot tub! A fantastic hike!

Hike #3 Santa Margarita Trail near Fallbrook, CA

With a little rock-hopping over this wonderful rushing rapids, the smooth rocks provided a great picnic spot on our most recent hike. An overcast sky and threatening clouds shortened the hike but it was fun and refreshing to watch this cold, mountain-fresh river flow over and around the rocks. Debris in the trees served as a reminder of recent floods from abundant rainfalls.

These interesting rocks within a rock formed a wall along the hike. They looked like they had been "shot from a cannon" and impaled the existing wall. There were several like this in this same location.


At the base of a tree in a very protected and damp location we found this beautiful, colourful fungus with distinctive spores on its underside. Quite unusual in size, it was a hike-stopper and clearly a CoolPix moment.

This is a drying rack for gourds, thousands of them, even fields of them. Welburns' Farm in the countryside west of Fallbrook is about 25 acres in size, on which they grow gourds of all shapes and size, for artistry, shipping them all over the world. They also give art classes in their studio.

This beautiful, realistic peacock is a sample of the art produced in the studio. A dremel for carving, an exacto for creating the feathers, airbrushing and handpainting were some of the secret techniques used in its creation. Fantastic!

Hike #2 "The Hills Have Eyes"

 

Have you ever had the strange feeling that you were being watched? Our second hike from Jojoba Hills took us to the Palm Canyon Trail in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. About two dozen Peninsular Bighorn sheep, an endangered species because humans have destroyed most of their habitat, their white rumps first seen high up on the craggy slopes, worked their way down, to across the wash where we were hiking. What a beautiful sight! A young, very energetic, sure-footed lamb frolicked on the rocks behind momma as if it were level ground. Rams butted heads with each other or with the rocks, while others fed on the lush ocotillo cacti. An unbelievable sight in a very peaceful setting!

This was "the pot of gold"! California Fan Palms, the only native palm to California, usually sold in nurseries and rarely found in the wild, thrive in a desert oasis on the moisture from canyon springs along an earthquake fault. The skirt of fronds touch the ground and I am told that pack rats tend to hide in them. Sure hope they are sleeping!
Again, no hike is complete without a tasty treat...this time? Blue Bunny was the choice. Ice cream, that is!

Hike along with us; copy and paste:

http://picasaweb.google.com/brenda.southwood/Hike2PalmCanyonTrailInAnzoBorregoDesertStatePark#

Hike #1 Cedar Creek Falls

Tuesday is hiking day in the park, Jojoba Hills. This 150 foot cascading waterfall was a great find following the heavy rains of the week before. A breeze provided for a magnificent veil, even at a distance. The day was cool to start, but by 10 o'clock we were beginning to shed the layers to shirtsleeves.

This 5 mile hike took us to another more personal encounter with this waterfall; along the way, we found many wildflowers already in bloom...wild sweetpeas, trumpet flowers and a violet like flower, sure signs of an early Spring. A helicopter surprised us as it flew up in front of our path to observe the falls.

We scrambled up and down rocks to get a closer view. It is amazing to see what water over time can do to rocks and trees and anything in its path. The rocks by the water were oh so smooth and the reeds and rushes in its path were flat, save ones in a protected pool. Of course, any hike includes eating, so for a special treat we travelled to the nearby Julian Pie Co in the old gold-mining town of Julian for a slice of apple pie, just like Mom used to make. Mmmmmmm, so good! A great way to spend the day! I should mention that our guide, also named Bill, was 75 plus years of age and has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and hiked the Grand Canyon, in and out in a day! Amazing!

To see more pics of Jojoba Hills and our hike, cut and paste the link below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/brenda.southwood/JojobaHillsAguangaCA?authkey=Gv1sRgCJa9sPnVpe-I0AE#