With our area map and book from the VC we head out Borrego Springs Road. First are acres of huge California Fan Palms - they don't produce dates and I can't find anything on why they are being grown in groves. These are followed by citrus - the lemon, orange and grapefruit trees are bright green and heavy with fruit.
A quick stop at the corner "honor system" stand for a huge bag of oranges for $3, and we check out the map for Jeep roads.
We miss the small sign for the Arroyo Salado primitive camping area the first time, and stop to take a few pics of Truckhaven Wash when we turn around on Highway 79.
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| Salton Sea in the background |
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| The beginning of wonderful geology we enjoy all day |
I count 21 palms, not including the "topless" one. This oasis was a regular stopping spot for nomads and early prospectors. Ground water was not always available so large jugs of water were often left for others. This tradition continues, as well as the "Prospectors's Post Office" where we read the latest entry from a visitor from Iran, and leave our own brief note.
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| The wind gusts hard all day |
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Bright sunshine keeps the temps in the high 60's |
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| A Budweiser left behind in addition to the traditional water jug. |
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| Numerous journals covering several years. |
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| A fascinating field of round concretions |
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| A small fence now protects these "pumpkins" |
We had hoped to buy Florida grown oranges in Florida but most we've seen have all been imported from someplace else or not freshly picked. We weren't happy about that because we can get those oranges anyplace. We love the fields in Arizona where they sell them right there. So good!
ReplyDeleteHoping to make some orange juice for tomorrow morning :-) They're so huge from this orchard!
DeleteMerry Christmas to you and thank you for writing your blog.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas and thank you for reading and sharing our adventure!
DeleteAwesome photo of the sun shinning through the trees. Gorgeous pictures. Have a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks :-) with the winds blowing, the light was in and out - very cool. Merry Christmas to you and the family as well.
DeleteLove those tailwinds....easy on the fuel mileage!
ReplyDeleteThey might have been generating energy, they were so strong :-) Will be very happy when we have a whole day without the wind.
DeleteGood that you turned around and went in to the Pumpkin Patch the right way. We missed the turn but decide we could just find another way! Well, we did but we were on some very hairy narrow, rocky, steep "roads." Aren't the "pumpkins" the coolest!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Jodee and Bill!! Looking forward to meeting up in the New Year:)
The "roads" out there are pretty iffy in many places, but usually mean a fun adventure when all done :-) Couple of those sand dunes we crossed I was wondering what we were thinking - til we got to the other side and thought we were really cool :D. A very Merry Christmas - see you for sure in the New Year.
DeleteWell you tricked me for sure with a title about pumpkins and talking about green in the first paragraph. LOL. A bag of oranges for $3 - I'll take two please! Love the Prospector's PO. Wish I could read all the notes. You've got the desert winds, we've got the Keys winds. Joyous Solstice to you and Bill! Longer days means and even more wonderful life!!
ReplyDelete:-))) Borrego definitely has very little green. The PO was fun, only read a couple as I was afraid the wind would steal some away. I'm pretty done with the winds after last night's gale forces. Bill is out looking for our rug and one tire cover this morning :-( Longer days will be sweet :-)
DeleteIsn't that little honor stand with the bags of fresh citrus the best? We really must visit the Pumpkin Patch the next time we're in Anza Borrego. It looks so cool! Wishing you a lovely Christmas day!
ReplyDeleteLove the stand! There were a couple spots I was glad we had four wheel drive and a narrow wheelbase on this route, but 90% of it would be fine for the truck :-) Let's hope we both have a wind-free day!
DeleteI absolutely love the honor system fruit stand and sure would love a bag of those grapefruits. Nan and I saw those large pumpkin concretions last winter in an open area of the Slot hike and I wondered about them. Don't forget to visit the metal sculptures is you haven't already.
ReplyDeleteWish I could still eat grapefruit - they looked DElicious! Spent yesterday driving the kids through the Galeta Meadows statues. So much fun :-)))
DeleteGlad you guys got out to see the 17 Palms & Pumpkin Patch. Can't remember which way we went but I know we had a hard time finding them. Sure are a lot of great challenging Jeep roads out in that area. So much to see & do around Borrego Springs & I think that is one of the things that keep us coming back over & over.
ReplyDeleteWe will definitely back to see more that we missed. And hope for no high winds next time :)
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