On a long and lonesome highway....: February 2024

Our Location:

BLM, Ogilby Road, Winterhaven, California

Life in the desert is quiet but fun. We have been having a great time here with our friends, Deb and Tom and Ken and Kim. Since my last blog we have once again visited Mexico, had visitors for happy hour (I didn't take a single picture, sorry about that) with Melissa and Lyle, fellow Canadians from the province of BC, enjoyed an evening fire or two and just enjoyed the company.

Interesting cloud formation.

Fellow Canadian's John and Brenda have left the area. It was an interesting winter getting to know them a little. We hope our paths cross again in the future. Safe travels folks.

The desert is turning green...yes that is grass.

Someone ringed the barrel cactus.

Good friends Deb and Tom pulled out on Friday, Feb 23 for points east of us. We will not see them again until our next adventure but we had a great winter spending time with them. So our American Representatives have left the home dirt patch, leaving only the Canadians behind. Safe travels friends!!!

See you down the road folks....

Tom climbing into the Stinger B

The Baby B is to the far right of the pic, leading the Stinger B to Ogilby Road.

On Saturday morning, Feb 24 we, Riley, Kim, Ken and I climbed into the Dogsled and headed off for a bit of a ride, unable to get where we wanted to go, we turned around and came back home but it was a fun hour or so anyway. We were all later chauffeured by Ken into Yuma, where we had some hot Chinese food at Lin's Buffett. It was a much better experience this time than the last twice Riley and I visited. Again, no pics.

The Creosote Bushes are starting to flower...

This big Barrel Cactus is also starting to flower

They are a pretty yellow.

The weather has warmed up nicely and we are looking at some pretty warm days and nights. Sleeping with the windows open is a good indication of such fantastic temperatures.

The Sage bushes aren't flowering yet.

The Ocotillo are bright green with a beautiful red plume.

Monday, Feb 26, had the last of our friends pulling out for more easterly points. Ken and Kim raised the feet, tucked everything away and are heading on a homeward path. It has been a fantastic winter getting to know these wonderful folks and we look forward to more time together in the years ahead. Safe travels as you wind your way east!!

So that leaves just Riley and I here on this little patch of dirt once more. We have a few things to accomplish before we leave here but we are in no hurry to get them done. The days and nights will be quiet, the views will be emptier than before, the laughter will be much different but we are happy to have spent time with such wonderful folks.

There goes our Canadian friends! See you on down the road Ken and Kim.

Calls back home have a few things being learned. Nephew Jason is once again off to the Revelstoke area for a few weeks. It seems the manufacturer stepped up nicely to help him out and he is again making his sled walk, talk and jump to the tunes he calls. A bit of cold weather has been blanketing the north of Ontario for a few days, but warmer temps are in the offing. Some snow, and some winds have been helping the Islanders pass the days! Enough wind to blow a lot of the ice onto the shores.

I think they might bloom in the next few weeks.

I’m always amazed at the life that survives the desert.

SIL Janet is home (Indian Wells, CA) from the hospital and we will be visiting her in the near future, or at least that is the hope at this moment.

The pics today are just pics I've accumulated over the past while since writing my last post. I hope you enjoy them.

Until next time...

Take care, stay safe,

Deb

Our Location:

Ogilby Road, Winterhaven, California

I know I'm getting to be a real sluggard when it comes to posting a blog. I apologize but oh well, we aren't really doing lots of exciting things but we are putting in every day and enjoying it greatly.

Ken and Kim coming back from Q.

Cabbage has been cut in this field.

Things are still growing in this one.

Friends, Ken and Kim (Journey with Ken and Kim ) have returned, and are once again parked in their previous spot. It is fun to have such a nice couple join our neighbourhood. We all tend to laugh a lot, and along with Deb and Tom ( Celebrating the Dance ), Riley and I seem to be able to pass the time in a very enjoyable manner.

The sands of Tumco.

Ken and Kim inspecting Tumco!


That is hard packed sand, driven by wind and water until it has piled up.

Light tan colour is the sand of the Imperial Dunes, way off in the distance.

We have all journeyed to Los Algodones, Mexico for some shopping, eating and a few adult libations and are considering another trip tomorrow. We enjoyed the sights, sounds and fun that comes with each trip there. I managed to bring home a few little things of interest for some folks back home.

Grocery cart in the grocery store in Los Algodones, Mexico

We had drinks and food here at La Prilla.

We enjoyed looking at the stock in the grocery store.

Not like back home but it was interesting.

We did not have a drink at this bar, but at at the one nearby.

The outside area is where we enjoyed a drink.

Some items near our table.

Ken and Shirley ( Seeing America with Ken and Shirley ) arrived for a quick visit on Wed Feb 14, and stayed with us for a few days, enlarging our neighbourhood a little. It is always fun to get together with this wonderfully dear couple. They are warm and generous and we are honoured that they come all this way to spend some time with us. They departed Saturday morning, heading for home as appointments are drawing near.

L to R: Ken W, Kim, Shirley, Ken K, and John

Riley, Keith, Tom and Deb D. Somehow I missed Brenda. Sorry Brenda.

Ken and Shirley pulling in with the Mansion.

Keith also came back for a quick visit, he and Oreo pulled in not long after Ken and Shirley. They stayed only one night but it was a fun visit and we wish Keith and Oreo safe travels as they headed off down the road on Thursday, Feb 15.

Ken and Shirley heading out on Saturday, Feb 17.

But before they left....a many people selfie

They are the sweetest couple!!

Gerry and Elva came out for a visit on Friday, Feb 16, it was a couple of hours of laughter, chatting and just good fun but all too soon they too headed off home. Unfortunately I have no pictures to document this visit, but I assure you, it did happen.

Some pictures from atop a large hill near the power lines.

There is something alluring here for me.

I never tire of the views.

A few campfires had us all around the ring, looking at the stars, the moon and the clouds. The laughter just continued seeming not to stop. We were all treated to a few wonderful concerts when Ken pulled out his guitar, and sang to us a number of songs. The man has a great deal of talent and it was a great time listening to him. We look forward to another one or two before we all part company.

The line is in the rock, they are everywhere, wide, narrow, smooth, pointy.

Deb and Tom's Jeep sitting over there.

All of those white lines are a line of rock pressed between two others.

That yellow dot is Tom, he's digging for something.

We discovered Mr. Jenson's Outdoor facilities, they even have a sign in book.

John and Brenda ( John and Brenda's Incredible Journey ) have returned from other places to park once again just down the laneway from us. They have been up to visit with us while the neighbourhood was at it's peak.

I climbed up those rocks to get a few pictures. It isn't nearly as bad as it looks.

The views are pretty good. Lots of green out there.

Once I would have climbed up there, but not now.

I keep referring to the white lines, you can see this line is not white but pointy and plain.

Far off mountains, dunes and just desert. I love it out here.

Distances are deceptive in the clear desert air.

If you listen closely you can hear them calling me.....

The little stone hut.....with no roof.

The Ocotillos in the wash near Mr Jenson's Outdoor Facilities.

Calls back to the Island have kept us up on the happenings going on there and we can report things are good there, a few bumps but other wise all is well. Some snow, some blizzard like conditions and some cold weather seems to be the topic of this past week.

It's a very soft whisper....can you hear it....

The sun blazes down and without the wind it becomes very hot, stifling at times.

It is very rough in places, but not always impassable.

A vein of quartz, this happens to be a bit pinky.

Looking up from that vein in the above pic.

Plans to visit sister in law Janet in Indian Wells has been put on hold as she has a very bad cold. She was admitted to the hospital last night to undergo a few rounds of IV antibiotics. As of this writing the fever is almost gone and she is hoping to get back home tomorrow.

We are happy to hear that our friends Al and Kelly ( The Bayfield Bunch ) are doing well. Al recently had hip surgery and seems to be managing well, and Miss Kelly is of course taking wonderful care of him. Pheebes is watching over both of them.