Agau Caliente Campout 2013

Last post I forgot to mention the cotton fields I was driving through on the way to Palo Verde. Did not know they grew cotton in California.

Made it back from Mesa Okay. Stopped in Indio and visited with Jane and Gary one more time on the way by. This is a picture of where they were at Worldmark Indio. Going there again tomorrow to see Cathie.

 

On Dec 25 I had Christmas with Ken and Karen and their friends. 9 of us in all and 8 dogs. We had a houseful but a great dinner of turkey and ham and all the accoutrements. On the 27th I left for the campout at Agua Caliente in California. I traveled down 111. Had breakfast in Indio and then headed down on the west side of the Salton Sea and arrived and set up camp.

Other people started arriving and what a good bunch we had. Tim, Phil,Paul, Kelly our cook and even my friend Jordeane from Coeur d'Alene. So good to see her. The next morning there was this beautiful sunrise.

I did a nature hike around the campground and this time we saw 5 Rocky Mountain Sheep, big ole jack rabbits and I saw quail and a road runner.

 

The food was terrific. Kelly outdid himself as usual. The fire was wonderful when it got chilly and John brought an old sofa which everyone fought to sit on by the fire and then they burned it. The chair fairies made the traditional chair sculpture after everyone had gone to bed.

Jan and Di Hoffman originally from Lethbridge and  editor of the Airhead magazine.

 

John making Stout beer.

Phil and Paul 

 

 

 

 

When I left this morning I stopped at Box Canyon. Then I stopped at Borrego Springs with the intention of phoning Turk after I got fuel I drove back a block to a café with a F650GS like mine parked in front. It was Turk. How handy was that? I left and went up Montezuma. A very steep mountain out of Borrego Springs. What a beautiful ride. When I got to Sunrise Summit I pulled over to do up the top snap of my jacket and who was stopped there but my friends Burt and Lisa from Ontario. I followed them til I had to turn off and head for Palm Desert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Palm Springs to Mesa

Left Palm Springs and had breakfast in Indio. I found Trish at Oxbow Lake with very little problem.

Sunrise the next day over Oxbow Lake. Today we had omelets in a bag and I met the others of the group in the Wins. We went four wheel driving in the desert the next day and I hitched a ride with Doug Hubbard who is a BMWMOA ambassador whom I have heard about through our magazine . How ironic that I should meet him under totally different circumstances. He has been to many of the same Nationals as I have.

This is Trish's motorhome whom I stay with when we hook up. The next day we went and played miniature golf and then went into Blythe for pizza. Then we went geocaching. The weather was threating to change so I decided not to spend the night but it was getting late so I only made it as far as Quartzite before stopping for the night.At the Palo Verde campsite I met this great gentleman who is walking across the USA gathering  signatures to try and get the powers that be to get their fiscal house in order. Very interesting and a very worthwhile cause. Rob Hatnr

 

sunset at Oxbow Lake

Well here I am at Merrill and Joyces's in Mesa. I arrived Thursday and yesterday we went to the Mesa market. Lots of walking and they had real nice stuff to buy. I have been really spoiled. Lots of good meals and today we went to Tortilla Flats. Pretty cool.

The Lost Dutchman Museum

Chain Fruit Cholla

Joyce in front of the Christmas Tree in the livery stable

Gunfight

Merril from the stagecoach

Superstition Mountains

Tortilla Flats Lots of great old buildings and cute cowboys and another gunfight and a bordello.

 

 

 

BOB

 

 

 

 

 

Palm Springs

Thurs Dec 12 I have left the cold and snow of Calgary and after a 3 hour fight landed in the heat and beauty of Palm Springs.

 

I love the azaleas here. So colorful. I arrived on Thursday and managed to get a ride from the airport to Ken and Karen's. I walked down to Palm Canyon Drive and had lunch at King's Highway. Okay but not the best. Then back to the home and waited til Karen got back from work. The next morning I arose early only to find my bike would not start. I don't think the accessory plug is working to do a charge. So I took the bike apart. Found the battery and changed the program on the charger and walked away. Walked 4 miles round trip. Shades of Europe. Walked to Smoke Tree Plaza and had a lovely turkey sandwich at Smokin Burgers. Getting back I went to the bike. Things did not look very different so I unplugged and plugged back in and low and behold it started. So I got it out and parked in the carport. The next day I headed for Indio and visited with Jane and Gary my niece from Sundre. They are staying in a beautiful place called Worldpark Indio. We went over to the Spotlight 29 casino and they bought tickets to the Oakridge Boys. and we had lunch at the buffet. I would have loved to go to the Oakridge Boys but I had promised Karen I wou7ld go to the dog races with her the next day and we had to leave early for Brea.

Finally got my photo of Hotel California just around the corner.

More Azaleas on my walk.

Slingshot 29 casino.

Jane and Gary

The next day Karen kept me busy at Brea at the oval track dog racing. The whippets did well . I was going to leave this morning but decided to stick around for one more day. I will head out tomorrow for Palo Verde and Trish and Oxbow Lake.