New Years Greetings - Borrego Springs

Fran and I are again in Borrego Springs to celebrate the New Year. We have decided to again spend a couple days at the Legion and join in the New Year's potluck. You may recall the Thanksgiving potluck didn't work out so well, but we'll give them another chance ;)

This year the FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) 4-Wheelers are using the Legion as their base camp for a few days of off-road adventures.

With 40 Jeeps wanting to participate they are divided into smaller groups based on the destination of the leader. The group closest is heading to the Calcite Mine, The other two groups are going to either The Squeeze, or the Diablo Drop-off.

All the Jeeps have their suspension fairly well modified, and several are sporting Moab Badges of the trails they conquered there. I wish I had taken pictures of some of those badges as Joe and Gay would certainly know of/or have done those trails.

With the FMCA Jeeps off doing their rides we decided to do our own.  Always stop at Font's Point for a chat with dad and wish him a Happy New Year.

As we moved on up the point another couple stopped by dad's forever home.

We continued east on Short Wash for a bit before returning to S22. We picked up a bag Seley Red Grapefruit, now $6 for 10 pounds. Everybody has a favorite sculpture in the Galleta Meadows, I'm sure most would select the serpent, but I like the park's namesake Borrego sheep.

.

.

There's a small sign, often missed, that offers tribute to Seb Tarabal. Tarabal was a Cochini Indian guide to the de Anza expedition of 1774. Without Tarabal's knowledge and ability to find water the mission may have failed.

With all the Jeeps in town we stopped at the Galleta Meadows 'Uber' sculpture.

I did take a shot of the last sunset of 2024 as we headed back to the Legion.

After cleaning up we took our potluck contribution to the lodge. Only a few minutes late this time and the place was indeed packed!

But I'm sure it was the FMCA folks that made certain there was plenty of munchies!

Up early the next morning for the first sunrise of 2025, as seen from our campsite.

Our first bike ride of 2025 had us looking for Pickleball courts! Yupper pickleball! Fran wants to find the perfect spot to play with her gal-pals. Certainly The Springs would not disappoint.

The Palms at Indian Head is right along our travels. 

Last time we were here they were underway in a major face lift. The Red Ocotillo was still here then. It has since moved near Christmas Circle. Suzi and Dave recommend the Coyote Steakhouse, which opens for dinner at 5pm. The Palms was the first upscale resort in Borrego Springs. A photo wall shows just some of their famous guests.

We had lunch with the kids poolside a long while ago. The pool has been redone since then. Although not the best view the Indian head can be seen in the relief of the background hills.

So I'm laughing that she is not looking for sculptures. After exploring the western neighborhoods with only one pickleball court, it became time for sculptures. I certainly understand why the serpent is a favorite

It's huge and takes up space on both sides of the street.

Fran next asked if I knew where the 'grasshopper' and 'mosquito' were. She was sure they were nearby. Hmmm I did not know the mosquito, but there is a grasshopper and scorpion nearby.

.

I've been having a serious issue with congestion this trip and wanted to stop at the Center Market for some relief. With that errand accomplished it was time for some lunch. Pablito was a short walk and so we did.

Not sure I would call it the 'Best Food', maybe not even the best Mexican food in town. But the Margarita!

For our last night we moved over to Ocotillo Wells with all the off-road gang. We're here to be closer to the Salton Sea. The migration is in full swing and I've never seen a Sand Hill Crane. Fran now has my head cold and will sleep in while I head to Sonny Bono Unit 1, where they are said to be.

There were many 100s of shore birds, but alas the Cranes must have already been out forging their breakfast.  The Snow Geese are just getting up.

.

I suspect this pair is making future plans

This egret was eating alone this morning.

In the past I've seen the adorable Burrowing Owls here, but with the sea level drop not so much. I've read the lagoon near the prison is now pretty reliable. Another time.

Fran, me, Bentley, Jason, Kami, Kg, Aj

The kids along with Fran and I wish you the best for the coming year.

5528

Longboards and Grass Skirts - in PB

Longboards:
Saturday was the 30th annual Longboard Surfing Festival.  The event is held annually at Crystal Pier in PB (Pacific Beach, not Peanut Butter).  And hence my bike ride destination that morning.

Crystal Pier is closed past the cottages

Unfortunately, like the OB pier, PB’s Crystal Pier is also closed due to Storm Damage.

Although the City will eventually reopen the Crystal Pier, it has been closed since December 2023 with no plan in place for the repairs. That leaves the IB Pier as the last pier standing.

Here’s a couple telephoto shots of men's longboard division.

.

.

Grass Skirts:

I decided not to stay long at Crystal Pier, and rode over to the Pacific Island Fest (PIFA), being held on Mission Bay’s Ski Beach.  This is a FREE family friendly event that celebrates Pacific Island traditions.  Even a Haole, like me, is welcome.

I was walking past the stage where ‘cute’ was performing.

Ok so the skirts are cellophane now, rather than grass.  They are a lot more colorful.

Hula gals continued to show experience, as the teens came to the stage.

It’s nice to see the grace of the gals, but I like the terror the drums can instill.

Much too late getting here for scrambled eggs and SPAM, but L&L has Musubi.  It’s easier to eat anyway, and my SPAM cravings are good for another year.

After Suzi reported in her blog ‘Home’, that MonaLiza brought fresh home-made lumpia.  (you can find that post HERE), I’m on a mission to have some lumpia to compliment my SPAM.

Lunch procured: Musubi, lumpia and BBQ.

MonaLisa need not worry of her lumpia being replaced.  These are the smallest ever!  I didn’t know they could be rolled that tight!  ARG!  About the size of an unfiltered cigarette.

There are lots of merchants available.

want a Tonga T

or jewelry

Hanna Tattoos, clothes, fabric, candies, etc.  It’s all here.

Catch-up Misc:

Last post I mentioned new tires for my truck.  I again added the BFG KO T/A,  not the newer KO 2/3 just the original 10 ply.  With just about 400,000 on KO tires neither the Jeep nor the truck has ever been stranded nor had a flat.  The reason for the tires was a planned  trip to Tuweep in the Toroweap of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

In picking the permit dates for Tuweep  I totally forgot I had a DMV appointment to renew my driver's license.  I'm sure it's easier to request a new permit than it is to request a new appointment.  I passed!

That left me a couple days for a road trip.  The truck was already packed for camping.  The desert awaits!

I chose Ocotillo Wells, as it’s FREE, has shade ramadas and showers.

A SpaceX launch was scheduled for dusk.  I really didn't expect to see much as the rocket plume would be hidden in the twilight, but the wind came up, just in time.

SpaceX plume

The ‘Lithium Valley’ at the Salton Sea is about an hour away, as is the Sonny Bono Wildlife Refuge.

This is a great place for burrowing owls!  There were lots of burrows, but the owls seem to have already called it a night.  This cute little Jackalope hung out for a bit.

I did not see any new-to-me activity near the lithium deposits.  The several geo-thermal power plants have been here,

With temperatures rising I did not try very hard to find the ‘Mud Volcanoes’.  I think they are now on the lithium leased land.

Fran's Jeep tossed an error P0441, Emissions Regen Failure.  I reset the code, but of course …  The membrane in the carbon canister had failed, but there is not an OEM replacement available!  A bit of research revealed a Chevy canister could fit.

It took a bit of a MacGyver to fit it, but seems to work fine.

And there was a nibble out of the harvest moon.

This was a bit long, I’ll try to hold it back a bit next time.  Until then! … Hint MonaLisa also had something else for Suzi … and I have a birthday coming!