Sightseeing in Anza Borriego

Since we are spending more time exploring, we decided to cross the road, literally, from the Calcite mine and check out more of Anza Borriego. One of the things that caught our eye, were the wildflowers in bloom. While the quantity wasn't the greatest, we still enjoyed checking them out. I hope you do too.

Sunflower

Creosote Flowers

This is the area we are heading into

Varied wildflowers

I thought this rock caught in the tree was interesting, its about the size of a large cantaloupe

No matter where I go, I'm always looking for the best views

As we continue down into the wash we start to see different layers in the canyon walls

We've been seeing this beetle on our trips to Anza Borriego, they always fascinate me

Various wildflowers

Bees on flowers

Driving through the wash

After driving through the wash, we arrived at Fonts Point. Here is a truly spectacular location with views that just don't quit. Of course Roy and I have to "check it out" at a closer and perhaps mentally unbalanced level. While this terrain is spectacular, it turns out to be nothing more than dried mud for the most part, with a few rocks thrown in. In a wetter area this would be gone in the blink of an eye, geologically speaking.

View from Fonts Point

With such spectacular views, it's a popular place

OK Roy, just a step to the left

Looking toward the southwest, soon we'll be hiking down there

Roy gingerly picking his way down

Come on across Cameron, it's easy!

Easy my foot!

Hey Roy, why aren't you making it look easy?

Roy finds a geo cache

Lupines

Beavertail Cactus

Verbenia

I've heard that Anza Borriego was used for target practice during WWII

We are headed up the wash, Fonts Point is in the distance

Come on Roy, it's easy

Roy on one of the more interesting sections of the climb

People on top of Fonts Point, we are about halfway up from the wash

Looking back down at the way we came up

Looking up at Fonts Point

Roy nearing the top of Fonts Point

After our little hike, we decided to go look at the fish traps on way towards home. We did quite a bit of wandering and saw some interesting stuff, but the fish traps in this area are still eluding us.

A very colorful rock that caught my eye

Smoothed out area overlooking ancient Lake Cahuilla, possibly a campsite?

Old Native American trail on hillside, beneath the possible campsite

A look at a rock that split before it was covered with travertine or tufa

Have these rocks been lined up, or is this how they were naturally deposited?

Seashells not too far from the Salton Seashore, from ancient Lake Cahuilla

Roy on the lookout

Broken pottery

It ended up being a very full day. All told we were able to check out the wildflowers, hike the Fonts Point area and check out some Native American sites along the shores of ancient Lake Cahuilla. A great time was had by all!

Idyllwild Visit

Drive to Idyllwild

On Saturday, the 23rd, I went climbing in the Idyllwild area and on the drive up and down Highway 243 I noticed that the wildflowers were better than normal, but drying up fast. Since my wife doesn't get to leave home much, her time is spent taking care of her invalid mother, I decided to take her for a drive to see what's left of the flowers. I might also add that she has been an amateur botanist for many years.

We drove to Banning and stopped to look at a single field of flowers, unlike any others I've seen in the area. They have very sharp pointed leaves, a gray green color with a pale purple flower.

We then drove up the hill and I was planning on turning around about half way to Idyllwild when my wife asked me to drive her on into Idyllwild. The flowers didn't impress her too much, too far gone and not the best of years to begin with. We drove into town where it was packed. We had to stop at her favorite shop, the one where they have hand dipped ice cream on a stick. I couldn't find a parking space, so I drove around while she got her ice cream.

Busy downtown Idyllwild

We then drove back down the way we came up. I figured that going down Highway 74 would have even heavier traffic than 243. On the way down I snapped a quick picture of some people at Bay Spring, filling up water bottles even though it is posted as closed and the water is not safe to drink. It makes you wonder.

Filling up contaminated water

We continued down a ways and overlooking Twin Pine Ranch we stopped to look at some showy yellow flowers growing on shrubs and to look out over the fire damage from the Esperanza Fire.

Looking out at the burn area

After taking in the view, we continued home. It may not of been a monumental trip, but it was important to me to give my wife a chance to get out of the house, even if for just a little drive.