Feb 23 & 24, 2014 Pacific Coast, Half Moon Bay

We had a great bike ride on a path that parallels the beach. I was having such a good time, I forgot to take pictures!

At the end of the day, we sat on the slope to the beach watching the sun go down.

 

Photo by Ann R.

 

Feb 25 & 26, 2014 Redwood National Park, Elk Creek

We drove along the Avenue of Giants and saw magnificent Redwood trees, some over 300 feet tall. The signage tells us that the “champion” trees can grow 370’ tall, have a 16’ diameter, 52’ circumference, and can live to be 2200 years old! What a humbling experience to walk in their presence!

(Continue reading below . . .)

 

It feels so different to be in the Redwood Forest after spending most of this month in the desert. Even though we are still in California, the tall trees, green leaves, abundant sword ferns, cloudy skies, the darkness of the deep woods and now a drizzle turning to rain, all remind us of home. We so enjoyed the warmth and dryness of the dessert, but we realize we also miss our home environment.

 The scale of these giant trees is difficult to capture.

 

En route from the south end of the Redwood National Park to the north, we stopped in Crescent City and checked out the stormy coast. (click panorama to enlarge it)
 

 

Feb 22 & 23, 2014 Pacific Coast, El Capitan State Beach

We have headed west to the California coast. It is good to see some greenery and water. At the end of a long day of driving, we had an amazing sunset.

The cool, 60° air was delightfully refreshing. We each put a throw on our lap and enjoyed sitting out in the evening light.

Before departing the next morning, we took some time to explore the rocky beach.

 

 

Feb 21, 2014 Anza Borrego, Palm Canyon

The day started out cloudy, which made it difficult to take photos. However, I just can’t help myself when I have a camera in my hand and I see bees nearby.

 

 Today, we took a 6 mile hike from the visitor center to Palm Canyon Oasis. We started out across the flat sandy dessert floor before climbing into Palm Canyon.

Suddenly, the canyon became amazingly lush.

 

On the way out I noticed a stand of ocotillos.

Feb 20, 2014 Anza Borrego, Canyon Hike

 

Today we hiked into another beautiful canyon. 
The canyon started wide but then began to narrow.

 

 

 

Along the way we noticed Beaver Tail Cactus, Ocotillo, and a tenacious tree.

 

 

Feb 19, 2014 Anza Borrego State Park, Culp Valley

The road into our campsite and the road to the trailhead were sandy, rutted and studded with rocks. Both required a 4WD vehicle to access.

 

This is our primitive campsite. Although Spartan, it protected us from the wind.

 

On the way to the trailhead we noticed a Coyote as well as something called coyote melons. According to the signage, this softball size melon was used by ancestral people as food and medicine. I tasted it and thought it was dry and incredibly bitter.

 

 

We spent the day hiking through the area pictured below. You can see evidence of a wildfire started by an illegal campfire 3 years ago.

Feb 18, 2014 Desert Shores

Heading south, on our way to Anza Borrego State Park, we took a detour through Desert Shores. It seems that this community has fallen into a sorry condition.

By late afternoon we reached Anza Borrego. This was our first view from the visitor center.

 

Feb 17, 2014 Indio Date Festival

Eighty-five percent of the dates eaten in the USA are grown around the town of Indio. Each year the growers put on the Date Festival and county fair. However, we found precious little to do with dates. Here is what we saw.