This is bliss ! Babysitting Declan and Scooby just needs to snuggle, too!Dinner with Grandkids ! Not pictured here were Ben, Nicole, Franny and Jen. I was lucky to snag pre-dinner conversation with Nicole and during dinner Ben shared thoughts about school and college!Exquisite !!! Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is an absolute gem !! I’m reluctant to share where it is because it is not crowded ( at least not in the winter ) I can hardly wait to come back and ride the 13 mile loop on my bike and hike at least some of the many trails into the canyons.After a 5+ hour drive, I was happy to have 24 hours to rest and stock up for the next adventure. Leaving this paradise is never easy ! Winding roads led us to KQ RV park overlooking the Anza Borrego National Park. Drove down the mountain to the Tamarisk Grove Campground which was our base for a few days. First order of the new day was Slit Canyon hike. Ready with sunhats, water and hiking poles, we crawled through this amazing Slit Canyon. More pictures to followCould just ease our way throughThis rock just hanging out !We made it through and climbed back up the wash. I was thrilled!Day trip to Borrego Springs and guided tour by Keith and Jane Griffin. These amazing metal sculptures are all over the desertWildflowers have just begun to bloom changing the desert landscapeEnjoy the Desert Lily ! One of my favoritesVery windy drive towards Joshua Tree. Beautiful green and beige rock formations in Box CanyonWe arrive in Joshua Tree while it was still sunny out. Mary and Eldon had to depart but I squeezed in one hike before it got darkJumbo Rocks Campground !Skull Rock ! Quite the tourist attractionYes, this is snow in Joshua Tree ! I made my way to Ehrenberg, Arizona for sunshine along the Colorado River. Today I worked out in the gym, washed my clothes in the laundry facilities and practiced my serve on the pickleball courts! The surrounding mountains were so beautiful to behold as the shadows on them were changing with the hour.Phoenix for Cubs spring training with Jen and RyanIt was a bit chilly so I was happy I had my Chicago winter coatYardhouse dining! The Cubs spring training was on my bucket list but spending special time with Jen and Ryan was the biggest perk. Taliesin West ! A jewel outside Phoenix. Very different from Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin. It really does fit into the desert landscape. I can imagine the creativity that might be realized in such a space. First campsite in Lake Pleasant Regional Park. While in Phoenix , I was delighted to have lunch with Larry and Eleanor Michaelis. We had fun catching up. This little burro owned the “Wild Burro Trail” We shared the trail. With my “Merlin” app, I was able to enjoy the songs of nine different birds. I signed up for a nature walk and nobody else showed up. I got a private tour to the top of Yavapai Point. This with identification of wildflowers and a taste of a cactus fruitSee the Gila Woodpecker on the Palo Verde tree just outside my van! Here is a sample of the Ephedra plant! That name I can recognize in the medicinal world.Visited Hassayampa River Preserve to enjoy the Palm Lake Loop trail and the River Ramble trail. Armed with Merlin and my new INaturalist app, I had fun discovering more birds by their song and trees and plants in this oasis.
