Ladee's Travels

Harmony Borax Works in Death Valley National Park, California. Look close and you can see the huge wagons.  20 mules pulled them These "big teams" pulled massive wagons hauling borax from the Harmony Borax Works near Furnace Creek to the railhead near Mojave, a grueling 165 mile, ten day trip across primitive roads. 

Salton Sea Beach is on the west side of the Salton Sea, California.  This is a worn town with inhabitants.  We stopped here to get interesting sea salt rotted photographs, but opted to keep moving.

On the way to the week in Fallbrook, California the road took us through Anza Borrego State Park.  This is the largest state park in California and the second largest in the contiguous states.  It is one of my "grand bloom" spots for the future and I wanted to drive through to get an idea on what was here. Most of the time was spent with the giant metal sculptures, but I will share this one Badlands view.  The top photo is my trusty red Jeep with the Salton Sea in the background. The bottom photo is a shot of the Badlands.  Nicknamed "the California Grand Canyon" it has access from a four mile drive over sand.  I took this view from a lookout point on the east side of the park.

This is art and one needs to see it all to appreciate it.  There are 150 sculptures in and around Borrego Springs, California.  We saw about 1/3 of them. Here are some of my favorites. We stopped at the Anza Borrego California State Park for a park map and information about the artworks.  The rangers gave us a map with dots all over the town.  We drove north on Borrego Springs Road until we thought that we had totally missed them.  I pulled the Jeep to the side of the road and we consulted the map.  When we looked up, we could see brown structures in the distance.  "There they are!"  You turn off the main roads on to any number of sand roads and in to a big field.  And the adventure begins as you drive around and over and back again. There were camels.  And what to me looked like an elephant with a squid face.  Mamoths.  Turtles  More elephant squid things.  A grasshopper and a scorpion. ...

Devil's Golf course Badlands from Dantes View To give perspective...there are two people standing on the top.  Super Bloom. This photo gives you an idea on the carpet of flowers. 

Out pre-dawn to stake out a place for sunrise photographs. 

Jasmine is (obviously) a Chinese restaurant in San Diego.  The plan was to get a large table and enjoy the Dim Sum.  We got to the restaurant about 10:45 in the morning and as we left, I see why that decision was made.  By the time we left, there was a line out the door waiting for a seat. That is GREAT recommendation. I made sure that I put a reference on Yelp and TripAdvisor.  I liked it and would go again.  (Great and entertaining company too, which added to the experience.)

Bistro Sixty is a neighborhood cafe that started as a neighborhood bakery selling wholesale desserts.  A few tables were added to the front, and then the full restaurant setting grew in the space, then a patio seating area was created.  There is music most nights.  It was a little loud if you wanted to chat, but great if you wanted to listen and eat and drink a little wine.

More later!

Done!  We have made it on the full three day walk!

I've seen a lot of these this weekend. Thought I would share the view.

Feeling strong this morning. Lots of stretching. Hang in there with me.

Putting everything back together and we are off for Day 3.

Ok. Who would guess that these trailers would hold such an incredible treasure? Hot showers! On yah, this was heaven. Checking out for Day 2. Thanks for walking with me. Going to share dinner and road warrior stories with the girls, then off to my pink tent. Signing off for the night

I'm trying to talk her into walking next year.

Socks off! Breeze on the feet. Wrap,pasta salad,mixed fruit, chips...and gator aid. And grandma's cookie. Warm sun and ocean breezes. Almost halfway through the day.

Samantha's dad stopped by to take photos and cheer us on