Hilda and I have been camping for a month here in the Anza-Borrego Desert in the far south of California. Sounds adventurous, but the reality is that we are staying in a luxury RV resort with a pool, golf course; all that kind of stuff. What follows is a "typecast" written a couple of days ago, plus a bunch of photos. I trust you will bear with this "what I did on my spring vacation" post, but hopefully at least my worldwide Typospherian friends will enjoy this glimpse of Americans at play in a unique and lovely place.
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| The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park includes 2,400 square kilometers in Southern California |
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| Blooming hedgehog cactus and cholla cactus on Ghost mountain |
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| Morning at our campsite in The Springs at Borrego |
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| Friday morning farmer's market at Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs |
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| Breakfast with gleanings from the Farmer's Market |
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| Sunset and swirling clouds over the San Ysidro Mountains |
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One of "our'" flycatcher parents bringing breakfast to a pair of hatchlings. Despite the large treat it carries, it still manages to give me a scolding where I'm sitting in my chair with camera and book.
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| This evening we noticed that one of the flycatcher hatchlings had contrived to tumble from the nest it the low shrub outside our trailer. We scooped it up and replaced it, apparently no worse for wear, while the parents scolded anxiously. |
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| An immature black-headed night heron, per my interpretation of our bird book, at the artificial cascade near the 9th green |
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| Cholla cactus in Lizard Canyon |
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| Blooming cholla cactus on the Lizard Canyon road |
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| Fishhook cactus and granite boulders |
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| Chuparosa makes a colorful splash of color |
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| Wind-sculpted granite bedrock near Miner's Wash Indian village site |
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| Joey, our brave Shih Tsu of the desert |
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| Typing under duress |
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| The desert in the vicinity of Borrego Springs is the perfect setting for the metal sculptures of Ricardo Breceda |
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| A weekend gathering of Airstream owners at "The Springs". Weekends are livened by gatherings like this, but otherwise this time of year is the tail end of the tourist season, and the park largely empties out during the week. |
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| The desert sky is impressive night and day. I got lots of practice with star photography. Need more practice. Need full-frame DSLR camera and a fast wide angle lens. About $8,500 should cover it. |
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| First light illuminates the fan palms. My favorite time of day. Cool, great light, and full of promise. |
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| Blooming cholla and barrrel cactus |
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| Morteros, i.e., bedrock mortars, at an indigenous village site. Probably my most satisfying photo of the trip, for what I learned in processing it, but mainly for what I hope it says about the generations of mothers that passed down these morteros to their daughters, and a culture that lived in balance with its surroundings for thousands of years. Now as a result of overuse of water in a desert and the resulting overdraft, the groundwater that enables agriculture, a community, and yes - luxury RV resorts and golf courses - will be used up in less than 50 years. |
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All photographs copyright 2014 by Tony Mindling
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Fantastic photos! I especially love the flycatcher. I've never had any luck with wildlife photography yet, other than the slugs I insist on always photographing. Sounds like you had a splendid time.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes - the wondrous "banana slug". They do pose nicely.
DeleteStunning photos, Mr. M! Great composition and framing, beautiful colours throughout. And it seems like a relaxing time was had as well. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful photos, especially the night. I have never been to a CA desert, but I made the most of my stays in NM to visit and explore the desert. Wonderful places. The great outdoors, it is all free and beautiful and never boring.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing place! Those pictures are stunning, I really enjoyed them a lot.
ReplyDeleteSo that little bird is called a flycatcher? I remember that some years back, when I lived in a small town in central Mexico, one of these funny little birds used to run at high speed on the dirt road connecting our apartment complex to a huge undeveloped hill that acted as "our" backyard. I thought it was the famous roadrunner.
With its long beak and upright tail, the flycatcher does mimic the roadrunner (when we've also seen here), but is much smaller. The roadrunner is about the size of a chicken, while the flycatcher is more like a slender robin.
DeleteIt would only be a roadrunner if there was a coyote in rocket boots chasing it. :D
ReplyDeleteFantastic pics of what looks like a very fun & relaxing trip!
Defiantly some brilliant photos here. Love them. Looks like you had a very nice little break away!
ReplyDeleteScott, just so you know, Hilda and I are now fully informed regarding Australian culture, having watched "The Sundowner's" this evening. Quite a good flick, actually.
DeleteBeautiful pictures Tony and thanks for the armchair holiday. I have a friend in a band called The Night Herons - he'd love your photo.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed my visit, thank you. I used to live in Los Angeles and have been in Ireland for the last ten years. This was a welcomed return to the desert. Photos are great.
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