Anza Borrego State Park
Morning walk above our gathering.
What a busy week with the WINS. It was so great to catch up with friends I haven't seen since last Spring.
The weeks events included hiking, dancing, bike riding, and of course turkey eating. There were about 95 for Thanksgiving dinner.
In Preparation for Thanksgiving we took a hike up to Palm Canyon a few days before. It was a gorgeous day. I feel sorry for my friends in Reno who are experiencing 30 degree days!! NOT.
As you can see it was a nice little hike.
We also took a drive up to Julian, famous for apple pies ..Yummmm
Each apple pie contain one full huge pitcher of apples. The pies are really good.
On turkey day we all set up tables and joined in a wonderful feast.
Notice the flowers and of course wine. Just like home.
Look at all that food!
Come and get it. Thanks to our wonderful servers.
Arlene is fully prepared. Her apron says: This is no dress rehearsal. This is it! How appropriate.
I bet you wondering how does one cook for ninety-five people that are living in the desert with no running water or electricity. The secret is planning, planning, planning along with wonderful volunteers who pick up the cooked turkey and trimmings the day before (from an undisclosed vendor) and then an army of volunteers heat up their propane stoves and turn on their generators and run the microwaves and heat everything up to be promptly served at 2:00. Of course everyone brings a side dish to go along with the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, and pie. Eight turkeys and three hams fed all 95 nicely. In fact, we had leftovers the next day and the following day after that we had turkey soup, thanks to all the volunteers who cranked up their propane stoves to cook the turkey carcases.
We dry camped just outside of the town of Borrego Springs. However, there is dispersed camping on private land in around Borrego Springs thanks to Dennis Avery (of Avery labels). The story goes that Mr. Avery was denied parking his RV on the desert so he decided to buy up land and allow short term dry camping on his property. He also hired sculpture Ricardo Breceda to create metal sculptures depicting some of the ancient creatures that could have been found on the desert. The sculptures are exquisite. The detail is astounding. There are over eighty installed on his property to date and more are added yearly.
Al had fun with this one.
I'd be running too if this guy was on my tale!
The detail is amazing.
I'm impressed how the sculptures were posed.
Early morning at our camp.
I would love to have shared in that feast! I think its wonderful that everyone pitches in and its like a small mobile village--so cool. Enjoyed the sculpture tour I think Barbara must have been along on that same Art Gallery tour I recognize a few of these guys from her post. Thats a beautiful sunset shot too.
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