California-2019(Jan 9-10)

We took one of the back country roads where only 4 wheel drive vehicles are allowed.  Interesting rock formations are everywhere. 

Vegetation doesn't look like this where we come from.

Bracedo's statues appear in numerous places around Barrego Springs.  These two are part of another large group we found by accident on our drive to the park this morning.

A close up showing some of the details.  

California-2019(Jan7-8)

The winding and picturesque drive from from Temecula to Borrego Springs takes about 1.5 hours.  It is mostly high dessert country until you drop quickly into the Borrego Valley.

A view from our condo.  It's an oasis in the middle of the desert.  The valley itself is surrounded by Anza-Barrego Desert State Park, the largest in California, and second largest state park in the US.

Scattered across the valley floor are welded metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda.

Many are examples of prehistoric creatures from the valley's past.

Not always life size, however.

And some or just mythical.  This dragon crosses under the road in the background.

California-2019(Jan 4-6)

We're on the road again to California, this time for a few days in Borrego Springs before stopping in the bay area to see MJ, Alexander and Therese.  It will be nice to get out of the windy weather of Mount Vernon and to get some sun.  And we got out of town just in time. A big storm was coming in, and we got up early twice to make it through the Siskyou and Shasta area before the snow hit.  Even at that, it was wind and high winds most of the first two days, even through Northern California.

A vineyard just before the "Grapevine".  I5's "Grapevine" passes over those mountains you see in the background.  I thought it got it names from the way it twists its way up the mountains, but the name actually comes from a canyon named for the wild grapes.

We left a day early to give us time in case of weather, so got to spend and extra day in Temecula checking out the wineries 

Robert Renzoni winery, one of about 40 in the Temecula Valley.  The grape vines are bear of leaves this time of year, but the weather was nice and we enjoyed lunch out side on the patio.