Anza Borrego and Salton Sea

The Romance and Sex Life of the date! Date lover's and more, learn everything you need to know and more about the production of dates. We did not know ourselves how much we enjoyed the many varieties. Very interesting and tasty! A must do in Indio, California on the way to Anza-Borrego State Park, world famous Shields Date Gardens.

  

 

 

 

Our campsite at Anza-Borrego State Park

 

Just a sampling of beautiful iron works along the highway.

 

 

 

Salton Sea State Recreation Area

 

Heading back west from Anza-Borrego we visited the Salton Sea. This unique body of water was created in 1905, when the flooding Colorado River was accidentally diverted into the Salton Sink, thus creating the current Salton Sea. The sea holds millions of fish that feed masses of wintering birds.

 

 

Black-necked Stilt

Eared Grebe
 

                                                    Great Egret

 

                                                                             The "Accidental Sea"
                                                  

Joshua Tree National Park

Returning to the scene of the crime! On our way to Joshua Tree National Park, we bravely revisited Havasu Springs staying at the same resort where we had the accident with the RV last April. No problems this time. Enjoyed two days hiking this scenic boater's paradise.

The amazing Joshua Tree National Park is located in the Mohave Desert in southern California. Our visit began at the south entrance of the park just north of Interstate 10. We soon found that there are many similarities to the Sonoran Desert, however the most striking difference is the lack of Saguaro cacti and the presence of the magnificent Joshua Trees. Patience is required, as we traveled 27 miles before we saw our first Joshua Tree.

 

 



First, we enjoyed walking the nature trail at the Cholla Cactus Garden where we saw numerous and varied cholla cactus including the teddy bear and silver cholla. Great care was taken to avoid any encounters with these "jumping cholla".

 

A nice drive down a dirt road prior to the White Tank Campground revealed the first of many fabulous rock formations that we enjoyed throughout the park.

 

 

Jim and Jester enjoying their hike.

 

 

 

Rock formations of monzogranite throughout the park are the result of volcanic activity more than 100 million years ago. These rock piles rose from the ground and were created into unlikely shapes by winds and water.



 

 

 

At last, the beautiful Joshua Tree!

 

 

 

 

A well deserved picture of Jim!

 

 

 

 

Great fun for rock climbing. No, that's not Jim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So very picturesque! Would love to return in the spring when this desert is in bloom. 

 

 

 



Rimersburg to Tucson

 

 

Another great bike trail! This is the Wabash-Cannonball Trail at Oak Openings Preserve near Swanton, OH.

Oak Openings Preserve of northwest Ohio is a globally rare ecosystem declared by the Nature Conservancy as "One of America's Last Great Places".  We really enjoyed hiking and biking this preserve.

 

 

 

Moving on, we arrived at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in northwest Indiana. This visit was filled with nostalgia for Joyce, as this area is where she spent many summers of her childhood.

 

 

 

A highlight of this visit was spending time with Joyce's brother, Scott and wife, Stacia in Valparaiso, IN. After dinner out and a walk through  the quaint town of Valparaiso, we met up with Orvill Redenbacher, the nationally known popcorn entrepreneur.

 

 

Indian Dunes State Park is surrounded by the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.  This park features a wide variety of habitats, including beach, sand dunes, black oak forest, wooded wetlands and a button-bush marsh. Studies by botanist, Henry Cowles, in the early 1900's, resulted in the Indiana Dunes becoming known as "the birthplace of ecology".   

 

 

Beaches 

Marsh lands

 

Sand dunes



 

 One of best things about traveling in our RV is waking up to a new view.

 

 

 

Fort Kearney State Park 

                        Jackson Lake State Park

Prairie Sunflowers were enjoyed all along the way from Ohio through Colorado.               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Along the way to Rimersburg...

We are new to this, however, two campgrounds we would happily revisit are Whittington Woods Campground (5/5 Stars) in Benton, Illinois and Hickory Lakes Campground (4.9/5 Stars) in West Salem, Ohio.

Whittington Woods Campground borders Rend Lake State Park where we were pleasantly greeted with a bag of grapefruit size garden tomatoes, our first of many wonderful home grown tomatoes to be enjoyed on this trip. Here we enjoyed a beautiful bike trail abundant with deer and fawns, wild turkeys with babies and a skunk. Rend Lake is quite large, offering the usual opportunities for water activities.

Hickory Lakes Campground (Site #C25-26 was a good pull thru site) has two small lakes to fish as well as a swimming lake with sandy beach.  The less than perfect rating given is for it's less convenient location off the highway. Never the less, a pleasant stop.

Next stop Bloomington, IN where we visited with Kelly and Cc.Here we enjoyed great conversation, food, and fun at Yellowwood Lake. We launched our kayak and Cc caught a fish and got a lesson in rowing. Enjoyed the best grilled burger at Uplands Brewery, prepared by nephew, Erik Pederson.



 

 

Upon our arrival at Pennsylvania, we discovered the Allegheny River Trail, another beautiful bike trail that runs along the river. We camped nearby in Emlenton at the Gas Light Campground.



 

 

Jim, brother Ken and his wife Sharon on their boat where they camp on the Allegheny River.

 

               Jester was so happy to finally arrive at the farm where there was no end to the grass.



 

                                   Jim and his mom, Maxine, at a McNaughton family picnic.

 





Jim and brothers Mike and Ken at beautiful Stoughton Acres Golf Course in Butler, PA.

   

                                                                                               Joyce, hanging out with the guys as usual.

 

One of many evenings on a McNaughton porch. Brother, Neal entertained all playing the guitar. Other evenings were spent spotting many deer families and some fox. Brandy with one of his many favorite logs.



 

Our terrific camp hosts, brother Mike with wife Kate and Brandy.

                     Thank you, to all of Jim's family for all of the wonderful gifts from your gardens.