One of the reasons that we moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico was because of its location. It is 600 miles to Austin, Texas; 600 miles to Denver, Colorado; and 600 miles to San Diego, California. This month we took a road trip to California. After visiting with friends in Tucson, Arizona we spent several days in the desert in Borrego Springs, California. We then drove 50 miles west up into the mountains and camped in a Ponderosa Pine forest for several days. While there one day we drove to the coast to see the Pacific Ocean near Oceanside. We added a stop on the way home stopping at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument a beautiful spot in the Sonoran Desert on the Arizona/Mexico border. The variety of scenery on this trip was head spinning.


 Sunrise at Picacho Peak State Park near Tucson, Arizona

Gila Woodpecker

Sunrise at Picacho Peak State Park

Badlands near Agua Caliente County Park in San Diego County

Anza-Borrego State Park in Borrego Springs, California

One of a collection of metal sculptures in the desert in Borrego Springs

An amazing display of wildflowers in the questionably named Hellhole Canyon in Anza-Borrego SP

Sunset from our campground

One last hike while driving out of Anza-Borrego SP

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park in Julian, California

Acorn Woodpecker

Pacific Madrone

South Carlsbad Beach State Park overlooking the Pacific near Oceanside, California

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Ajo, Arizona. That is an Organ Pipe Cactus behind Mike.

Curve-billed Thrasher

Ash-throated Flycatcher