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

On a trip this week to Phoenix, Mike spent a few hours hiking in Saguaro National Park in Tucson, Arizona.

 The Rincon Mountains

 Barrel Cactus flowers

 Saguaro Cactuses

 Cholla Cactus

  A young Saguaro Cactus and a Palo Verde Tree

 The largest Barrel Cactus that I have ever seen

  Javelina Hills

 Gila Woodpecker on Saguaro Cactus
(Does this picture remind anyone else of the cover of Wilco's album "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot"?)

We had a very nice light snow in Las Cruces overnight. By this evening, it's pretty much gone, but it was great to wander around in it. And it was heavier in the mountains, so it should last another day higher up. Anyhow, here are some photos from the "Snow Day."



Our front yard and Buena Vida Park across the street, at dawn.

Cactus in Buena Vida park

House Finch in the park

Buena Vida Park

La Cueva and the Organ Mountains in Dripping Springs National Recreation Area.

Cactus at the Dripping Springs Visitor Center.

Red Twigs in the snow.

Clouds in Organ Mountains.

Ocotillo spines with snow.

Along the Dripping Springs trail.

Dennis on the Dripping Spring trail.

Mike at the Dripping Springs Visitor Center

Our neighbor's Cedars of Lebanon with snow.  

Red berries in our yard.