Road Trip to Phoenix!

This week, I need to be in Phoenix for an Education Trade show on campus at Arizona State University. So instead of flying this time, I opted for driving. 1. I've always wanted to drive to Arizona. 2. Wanted to grab some geocaches on the way out and of course 3. Wanted to take some pictures. I left my house at 7 a.m. this morning and arrived at my hotel at 5 p.m. I think a typical drive at the speed limit is 6 hours. ;) We'll see how long it takes me to get back home on Wednesday.
Below are the photos along with descriptions of my road trip day to Phoenix.

My 1st stop was a geocache at this location. It was cold here. The wind was cold more then anything. Cute location. The Cache was attached to the back of the sign via a magnet.


This was a stop in El Centro for another geocache that I could not find. I hate when that happens. I remember seeing this as a kid when we'd drive through El Centro. Our house in the Salton City is 82 feet below sea level too.


I have read about Plank Road in Imperial County and have always wanted to visit it. Today, I got to do just that! What a cool piece of history in our desert that I am sure not a lot of people are aware of. Plank Road was built in the early 1900's as a way for early era cars to cross through the sand in the desert to get to their destination,whether it was Yuma or San Diego. Today, only fragments of the Plank Road remain. They are protected under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.


The Imperial Sand Dunes are the largest mass of sand dunes in California. Formed by windblown sands of ancient Lake Cahuilla, the dune system extends for more than 40 miles in a band averaging 5 miles wide. These dunes are amazing and are SO big. This is also known as the Buttercup riding area for off-road enthusiasts.



This is actually the largest geocache I have ever found. It is located at a Shell Gas Station in Yuma and requires the combination for the lock in order to access it. The combination is located at Geocaching.com I left a trackable coin there that I had found in a geocache in Escondido.


Dateland, AZ. These are Date Palms. There is a geocache here that I could not find. I hate posting sad faces, meaning I can't find the cache. There is also a store here that sells Date Shakes. Someday I will try a date shake. They sell them in Indio, CA as well.


Aztec, AZ. This was the location of another geocache that I was able to find. Aztec, AZ was established in 1889 and was a stop on the Southern Pacific Railroad between Phoenix and Yuma. Now Aztec, AZ is just a ghost town. This was the only "standing" structure there There are several cement slabs in the area as well.


This is one of the many cement slabs in Aztec, AZ. This looks like it went up to some one's house.


Gila Bend, AZ. I stopped here at the Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone. I had intended to do another geocache here, however, unfortunately the museum where the cache was located, was closed with a sign saying that they took Roy to the hospital. I really hope Roy is okay. Definitely a small town and small town feeling.


The Space Age Lodge and Restaurant in Gila Bend. Built in 1963, The 41 unit motel was one of a number of futuristic themed lodges opened by Al Stovall, a friend of President Eisenhower, a supplier of manganese to the government during World War II, and the owner of copper mines and a plastics factory. Stovall invested heavily in the future with the Fabulous Space Age Lodge at Disneyland, which I remember staying at when I was in middle school.


That's all for now. Thanks for reading my ramblings and viewing my pictures. :)

12 of 12, March 12, 2010

It's 12 of 12 day photo project. Every month, on the 12th day of the month, take photos and post 12 that express what your day was like.

#1
The first picture of the day was of my neice Brittany. She is on town on Spring Break from Colorado. She protested loudly when I went to take her picture and by the time I was ready to click she was posing. She finally just gave up.



#2
John told me my retractable stand for trade shows was ready, so I went down to the shop to check it out. So Cool and so exciting!


#3
On my way back up to the house from the shop I had to stop and admire the Oranges. Nearly Perfect and SO yummy!


#4
I took Roxy and Dude aka Deet da dee out for a potty break. Most potty breaks involve throwing the ball a couple of times for Roxy.


#5
I *love* that I had some friends to come visit me during my work day. Deb, Krista and Dan. Debbie actually stayed for while and assisted me with my work stuff. Krista and Dan had stopped by to pick up a banner from John and then those lucky ducks were off to Santa Barbara for an Anniversary Weekend getaway. I love these moments of quick unexpected visits. Made for a good day!


#6
Had to run back upstairs to do something, don't remember what and my college aged neice Brittany had fallen back asleep. Funny thing is she doesn't do dogs and Roxy just LOVES to cuddle.....Brittany told me that she was imagining Roxy smelled like Juicy Couture and not the dog smell that she is.


#7
Made a trip to Staples to pick up some paper and presentation binders for a proposal that I am putting together.


#8
I took the time to look at an *actual* map to plan my road trip to Arizona this Sunday. I'm off to Phoenix for a trade show. I decided to drive rather then fly for various reasons. 1. I've always wanted to drive to Phoenix 2. Want to do some geocaching on the way out and 3. Photo ops galore on the way out.


#9
Mable aka my car just got back from a repair to gas guage, oil change and detail. She looks like new again! I love when my car is squeaky clean and just in time for my road trip!


#10
John ran a batch of stickers for my trade show in Phoenix


#11
Afternoon Potty break for Roxy and Dude aka Deet da dee. And of course what is a potty break without throwing the ball a couple of times??


#12
Last but not least it's Dude aka Deet da dee enjoying his afternoon break outside!


See you in April with my next 12 of 12!

Michael's Birthday Weekend

I just returned from yet another really nice weekend on the Riviera. This last time I arrived on the Riviera on Wednesday as I had a work conference in Palm Springs. My oldest son was able to join me on Wednesday and keep me company. As I drove back and forth to Palm Springs, he was out job hunting for Police Officer jobs there in Imperial County.

Thursday was Michael's Birthday and we celebrated that evening by just hanging out and watching a movie with friends out there. We watched 2012...ironically enough the morning after watching that movie we had a 2.0 earthquake with the epicenter literally 2 miles away from us.

Friday night while waiting for the rest of the gang to show up, Michael and I joined Greg and Don for a "mini" ride to the mudpots by Gregs house. It was the perfect evening ride. Weather was perfect and it was just plain relaxing.





Saturday was spent walking around the vendor rows for Tierra del Sol down at Truckhaven. Tierra del Sol is the largest 4x4 event in Southern California. It was incredible...all the jeeps and 4x4 vehicles all over the place. It was literally a city set up for the weekend.



Saturday evening we celebrated Michael's birthday. Teriyaki Chicken, Rice and Vegies, Michael's choice for dinner and of course cake for dessert.



Sunday, we had planned to go riding around and check out the "playground" for 4x4 vehicles and I was going to take pictures, however, unfortunately when we woke up this morning it was raining and rain it did for the rest of the day. You don't want to go 4x4ing in the rain (or maybe you do) Mud just finds itself everywhere. And mud out by the Sea is like clay and just sticks to you and pretty soon the shoes you are walking in are like weights on your feet.

All in all, it was a great weekend!

Mule Hill Trail

I recently just found my new favorite spot to walk. It's the Mule Hill Trail. It is located across from the North County Fair Shopping Center in Escondido, CA. I just walked this trail a couple of days ago and today I brought my camera. I've never really paid attention, nor have I been much of a bird person. But with the lense on my camera, I was able to see definition and colors. I think I am hooked. Here are a few pictures I wanted to share.



2 Hawks flying around


Western Bluebird. Notice the one on the left has lunch and the one next to him is waving. I loved the brilliant colors of these birds. I've never noticed them before during my walks.


Fortunately Dude aka Deet da dee was looking for Bunny Rabbits and Roxy was lookng for balls, so neither noticed all the birds I was shooting pictures of. I can't believe I got a shot of the two of them facing me at the same time.



San Pasqual Agricultural Preserve

A weekend in the middle of the month of February

This last weekend was definitely another good one with me. Why? My oldest son joined us out at our desert house for some fun. Michael's work has been a little slow and for the past year he has been attending the police academy every weekend. Therefore he had been super busy and he had never been out to the house with us. John was unable to join us, due to a commitment in Lakeside on Saturday, however, he was going to join us out there Saturday night. So, Michael, Kevin and I left Friday afternoon after work and headed out to the Riviera. All packed up and squeezed into Nelly (my red Jeep) Oh, and we had Roxy and Dude aka deet da dee with us. The past few trips, Dude aka deet da dee has become a nervous traveler, so I had to go get him some natural calming tablets from Petco. It seemed to do the trick. Even all crammed together in Nelly, we had a good time heading out. Michael entertained us with songs from his ipod. I insisted changing over to my ipod once we hit Borrego Springs. He was okay with my song selection. See? I am a cool mom.

Once out in the desert, we unpacked, called up Debbbie (our Escondido and desert neighbor)and her group of kids and we all headed out to dinner. Our destination? The Red Earth Casino. This casino is a tiny casino about 5 miles from the Riviera. They do have a really cute little restaurant called the Beach Club Cafe. The food is pretty good and reasonably priced. After dinner, the kids headed to the arcade and Debbie and I took Michael into the casino (he's 22) and donated a few dollars. Well, let me re-phrase that, Debbie and I donated a few dollars, Michael actually came out ahead. He walked out with 80 bux. Lucky kid!

The next morning, the boys and I got up and headed out on the desert toys across the desert over to Ocotillo Wells. Kevin's Girlfriend, Cierra and her family were out for the weekend and we joined up with them to go on a ride. That ride took us back towards the Salton Sea via Cut-across trail and Tule Wash, then to the am/pm market for a snack. The boys and I broke off from their group and headed back to the house.

Zack, Michaela, Cierra and Kevin ready to go riding


A little later in the afternoon we went out geocaching. Michael and Kevin decided to ride the smaller bikes (they complained about sore butts and legs the next day) and I followed in the Rhino. One of the caches was located under a bridge over a dry pond in what used to be a golf course in the 60's. Salton City was supposed to be the next Palm Springs and sadly that never really happened. I've seen vintage video of this very bridge with water under it, greens and a golfer swinging a a ball in the foreground. Now the area is desolate with a bridge that is not safe to cross over, an empty pond and Palm trees with no tops.

The cache was located right under the bridge here.


Kevin riding around the "rim" of the "pond"


Michael riding in the "pond"


Dude aka Deet da Dee and Roxy joined us for the ride. Dude aka deet da dee does much better in an open Rhino then a closed up car. Hmmmm.......



After some more geocaching in a couple of washes in the area, we headed over to the Truckhaven area and the boys took the "baby" bikes up some pretty big hills. It was fun to watch them. Especially Michael on the 50. Half-way up the hills he has his feet down assisting the bike up the hill and eventually getting off the bike and just walking it up. It was funny.

Michael struggling to get up that big hill on the little 50


Kevin had no problems with the hill. But, his bike had a bigger motor.



Sunday morning we went out on a ride with my husband leading. He took us through Tectonic Wash and then across the S22 into the Freeman Ranch property.

This is a rare moment when both of my boys are smiling for a picture.


On the way home I took a couple of pictures from the S22 towards Borrego Springs. The sky was just amazing. It was nice and sunny in the desert, however, as we headed up Montezuma Grade into the mountains, it started to rain.

The view that greeted us on the way into Borrego Springs via the S22


And rain it did all the way home. We did make a stop at Dudley's bakery to pick up some Bread. Dudley's bread is SO yummy. If you've never had it and you're in the So Cal area, make a point of doing a trip to Santa Ysabel. You will not regret it!

12 of 12, Feb 12, 2010

It's 12 of 12 day photo project. Every month, on the 12th day of the month, take photos and post 12 that express what your day was like.

So a friend of mine posted this on facebook today and I had to play. So here goes!

#1 Our day started off with a good breakfast. Coffee and Cereal. Kev opted for the Cinnamon Toast crunch.



#2 John getting ready for work. You know that is a LONG commute down the driveway. ;)



#3 Pulling the work stuff together for the Business trip to Chicago. I leave tomorrow



#4 Reviewing Business Card design that Toby put together for me. Lovin' it!



#5 Dude aka Deet Da dee hangs out on the Futon behind me while I work. Doesn't he look like a baby seal?



#6 Roxy hangs out right around the corner on the stairs sunning herself.



#7 Kevin hasn't been home 10 minutes from school and he's already texting someone.



#8 While the rest of the country is under snow, it was an abolutely stunning day in San Diego/Escondido today. Took the dogs outside so they could relieve themselves.



#9 Dang Dishes...they always have to be done.



#10 It's Friday afternoon and Kev is in the Game room doin' his thing.



#11 Packed and ready to go to Chicago tomorrow.



#12 Roxy hanging out next to me on the couch watching Friday night television.