Moved to a more open spot

Last week we decided to get out of the bushes and

move to a more open spot, just a few 

100 yards away.

The gnats where eating us alive.

Here there is a stronger breeze that keeps them at bay.

Over the last decade former occupants have created a little "garden" while 

they camped out here.

About 15 years ago one of them

 planted a Tree Cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia imbricata) 

Unfortunately we will never see it blooming, 

the flowers willfirst appear in April/May

Walking along the canal, 

every morning and afternoon

 In the desert around us lots of yellow flowers 

Brown-eyed evening primroses (Chylismia claviformis)

cover the ground everywhere

One morning a friend alerted me to a huge flock of

birds in the sky.

Upon a closer look it turned out to be 

American White Pelicans

probably on their way to Canada.

Near the camper trailer there sat another of

the beautiful Anna's Hummingbirds.

Next week will be the time to take off again.

Our stay here comes to an end.

___________________________________

Translation for my German readers

Vor ein paar Tagen sind wir umgezogen. Aus dem Büschen, die uns in den 

kalten Monaten Windschutz boten, kommen nun die Kriebbelmücken.

Hier auf der offeneren Fläche weht immer etwas mehr Wind. 

Das hält sie von uns weg.

Der Platz hat auch einen Wüstengarten. Die vorherigen Camper

haben ihn vor etwa 15 Jahren angelegt und auch einen Kaktus

angepflanzt. Leider sehen wir ihn nie in der Blüte weil das 

erst später (April/Mai) stattfinden wird.

Wie jeden Morgen und Nachmittag gehen wir entlang des Bewässerungskanals.

Grüne Felder auf der gegenüberliegenden Seite.

Die Wüste ist zur Zeit mit kleinen gelben Blumen bedeckt.

Eines morgens machte mich eine Freundin darauf aufmerksam daß

ein großer Schwarm Vögel am Himmel zu sehen war. 

Genauer hingesehen waren es Weiße Pelikane auf dem

Weg nach Kanada wo sie ihre Brutegebiete haben.

In den Büschen nahe des Campingwagens saß ein

weiterer Kolibri.

Nächste Woche ist Abreisetag.

 

Holtville Carrot Festival Parade

 And again, as every year, Holtville was celebrating its name as "Carrot Town of the World". There was Tivoli, street vendors all week long and of course - The Carrot Parade!

We thought that last year was cold, but this year it was coldest day ever that we had watching the parade. The sun hid behind clouds and the wind was strong from northerly directions. 

Decendants from the first Swiss farmers that settled in this area. 

Newest equipement

Old fashioned horse carriage

modern hay-baling equipment

But it had been fun as always to watch all those enthusiastic school corps, children and farmers with their bands and floats.

Memory from Feb 2023

Unfortunately our old friend "Enrique" was not participating anymore. 

Old age is catching up with all of us. 

We missed you, Enrique!!!

After 1.5 hours in 15 C 10 C with the windchill) we were cold to the core and rushed back to our trailer. 

After a big cup of hot cocoa I finally felt warm again.

Translation for my German readers

 Wie in jedem Jahr haben wir auch dieses Mal als Zuschauer an der Karottenparade teilgenommen.

Holtville sagt von sich daß es die "Karottenstadt der Welt ist" und in jedem Jahr gibt es Jahrmarkt, Buden und die große Parade. 

Allerdings war es heute war es unangenehm kühl! Nach 1,5 Stunden waren wir dann auch ziemlich durchgefroren. Aber war ,wie immer, Spaß es sich anzusehen.

Eine grosse Tasse Kakao mit Rum konnte mich wieder aufwärmen.

Finally!!!

 Finally, finally!

At ten this morning we got the call we had been waiting for for many days! The van was ready for pick up.

Yves drove Peter to the repair shop and I started to make everything ready for travel inside the trailer.

Church in Ajo,AZ

Nonetheless, it took quite a while until they were back. 

Peter had to go the bank to get cash and fill up one propane bottle before he returned. 

Next we had to pack everything, that we had taken out before towing, back into the van. 

After that we had a quick lunch, and after taking down our solar panels and hugging our dear friends we were finally ready to go. 

First  stop was the nearby campground where we emptied our tanks, got rid of the garbage and filled up freshwater.

Landscape near Ajo AZ

By then the clock was already 1:30pm. 

We calculated that with 3.5 to 4 hours to drive

we might just make it around sunset 

to reach our destination.

Welcome sign to California near Yuma, AZ

Vegetable fields near Yuma, AZ

Sand dunes near Yuma, AZ

And we did. 

With the sun sinking below the distant mountains 

"Riding into the sinking sun"

we entered the designated desert area 

and readily found “our” spot. 

In anticipation friends had set up a chair to prevent others from occupying it. 

Chair to occupy "our spot",
(sign in memory of a cake Peter baked last winter.)

While darkness fell around us 

we quickly sat up our camp. 

Finally backed in on our spot

It did not take long before 

the first friend and neighbours showed up, 

Gerald, and then Darlene and Ron, 

giving us warm welcome hugs.

Setting up before it gets dark

How nice to finally being back at our “home in the desert” (since 2005). 

But now I am ready for bed! 

Translation for my German readers

Endlich, endlich! Um zehn Uhr heute morgens kam der lang ersehnte Anruf: eurer Auto ist fertig! 

Yves fuhr JPeter auch gleich in die Kleinstadt.

Währenddessen bereitete ich im Inneren des Campers 

alles für die Fahrt vor. 

Es dauerte allerdings eine ganze Weile 

bevor J-Peter wieder zurück kam.

Er hatte noch Propangas aufgefüllt und Geld abgehoben. 

Alles was wir aus dem Auto ausgeräumt hatte, bevor es abgeschleppt wurde, mußte nun wieder eingepackt werden. 

Auf die Schnelle noch etwas essen, die PV module runter legen, unsere Freunde herzlich zu umarmen, aber dann waren wir endlich bereit zur Abfahrt. 

Der nächste Stop war ein nahegelegener Campingplatz wo wir unsere Abwassertanks entleerten, 

Müll entsorgten und Frischwasser auffüllten. 

Zu dem Zeitpunkt war es schon 13:30 Uhr. 

Wir rechneten mit etwa 4 Stunden Fahrt, und das hieß wir würden unser Ziel gerade noch 

bei Sonnenuntergang erreichen. 

Und so war es dann auch. 

Ein paar Minuten nach Sonnenuntergang erreichten wir “unseren Platz” (seit 2005). 

Freunde hatten heute in Erwartung unserer Ankunft 

einen Stuhl aufgestellt damit ihn niemand in letzter Minute noch besetzen konnte. 

Soll man nicht machen, aber es macht jeder 

(wenn es kurzfristig ist). 

Während die Dunkelheit einbrach stellten wir schnell unseren Wohnwagen auf. 

Dabei kamen dann auch schon die ersten Freunde vorbei, Gerald, Darleen und Ron, 

um uns ganz herzlichen willkommen zu heissen. 

Wie schön ist es doch wieder “zuhause in der Wüste” zu sein!

Aber jetzt bin ich reif für´s Bett!

February - coldest in 35 years

February lays behind us and it was the coldest in 35 years,
according to the weather service. Many people agreed with that. Heavy snowfalls in the coastal mountains and rain in the lowland with strong winds.

Snow in the mountains along the coast, visible with tele lens

We got some sprinkles and some of the days the trailer was rocking in the gusts like a boat on the sea. 

During some of the colder weeks propane supply was sold out at our favourite place in Holtville. 

Etnic costumes

Luckily the weather was great when we went to look at the annual Carrot Festival Parade and Fairgrounds

Float with vegetable display 

Enrique from "Silverado Ranch"

On the Fairground

Despite bad weather we participated in a big Birthday Party.

Birthday party in rain and wind

Three participants got each their big cake.

Three Birthday Cakes

By the second week of February our new trailer axels arrive in Yuma and we went to get them mounted on.

Waiting for the axles to be mounted in the morning

While that was under way we took a drive to Mittry Lake. As last year, it was far from the idyllic place it used to be. 

Mittry Lake, AZ

 Lots of 4-wheelers, motor bikes and trucks racing along the gravel roads trailing big dust clouds after them. 

Clark's Grebe courting

Great Blue Heron

Western Grebe

We had our lunch sandwiches with a view over the water, 

watching the birds for a while before we.

There was a moment of panic after we picked up the trailer and when we found out that our keys had gone lost, either while shopping or while at the lake, and the spare key was locked inside.  But with help of a friendly locksmith, and a hefty bill, we got back inside and now we have two new sets of spares. 

The puppies have grown up a little more and by the end of the month they were all gone to new owners. It was about time, because the guy who cared for mother and puppies, got overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work and sleep deprivation. 8 puppies make a lot of noise during the nights. All the women smiled and said: "Welcome to motherhood. WE know all about that!"

Puppies in their new lager pen

In the end several neighbours pooled together, one built a bigger pen, and helped looking after the pups during daytime for about a week ans until they got old enough to go to their respective new families. 

JP did not take the one he had singled out for himself and I am glad about it. One big Dixie is dog enough for me.

Dixe and Emma visiting

By the end of the month the big migration started. Several friends were packing up and got ready to move out either to go home or to visit other places on their way north. Some of those friends, who had stayed here during the winter for nearly 30 years, we will never see again. This season was their final in the desert. Old age, illness and higher insurance costs are the reasons for keeping them at home in the future. 

It is always bittersweet to say goodbye. Their places look now empty and desolate. We surely will miss them very much.

On the last day of February our good neighbours from Saskatoon left too. No more morning coffees and good company. No more exercises and shopping sprees. 

Hopefully they will have a good trip home and we might even see them again in the fall. One never knows.

Later in the afternoon another couple, coming back from their stay on the Baja in Mexico, took up the vacant spot for a couple of days, until a better place came available. Better place means: more open to the breeze that keeps the bugs and critters (snakes, scorpions) away when the weather warms up. 

Jupiter and 3 moons in line with Venus

seen with tele lens

Winter time in the desert

 No more Christmas Carols, yeah! 

 The older I get the less I like to listen to them for many weeks on end.

It is so  enervating and takes all the mystic out of Christmas.

Silencio!

There is definitely winter in the desert now. 

Temperatures have dropped and a sweater early in the morning and

late in the afternoon is very much appreciated.

Colours have faded into shades of beige and grey.

The only green vegetation are Creosote bushes.

Around our trailer a few Abert's Towhees 

looking for seeds.

Rabbitbrush offer lots of seeds for White-crowned Sparrows and House Finches

 during the coldest time of the year.

Since winter solstice day length has grown with 1 minute!

Hardly noticeable, but it was mentioned on the weather page.

The shortest day was 9:59 hours on December 22.

Today it showed 10:00 hours! 

Come January 15th change will more obvious.

Some days come with dark clouds, some with blue sky.

 Strong cold winds are not unusual either.

On those days Dixie finds protection from the wind 

in the shrubs around our trailer. We don't have to worry about

snakes yet, they are still in hibernation until late January / early February.

Recently the coastal mountains got a lot of rain and snow.

While on our morning walk we could make out, far away, 

white mountain tops gleaming in the sunshine. 

With their elevation those summits are still visible from our area,

way beyond the horizon.

Orocopia Mnts 1,117 m (3,665 ft)

or Little San Bernadino Mnts

1,772 m (5,814 ft)

The last remnants of a nightly rainfall 

left a beautiful rainbow

the other day.

Whether to find the "pot of gold" is just 

a question of perspective.

If we are getting enough rain in this area 

chances are we might see flowers blooming

in the desert come February.

Translation

___________________________

Bin ich froh daß die ewigen Weihnachtslieder vorbei sind!

Je älter ich werde desto weniger vertrage ich diese wochenlange 

Berieselung. Es vertreibt mir die Weihnachtsstimmung.

In der Wüste ist es nun auch Winter geworden.

Am frühen Morgen und späten Abend kann man schon gerne eine

warme Jacke überziehen. 

Die Landschaft ist überwiegend braun, beige und grau, nur die  

Kreosotbüsche sind noch grün.

Viele Samen der Kaninchensträucher bieten ausreichend

 Winterfutter für mancherlei Vögel. 

Die Tage wechseln zwischen blauem Himmel und dunklen Wolken.

Auch starker Wind ist nicht ungewöhnlich.

Heute morgen konnten wir, weit hinter dem Horizont, Schnee auf

den fernen Gipfeln ausmachen.

Auch hier gab es etwas Niederschlag. 

Ein nächtlicher Regen schenkte uns am Morgen

einen wunderschönen Regenbogen. 

Ob und wo man dann das "Gold" findet 

ist dabei nur eine Frage des Standorts.

Auf alle Fälle kann genug Regen die Wüste zum Blühen bringen.

Wir werden sehen.