April 7th 2001 (Aborted camping trip)
Storm warnings were ignored and I packed the truck Saturday morning in a light drizzle. The quest for flower pictures overcame common sense (please, no snide remarks here). Also there is always the chance that sunshine would prevail on the other side of the Cuyamaca's. Not this time. Since I hadn't visited the areas north of Borrego Springs since the spring flower season started I decided to go up Coyote Canyon to see how it was fairing. It was a good choice. Even though it was sprinkling it didn't prevent me from snapping these shots or taking a 40 minute hike up and back over the now almost impassable 4x4 bypass road around Lower Willows. The drive was worth it just to smell the desert during a light rain. The two stream crossing had a bit more flow than usual but I pushed through. I stopped at "the wall" and hiked up, past the struggling Jeep Wrangler, to a Collins Valley overlook. Most of the pictures came from the wash area within a mile of the pavement end on Di Giorgio Rd on the drive back. After buying my customary bag of grapefruit at the fruit stand at the intersection with Henderson Canyon Rd I headed east to pick up S-22 and wind my to Blair Valley overland via the Thimble Trail and other washes that ultimately connect with highway 78. At the Thimble Trial crossroad with Short Wash I decided that the weather was too ominous to continue that plan and I back-tracked to S-22 via Fonts Points Rd. I had some very tenuous meeting arrangements for camping with Imma and Xavier at Blair Valley so I took the much easier blacktop route. By 3:00 I arrived at Blair Valley which is just south of Shelter Valley, population 320. Maps still refer to this area as Earthquake Valley so hopefully they will catch-up soon with the residents recently preferred property value enhancing name. It was gusty, with intermittent heavy drizzle at the Blair Valley primitive camp. The Rv'ers looked secure and their TV antennas were in no danger of wind damage but it just wasn't inviting enough for me. I drove down to the trail head of Marshall South's home ruins and then drove back looking for Imma and Xavier. By 4:00 I was back at the highway and decided to head home. There is always next weekend and I no longer notice the drive here and back once I go on autopilot. In the Julian area visibility was less than 200 feet due to the heavy fog and rain. I tried to be more alert and less auto-pilot for that stretch.
I am trying to identify plant names but comparisons with books and pictures is tough. I will only put a name next to one I'm sure of or a name / ? if I am think there is some doubt. These images are all modified (cropped, resampled etc.) for web presentation. The original full size images are available by request.
All pictures are Coyote Canyon unless specified otherwise.
Click on an image to see larger, more detailed version. Email comments - pat@ponart.com
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 Mist over Collins Valley |
 ? note the rain drops |
 Desert Lily close up |
 Desert Lily |
 Desert Lily note the rain drop on lens :( |
 Dune Evening Primrose note the damp sand pattern |
 Creosote Bush (close up) |
 Coyote Canyon (flower mix) Verbena, Primrose and Lily + |
 Brown Eyed Evening Primrose |
 Santa Rosa Mountains a sun spot as seen |
 Blair Valley, Desert Agave OUCHIE - tip of flower stalk |
 Blair Valley, Desert Agave 5 foot stalk |
 Blair Valley, ? very tiny flowers <3/8" |