THE MELTING TOWN OF DAGGETT, SOME 30 MILES EAST OF BARSTOW ON ROUTE 66, IS HOME TO ABOUT 200 RESIDENTS. IT WAS THE SITE OF THE DAGGETT DAYS PARADE ON APRIL 6. THE TOWN WAS ENTHUSIASTIC SHOWING UP IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. GUITAR PLAYERS ENTERTAINED PRE PARADE AND DURING THE PROCESSION.

ALONG THE PARADE ROUTE WAS THE  STONE HOTEL.(BELOW).  THE DAGGETT BROCHURE SAYS IT WAS BUILT AROUND 1875 BUT “SOME UNVERIFIED SOURCES CLAIM AS EARLY AS THE 1880s.” ITS PAST VISITORS REPORTEDLY INCLUDE DEATH VALLEY SCOTTY, LT. GOV. JOHN DAGGETT, BORAX SMITH AND AMAZINGLY JOHN MUIR WHO VISITED OFTEN TO SEE HIS DAUGHTER WHO LIVED THERE.

THERE ARE MANY HISTORIC DWELLINGS IN TOWN, SOME BARELY STANDING. THE SKI LODGE ROOF HOUSE IS ONE. IT DATES BACK TO 1926, THE YEAR ROUTE 66 WAS BUILT.

THE DESERT MARKET (ABOVE) WAS ON THE PARADE ROUTE. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1908.

WE VISITED THE DAGGETT CEMETERY. A VOLUNTEER AT THE DAGGETT MUSEUM, GAYLE GILPIN, HAS TAKEN ON THE TASK OF MAPPING THE GRAVES. SHE KNOWS WHO IS BURIED THERE BUT NOT IN WHICH GRAVE. QUITE AN UNDERTAKING.

headed home we visited the ghost town of CALICO, enjoyed a fried chicken lunch, perused the many shops and witnessed a shoot out.

THESE OLD MINING TOWNS MADE ME THINK ABOUT THE HARD LIFE THE MINERS LIVED WORKING ENDLESS HOURS WITH LITTLE OR NO SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

HEADING SOUTH ON 10 OUR FIRST STOP IS ALWAYS THE FARM’S HOUSE IN BANNING (above).

WOW. THE USUAL FLOWERS AND THEN SOME RARE ONES ARE BURSTING FROM THE GROUND. CATTERPILLARS LUMBER OVER PLANTS, BEES ARE IN HEAVEN, AND THE PAINTED LADIES STOP FOR A REST IN THEIR MIGRATION. HENDERSON CANYON IS ABLAZE. SOME OF THE BEST SHOWS WERE BEHIND OUR CAMPSITE AT THE PALM CANYON RV PARK AND AROUND THE VISITOR CENTER.

It isn’t a trip to Anza Borrego without visiting the beautiful sculptures of Ricardo Breceda. The dragon is always a favorite as it undulates under the road and then emerges with a rattlesnake tail. Thanks Ricardo for the joy you bring us.

THE DESERT TOWN OF BORREGO SPRINGS IS ALSO KNOWN FOR ART, SHOPPING AND RESTAURANTS. THE PATIO AT POBLITOS IS A PERFECT SPOT TO TRY CACTUS MARGARITAS AND FINE MEXICAN FOOD.

CAMP IS THE PERFECT SPOT FOR HAPPY HOUR AND THEN FOR GREAT FOOD AND ATMOSPHERE WE HIT THE CRAZY COYOTE STEAK HOUSE AT THE PALMS.

NEGOTIATING THE SANDY ROAD INTO THE SOUTHERN END OF ANZA BORREGO, WE FOUND TAPIADO ARROYO AND CONTINUED ON TO EXPLORE THE TAPIADO MUD CAVES. THIS AREA IS BETTER KNOWN THAN THE PARK SERVICE WOULD LIKE. THE CAVES ARE A FUN SPELUNKING EXPERIENCE AND CAN OFFER A SHORT JAUNT INTO THE DARKNESS OR MILES OF EXPLORATION.

ZOE AND CARIE WERE GAME AND FLASHLIGHTS IN HAND EXPLORED SEVERAL CAVES.

AND WHAT IS THIS? HOLLYWOOD AND VINE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. A GEOCACHE?

IT HAS BEEN FUN, BUT SOMETIMES YOU NEED ALONE TIME, NOT SURROUNDED BY TOURISTS AND CROWDS. WE ESCAPED TO THE BADLANDS AND PERCHED ON A CLIFF WITH AN AWESOME VIEW OF THE BADLANDS AND IN THE DISTANCE: THE SALTON SEA.

HUNDREDS OF PAINTED LADIES FLEW THROUGH OUR CAMPSITE AND BLISTER BEETLES LUMBERED OVER THE ROCKS AS IF ON A MISSION.

RESISTING THE URGE TO STOP AND MAKE A DONATION TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS AT THE RED EARTH CASINO, WE HEADED FOR THE SALTON SEA. THE RECREATION AREA IS ALWAYS A FAVORITE AND THIS TIME WAS EVEN BETTER AS WE SET OUT TO EXPLORE THE DESERT X ART WORKS RIGHT IN THE CAMPGROUND.

FROM OUR CAMPSPOT WE ENJOYED THE SPARKLING SEA -NO DEAD FISH, NO FLIES, NO CROWDS. ALSO, NO PELICANS OR EGRETS, ONLY BLACK NECKED STILTS. HEY, WHAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE? A LONE FLOATER ON THE SEA. LOOKS LIKE ALAN. HE LIVED TO TELL THE STORY.