Desert Oasis

This morning, May 10th, was just about as perfect as it gets.  It is warm, sunny, and we enjoy the heck out of the campsite at Anza-Borrego, just sitting in the sun and reading.  Later on, we went to the visitor center and talked to a nice man who recommended several hikes.  Love these park rangers.  They know their parks and have been so helpful in recommending things to do that you don't really get from the guidebooks.  And, usually, they have just been hiking where you want to go and can tell you what to look for in the way of what flowers are blooming, wild animals are there, etc.  We decide to pack a bite to eat and some water and head to an oasis, back in a canyon, before it gets too hot.  It was about 2 miles back to the oasis, through a winding canyon where everybody else but us saw big horn sheep!  Around the last bend, we see probably 30-40 California Fan Palms, all clumped together around the source of a little stream.  Interestingly, the guidebook says that often, where you have an oasis like this, it is due to a fault in the earth's crust which allows the ground water to seep up to the surface. 

Afterwards, I'm afraid that's it for the hiking for me today.  After 4 miles in the beating sun, we go back to the visitor center and enjoy the history and geology exhibit and the film.  We are beginning to run into people from all over the world who have come to see some of our wonderful American natural treasures.  Makes you proud.