We spent Friday hunkered down in the camper while the wind howled past us outside. I spent the time (and warmed the camper) baking biscotti and beer bread.

The clouds obscured the surrounding mountains, but occasionally the sun would break through and present a rainbow!

This morning the sunrise revealed a dusting of snow on the mountains and a bright blue sky, but the wind is still whipping around a bit.

It should warm up to the low 60’s today.

We took an evening walk to look for a mysterious rock sculpture and ended up stumbling across it on our way back to the camper before total darkness!

An odd placement of rocks from a distance.

From a little height the rocks stretch out into the serpentine curves of a snake.

Artful details were added to complete the illusion.

We rode our motorcycles out of Borrego Springs up the Montezuma Grade between the San Ysidro mountains and Pinyon Ridge.

A fabulous view overlooking Borrego Valley.

We reached Culp Valley and checked out the primitive campsites up there. It’s about 10 degrees or more cooler up here than down on the desert floor.

Cooler temperatures and more moisture create a seemingly lush and verdant valley.

North Grove palms up close after a morning hike before it got too hot!

Mary’s Grove is farther up the canyon.

The name Mountain Palm Springs is verified in this grove by the trickle of water running down the wash. The shade and moisture was welcome and cooling in the blazing morning sunshine!

Palm Bowl.

This last grove I made it to was like a distant mirage up a brush filled wash.