California National Parks ~2026 Superbloom

Left Arizona travelling west Driving from Arizona into California the land became so arid and baron. Just the beginning!! ouch! I'm trying REALLY hard to not be disappointed but oh it is challenging! I have been following the California super bloom for a month! Best in over a decade...but it came early and this weeks heat fried all that was here. It is still beautiful and I will find beauty in the details but a part of my heart is dissapointed. So close and yet so far!! This is the wildflower field that the park is famous for! 2 weeks ago it was exploding with color!! This is a photo from this year from a photographer I follow!! ouch! lol thinking now it may be AI lol These are more typical from google photos I know we will find some treasures in small places! Yup, Approaching campground I spotted a blooming barrel cacti!!  Took a little drive to explore  and stumbled on a self serve grapefruit stand 6.00 for around 10 grapefruit!!!! OMG so so good Made a simple light dinner! ...

It hit 107 again today in Organ pipe! Wow!! A very different experience. It is my 7th time here, Jerry's 2nd, and this is the hottest and driest I have every seen it!! March 21,2026 - hardly a wildflower to be found! Above are some pics from March 27, 2023 to show the difference!  No superbloom here this year! Didn't get the rain. Same road 2023 and 2026. Kind of cool to see how different it can be. The left is Alamo Canyon Campgroubd in 2023 vs today  2026 on the right. This is the primitive campsite I tented in 1991-1995. A special place in my heart. It was never close to 107 degrees thank heavens! Lol We did a 2 mile hike to arch canyon. It was way too hot but still beautiful. Definitely tired us out but had a long nights sleep and feeling refreshed as I write this today. The desert plants adapt so well to a lack of rain. The occatillo (below) for example drops it's leaves in drought to conserve wate...

 We left Oasis State on route to Deming, NM to visit and old friend. At first we couldn't figure out what the white haze in the distance.  As we got closer we realized it was White Sands National Park. Impressive how far away it was visible We stopped at a tiny taco truck in an assuming town. It was the BEST!! As we approached Deming the poppies started showing off!!  Here is the view of Chris Flints ranch as we approached.  It is a little piece of heaven!  We had a wonderful visit , learning more about his ranch and current life dream.  He called us out of the blue a couple weeks ago. He wanted to thank Jerry for being a positive influence in his life as a neighbor and as a marine. I knew him as a fun energetic creative student when I taught at Watkinson. It was a fun coincidence when I learned he was next door neighbors with Jerry (who I hadn't yet met.)  Chris became a marine, and ended up protecting our country for many years with many roles. He ha...