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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Trembling earth?

If I remember correctly, the word Okefenokee means ‘Land of the Trembling Earth’.   When I volunteered at Okefenokee NWR last winter, I got to experience first hand what that trembling earth meant.  It kind of reminded me of standing on a bowlful of Jell-O.  And isn’t that just about what everyone’s future plans are written in… Jell-O? 

About a month ago or so, I had pretty well decided that I would not return to Anahuac NWR next year, but would instead try a winter in Arizona.  I contacted a refuge out there, but never heard back from them.  So, I thought I’d take a winter off from volunteering, and began investigating RV parks in the Casa Grande area.  My brother Kurt and his wife Jody have helped me by looking at a site down there.  I also corresponded with Sandy about her opinion on a park very close to Kurt’s house.  I’ve been very close to calling that park and making a reservation for the winter, but have been a little hesitant.  I’ve never thought of myself as a resort RV park kind of person where you’re packed in like sardines in a can.  Most of the activities offered don’t really appeal to me either, but I’m also not a boondocker.  I like full hookups.  I was just about to bite the bullet, and give that lifestyle a try.

Until this afternoon when I got a call from Nate at Imperial NWR.  He wanted to know if I was still interested in volunteering for next winter’s season there.  We chatted for some time, and I got all of my important questions answered.  There’s adequate air card coverage, and I’ll work three days a week.  (I’m done working four days a week.)  I also think it helped to have a good word put in by my friends Linda and Jay, who are volunteering there right now.  Thanks, you guys!

The refuge encompasses the lower portion of the Colorado River before the dams near Yuma.  So, I’ll be living in the desert, but I’ll have the green and wetlands of the river basin as well.  It’s been a number of years since I’ve been in the southwest.

IMG_0255

I went back in my photo archives hoping to include some appropriate pictures, but this is the only one I had.  Some of you will recognize the great RV gathering at Quartzite in the distance.  Considering I owned a house in Ajo for more than a decade, you’d think I’d have some pictures of some saguaros, but life happens and this is all I could come up with.  My shutter finger is itching to get back out there and shoot away. 

My latest plans do include stopping in Casa Grande for a couple of weeks before traveling on to the refuge.  I do want to visit with Nurse Ratchet and possibly meet up with some of you southwest bloggers.  Smile

I had intended to post more about the High Island rookery tonight, but I just wanted to share this news first.  Can you tell I’m excited?

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

43 comments:

  1. That is pretty exciting.. I know it will be good to visit with your brother and family and revisit old haunts. Whoop, Whoop11

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  2. O boy! Welcome back to the west, Judy! Maybe we'll get to see you out here. (but I don't think you'll be seeing many spoonbills out this way!) Great choice, good decision!

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  3. WOW! Those spoonbills are beautiful! We've never volunteered at Imperial but have spent some time there for other reasons.... a big place with lots going on.

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  4. It should really be a change of scenery for you. Hope you enjoy it.

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  5. Great news. Hope to get to see you again, and the location sounds wonderful..

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  6. We'd love to have you visit at Dogpound South. Not sure when you are heading out there but we don't head south until sometime in the fall, it's too hot. Lot's of room there and it is entirely fenced so your wild child can run free.

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  7. Forgot to mention we are only about 30 minutes from Casa Grande.

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  8. Congratulations! What a great opportunity to be in the warm weather all winter. We are headed to AZ next year. Maybe this time we can actually meet.

    Any issues there with the oil spill in the Houston Ship Channel?

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  9. I know you are excited! So are your blog readers! I'll be over that way in the winter myself. Maybe we can meet up. BTW, I saw a red-headed woodpecker today in an urban setting. Yay!

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  10. Just our luck. We are in the west now, bbut will be Florida bound for much of next winter. We will cross paths sooner or later. Maybe in Minnasota this summer.

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  11. Congratulations, Judy! (Need to get any dental work done while you are there?) ;-)

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  12. that is wonderful news. . .things always work out exactly as they should!

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  13. You're excited, I'm excited!! Guess I better start looking to see if there's any way I can be there while you are there. My track record thus far isn't very good obviously. Like all the other NWRs you choose, they are lucky to have you. I really can't imagine you in a commercial park or Emma either.

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  14. I too would be excited--things happen for a reason I guess! Congratulations on your new job and maybe we will get to meet as our plans include AZ again next year.

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  15. This is great news! We enjoyed our visit to Imperial last month....it is a beautiful refuge. We will surely be in your area next winter. Looks like you will have lots of company! And I am glad for you that you will only be working 3 days instead of 4.

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  16. Well I sure hope to meet you in Casa Grande it's about an hour from me but I don't mind heading up there to me you.

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  17. You are going to have so much company you aren't going to know what to do with yourself. Lots of folks really love the Imperial Dam area. We haven't stayed there but drove through this last January.

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  18. That's exciting news!! I spent a week at the Imperial Dam LTVA this winter - it was great! I look forward to exploring the refuge next winter. It'll be so fun that you'll be there!

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  19. Always a relief to have plans fall into place. Some blog friends spent the winter at the Palm Creek in Casa Grande ... if you haven't already checked it out ... https://www.palmcreekgolf.com/stay/. No personal experience, but they seemed to enjoy the place.

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    1. Palm Creek Golf & RV Resort
      Rate Schedule: November $758.00 December $833.00 January $889.00 February $970.00

      I would probably enjoy it also but can not afford it.

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  20. Now that I'm free of waiting on the VA, our plans are looking like we will venture to the Southwest next winter, too. Maybe you'll finally let me catch up with you for that RV wash job? :c)

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  21. It's tough to beat the southwest for continually great winter weather. In Desert Hot Springs this year we had the hottest and driest winter in our 7 years of snowbirding. Hope that continues for you next year.

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  22. We come off the road in the winter and stay on the west side of Tucson, near the Desert Museum. We have had the best winter in memory! Hope it holds true for next year! We LOVE southern AZ!!

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  23. Well, Yuma is just a hop,skip and a Jump from here. Glad to know you have decided to come by.

    Nurse Rachet.

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  24. Wow, a great change of scenery. Good for you. Congratulations. After the cool winter you have had this year, the warmth of the desert is just what the doctor ordered. Warm those bones.

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  25. Judy!!! I can't believe that spoonbill header photo....you got such a great one...and I tried all winter, as you know. So glad you got a good gig down in the desert. Of course, we will have to head your way sometime next winter and get a new and different refuge tour from our favorite bird lady. Hugs to you and again, congrats!!

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  26. Sooooooo excited for you...Having lived in Ajo, you are going to feel at home in the desert...plus great weather! that Colorado River is just fabulous!!

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  27. Welcome back to Arizona ! Hope you love it as much as I do! (17-year resident)

    Virtual hugs,

    Judie

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  28. LOVE your header picture ... and glad you're going to where you're excited about going ... I don't like going places where I'm not excited about it...

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  29. We should be back in Arizona by then. Would love to meet up.

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  30. Great news for you and we get to read about new stuff next winter. Well done!!!!!!

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  31. That's so exciting!!! I'm glad you waited to make reservations somewhere else. So cool to do something new next winter, though I've certainly enjoyed spending time this winter down south with you!

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  32. Hey Judy, We are excited for you! Lots of good birding at Imperial! Watching the ducks "surf" the cascade by the dam is hilarious. They obviously do it for fun just like kids! Good deal: only 3 days a week and you're not too far from family!
    Keep up the good photography, love your Roseates! Kathy & Grant

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  33. I read a NOAA blog yesterday that had interesting information about ocean temps and a 'huge' El Niño next year, which means more warm temps in the desert next winter! Perfect for you! Gorgeous header photo, Judy!

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  34. Fantastic news. Can't wait to hear about it. I'm taking of some of the winter to get bionic shoulder(s) but will be looking for a place to winter the following year.

    And thanks for the spoonbill picture. Miss watching the babies grow up at the High Island Rookery.

    Working here at the Land of Trembling Earth to pacify the plant hunters who are finding only - mostly mowed down pitcher plants. About to go beg Gracie to let me mark them. Two parrot pitcher plants already have flower buds, but not much else after the last mowing chewed them up.

    A visitor who is spending the winter in Kingsland and comes here often found me as I was off to find birds on the Cane Pole Trail. She got some great pictures of a Prairie Warbler.

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  35. Outstanding- although we will miss you as we travel to San Antonio for the holidays.

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  36. We will be returning next year and can not wait to work with you again.

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  37. Yea!!! can't wait to see ya, those bones are gonna love the dry warmth for a winter :) Glad to hear it is Imperial too.

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  38. That's great! Yes, I bet you meet up with lots of bloggers next winter, hopefully us included.

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  39. GREAT NEWS! We 'plan' to be in Arizona at the same time, about 70 miles from Casa Grande or 160 miles to Yuma, expect a visit.

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  40. I'm curious as to how you made arrangements to work three days instead of four each week!

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  41. Good for you, that sounds great! If I'm at Quartzsite, I hope we will be able to meet up!! :)

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