Day 47 update

Spent two hours in consultation with the veterniary specialist today.  He was very through and patient and we did not feel as though he was trying to pressure us into anything.  He has been specializing in TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy) for 10 years. We decided to schedule the surgery with him but can not get in until a week from Wednesday at the earliest.  I gave Gracie aspirin to help her with pain and that was a mistake if surgery is to be performed within 8-10 days.  He doubted he could have scheduled her this Wednesday anyway but it might have been possible if not for the aspirin I gave her.  Too big a chance for excessive bleeding while on aspirin.

And Monday, he has been called to jury duty.  He is fairly confident he will "get out of it" due to his profession but will not know for sure until then.  So for now, we wait for the green light on Monday.  If Gracie gets in next Wednesday she will spend the night with the doctor and we will be able to bring her home on Thursday.  The Doctor actually spends the night with his patients to insure all goes well.  Unbelieveable!

Will need to return for a two week follow-up and stich removal appointment so we are not sure of our plans for the immediate future.  We also need to return after two months for a final evaluation of the proceedure.  Not really too sure about anything at this time.  Kind of a sharp blow to our trip (and finances).  But a small consolation is if we have to "hang out" anywhere for two months to "fix" Gracie, there is no better weather to be found.  It's not that we can't leave the immediate area, just need to pass through here on our way home.  So we will still explore California, but our range will be limited so we can return for the final evaluation.  However, there may be some options for the final evaluation if we simply do not want to return here if we can at least get to another "Board Certified" vet approved by our chosen Doctor.

Anyway, we will work it all out.

Pictures are loading tonight so here they are:

One sad camper

Sorry to bore you with our "views" from the campground, but we have not been able to do much except drive to dog doctors.  Getting back "home" to this is very comforting.

The edge of our overflow parking lot campsite

Saturday night sunset

The limit of Gracie's world.  We can "set" her out in the sand but she can't (won't) go anywhere so we sit out there with her.

Looking back at the park office from our "perch"

Good Night!

DAY 47

It's Monday and we are getting ready to drive Gracie into Palm Desert to see a veterinary specialist.
She had not improved by Friday morning so we made a run into Brawley (about 65 miles away) to see a vet - the nearest one.  X-rays all but confirmed a torn ACL.  That requires surgery and the Brawley vet was not able to do that type of proceedure.  He recommended a clinic in Palm Desert that has a vet who is current on the latest techniques.  We made a call Saturday morning and set up a consultation for 11:00am today.  Palm Desert is about 2 hours away.  With luck, we can get her scheduled for the operation as soon as Wednesday.  If so we will come back here to Borrego Springs for our last night and move to an RV park close to the animal hospital tomorrow.

Won't know until we talk to the specialist exactly what will happen or when, so what I just said could change.  Poor Gracie.  She seems so depressed.  She is able to put slight pressure on her bad knee and can "do her business" as long as we lift her in and out of the Rv (thank God).  Otherwise she just lays down and looks at us with those sad eyes.

So, got to finish and go to Palm Desert.

I'll put a few pictures below but they are just from the RV resort.  We have been unable to leave Gracie to do anything for ourselves.  We did opt to stay in the dry camping parking lot instead of the spot we had reserved for 4 days starting yesterday.  The parking lot is far better than the "hired help" area.  Put the HDTV on the side of the RV and watched the Super Bowl outside.  It got to 82 yesterday and with the game starting at 3:30 local time we saw the first half in the sun and the second half with the sun setting.  It stayed warm enough to finish the game, but did need to put some warmer clothes on.

Ellen fixed a "killer" dinner of lamb and mashed potatoes with guacamole & grilled tortilla chips for an appetizer.

Pictures wouldn't load.  Out of time to retry.  I'll try again tonight after we get back.

Day 44

It's Friday morning and a cold 27 outside.  But it was 24 yesterday morning so it's warming back up.
We moved yesterday from a site with water and electricity to the overflow parking lot with no hook-up's (dry camping).  I think I already explained that.

But, we got an end spot with a view to die for and no one on either side of us so we don't feel crowded.  Pictures below will say it all.

I think the cold spell we had the last two days is over so we look forward to more time in the sun today.  Being a cold day yesterday we drove 130 miles round-trip to Indian Wells to grocery shop.  Prices are high in Borrego Springs and selection is poor at best.  So we stocked up on food, alcohol, and all the other necessities of camping.  Considering we had to change sites in the morning (packing up from one and moving to another area and then reset up), the trip into "town" took most of the daylight hours.

We did find one of our favorite "hamburger joints" - In N' Out Burger in Indio and indulged in a 3x3 (That's three patties of hamburger and three patties of cheese).  They have a doggie menu as well and the grils ordered a single patty each.
Unbelievable business these places do!

Anyway, being late in the afternoon after we got back and unloaded the car I noticed the dog run was empty so I took the girls over for a little off-leash exercise having been in the back of the car most of the day.  I was throwing the ball for Gracie (Isabelle could care less about playing ball) and got her pretty wore-out.  As Ellen got to the dog run (I was going to throw the ball for her too because she spent most of the day in the car) I threw the ball one last time for Gracie and as she took off running she let out a "yelp" and raised her back leg and could not walk.  Had to get the car and drive her back to the RV.  I don't know what happened.  If it doesn't show any improvement this morning we may have to take her to Brawley about 60 miles away - the closest vet in the area - for x-rays.  She's still sleeping as I type so I'm not sure yet how she will be today.  With luck, she'll just be a little sore.  If's it's more - we'll be going to Brawley.

So she's starting to wake up.  I'll put some pictures on below.
More later.

View from the dog run at Tee #3

View of our new site taken from the dog run

The dog run

Pictures of our site - not too bad for an overflow parking lot - and here the nightly fee is only $27.00

Still can use the satellite dish with the new little (and quiet) Honda generator

This is my bed!

Day 42 and more Borrego Springs

We made the move to Springs of Borrego RV Resort yesterday without any problems.
The park is for all practical purposes full for the season (not only this year but next year as well).
But the they have 8 "campground" sites (water & electricity) used for park employees which are available to people like us who don't reserve a year or two in advance when not needed for the hired help.  We got into one of those sites for 2 nights, then 3 nights in the "dry camping" (no hookups) overflow parking lot, then back into the "campground" for 4 nights. We don't have a manicured and paved site to park on, but we still have use of all the resort has to offer - pool, hot tub, exercise room, golf course, etc.  And it's less than half the normal fees! That really makes me a happy camper!

It's 9 additional days in Borrego Springs - then we promise you won't hear Borrego Springs again. 

We will be heading to Joshua Tree National Park, then maybe Desert Hot Springs, might try out some San Bernardino County Parks in  the Victorville CA area, and on to Carpinteria State Park just south of Santa Barbara for an 8 day stay on an ocean campsite.  That will put us on the road North to maybe wine country on March 4th.  But there is lots of time to change our mind between now and then!

Yesterday was very pleasant.  Today the cold front that is effecting most of the country is giving us a mid 50's high and some windy gusts.  Too cold to sit outside, but still sunny.

Some pictures of the resort -

Our "campground" site

Our view

The wildlife

The good life

Sister Beth - do I look happy here?

Gracie got a new "pet" rabbit - Rocky
He's giving her a nasty stare and she is not going to take much more

Yep!  She's letting Rocky know who the boss is

All the clouds we saw today were at sunset

Just a couple golf course pictures

BORREGO

It's Monday, our 19th day in Borrego, and our last day in the State Park.  We move tomorrow to Springs of Borrego RV Resort for 6-9 days.  It's only about 3 miles away, but still need to "pack it all up" to move.  It's been nice not to have to do all that because we were here in one spot for so long.  Sad to leave "our" State Park.  But, moving on!

Today we got an early start and hiked a 6 mile round-trip up "Hell Hole Canyon".  Not nearly as difficult as described in the park brochure, but a nice exercise for us anyway.  Some pictures from the hike follow as well as a few from days ago I finally downloaded from my phone.

But first, looking at the Weather Channel, we can only say "we are so happy to be here"!

Our view

The French Corner

Downtown Borrego Springs

Start of our hike today up "Hell Hole" Canyon

Looking back at Borrego Springs as we hiked up the trail

First sighting of palms about one hour up the trail

 Incredible sights found up in the desert canyons

 The effects of the current "terrible" weather across the country as we see it

 The last campfire here in the Park