Weekend Oasis

I was desperate to get out of town. Over the last few weeks, the incessant traffic and concrete fortress of my urban neighborhood was threatening to swallow me whole. I longed to be somewhere where I could hear the birds sing, see the stars dance at night, and most importantly, be able to ramble aimlessly up a mountainside. On the advice of some friends, I decided to explore Anza –Borrego Springs Desert State Park for the first time on a recent weekend.

The town of Borrego Springs is only a two hour drive from San Diego and was an easy journey at the end of the work week. My goal for the weekend was to explore the desert, hike, and enjoy the desert evenings.

The first morning, I woke up shortly after sunrise due to the chatty birds conversing loudly in the early morning sun. With a spring in my step, I quickly got ready for the day of hiking and enjoyed a cup of fresh coffee in the crisp morning desert air. Having arrived after dark the previous night, I wasn’t prepared for the spectacular stark desert scenery that stretched out before me. It was hard to absorb the endless shades of brown and grey of the desert hills, the crisp brilliant blue of the cloudless sky, and the sun glowing in the morning air. Perfect. I could feel the stress of the city already easing from my shoulders.