The Pumpkin Patch
Anza Borrego, California

Way deep in southern California is Anza Borrego where you can find The Pumpkin Patch. It’s a bit like sleuthing in the dirt mogul hills as there is no sign to point out this impressive location. Pay close attention and you will run into this dirt rimmed or bordered out section that contains the most fascinating rock pumpkins. The pumpkins are all strewn about in this one area in all sizes with some broken in half resembling geodes or jewelry pieces for huge mythical gods. We spent an hour there walking about and photographing the pumpkins. Don, Dani, Josh and I all voted to have our lunch picnic there in the middle of nowhere surrounded by stone pumpkins. Now that was fun.
Let’s go!
-Lisa

Homepage rope drop from California

Just in case you wondered, the flash animation of me on rope is from Church Cave in California. It is a ‘140 foot rope drop near one of the entrances. This graphic is appropriate here on the www.DeLuciaOutdoors.com homepage as it has fond memories for Don and I. This is the very first rappel we ever did. The first time we were ever on rope. We spent our honeymoon 28 years ago caving and this cave was one of them. Two weeks later, we had jobs working as cave naturalists at Boyden Cavern in the Sequoia National Forest in Kings Canyon. What a way to start a marriage. That could be one of the secrets to our longevity. We were never afraid to pursue our passions together and happily embraced life outdoors. Maybe that’s what they mean by the phrase…the family that plays together stays together.

Let’s go!

-Lisa

Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite is special to Don and I as we first went there on our honeymoon. I was in awe of the massive steep cliffs lining the valley floor. The granite faces and waterfalls that create rainbows made it an ideal place to spend our special time together. We saw a lot of wildlife, including the famed Yosemite marmots that come out in droves.

On our honeymoon we were able to drive right into the Yosemite valley. Years later you had to take a tram to get in. These were all conservation measures to help preserve this natural wonder. It was necessary. I remember on our honeymoon remarking to Don about how sad the lower valley had to have sprinklers this early in the season.

We did hikes to Yosemite Falls and Nevada Vernal Falls, and took pictures at Bridal Vail Falls. We got a lot of rain in those days and the falls were nice and wide.

Let’s go,

-Lisa

Zion National Park, Utah

2009 Zion National Park celebrates 100 years of commitment to preservation. Don and I have been visiting the park for one quarter of those years. Who can resist hiking along pink and crème colored cliffs? Or a soothing swim in a shady canyon?

But beware if you do play in the water as it can be slippery. Our friend Ernie found that out when he landed in the water along with his camera that was not water proofed.

The canyons in Zion are so steep that it can feel as if you are walking in a cave in places. The geology of the sandstone is impressive with numerous stacked pancake features. Whether you have been there or not, you will enjoy our show.

Let’s go!

-Lisa

Bodie, California

Bodie is my very favorite ghost town. Where else can you visit a town that’s been left in exactly the same shape it was while folks were living there? It’s all the same only with years of dust layers for added effect. It looks like everybody just up and left and never came back again. You can see dishes on tables, merchandise in stores, even coffins in the mortuary.

The town has a quaint main street with a school house, businesses and homes. There’s even a jail across town and cemetery on the other side. The gas station is delightful with its old gas pump and classic old truck in line for a fill up. The fire station has vintage fire trucks on display.

When I saw a justrite carbide lamp sitting on a table it brought a smile to my face as Don and I used carbide lamps when we first started caving, and ours looks exactly the same as the one in Bodie. We went to Bodie when our daughter Daniella was an infant. We walked the town with her in a baby backpack.

When we stopped for lunch in their nearby picnic area, we were accompanied by a long procession of cows walking by, which brought squeals of delight from Daniella. Looking at these photos makes me want to go back.

Let’s go!

-Lisa