As part of my San Diego County trip, I ventured out one evening at dusk to explore Borrego Springs. Imagine suddenly coming upon creatures who once roamed this earth eons ago, mammoths, wild horses, and giant sloths, scattered among the desert cactus and scrub trees. I felt like I had taken one step beyond. It was surreal. The sculptures are huge, bizarre, rusted hulks resembling their live counterparts. I saw three elephants up close that didn’t quite look like elephants. Later, from the Internet, I found they were “gomphotherium.” (Not sure what the pleural of that is! – gomphotheriumi?)
Dennis Avery, owner of Galleta Meadows Estates, envisioned the idea of adding ‘free standing art’ to his undeveloped property with original steel welded sculptures. He commissioned Welder/Artist, Ricardo Breceda, to create this dramatic “Sky Art,” as it is called. Begun in 2008, these sculptures are created using metal, hammers, screwdrivers, and sledgehammers and he is not done with this “creature feature” yet.
Just at the edge of darkness, a gigantic rattlesnake’s tail appeared. It see
med to burrow under the road and continue undulating across the field holding high his huge ugly head. This 350’ serpent is the most amazing sculpture. It took four months to build and three months to assemble it in the field.
The collection of sculptures, which also includes wild stallions, sabertooth cats, and even human forms, are found both north and south from the roundabout in Borrego Springs. The creatures are easily seen from the road, but if you park and walk around, be aware you are in rattlesnake country.
I had heard something about this collection just previous to receiving the San Diego County trip itinerary so I was very eager to see it. I wasn’t disappointed.
Of course, by the time I took all the photos I wanted, stood around to admire these creatures, it had grown quite dark. I mentioned didn’t I that Borrego Springs has been designated as an “International Dark Sky Community.” There was a fair sized housing development at the edge of town with no street lights. I like to always return via a different route so I decided to go through there. That was not a wise decision and I should have known better. In the dark (and here it was REALLY dark), I probably drove down (or up?) every street before I eventually I found myself on a street that took me into reasonably familiar territory. Ah well. God Bless until next week.
Minshall’s RVing Alaska and Canada ($19.95) and RVing Adventures with the Silver Gypsy ($16.95) are available thru Amazon.
At 45, Widow Minshall began 20 years of solo full-time RVing throughout Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Sharlene canoed the Yukon, mushed sled dogs, worked a dude ranch, visited Hudson Bay polar bears, and lived six months on a Mexican beach. She lectured at Life on Wheels, published six RV-related books and wrote a novel, “Winter in the Wilderness.”
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