Big Rock Creek

I'd been living in this valley for close to 15 years, and had no what was around me.

Let me explain... My husband (David) and I moved to Southern California from Connecticut about 15 years ago, we had been together about 5 years before that. David is a big RPG fan and I pretty much devoted my spare time to his game for the past 20 years, when I decided that gaming just wasn't full filling enough to want to keep doing it (nuff said). Don't get me wrong I enjoyed gaming... but there's nothing like having you're own adventure. So I quit, and I haven't looked back since. But I had nothing to do... so I asked a friend of mine (Linda), who is into outdoor adventures to show me something new. AND SHE DID!!!

Big Rock Creek Wash

The first place she showed me was Big Rock Creek. Appropriately named for its huge bolders. Linda needed rocks for her garden, and it's a great place to find unique rocks. It was early March, when we first went. We had a really heavy snow fall this year, one day alone brought us 8-12 inches depending on your location, and the snow melt was making the creek rush. I had never seen so much water so close to the desert ever. And although the trees had not formed any leaves yet, it was still beautiful. I had no I ideal what was lurking in my back yard. This was awesome. The Shide in me got to go exploring for real.

Since then we have been back several times, either to gather rocks for our yards, or just to enjoy the nature. The water is clear cold and refreshing, even when it's 100+ degrees at home.

This weekend we were not the only ones who thought this was a good idea as every swimming hole was being used. One gentleman was even energetic enough to deepen his swimming hole by building up the dam around him.

Small Dams create Swimming Holes

Our friend Joe

Our friend Joe, who came along, immediately got himself cooled down. And cooled down is an understatement. For the middle of July, it was still very cold... like I said lots of snow this year, and it's keeping the creek running. So we enjoyed the early morning and afternoon splashing in the creek. I can't say when the last time I did that was, it must have been when I was 12 and visiting my grandma in Germany. It was nice to feel like a kid again.

If you want to see more, check out Linda's blog hikingforhope.blogspot.com