Every once in a while over the last couple of years I have caught my grandchildren in a weak moment and we have gone off chasing thunderstorms in the desert. One of the events I still haven't seen, but would like to (from a safe distance) is a flash flood roaring down one of the washes. I've heard they can be exciting. This last year near the first part of July we had a rare early storm. So I jumped in the Jeep and took off (couldn't talk the grandkids into going this time). As I was going down Montezuma Grade, I noticed some volunteers down in Tubb Canyon sitting under a blue tarp. They were there for the three day Big Horn sheep count that the state park holds each year.
Later I was cruising around Borrego Springs when I started hearing thunder from the west and saw some dark clouds and rain coming down around Hell Hole Canyon. I thought, this is my chance, so I began driving up Montezuma Grade. As I started up the grade the thunder and rain picked up and I started to see a current of water on the side of the road and rocks began coming off the hillside.
At first it was pretty exciting, but than all of a sudden my excitement turned to concern for the paint job on my Jeep. Within another moment it occurred to me that the canvas top on my Jeep probably would not stop one of these rocks if one made a direct hit. Shortly after my revelation, I found a place to turn around and headed back down the grade for safer ground. As I was in the process of turning around I chanced a glimpse down into Tubb canyon, but the sheep counters were nowhere in sight, the rain was coming down too hard. I thought to my self they're probably seeing the flash flood that I came looking for, but I don't know if they were appreciating their luck or not.
But as quickly as it started it came to an end.
The desert was once again peaceful and quiet with the fragrance from the creosote bush, that is so unique to the desert, after a rain.
