Hot Springs Tour - Nevada and California

 Even though we had camped on a breezy BLM hilltop at Lake Havasu, it was still a bit too warm for Hailey and I.  So we did what anyone would do - if they had wheels on their house - and pulled out of there!  We were headed back for California, so the first thing to do was to make sure the fuel tanks were all topped off at slightly less outrageous Arizona prices. :-)  I-40 took us westbound for a couple of hours before turning north again, into Mojave National Preserve.  Our favourite spot near Baker was completely empty, so that was where we ended up.  Even though it rained a bit one night, it was still pretty warm.

Having spent a couple of weeks in the area before Christmas, it didn't take long to get bored this time as well!

 This time, we headed north on 127, towards Tecopa and Shosone.  This highway meets the south-eastern corner of Death Valley National Park, and an interesting road led along the southern boundary of the park and looked to have some camping potential.  But alas, the washboard was pretty bad, so we backed out and continued on north.

It was time for more fuel, so the logical thing to do was to head over into Nevada where we only needed a small mortgage to fill up all the tanks and cans and propane in Pahrump.  Of course, the convenient pumps there had a maximum of $50 (!), so it took several go-rounds to actually fill up.

After a short leg north, we got onto 95 for the trip up through Amargosa Valley, Beatty, and Goldfield.

 It's pretty much wide-open country up there.  Light traffic, good roads.

It seemed that we were going to be passing close to Alkali Hot Springs which we had never been to, so it only seemed reasonable to make the short detour and check them out.  The springs themselves are apparently on private land, the site of a now long-gone resort of some sort, but are surrounded by BLM land for camping.

While the immediate area of the springs is not that scenic, the 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains more than make up for it.
 

Although there were a few random campers in the area, I had the choice of pools to myself for a relaxing evening soak.

In the morning, it was back on the road.  With plans to head back into California shortly, we did the prudent thing and topped off the tank again in Tonopah, Nv.

Lots of snow still on the high elevation mountain tops in the area, as we headed over the passes and back into California near Mono Lake.

A short scoot up 395 soon had us in Bridgeport, Ca, home of Travertine and Buckeye hot springs!

 

 

It was the middle of the day, and our 'usual' spot was empty - well outside the 'no camping' zone around the springs themselves.  So, it didn't take long to set up and head up the road for a soak. 

 

 

The rock formations created by the springs have made many of these long ridges, hundreds of feet long and towering 20 feet above the surroundings terrain; the water running in a small trench at the top of the ridge!

 

 

 

There are quite a variety of pools over a large area at Travertine, ranging from concrete tubs next to the parking lot, to small 'unofficial' pools that keep 'springing' up in various locations.

My favourite time to have a soak is first thing in the morning.  I'd get to the pools in the dark, when the stars were still out, and watch the morning sunrise from the comfort of the hot water.

Bridgeport, due to it's location (?) has some of the highest fuel prices I've seen, even before this latest price spike.  Luckily, I had enough to make it back to Nevada.

After about a week of hot water, and biking around the area, Hailey let me know it was time we got back in the truck and get gone!

Next time: Tahoe, Donner Pass, and back to the coast!

Sidewinder Road and beyond.

After a week or so camped in the southern part of Anza Borrego Desert State Park, we headed back to the Yuma area, pulling in just short of the Colorado River on Sidewinder Road.  We found the same spot where we had been camped two years ago, when the start of Covid had necessitated our departure northward a bit ahead of schedule.

Wow - the awning is out!  That doesn't happen more than once or twice a year to dry it out!

 

Like many places near military bases, we were treated to almost daily airshows!

Even some Ospreys were seen passing by.

Friends stopped by for happy hour and a fire ... They had been camped in the same area earlier, but the strong unrelenting winds drove them into a nearby RV park - complete with a swimming pool!  So I felt forced to visit them there a few times too!

Later in the evening, an uninvited but welcome guest made an appearance.

 

It must be springtime in the desert, as more and more things are beginning to bloom.

Other things - just stay sharp and menacing!

Temperatures were beginning to climb ...

I went for a little drive down to the border area, just to the south of Pilot Knob.  There is a canal running parallel to the border fence here, so you cannot get right to the fence.

I hoped perhaps I could make it all the way to the Algodones road, but the vehicle track proved to be a dead end.  Just as I turned around, a Border Patrol truck appeared behind me!

For some reason, a gate in the fence appeared to be open!

A friend was going to Algodones for some dental work one day, so I went along for the ride - and a $5. haircut.  I took these photos of the Mexican side of the border wall, right in  the downtown area.
 

He was finished in good time, so we had breakfast, and a beer, and got in line to cross the border again.

It was getting a bit warm in the Yuma area, and I had to spritz water on Ms Hailey a few times to keep her cool - so we reluctantly started our move northward.  First stop was Lake Havasu where we picked a spot on top of a ridge to maximize airflow. My neighbour had the new Starlink dish, but didn't offer to share the signal!

 

 

I did my 'annual' hike up Table Top mountain(Lizard Peak?) in SARA park,  

and did some biking along the 'channel' and around the island.

Spring break was winding down.

 

But, it was still too hot to leave my little girl alone for long, so we hooked up and headed out again.

That's about 98.6 in Fahrenheit!

You'll have to come back later to see where we head next!

Anza Borrego Desert State Park

We enjoyed our time camped in Ironwood Forest National Monument, with it's quiet camp spot, and convenient access into Tucson.  But, we were near the 14 day limit, and it was time for some new adventures!  We picked up the I-10 near Marana and headed west past Picacho State park, and Eloy, where Doug, Yuma, and Nick took up temporary residence a bit later :-(

This time, we found the new-to-us RV dump site at the Chevron in Gila Bend.  Gas Buddy showed some cheaper (!) fuel at the Circle K there, but they were all sold out when we got there.  Luckily, I had 10 gallons of spare fuel which I dumped in, so we could reach the cheaper prices in Yuma.

We did fuel up and filled the cans in Yuma - even so it was a new high record fuel purchase for me.

Our intended destination was the southern portion of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, so we cruised on west on the I-8 till the small town of Ocotillo where we headed northward into the park, looking for one of our all-time favourite camp spots.  The border patrol checkpoint was not in operation so we cruised non-stop, hoping our spot was vacant - and it was!  There were a couple of Class C's nearby, but they both departed the following morning, so we had the place to ourselves after that.

 

 

There are some large Mexican Weeping Pine trees at what must have been a historic ranch at one time.  They provide some shade, a wind-break, and most importantly, a place to sling the hammock!

There are a number of desert travel routes in the area, which provided lots of opportunity get out on the bike and explore.  Two official park campgrounds are nearby, Bow Willow, and Mountain Palm Springs, so the bike was used to explore both of those, as well as a hike up to the palm grove and springs, with a trail from both campgrounds.  Sorry Al, we didn't make it as far as the Christmas Circle, Jilbertos, or even the Marshall South place this trip.

Some of the Ocotillo cactus were flowering, but they didn't have leaves!

It was so nice there, that I spent two nights in the hammock under the almost full moon - with no need for a rain fly or bug net :-)

Bow Willow campground in the background, behind the bike.

Friends in Winterhaven advised me of an airshow that was about to happen at the nearby Naval Air Facility El Centro.  With little hesitation, I headed that way, in time for a performance from the Blue Angels, and other military and historic aircraft.   I got a special welcoming committee upon arrival, and was selected for a full vehicle search!  They wouldn't even let me watch them search, but it didn't take long, they were friendly, and I was soon on my way inside to watch the show.

 

 

The Blue Angels were the headliners, of course, but it seemed like the gremlins caused a few issues for them as well.  It appeared that one of their fleet was not up to the task that day, so the poor pilot got towed down the taxiway in front of the crowd, to pick up the backup jet.

They connected the backup and headed back out to the runway with it.  But then, it appeared that the second pilot had gotten left behind and he went sprinting at full speed to catch up to the towed craft, which eventually stopped and let him aboard!

Of course, the show itself went off apparently flawlessly, with another loud, impressive performance.

 Meanwhile, back in camp, there were visitors almost every night.

 

I had my weekly panic over Ms Hailey one day in that camp spot.  With her tags, huge neon orange bell and an Apple airtag, you'd think I would not lose her!  But, she was nowhere to be seen - and there really aren't many places to hide, and there is open ground all around.  So, I searched and searched in ever-widening circles, till eventually I spotted her sound asleep, perfectly camoflaged, laying in the shade, not 30 feet from my hammock!  She never ever takes off, but that doesn't stop me from thinking that this might be the first time!

A few hummingbirds visited the feeder, but so did this yellow bird, who somehow seemed able to get some of the sweet juice from the feeder.  Attempts to identify this bird came up short!

On our return trip towards Yuma, we avoided the interstate and dropped down along the Mexican border on highway 98.  It proved a good choice with minimal traffic and brand new, wide pavement, all the way to Calexico.  From there, there was detours, so we got back on I-8 for the remainder of our way to Sidewinder Road.

It will soon be time to start inching northward on our migration home!