Short move day

Saturday, February 10, 2018 – Location:  American Legion #853 in Borrego Springs, CA

Today I decided to move into town to the American Legion to stay one night and dump tanks and take on water.  Not sure where I will go tomorrow.

This morning I got up before the sun and Yuma and I took a long walk.  It was already 56 degrees, sunny and beautiful!

After a quick cereal for breakfast and my grapefruit and OJ, I started packing.  Slowly, because it was already getting warm.  Just as I was finishing up around 10 o’clock, a silver truck with a nice Airstream attached pulled in nearby.  Went over and told the couple they could have my place as I was just leaving.

Talked to the couple for a minute or two.  He just retired and lives in Prescott, Arizona.   They were traveling to see more of the southwest they had lived and worked in all these years.

Time for me to move on.  About 40 minutes later I was pulling into the American Legion parking lot. 

Went inside and the lady at the bar was just opening up for the day.  Her name was Cindy.  Asked if I could stay for the night and she asked if I was a Veteran and I showed her a photo of my DD214 discharge papers and I was in.  $5.00 for the night and $5.00 for the dump and water.  Not a bad deal.  Thanks, Al for recommending this place.  Travel With The Bayfield Bunch

It is a big parking lot with dry parking areas and spaces with electricity and water.  I took a dry one.   Here’s our place facing the Tamarisks trees.

Just as we got settled in the winds started to pick up.  Looking at the forecast, they are calling for 45 mph winds this evening as a cold front comes in from the west over the mountains.  Highs tomorrow only in the 70s.  More like it!

That was it for us today.  Now to my travels from a couple of days ago.

After I left Split Mountain I drove about five miles through the wash looking for anything of interest.   Of course the scenery was beautiful, but I was looking for something special.

This is known as the Elephant Knees.

Very rugged country.  Looks like someone just heaved rocks and boulders everywhere.  Unfortunately, the wash was as wash-boardy as a wash could get.  My back and neck began to hurt from all the jostling.

Just as I was getting ready to turn around four jeeps came up and I flagged the lead jeep down and asked what was ahead.  He said they just came from Sandstone Canyon about two miles further.   It is a rugged canyon and not recommended for a single traveler.  Just know when you’ve hit your limit he said.

Now this is more like it!

Getting interesting now.

Getting really tight now.

This is where my Jeep tells me to stop.  Fallen boulders cover the wash now.  I can see where they went through, but I would not try climbing these boulders by myself out here in the middle of nowhere.

I could see where their tires climbed over the boulders because it is too narrow for the width of the jeep.

Looks like it will take another day to complete my three plus mile hike through the slot canyon ahead.  After leaving the Jeep, Yuma and I decided to walk up the canyon for a little more.  As we were walking, I saw this slot canyon off to the left that looked like it may get us to the top faster, so off we went.

Tomorrow, I’ll take you on that little adventure.

See you later.