Slab City, California

 This morning I woke up at 7 o'clock and felt pretty limber after yesterday's Jeep ride.  I was surprised.  Took a couple of Tylenol just in case and was was up and going at 8 o'clock.  Not sure what to do today, but I know it's going to be a warm one.  82 degrees for a high. 

As I was fixing breakfast, I could hear a familiar hum and sure enough a paraglider buzzed the White Lion.

During breakfast, I decided this will be the day I take the hour drive over to Slab City.  That way I could be doing something and stay in the air conditioning too.

It was 11 o'clock when Yuma and I headed down and around to the other side of the Salton Sea.  The drive went without a hitch and at 12:30 I took my first picture as I was coming up on Salvation Mountain from a distance.

Drove on up to the entrance and Yuma and I got out for some pictures.

In past years, people were allowed into the rooms and to walk to the top of the mountain, but because of Covid, it is off-limits.  Okay by me.   I've been through it and on it a number of times.

 

They also have several exhibits around the area.

Didn't take long before it was time to drive through Slab City and see if anything has changed.

Dolly  and I and I stayed overnight in Slab City years ago and I may have one time since, but the last few years, I haven't felt comfortable staying overnight.  A visit is good enough.

Typical permanent housing.

Looks like this place had a fire recently.

I believe this is Solar Mike's place, but didn't see a sign like normal.  Did a Google search and it says that the Sun Works is permanently closed.

That was all the pictures I took.  The place looks the same except there didn't seem to be any visiting RVers.  Maybe Covid has spooked outsiders but that is just a guess.

We had a quick trip home making it around 2:30.  Enjoyed the afternoon, but the wind from the west picked up quite a bit so had to come indoors.  Time to do my post anyway.  It's 6:15 and I'm done and ready to fix dinner and watch a little TV before going to bed.

Have a good night and will see you later.

Palm Wash

 This morning for some reason I didn't want to get out of bed.  Slept okay, but just felt tired.  At 8:45 I got up but Yuma wouldn't.  He can hear some military jets taking off in the far distance and it scares him.  I can just barely hear it and only when I'm outside.

It is already 68 outside as I lay on my lounger drinking coffee and eating crackers trying to decide what to do today.  Just then my neighbor Patrick came up on his Polaris.  He and Suzanne are heading north to a lake to do some fishing and he wanted to know if I needed any firewood they were just going to leave.  Nice of Patrick to offer.

I had been looking at this US Topo Map I have on my phone and it details this area very clearly.  Shows all the washes and where they go.  I could see that Palm  Wash was just south of me and it went all the way up to the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

At 1 o'clock, Yuma and I jumped in the Jeep and headed west on S22 through the badlands.  Right at the top of the badlands there is a place where you can drive down into the South branch of the Palm Wash.  I have been to this area a number of times over the years but didn't know the name of it.

We dropped down into the wash and went left for about a mile where it got too narrow to drive.  We got out and started our adventure.

The wash at this point is beautiful with all the cuts made by the many years of rain water running through it.

Yuma has to check every bush.  The beginning of our hike is under an arch.

I kept hearing someone whispering above me. 😁

 Not going to talk and just let you hike along with us.  Have to tell you, Yuma loves running the trail.  But he doesn't go far from me without checking.

Lots of fallen rocks in our path.

We're back to the arch for one last sniff.

My US Topo map said that if I follow the Palm Wash to the east towards the sea, I will end up back at the White Lion.  So off we went.  It was about 8 miles on S22 to get here, so can't be too much further to get back.  Difference will be 55 mph compared to 4 mph.  Wasn't long before I was out of the Park and back into the Truckhaven Recreational area.

Even have a sign in the wash to let me know.

The 12 miles of wash back to camp was mainly a wide sandy wash that twisted and turned like a snake.  Had to trust my Topo Map as it was logging my journey so I could see where I was.

Had to take one last look back at Santa Rosa Mountain.

Now I know why it is called Palm Wash.  I saw one lone palm tree on my way out.

Above is the US Topo Map log of my journey today.  The bullseye at the top right is the White Lion.  The straight lines were when I left taking the highways to get to the narrow wash.  The wiggly line is my slow drive back through the Palm Wash.  

I must say Yuma and I are worn out from all the bouncing around we did.  First and last time I drive that far through a wash just to find a palm tree. 😃  We got home at 4 o'clock.

It's 6:30 and I'm done with this post and time for dinner, TV and bed.  Watching Port Protection Alaska that Elva clued me into.

Goodnight.  See you later.

Checking out the area

 This morning I woke up a 8 o'clock to cloudy skies but warm temperatures.  3% chance of rain so no worries, but did decide to stay around home today and explore.  Had a relaxing full three course breakfast with bacon and eggs for a change.

It was 12:30 by the time Yuma and I jumped in the Jeep to find out where all those ATVs and bikes were going all weekend. 

It wasn't long before I discovered there are deep ravines all around this area.  It looks flat on the surface but these ravines are deep.

Deb and Riley showed me this arch last year when we visited this area.  I had walked to the top of the ravine to get my bearings  when I heard what sounded like a jet engine reverberating through the canyon below and up pop two people in a big Polaris. 

They stopped and introduced themselves as Suzanne and Patrick.  Turns out they just retired and starting their RV life styles.  They are camped down the road from me and are the last of the ATV campers.  They didn't have to go to work like the rest of them.  They are from Riverside, California not far from here.  We talked for about half an hour and they were on there way again.

Yuma and I headed on deeper into the ravines following the tracks.

This is the end of the line.  These ravines go on forever into the mountains.   Decided to get out and make sure I could figure out how to get back out of this maze.

Modern day hieroglyphics 😂

After looking it over, I figured if I followed my tracks out I should be fine and it not, just keep heading east towards the Salton Sea and I should be fine.

Made it home at 2:30 and called it a day.  As I sat outside resting I felt a little sprinkle.  We are getting our 3% worth of rain!

The sprinkles stopped and before I knew it the time is almost 7 o'clock and we've had dinner and I'm finishing my post now.  I love California time!  Going to watch a little TV before going to bed.

See you later.