The electrical labyrinth

What is electricity? Ohms, watts, volts, amps have been terms I have often heard and use daily. Yet, trying to understand these concepts has been like traveling in a foreign country where I don't know the language or customs. 
RVing is different in many ways mentioned previously, but the most difficult to grasp is the electrical system. In a house, you just switch on the lights or use appliances without any thought about where the power comes from. When the electricity fails, as in a storm, life suddenly becomes very unsettled.

In an RV, electricity is a daily  concern. At RV parks, you can plug into their electrical outlets but dry camping requires the use of a generator or solar panels to charge the batteries. ( I even saw one RV with a small windmill!) There is only so much power available with the 2 batteries I have and I have to keep track of what I can use.
I've leaned that electrical current is really the flow of electrons through a wire.(amps). The force ( pressure) with which it travels is the volt. The resulting amount of electricity is the number of watts supplied. 

my panel for batteries and tanks
12.9 volts of electricity topping up my batteries
from my solar panels

I chose not to buy a generator, determined to supply all of my electrical needs using the free energy from the sun. Generators require gasoline to run  and are quite noisy. Besides, I don't have room for a portable one and a built in one would cost a lot. I don't even like them! The suns rays are free and silently charge the batteries.
And so, I began with one 100 watt solar panel and gradually added more panels to the 430watts I have now.

Solar panels on the roof of my RV

  The solar panels are made up of cells that convert the photons of the sun's rays to electrons. 
My batteries store the power from my solar panels and after the sun goes down it limits how much I can use. I know someone who is able to use a microwave and a toaster but he has 8 batteries.

I returned to Quartzsite to "Solar Bill" to assess my needs. He found my batteries defective and replaced them. His staff then checked my wiring and replaced a ground wire. They also adjusted the controller ( controls the amount of current from the solar panels so that my batteries don't " get fried". )
The service was excellent and I was given a very good deal. I have enough solar power to charge several larger batteries but the problem is that the battery compartment is not big enough to handle more than what I have. Building another compartment is a major job and expense that I may do later. (I have room for this in the space where the generator would be).

Getting my wiring checked at Solar Bills

While at Quartzsite,I stayed at LaJolie BLM land a few miles north of town. Camping was free and I was happy to have some very good neighbours, including a couple from Alberta on their way to Mexico.

From there, I returned to Slab City and finally caught up with the LOWs there. "Loners on Wheels" are another group of solo RV travelers and have a permanent place set up at  "The Slabs" . There is a kitchen, library, and lounge. Every morning they gather around the campfire to watch the rising sun and catch up on any activities happening that day. They are like a family and many of them spend the winter there. I was made very welcome and enjoyed being shown around some more. I had been to the Slabs last year and felt at home. This time I discovered some other RV groups there eg The Traveling Pals and the Rubber Tramps. Down the road at the " Oasis" there was breakfast offered and often some music around their fire at night. I made some new friends and one of them took me to a nearby lemon orchard to pick up lemons that had fallen on the ground. I also attended a very good yoga class offered daily by an excellent teacher from  Woodstock, Ont,Canada, close to where I used to live as a child.

While there, I tried to learn more about electricity and someone gave me a simple multimeter so I could check my batteries and electrical system.
It's been quite a big learning curve!

The 2 coach batteries

Multimeter

Leaving there was like leaving home but I wanted to continue my journey back to Canada.
I arrived at the Joshua Tree national park on Feb 13 but could not get in because the campgrounds were full ( long week-end due to President's Day) so I camped at BLM land just south of the park. Again I had some terrific neighbors, a family from Los Angeles,who invited me to their campfire.
The disadvantage of BLM land, ( aside from no services), is that the roadways, if you can find one, are not graded. You just drive into the desert until you find a spot that appeals. There are no markings and sometimes there are areas of soft sand, similar to a snowbank, I did get stuck driving out. Luckily I made it after digging out the sand around my tires and placing several stones for grip. RVs frequently get stuck in the desert sand and people sometimes need to call roadside assistance to get towed out.

After 2 days,  I decided to drive the short distance to Indio to meet an RV friend there and get some supplies, We both parked for free in their parking lot overnight.
When I returned, I was able to get into Joshua Tree park and got a campsite very close to where I had camped last winter. 

my campsite at Joshua Tree park

I love those rocks! Once again I had some good neighbours, a family from British Columbia and a new friend Kathy, from California.
When traveling like this, time in one place is limited and you learn to make friends quickly. Most RVers are 
in a relaxed holiday mood and have time to share stories. It's refreshing to be spontaneous and not have to make an appointment to get together with a friend, as is so often the case in a city.

A Joshua tree stands in front of those rocks

Sometimes I can have a close friend for a brief time and never see him or her  again or I may make a lasting friendship.
What a wonderful place the desert is!
 There is no official internet or phone service in the park but last year, my friend Shirley showed me a hill from which we could get a signal. I revisited this  natural "phone booth", a short hike from the campground.

Making a phone call from the deserts natural " phone booth"

One warm sunny day, I decided on a longer hike in the desert to see the rock arch. Besides taking water and a snack, I used my hiking poles. Not only is the ground uneven but there is always a possibility of rattle snakes (although they hibernate over winter, the weather is getting warmer ).
At the rock arch I met an Australian man on a round the world trip. He was flying to Fiji the next day and already has a ticket for the trans-Siberian express train from Moscow to China, a trip I have long wanted to do.

I left the park a few days later to drive to Yucca Valley to visit some friends there. I had met them last year  at Joshua Tree park and we have maintained a connection. Shirley and Craig treated me like royalty, hooking me up to their electrical system and providing meals. Craig also fixed some broken latches for me and hooked up my TV and DVD player to the remote. My brother had done this last summer but I somehow messed it up. Technical I'm not! I have an ongoing invitation to return to Yucca Valley for a visit. Life is good!

After that, I left for the coast and the Pacific ocean. 
I have been thinking about my electrical system and the problem isn't really that big. My batteries get fully charged throughout the day and I wonder if I could just change my lifestyle. It would be more natural to go to bed after
the sun sets and get up with the sunrise, hence needing very little electricity during the night. Staying up until 11pm has become a bad habit!

More adventures follow along the coast.

"You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth"

----Evan Esar ,humorist

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in determination"

-----Tommy Lasorda, Sportsman

"Our limited perspective, our hopes and fears become our measure of life, and when circumstances don't fit our ideas, they become our difficulties"

-- Benjamin Franklin

"Do not drift through life. Live every day as if it were your last and every minute as if it were your first.."

-- "Notes from the Song of Life" by Tolbert McCarroll

Did you know that:

--On a bright sunny day, the sun's rays give off approx 1000 watts of energy per sq meter of the earths surface? ( internet search)

May your life be filled with sunshine

Maria

whyknotrvmaria@gmail.com

Winning adventures

January sped by like an olympic sprinter and I can finally catch up to my writings.
This winter has been an unusually cold one for Arizona and California, with temperatures diving to freezing, (or even below!) some nights. It appears that the usual warm winter climate of the southwest has been pushed aside by El Nino. Several areas, such as Death Valley, have had snow a few times. Having worked in Canada's north, I am used to the cold but didn't think to bring a down jacket as one man wore last week, along with some mitts and a toque!
Nevertheless, there have been many beautful warm days with plenty of sunshine and the temperatures are rising.

It's been interesting to drive along the dry desert and then come across the lush green fields of vegetables, irrigated by water from the Colorado River along the border of Arizona and California.
The currnt severe drought  conditions are having an impact on growing crops and will effect export.

The arid desert

We may have to learn to live more in tune with the seasons and eat food grown locally. Do Canadians need to eat lettuce,tomatoes, oranges and strawberries imported from California in the winter or can we go back to living more naturally with the seasons? My grandmother used to collect pears,plums and wild mushrooms to dry on racks in the attic and enjoy eating over the winter. Apples would get pressed into cider. How have our lives and appetites become so complex?

I continued to follow the WINs northwest to Martinez Lake, a resort town along the Colorado River, where we once again stayed on BLM land. This time we were within walking distance of the many services the town offered. It was a treat to have access to laundry, showers, restaurants, water, garbage bins, and a dump station.

Our campsite at Martinez Lake



Burros wander freely and visted us

When dry camping in the desert, we have to think about those things daily and always have a plan, eg is there enough fresh water in the tank to last until there is water available? What to do if the black tank (sewage) gets too full?  Where to dispose of garbage? How about food, gas for driving, propane for cooking and heat? It requires a lot of planning and checking. A big benefit of travelling with a group is that many of these issues are taken care of. I can check ahead to see their schedule and info about services, then stop to fill up or dump before catching up to the group. Sometimes a member of the group who has a pick up truck will offer to take everyone's garbage to a disposal site in the area. 

            Martinez Lake was a delightful place to spend a week. Dancing, restaurants, and a fabulous day of kayaking on the Colorado River were just a few of the activities that kept us busy. At the nightly campfires we would talk about the day or listen to a pack of coyotes singing very close by. They can sense people's pets and everyone kept their dogs or cats inside at night.
As in other places we have visited, each day there were activities we could take part of.

A hike along the Colorado River

A visit to an old silver mining town ( now a museum)

I loved the early morning routine of "hugs and mugs", a time to gather, spend the time with friends and discuss the activities for that day.

The group's activities and travel are planned by volunteers. The WINs travel throughout the year and there are usually one or two circuits on the go. The one I have been traveling with is their winter circuit including Arizona and California.

There is also a group exploring the east coast and recently, some of the WINs are driving down to Mexico. I would have enjoyed that experience but soon need to begin my journey back to Canada. 

On Jan 10 many of the WINs and thousands of other RVers congregated on the BLM lands surrounding Quartzsite, Az. I was there last year and it felt good to be back. Quartzsite is a small town that swells to a major destination in January for their RV and gem shows. A huge tent is set up and vendors set up their booths inside and out selling mostly RV related supplies but also various crafts. At flea markets you can find just about anything you could possibly need or want.
The atmosphere is festive and the bustling crowds look for bargains or enjoy the food and music.

Camels used to live in this area

One of Several RV sales companies

A booth in the big tent

Staying with the group for so long meant I was getting to know many of them and make some lasting friends. Most are retired professionals and solo travelers like me and many are full timers. They are from all over the US and Canada and may have lived this lifestyle for many years, resulting in a wealth of experience.

It's been fun listening to their stories at the nightly campfires. There is often laughter and I no longer felt alone.

When we travel together, the camp host would discuss any planned activities for the day. Those with cars would offer rides, the passengers pitching in for gas. The most difficult part of the process is choosing which activity to attend , eg go kayaking , visit a museum or go on a hike? ( or just stay at the campsite and hang out). How wonderful to have friends to share these adventures with!

the board is updated daily

Playing "desert golf"

A hike to Crystal Hill, a wildlife refuge where mineral collecting is permitted. Quartz crystals occur along the slopes and almost everyone found some.

While at Quartzsite, we visited some other RV clubs camped nearby.  The LOWs ( Loners on wheels) invited us for wine and cheese while we went over to dance with a chapter of "The Escapees". We reciprocated by inviting everyone to an ice cream social.
I had no idea there were so many RV clubs. I have met " The traveling pals" and have heard of the "Rubber tramps". It's a whole different world than what I had been used to and I am loving this lifestyle and the interesting people I am meeting.

From Quartzsite, some of us left the group to travel a bit further north to Parker. One of the WIN women invited us to spend a few days at a resort as guests of her brother who lives there.
For a very small fee, we were able to hook up and take part in their many services such as a heated pool and jacuzzi, a bar for dancing and karaoke, and a  community center.
The Emerald Cove resort was situated along the Colorado River, across from Parker and had a lovely beach. One day, her brother invited us for a trip on the river in his platoon boat.
I felt like royalty!
A few days later, I left there to drive back to Quartzsite to try and sort out my electrical problems that continue to be a mystery. That journey will be described in my next blog as I had better send this before people think I've given up writing!

"Life is what's happening while we're busy making other plans"
( so we miss out on life rather than living in the present moment)
--- John Lennon


Did you know.........

That the microwave was invented after a researcher walked by a radar tube and a chocolate bar melted in his pocket?

That Winston Churchill was born in a ladies room during a dance?     


That February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon?


Spring is on its way!!! Don't forget to take time for laughter.


Maria

whyknotrvmaria@gmail. com
                                                       




                                                                                                                                                                 

                                     

Celebrations

It was a warm sunny day when I left Slab City on Dec 14 for the 2 1/2 hr drive to the Sleepy Hollow campground on the Mexican border west of Yuma. I drove to the back of the campground where the area for "dry camping" is located ( no hook ups but I filled up with water at a tap near the entrance, I had dumped my grey and black tanks at the Slabs, and my solar panels provide the electricity. Sleepy Hollow had laundry and showers available). It was a pleasure to see some of the friends I had made from the last time I was there.

                       Sleepy Hollow campground ( I'm at the bottom row 3rd one)

While there, I walked over to Algodones, Mexico to get some dental work completed by a dentist I started with last winter. The town hadn't changed from my experience there last year and was still quite festive with Mexican music, street vendors and a steady stream of tourists walking or driving both ways across  the border. The dentist remembered me and the dental experience was relaxing.
I visited a bakery that I hadn't found before and went into "The Purple Pharmacy" to get some prescription drugs sold there over the counter for about 10% of the cost in Canada.             

Many of the streets were lined with vendors selling clothing, jewellery, or crafts. Interspersed were all sorts of services such as dental, eye glasses, hearing aids, chiropractors, hair salons, health food stores, groceries, massage therapists,  cafes, bars, etc.

The Purple Pharmacy

Except for a few Christmas lights, there weren't many decorations and it felt relaxing not to be caught up in the frenzy of pre-Christmas shopping that occurs in  so many places.
The campground was generally quiet and the people in the dry camping area got together every afternoon for "happy hour". On the 23rd, my neighbours had visitors and invited me to a traditional Christmas dinner. It was fun having dinner outside in the warm sun and with our chairs set on the sand. I enjoyed sharing RV stories. My neighbours were Canadians from BC where they have a farm. They travel south every winter in their truck camper and usually go to the Baha peninsula for a few weeks. They invited me along but I don't have enough time since I want to be back in Canada by early or mid March.  I would also have to apply for extra insurance for my RV for Mexico. I'll keep Mexico in mind for next winter.

On Christmas eve we had a bonfire. In our family we celebrate on Christmas eve and I wanted something special. I gathered some branches and told some of the campers I had brought the "tree". Several people came to help set it up and decorate it with lights and whatever they had.
After the fire was lit, someone drove their car up so we could listen to carols on the radio.
We passed around some treats and enjoyed the serenity of the desert and night under the stars and full moon. 
On boxing day, we had a sandstorm with high winds and blowing sand. It meant having to stay inside all day. Some large branches were broken off and there were things scattered around.
Everything was covered in fine sand. It was similar to being in a snowstorm except that it was sand and the weather was much warmer.

On the 27th, I celebrated my 70th birthday. My sister, Margrit, had given me a kite so I decided going to fly a kite was a good way to celebrate. There wasn't hardly any wind but I did manage to fly it a bit and the campers cheered me on. It was a great birthday and so many fantastic years to celebrate. I am extremely grateful to be happy and healthy and for my family and so many good friends.

Flying my kite at Sleepy Hollow campground


The next day, after many hugs and well wishes, I left to drive to Yuma for supplies then on to meet up with the WIN group at a VFW site ( Veterans of Foreign Wars), about 20 min drive north of Yuma. There is a large area for dry camping and free except for a registration fee of $5. There
were RV's from all over North America and I found the WIN group parked at the far end of the lot. It felt good to see so many familiar faces and catch up on our travels. They have a schedule of activities planned for every day and people can take part as they wish.

On New Years Eve, I joined them for a dinner and dance in Yuma. It was fun to dress up and dance to bring in 2016. It feels like it will be a good year. I wonder what current friends and family I will see again and what new friends and adventures await me? They are gifts and treasures waiting to be discovered.

One of the men got courageous and really dressed up!


"You must give everything to make your life as beautiful as the dreams that dance in your imagination."
---- Roman Payne


Happy New Year!


Maria

whyknotrvmaria@gmail. com

The Slabs

On Dec 5, after about a 2hr drive south east, along the Salton Sea, I arrived at Niland, CA.

view of the Salton Sea from the highway

That is the town closest to Slab City, otherwise known as "The Slabs". Slab City was named after the concrete slabs that remain from the abandoned WW11 Marine barracks. Up to thousands of campers, many of them homeless or retired live here during the winter months. Fewer stay over the summer as temps may go up to 120F ( 48C). Campers include RV owners and squatters from all across North America and sometimes elsewhere.
The appeal for most people is that camping is free ( no taxes here) , a benefit for those on low incomes or on disability pensions. Others just want to live off the grid or snowbirds wanting to get away from the cold weather.
The site has no controls, no electricity, water, or sewers. There is no trash pick up. Supplies and services are available in Niland, about 4 mi from here.
The Slabs are like no other place I have experienced. When I drove in, the first scene that greeted me was " Salvation Mountain". It was created in 1984 by Leonard Knight as a monument to share his religious beliefs.

Salvation mountain has been named as a National Treasure. It was featured in the film "Into the Wild".
A short drive further, I had to turn onto a rough dirt road to get to the area the WIN group was camped. The whole area is open desert with tents, RVs, and makeshift  homes scattered around. 

" home sweet home" at one of the Slab city neighborhoods

Our camping area at Slab City

Many of the permanent residents have staked out their territory, often with some kind of fencing. Due to their limited funds, the residents have become very resourceful, making use of whatever they can find. Although firetrucks and police do respond to an emergency, people
often take care of their own problems, helping each other if needed. There is very little crime despite the possibility of some drug use or someone hiding from the police.

Someone's " back yard fence"
               

 I've felt safer here than in many places I've lived at. No one here would ignore a call for help.
People tend to respect each other.

Although most of the roads are quite
rough, there are some street signs,
like those at the major intersection in 
this photo.
There is art work throughout the 
community, some seeming rather strange but so is some of the art you see in city galleries.

I've been having some problems with my electrical system not producing enough electricity. One major drain is my furnace motor and I've been finding out about ceramic heaters which are much more efficient. Several RVers have shown me their systems. These ceramic heaters use no hydro but are directly connected to the propane tank. There are ceramic tiles that heat up resulting in a good amount of heat. In order to get one, I first had to have the lines and connectors installed, a very costly process if done at an RV service site. It happens that Wayne, who lives here, is an expert at installing these and has done it for many RVers. He is a delightfully unique character, well known in this area. I had to go get the parts and then, for a fee of $25 he installed them.I will be buying a small ceramic heater when I am in Yuma. Until then I can try another trick some RVers have told me about. You get a clay flowerpot and invert it over a burner on the stove. Within a few minutes, the flowerpot is hot and the burner can be turned off. The hot clay takes the edge off any cold air.
This method cannot be used overnight as it is dangerous to have a propane flame going for more than a few min within a confined space unless there's fresh air circulating.

Wayne installing the line for a ceramic heater

Yesterday, I had an appointment to have my batteries checked and advise from "Solar Mike" who is a retired Social worker and moved here with his wife many years ago. He set up his solar business and is well known by RVers.
My batteries were down due to having run my furnace during a few cold nights and had to be "equalized" ( a process of recharging them that takes about 8hrs.). I discussed my electrical needs and he advised more solar panels so 2 more panels got installed on my roof. During that time, I had the opportunity to explore an area of the Slabs I had not seen yet ( Slab City takes up about 1 sq mile). I discovered "East Jesus" where a community of artists live. The artwork was unusual but also interesting.

There is a hotspring about a mile from where we are camped. It is a wonderful feeling to start the day there and and chat with some of the residents. One man has been living here full-time for about 12 yrs. He loves the heat.
On the way to the hotspring, I noticed a home made of recycled materials as well as some campers and a few squatters camped along the way.

some squatters

A memorable tour was taken by our group a couple of days ago when we went to visit Bernie, living in an old abandoned sewer tank! The tenant before him had cleaned the tank, left behind by the military after the war.
There is an entry door cut into the side and he set up a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living area, including a ladder leading up to an opening in the roof. It was fascinating to see how he manages to live there year round, using a solar panel for electricity and having water delivered every 2 mos to fill a large tank he has for that. He uses propane for cooking.

The outside of many tanks in the area have been painted by various people.
This one on the side of Bernie's home
was done by an artist using only spray paint. How she got such beautiful detail is difficult to comprehend.
She also did some of the insides of old water tanks like this one:

The inside wall of a nearby tank

Last week there was a community meeting to discuss issues of living here. The problem is that the land belongs to the state of California and it is technically illegal for people to live here. Many are homeless and poor, not being able to afford to live anywhere else. The land is for sale. If a developer buys it, the people here may be evicted. If the community itself buys the land ( where would they get the money?) they may become regulated, require building permits, and pay taxes. It will be interesting to see what happens. Perhaps no one will want to buy land that sits on top of concrete slabs. The concrete has hardened over the years and would be extremely costly to remove. It is covered in sand and if you dig down about a foot you can feel it.

I've enjoyed my time here and plan to leave in 2 days to drive back to the Sleepy Hollow campground so I can get my dental work completed in Algodones.
It's a unique place like no other and worth experiencing.

A sculpture made of scrap cars, bicycles etc



"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
---T S Eliot


See you on my next adventure,

Maria

whyknotrvmaria@gmail.com

 

Sand and water

Our camping area near Borrego Springs

Our desert experience was dry camping with no water or electric hook ups and no bathrooms or showers available in our camping area. We had to rely on our own water, have "navy showers" ( turn on shower to get wet, turn off shower, soap up, turn on shower to rinse, turn water off, which uses very little water), use propane for heat, and many people had solar panels for electricity which was often supplemented by generators.
The benefit of dry camping in the desert is that it is free but keeping track of propane, water, and sewage is critical when camping in the desert.


One day we drove to a point of interest that someone had seen.
In the desert were various rocks and when we arrived at a particular group of rocks, we were all astonished that rocks could look like a natural sculpture.
How they could develop to resemble an eagle so accurately is difficult to comprehend. Nature is truly marvelous!

The next day I got a ride with a friend to Agua Caliente, a desert hot springs in a county campground on the other side of the state park we were in. They charged only $3 for a day pass and it was heavenly to soak in their hot indoor pool and then go swimming in a cooler pool outside. To swim while surrounded by desert is a feeling like no other and after spending such a long time on arid land it was delightful to be immersed in water.

A large group of WINs left after that to drive about 1 1/2hrs north to Indio to park for free at a casino and stock up on supplies as well as get some city experience. Along the way, several of us stopped at Salton City to dump our tanks, refill with fresh water and get gas and propane. That gas station was doing fantastic business as it is the only one in that area and there were a large number of RV's heading home after the Thanksgiving week-end.The desert is a favourite playground for those with dirt bikes or ATVs ( all terrain vehicles).

along the road to Salton City

I wondered why they call that place Salton City as it has a pop of less than 4000!
It is at the Salton Sea, the largest lake in California at 15x35 mi. It's surface is 234 ft below sea level. It is salty and shallow and is directly on the San Andreas fault.
It was easy to find the casino on the outskirts of Indio and their parking lot was huge, enough space for all of our RV's. Our "rigs" come in all sizes with mine being one of the smaller ones at 24ft. There are many that are much longer "Class A"s and towing a car. Some also tow a small trailer for extra storage.

I parked beside Linda, a solo full-time RVer who is a retired radio announcer
and very interesting to talk to. As you can see, the large parking lot is very 
flat and sandy. The casino was happy to have us there (hoping some of us would spend a lot of money playing the machines.) 

Parked near the city meant we could get some shopping done or see a movie. Linda and I went to see "Brooklyn" which was very good. The city does have its advantages.

I met a few other WIN members from BC and Alberta, Canada. It's always a good feeling to meet other Canadians and share RV experiences. I got a ride with one of them to drive to Joshua Tree National Park which is fairly close to where we were camping. It was a real treat to see that park again after having camped there last winter and loved it. The western part of the park is the Mohave desert with elevations above 3000 ft. It is here where you can find the Joshua Trees. These are not real trees but rather a species of yucca. They can "grow over 40 feet tall~~at the leisurely rate of an inch a year" ( info from brochure).
The only wildlife we saw was what looked like a squirrel. Rattle snakes and scorpions are common but come out when the weather is hot. I have never seen either of those but I am always watching where I walk, just in case.

A gate at a museum

The eastern side of the park is below 3000ft elevation and is within the Colorado desert. It has different vegetation dominated by creosote bushes but you can also see ocotillo and cholla cactus there.
We drove across the park to the other side and were able to see the transition
from the Colorado to the Mojave deserts.
My favorite area is where all the mountains and piles of rocks are.They were formed by volcanic activity a long time ago, pushing magma up from deep in the earth. It cooled and cracked, forming large boulders. These eroded over time to form unusual shapes.

An oasis

Colorado desert area

rocks in the Mohave desert area of Joshua Tree park

A few days later,our group dispersed, some leaving to go off in various directions while many continued on to the next stop on their "Western winter circuit", to a unique place about an hour's drive south and on the east side of the Salton Sea. That place is called Slab City or " The Slabs" and I'm looking forward to seeing that area.It is not listed on the GPS but I got directions from someone.

In the meantime, I decided to follow Linda north to a campground in Desert Hot Springs to hook up for 2 days and do some swimming and that is where I am at present. The Caliente Springs resort honors Passport America which made it affordable. It is beautifully landscaped and has several pools of various temperatures, fed by hot springs in the area. 

The luxury of full hook ups

 and access to pools was a wonderful treat after dry camping in the desert. It was also necessary as I had been having some problems with my batteries not charging up well. I will need to get that sorted out soon but for now I am plugged in and my batteries have a chance to rest and charge from the sun. The nights are cold and I can plug in my small electric heater. The best part, however, is being able to swim or soak in one of the hot pools. I will be leaving tomorrow for Slab City and that will be a totally different experience.

I'll end with a desert scene.The photo was taken last year when I was camping at Joshua Tree park.

Joshua trees at sunset

                                           "The journey is the reward"
                                                           -- Chinese provhrs


             "A wilderness is an area where the earth and its community of life are
untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."
                                                      -- Wilderness Act, 1964

Now, some trivia. ( these were sent to me by my friend Barry)
Did you know that:

A crocodile cannot stick out its tongue

A dragonfly has a lifespan of 24hrs

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain

The cruise liner, QE 2, moves only 6 inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite.

Cheers,
Maria

whyknotrvmaria@gmail.com