What A Difference A Day Makes

 

We're seeing snow on the mountains again. Ugh.

 

From Pahrump we drove to a BLM campground seventeen miles North of Hawthorne, NV. It was a gorgeous day when we pulled in, warm with a slight breeze. We decided to have a campfire. The wind kicked up and we had to put it out. That was a first. 

The wind didn't stop until midnight of the next day. We decided not to travel because the wind was just too much. But it escalated as the day progressed. The slide topper billowed out like a kite and was slamming against the roof. We tried to pull the slide in, but the wind caught the topper and it left a portion loose and that was worse. So,we extended the slider out again. The topper is now ripped again!  The day was very nerve-racking. We could watch the slider hop and buckle up and down. The gusts shook the rig. Went to walk the dogs and I could barely stand up. We then realized there was no traffic on the road. Luckily we had internet and checked the DOT site. The road had been closed due to high winds. .All we could do was sit tight. The temperature had dropped during the day from 72 to 51 and with the wind, who knows how cold it was. We were the only ones in the campground and no traffic.

 

The dust was obscuring the view of the mountains. This picture is just the start of the dust!  When we got up the next day there was a dusting of snow on the hills behind us. We had thought we would stay a couple of days on Walker Lake, but the temperature was only going to be 51. We decided to continue on.

As we drove North we saw this Semi on the side of the road. Probably a result of the wind.

 

Walker Lake has a high concentration of Alkaline and has been shrinking in size. There is a Navy Undersea Warfare School Detachment and Army Ordinance Depot located in the area. Whats in the lake, for the Navy to be there???

Parts in Pahrump

Well we went to Pahrump to get parts for the stairs. The local RV store didn't have them, so we had to order them on line from Minnesota. That meant we had to stay until the parts arrived. The campground had a pond, trees and grass. Grass we had not seen in a while, it was soothing to the eyes. For some reason we had to move from the site we were in and go to another site. Annoying, but we had to wait for the parts. Tom was able to get the stairs fixed. Don't realize how hard it is to get into the motor home without stairs, until you don't have them.

China Ranch Date Farm

The road in

 

A little oasis in the middle of nowhere. This is still a working date farm. It has had lots of changes and been different types of ranches or farms over the years. It is named China Ranch because the original homesteader was a Chinese man that had worked in the borax mines. He grew fruits and vegetables and established the water. On the way into the ranch you can see some of the mines in the hillsides

 











 

It amazes me the things you come across while going from place to place.
 

Shoshone

We drove into Shoshone and came across this lot with all sorts of art.

                        Then on the other side of the road I saw these cliffs.

Come to find out they are called “Dublin Caves”. They were used to house miners and vagabonds in the early 1900 through the 1960's. Some had chimneys. I could see into them and they weren't very big. It is said that some famous people stayed there: Death Valley Scotty, Shorty Harris and the Ashford brothers.

                                                                                                                                                                    

There were still some bedsprings inside the caves. I'm sure if it wasn't for the doors to the entrances you'd find more vandalism or squatters.

There was also a graveyard with many old grave sites.

But, to my surprise, the graveyard was still being used!

Notice there is only a day of birth for Carol Lee

One site stated: “Senator Charles Brown”, 1883 to 1963.

Tecopa Hot Springs

On the way to Tecopa we stopped at Barstow to get groceries. The stairs to the motor home broke. Another thing to fix. I'm beginning to think we need to paint LEMON on the side of the rig.

We were going to stop at a BLM campground to see the Mojave National Preserve. We turned and went in about 5 miles when we came to a steep hill with lots of boulders. We could see the campground, but didn't think we could negotiate the hill. So, had to unhook the car and back-up until we could turn around. When we got to Baker there were no campgrounds so had to continue to Tecopa Hot Springs. We will have to save Mojave National Preserve for another trip.

Notice the sign "U - We Wash"

 An interesting site in Tecopa.  

A relic of another era.

 

Well Tecopa Hot Springs is an interesting place. The county springs are enclosed with a his and her's side. NO clothing allowed and don't dunk your head under. There are about 3 different campgrounds and each has it's own spring. Some are just tubs that are enclosed in a building. Others, not sure how they are set up

 

The area has some mountains with gorgeous colors. Lots of borax.

 

Borrego Springs

 

A narrow escape!

Took a day trip around the Salton Sea. The west side of the lake is 4 lanes and very busy and wasn't taking as long to drive around as we thought. So we stopped in at Borrego Springs to see the metal sculptures. 

 

 

There are quite a few sculptures and they are spread out around the town. The Chamber had a brochure showing where they are located. These are just a few.

Look at the detail

 

Bashford's Hot Mineral Spa

The mineral "pots"

Well we have been here 2 weeks now. Just been relaxing and going to the pool or the mineral pots and of coarse a trip to the Slabs. 

 

  

                                                 This is the cooling tower for the pots.

 The road into Bashfords, off Hwy 111



 

 

 

The spa sits below part of the All-American Canal” which is 85 miles in length and the Chocolate Mountains

 There is also the Chocolate Mountain Gunnery range with signs do not trespass, live ordinance.

The canal road is a great place to walk the dogs and I sometimes deviate off to gravel roads and have come upon some interesting finds.

                                         A little shooting practice.

Not sure if this is a house.  It is not very wide.

A child's boot.  Who knows how it came to be in the middle of nowhere or how long its been here.

Four wheeling is one of the past times, but you can see the dust they kick up for miles away.

East Jesus

This is another place we came across last year, by accident. We were just driving around Slab City and noticed the unusual art. At the time we didn't know it actually had a name. This year as we visited it again, one of the members told me the name and that they have a web site. East Jesus is in Slab City, outside Niland, CA. Here again there have been some changes. The founder, Charles Russell passed away May 2011. Some of his art work was taken away to prevent it from being destroyed, either by weather or human hands. It is my understanding that friends are maintaining this art community and trying to decide the direction they will take.. It is an interesting place.  Many artist continue to contribute to the displays.