Wednesday Dec 28 2022 - Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to Anza Borrego Desert State Park

 

When we pulled the shade this morning we were once again blown away at how beautiful the place is. And it feels as though we have it all to ourselves since there are a few other boondockers here but they are pretty far away. Carmen was spot on and we will have to start watching for more of these boondocking places.

Cereal for breakfast, coffee, tea, a couple more pics and then rumble back down the 6 or 7 miles to Rt 95. It rained last night off and on but the gravel road is solid and not as dusty. Some of these forest service roads change from dust to slimy glue when it rains. And it did not rain much but enough to clear the air of dust and make things bright and new.

We saw a Vermont plate a half mile away last night but he/she was gone this morning. Hang a left on 95 and an hour to Yuma passing through more Kofa roads and also the Yuma military proving grounds (just more desert with warning signs). In Yuma we stopped for coffee and WiFi then west on I-8 across the Imperial Desert which is a giant sand dune. Back before interstates and paved roads they laid boards down so those old cars could drive across the sand. The good old days.

Then north past the Salton Sea (where they hope to get all the lithium for electric cars?) and north west to the park. We arrived half an hour before official check in and were told to come back in a half hour. They run a tight ship here in California.

Not as nice as Kofa (no place has been yet) but a nice desert park hugged right up against the mountains. The park is full but there is plenty of elbow room. Each site has a ramada to get out of the sun but no shade for the vehicle, but it was cool and partly cloudy so no problems there. If you camp out here in the summer, you need air conditioning. Most sites do not have electricity but we did see a section of the park with power and water where the big rigs are. 

Quick hike to the other side of the campground, from where we'll hike tomorrow back into Borrego Palm Canyon, where we hiked with the kids many years ago.

We finished up Deb N’s soup for supper (thanks Deb), watched a Louise Penny show, and then read. Quiet night except the coyotes yipping early in the AM.

Day 19 - odo = 3383