Monday Feb 5, 2024 - Painted Rocks Petroglyph Campground to Bisbee

Since we got in so late last night and we couldn't find site 38 and there were lots of empty sites, we just took an empty one, site 31. Amazing how disoriented you get in the dark. We slept well and woke up to a pretty nice campground. And we did find site 38 on the way out of the campground.

No rain but we read the news of the torrential rains we just missed. We made coffee and tea and then headed out. We need to find a car wash as the van is filthy. We stopped in Gila Bend for a McDonald's sandwich and more coffee, and then the usual way home via Rt 8 to Rt 10 and then back to Bisbee. We did find a car wash which we could fit the van into so while not a great job, we knocked most of the left over mud we got at Death Valley. The van needs a good inside out cleaning. All those beaches left a lot of sand everywhere.

We stopped on the Divide Road (aka a flat spot) to shuffle everything into bins and bags then did the usual driveway shovel routine. We emptied everything so we can clean everything up and clean the van since it might be a while before the next adventure.

odometer = 24686

Sunday, Feb 4 Tijuana to Painted Rocks and Petroglyphs Campground near Gila Bend, AZ

Deb again. Another leisurely morning. Jake had a scheduled call with a friend who’s now living in England, so he was on the phone for awhile and John and I took Tyler on a neighborhood spin. Once again, those dogs were barking everywhere we walked.
Mid-morning we packed up and headed out to El Yoghurt, a restaurant Jake and Nath had heard great things about but had never been to. We had to wait a few minutes for a table, but everything was so good. The restaurant started in the 1970’s and has had the tradition of providing healthful food, and they offered a great menu. Jacob had vegan chorizo with tortillas and veggies, I had buckwheat waffles topped with yogurt and strawberries, Nath had eggs benedict, and John had the buckwheat French toast. Our dishes all came with fresh squeezed orange juice and homemade fruit salad. All so good. The restaurant is located in a beautiful natural area within sight of the border wall.
By the time we finished brunch it was a bit after 1 p.m. and time for John and I to head back across the border. We stopped at the house to pick up Tyler and then they drove us to the border crossing. They walked us up to the line to cross and we said our goodbyes. Next time we see Jake and Nath they’ll most likely have two babies with them… so exciting!

Since John and I have Global Entry passes the crossing is a snap. We had a non-existent line, whereas the pedestrian line for regular entry looked to be at least an hour long. I am so very glad we have those passes, especially with Jacob and Nath in Mexico at the moment.
Back to our van, paid the parking fee ($90), and headed east. We made a stop in Yuma for a Jersey Mike’s sub and gas, and then on to the campground near Gila Bend. Big rains are forecast for Tijuana and the CA coast tomorrow, so we were glad to get out of the area before the storms. Back to Bisbee in the morning.

Saturday, Feb 3 Tijuana

Deb here again. We had a nice leisurely morning including coffee, tea, and baked goods. Jake and I took Tyler out on a neighborhood walk and wow, there are so many dogs around. It’s common in their area to keep dogs behind gated areas, and everywhere we walked dogs started barking. In addition there are lots of random street dogs who patrol the streets of Tijuana. Jake and Nath both commented later that if they could change one thing about living in Tijuana it would be to possess a remote control with a “mute” button that could be used on barking dogs. I felt as though I was in a scene from 101 Dalmatians, when the dogs start a dog communication distress network. It’s really nonstop!

Late morning we made a plan to go to the museum downtown in the cultural center, with a first stop for birria at their favorite taco place. We arrived to a packed restaurant with a simple menu. Birria is a slow cooked meat (beef in this case) that has the texture of a pulled pork. We each had a couple of tacos that were simply packed with meat and topped with cilantro and onions. Delicious, even enjoyed by Jacob the vegetarian. 
We continued downtown and found a spot to park at Tijuana’s outdoor shopping mall across from the cultural center. It was time for coffee and chai lattes at this point, so after a stop for drinks we walked around the mall for awhile. It was a lovely sunny Saturday, so lots of people out and about.

The museum at the cultural center ended up being a winner. There was a 20 pesos (about $1.25) admission and it was packed with all kinds of historical info presented in both English and Spanish. We toured the museum until we reached saturation point, then made our way through the garden area and back to the car.
Jacob drove us on a different route back to their home, taking us through the high rent district (a distinct lack of street side trash there) and approaching La Playas section from the south through a tunnel. Once back we took Tyler out for a beach walk, and then Jacob made us all a delicious tortellini and veggie dinner. 
Later Jake and Nath put on an episode of a Barascorian, a Mexican Netflix series set in Mexico City in the ’70’s with subtitles and it was a fun one. Off to bed after a full day.

Friday, Feb 2 Joshua Tree National Park to Tijuana

Deb here. We woke up to a clear but chilly (34 degrees) morning. After coffee and tea in the van we packed up and drove to the nearby park visitor center. I’d love to return to Joshua Tree National Park when we could camp for a few days. It looks like a beautiful area and glad to have a little preview.
Next item on our agenda was a good breakfast, and we’d both read that John’s Place in Yucca Valley offered a tasty meal. Reviews were spot on, including great eggs and pancakes, cheap prices, and friendly waitstaff. One of our waitresses had a British accent, and when we asked her where she was from she laughed and told us she was a Yucca Valley native. Apparently her best friend is British, and each week they swap accents in their workplaces. Pretty funny!

We’d told Jake and Nath to expect us at the border crossing by 2-3 so started the drive to Tijuana. There had been snow on some of the mountains and in spite of a busy drive it was really lovely. This was our third time leaving a vehicle at a parking lot on the US side, so we knew where to go this time around. It’s not cheap to park a car there, but it all feels safe and secure, and from there it’s an easy walk to cross into Tijuana.
We parked the van at 1:15 and by 1:45 we were in Tijuana with Jake and Nath waiting. The first stop was an awesome French bakery they’d recently discovered for croissants and breads, and then a tour of all the major construction that’s being done. Tijuana is constructing an elevated roadway and the scope of the project is huge. Our second stop was at their neighborhood Cali-Max, a really great grocery store, for some groceries.

Once at their home we went out on a beach walk with Tyler. It was a gorgeous evening, and Tyler loves running on the beach. Later on Jacob and I walked to a nearby tamales stand, followed by a stop at their favorite empanada shop. We all feasted on empanadas and tamales, along with lots of conversation with baby updates, and then off to bed.

odometer = 24145

Thursday, Feb 1 Death Valley National Park (Stovepipe Wells Campground) to Joshua Tree National Park (Black Rock Canyon)

Deb here. I woke up about 5 this morning to roaring wind gusts and rain. I’ve never been in the van when it’s been bumped around by so much wind! It felt as though we were on a boat during a storm. Milo managed to sleep through the whole event!
The wind eventually died down, and by 7 it was just a drizzling rain without much wind. The van was covered in sand/mud from the evening. We had our coffee and tea in the van and drove the remaining miles toward the park exit, stopping at the great Furnace Creek Visitor Center. This was a good one, with informative displays about the history and topography, along with a 20 minute movie about the park.

After our visit we ate some breakfast in the van and drove off toward Death Valley Junction outside the park. What a desolate landscape, with almost no settlements. In DV Junction we turned south on 127 toward Tecopa. Hannah had filled us in on a couple of places she’d been to near Tecopa, so we detoured off the main road to check them out. Rain all the way, which must be pretty unusual for the area.
We passed the numerous campgrounds advertising hot springs in Tecopa, and set google maps for China Valley Date Ranch, a place Hannah had mentioned. Milo just about turned back as we drove down a steep dirt road in the rain, but we made it to the date oasis in the desert. Pretty funky place, with a gift shop and date products for sale, along with hiking trails and picnic spot. Too rainy to explore outside, but I had a super delicious date shake (can’t resist those tasty treats) and John ordered coffee and a date muffin. Fun place.
Back on the road. No traffic until we reached Rt 15 in Baker and then lots of traffic all the way until we left the interstate in Barstow.

Our plan was to head for a Joshua Tree National Park campground in the northwest corner of the park, and the last couple of hours was on a quieter two lane road. There was a bunch of trucks and campers pulling 4-wheelers that all turned off at one point for what looked for a backcountry race through the desert of some kind. 

We arrived in the campground at 4:30, still raining, and set up camp for the night. Nice campground but it looks as though this area was hit badly by flooding, and the roads within the campground are pretty rough. We repeated our last night’s dinner of raw veggies, tomato soup, and grilled cheese sandwiches, and watched the last 2 episodes of the Terminal List before bed.

odometer = 23964