Our Location: Joshua Tree National Park, South Entrance, CA
We packed up and headed off this morning around 7:30 AM California time and an uneventful trip we had. We like those kinds of trips. Except for a little mishap, not ours but someone else's at the rest area on I-8 West just past Ogilby Road the roads were accident free. A semi had some how managed to jack knife himself while coming out of the rest area onto the I-8 West bound lanes but was still in the rest area. It appeared that he thought he wouldn't make the turn and backed up which jack knifed him and his right rear tractor wheels were hanging in the air over the side of the road. A big tow was on route. Enough room for us to slip past him and be on our way though.
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| Just before the rest area on I-8 West. Lots of weekend warriors here. |
We made our first stop at the rest area of course, water, and garbage. From there our next stop was a little over an hour away at Brawley's Walmart on Wildcat Drive. We took our time getting a few things that we hadn't been able to find in Yuma. After that it was on the road again until we turned in at the Red Earth Casino on CA 86 N where we used their dump station. We waited for about 20 minutes until it was our turn and within a half hour we were on our way once again.
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| The border inspection station on CA 86 was backed up and stop and go for a while but suddenly they just started waving everyone through and not asking any questions. It appeared they had two cars pulled over and the K-9 unit was inspecting both. |
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| Back in Ontario, Canada we never think of a Palm Forest. |
We continued right along taking the Dillon Road Exit to merge onto I-10 EAST bound. From this point on our towing travels will take us east bound, with perhaps some southward movement as well but mostly east until we finally head north to the land we call home. We climbed onto I-10 E and continued on our way. We reached Joshua Tree National Park and set ourselves up by 2 pm California time. A quick call to Dad had me informed that it was too cold for folks to be outside there today and so he was inside doing some net surfing.
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| Along the way, hay under those tarps, tons and tons of it. A very empty I-8 West bound. Two trees have formed an arch in this field. Very cute. |
A nice lunch and then Riley and I caught up with our blogging friends and I checked the weather for tomorrow. Ho hum, I wished I'd have checked it last night instead. We wouldn't be staying here at JTNP tonight if I had. Wind warnings posted for here tonight, 25-30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph. Starting around midnight and continuing through the night and into the afternoon tomorrow. I checked the Salton Sea area, no wind warnings of any kind. I was tempted to move but instead we stayed put. Hopefully tomorrow we can still make it into town to see Janet and have a visit.
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| Welcome to Brawley, CA. Fuel prices are a bit high I think. |
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| Can you see the snow on the mountain peaks in these pictures? |
So there you have it, our travel day which wasn't long and wasn't difficult. We enjoyed seeing the sights again and are looking forward to tomorrow and some time with Janet. We will be here only two nights and be moving on Tuesday morning.
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| We begin the long climb to the Chiriaco Summit. |
Thanks for stopping in, I hope you enjoyed your visit.
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| As we climbed we noticed this helo. He appeared to be hovering at first, then moved off and swung around to come back. We could see the long line trailing and couldn't imagine what he was doing. As we watched he approached one of the towers and stopped, hovering again. It was then I realized there are workers on this towers and he's picking them up. Now that folks is a definite high risk ride to and from work. |
Until next time... take care, be safe,
Deb
Always nice when a travel day goes well. Hope the wind doesn't get as bad as predicted in your area.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing where that easterly trek leads you. It would be nice to cross paths.
Enjoy your stay in your new spot and visit. Stay safe.
Thanks Deb. So far the winds were calm overnight but this morning they are starting to pick up. Oh well, we shall close up the Igloo slides before we head out for the day.
DeleteWe too are looking forward to our eastern trek. A few places decided but a few not.
We too hope we can cross paths this year. We would enjoy spending some time with you and Tom.
Take care, be safe,
Deb
A wonderful are to travels, nice that it all went smoothly for you, enjoy your visit with Janet and safe travels heading east.
ReplyDeleteThanks George. We like those smooth days too. We are both looking forward to seeing Janet and Dennis, it's been a while. The trek east will be a slow one for sure.
DeleteTake care, be safe,
Deb
Great pictures and aa nice easy travel day! Are you in the park and it's open. We were reading because of the shut down and irresponsible people (pigs) they were closing it. Hopefully the winds didn't happen for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shirley. No we are not in the park but at the south entrance on BLM land. We haven't ventured into the park during our stays here due to weather the last time we were where and this time due to the short length of time we will actually be here. A friend posted a post a while ago on Facebook saying that folks were voluntarily cleaning the toilets and taking the garbage away. However I can neither confirm nor deny that post.
DeleteThe winds are picking up as I type this reply. They were quiet most of the night.
Take care, be safe,
Deb
Glad your travel day went well. Last nights El Centro/Yuma news mentioned the winds in the area here also. Just curious why you use the Red Earth Casino dump and the I8 Westbound rest for water. I thought I remember seeing a dump station at the rest area.
ReplyDeleteI didn'tknow the I-8 West bound rest area has a dump station or we would have used it. We've been there a few times but I didn't notice one. I'll have to check that out next time we are in the area. There is a dump station at the Chevron at Pilot Knob I know because I used it before. They go by length as to the price of the dump and it was in the opposite direction to which we were traveling. We debated at the dump station at the corner of the Salton Sea Parkway but it's such a busy spot that it's hard to get in and out without a traffic jam.
DeleteTake care, be safe,
Deb
I don't recall ever seeing a dump station at the rest area either, but it wouldn't be the first time I have been wrong in this life. I would be surprised though as the toilets are vaults and need to be pumped out regularly.
DeleteNext year when I'm back in the area I'll ask and let you know. I would have thought it would be well signed but I didn't notice any signs, just the sign for WATER.
DeleteTake care, be safe,
Deb
Hoping that somewhere along the way our paths will cross since we don't seem to manage it in Ontario.
ReplyDeleteBe Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
Perhaps they will cross this winter as it seems we'll be in the same area for a week or two at least. We don't very often get to south western Ontario except passing through. We tend to be more central and northern Ontario people for some reason.
DeleteTake care, be safe,
Deb
That's a nice easy jaunt and the way you want them to go. A few pit stops along the way. Hopefully the wind abates for you but here we are getting the stronger ones for a couple of days. Oh well, it is what is and we'll hunker down and still enjoy some indoor days. Enjoy your visit with Janet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Patsy. The wind didn't really materialize the way they predicted but that's okay, I won't complain. It was windier in Indian Wells than it was out here and they had horrific winds last night while we didn't have much to speak of, which I found odd but then again, who can predict such things anyway. We had a short, quick but very nice visit with Janet.
DeleteTake care, be safe,
Deb