Friday, February 7, 2014

Hello Hot Springs!

Katie and I took a long walk the other day down to the Hot Springs area and beyond. 


This is the oasis area next to the actual Hot Springs bathing area. It's so pretty inside all the large palm trees, truly an oasis.








There are a lot of dry fronds around the edge of the water this year, it looks like they are trimming the lower dead fronds.  (I think that's what they are called.) Probably not very good for swimming this year.


Click here to see more photos of the oasis and bathing area from last year.  I took quite a few, and liked them better.  Remember there was a man swimming in this oasis?

We continued our walk - I wanted to see the camping area on the other side of the freeway so we headed off down that road.  We walked for a while along the canal - it's so pretty.

Then a car with a Class A motor home following it came toward us.  I waved down the woman driving the car and asked her how much further down the road the camping area was.  She said about another mile.  Well, that was it for me.  We turned around and wandered back toward our campsite.   The woman said the camping area was like the one we're in, but probably not as nice.  One of these days I'll drive over there and see it for myself, but if there's no dumpster on that side, and I don't think there is, I'll continue camping on this side.  BTW, I later saw the car and Class A driving past my site, so they were checking out the other side, too, and decided on this side.   


As we were walking along I noticed all the little sea shells in the dirt.  Obviously the water has been as high as the road in the past.


The next day I looked out the window, and guess who was driving by?  Bea and Peter - they made it to Hot Springs!  For all the people who follow their blogs, you know the problems they have had getting here.  I'm happy to report they made it, safe and sound and full of smiles.

Katie and I took a walk and spied their campsite (a really nice pull-through site with lots of room) and stopped to say hello.

Molly came sauntering over and I wasn't sure how Katie would react, but she liked Molly and wasn't afraid of her.  Molly got in a few sniffs for greetings, and then wandered back to their campsite.  What a great dog!  Here's Bea watching over them.  Click here for Bea's blog.

Then this morning Peter came walking by and stopped to chat, and Katie went right up to him and gave him lots of love - Peter had on a cowboy hat, and since Katie is still a bit cautious of men, and especially men wearing hats, I was really surprised that she had no fear of him at all.  I didn't have my camera with me, but wish I did, it would have made a great photo. Click here for Peter's blog.

There are lizards here that dart from bush to bush, and Katie is very interested in all the bushes.  Walking is a real pain - these bushes are everywhere, so I'm having to be firm with her that we stay on the road!  Once in a while I'll let her stop and get her fill, like the photo below, and when I tell her the critters are all gone, she gives up and walks away. 






Below is one of the entrances to the Yuma Proving Ground on the road that leads to Imperial Dam LTVA.  I always love driving past this area, it makes me feel so patriotic.



While staying at Hot Springs, I often see these helicopters flying overhead.   Very cool looking.  American military personnel hard at work.  I always send up a silent "Thank You!" to them when they are flying by.


By the way, these are the dates on my tire:

I'm not sure if that means they were manufactured the 4th week of 2010 or the 47th week of 2010.  Obviously I'd rather it means the 47th.  Do any of you know if that left slanting 7 is a "7" or a slash?

From me and Katie, have a great Saturday, everyone!  :)

18 comments:

  1. Gosh, I think I'm first! Your photos are gorgeous, Barbara! What an interesting area--complete with sea shells & lizards for Katie to chase! Yeah, go with the 47th week...but I know nothing about tire dates. Happy Trails!

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  2. I agree - great photos. Love those blue clouds and plenty of warm sunshine!

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  3. Hi Barbara:
    I love your photography and also want to keep up with your travels as I'll be heading back to California beginning next week (from Louisiana). Looks like Katie is really beginning to get to be a social butterfly!

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  4. Jim says they are the 47th week of 2010. Looks nice there, we may have to check it out. Is it like Q where you have to pay $40 for 2 weeks if you don't have an LTVA sticker? And is there water and dump?

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    1. Free with the LTVA sticker, $40 for 2 weeks without. There is a huge garbage dumpster, but no water or dump. Holtville, which is the nearest town - maybe a few miles away? - has water, propane and a dump station, but there is a small fee. Last year I paid $9 to dump and I think that included water, but not sure. The people here LOVE the springs, every time we walk down there I see a few people in the water or showering.:)

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  5. So many of us gave a big YIPPPEEEE when Peter & Bea arrived at the place they love the most.

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  6. I love the Oasis picture, especially the one at the top of your post!

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  7. Sure looks like a great place to camp. Is there ever any problem leaving your campsite to dump and then coming back to find it occupied by someone else? Is there a way, or is it even allowable, to leave an "Occupied" sign if you have to drive away?

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    1. May I answer that. We leave our carpet and chairs outside and take off to the dump. An hour later we are back again and everything is still in place. We have been here for about 9 seasons and had never had a problem with someone taking our stuff away.

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    2. Yes, I also do what Bea and Peter do. I always leave out at least a chair and my little welcome mat. I've also printed up a sign that I put in a plastic sleeve and clip to the back of the chair that says, "This Site is Occupied." Just in case someone thinks I left town and left a chair. You can leave your site for up to five days and no one is allowed to take it. After that, it's fair game unless you've gotten permission from the camp host to stay away longer.

      If anyone wants a copy of my sign, let me know and I'll e-mail you the file and you can print it out. :)

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  8. The canal photo is absolutely stunning! It looks like a great place to camp (and visit with friends)
    Enjoy your time there.

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  9. One of these years, I'd like to get the seasonal pass and check out all these LTVA areas for the winter.
    Great seeing you in Q! I'm sure we'll meet again, probably this summer in NM.

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  10. The first two numbers are the week of the year... either the 41st or 47th week of the year... and the year is definitely 2010. Figuring @ 4 weeks in each month those tires were manufactured sometime in October, 2010... they should be good for a few more years depending on the mileage.

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  11. Love the photos of the oasis , and the canal so picturesque. This area is filled with beauty. Katie is so good with other dogs, isn't she the perfect hostess.

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  12. Yes! It was great to finally being here again! We were glad to see you too.
    The other (south) side of the LTVA is much more sandy. You need to know where the sand pits are. Otherwise you can get stuck over there.
    I was amazed how much the reed has taken over the open water area in the big run off pond. 9 years ago it was all open water and Peter and I did swim there. Over the years the reed has been taking over more and more, I guess the pond will be gone in a few year if nobody digs that stuff out. I didn't swim in there for the last 4 years, someone said there are snap turtles in there. Might be true, might be not. I rather stay with the hot springs :))

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  13. Did you see that you made the Top 50 RV Blogs on the Florida Outdoors RV site?
    http://m.floridaoutdoorsrv.com/top-50-rv-lifestyle-blogs/

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  14. Really great pictures of the Hot Springs!

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