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!  :)