Saturday, February 4
General Patton Memorial Museum, Chiriaco Summit, Interstate 10, California
“Well, Reg, we’re all set. We’ve got groceries, water, gas, and the tanks are almost empty. We’re still on the first tank of propane, so we’re good for a while.”
It’s past noon this Saturday as the Perfect Tow Vehicle hauls Reggie and me and the Best Little Trailer up the ramp at Blythe to board Interstate 10 west.
We cross Chuckwalla Valley, passing the exit for Corn Springs Road, where we camped in 2015, and also, 48 miles west of Blythe, we pass the exit for Desert Springs.
We continue westward on I-10 another 20 miles or so.
At Chiriaco Summit (1,710 feet — Yeah, that’s the summit — don’t laugh!), we leave the interstate and I park the PTV at the General Patton Museum.
“This is a good place for us to stretch our legs.”
We wander around the display of army jeeps and tanks, the statue of General Patton (see first photo), and the remembrance walls for fallen soldiers.
So many young lives lost. Thank you for making possible the life I enjoy . . . .
“Let’s go, Reg. We have miles to go before we camp.”
We’re on our way to the Salton Sea!
Instead of boarding the interstate to reach the next exit (Box Canyon Road), I take the dirt road that runs westward on the south side of the highway. Why? Because I’m curious if there are boondocks along it, for future reference.
A spur road suggests possibilities, but these are soon discarded for future camps when we pass a collection of vehicles with empty utility trailers — OHVers.
We pick up Box Canyon Road which is paved.
The interstate is still visible at this point.
In the photo (below), you can see the weekend traffic, as well as the snow-capped mountains, which I know better than attempt to identify because I’ll surely get them wrong!
San Bernadinos, maybe? Do you know?
Box Canyon Road winds through a canyon, of course.
We come around a turn and there’s a cyclist up ahead.
Great! He will give a reference for height of the rocks!
I pull over and take this shot before he disappears around another turn in the road.
People camp in Box Canyon.
I assume mostly hikers, rock climbers, cyclists, and off-road enthusiasts camp here. It doesn’t appeal to me because I’m none of those things.
I prefer camping in beautiful places. The floor of Box Canyon is all torn up with vehicle tracks. Not pretty. I don’t photograph the mess because I’d rather show what’s good about the canyon — the interesting rock formations.
Soon we’re out the other end of the canyon and into an area of agriculture.
We pass vineyards, groves of citrus trees and palms, and fields of newly planted crops.
I glimpse a swath of blue . . . “There’s the Sea, Reg!”
I don’t stop for a first-glimpse photo because I’m eager to make our camp!
Route 111 south takes us to Corvina Beach.
Before we turn into this familiar, primitive campground, I scan the area to see if my favorite campsite, way down at the end by itself, is vacant.
Yes, it is!
The sign at the self-pay station reads $10.00 camping fee, minus $2.00 discount for seniors.
Corvina Beach doesn’t have numbered sites. You pick a place along a wide “boulevard” running parallel to the shoreline.
Hmm . . . Not many RVs here and it’s the weekend . . . .
Corvina Beach has a shower house!
It also has flush toilets, trash bins, and water spigots. Nice!
I drive past the cluster of trailers and motor homes and back the BLT into “our” private spot at the end. I’m reminded of the time I camped here with Bridget during February of 2015.
This campsite gives the feeling of having the Sea all to ourselves!
After preliminary set-up of camp, I walk Reggie.
He’s turbo-charged from being cooped up in the PTV for the drive. It’s a long walk back to the pay station and he enjoys every step of the way.
I insert the pay envelope holding my check for $40 (5 nights @ $8 a night) into the iron ranger.
This is the warmest day we’ve experienced all winter. It’s like summer! Oh, there’s something about the cries of seagulls that make me feel I’m on vacation. Well, actually, I suppose I am!
When Reg and I settle in for the night, I leave one window open.
We’re tired and sleep well, except we do wake whenever a train passes by.
Gee, I don’t remember the trains being this loud. Other times we’ve camped here, I hardly noticed the trains in the night.
Then I realize the “problem” isn’t the trains; it’s us!
The nights at Midland LTVA were perfectly quiet, except for the rare sound of the roadrunner or coyotes in the big wash. After two months of blissful seclusion, we’re so accustomed to silence that our ears are hyper-sensitive.
All the better to eavesdrop on the shore birds!
More to come from the Salton Sea in future posts . . . .
rvsue
P.S. That was a short summer — It’s Sunday as I type this and much cooler!
NOTE: In case you missed it . . . To see the details on the final bill for the refrigerator , its installation, and other service issues ($1,600.73) , see the bottom of the previous post. — Sue
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