Wednesday, November 11 (continued)

“That’s an ocotillo,” Reggie.  “Sometimes they have pretty, red flowers.”

Photo taken upon arrival at the new camp

~ ~ ~

At the conclusion of the previous episode of “RVSue and her canine crew” . . .

Bridget, Reggie, and I continue southward on Route 95, having earlier crossed the Nevada border into California.  We’re in Paiute Valley on the west side of the Colorado River.

At Arrowhead Junction, a train!

The warning lights begin to flash at the crossing.  The safety arm comes down.

Good!  I want to sit here and watch it go by.

There’s something captivating about a long train rumbling across the desert, its whistle blowing.

Those are the Dead Mountains in the background.

The safety arm comes up and we resume our journey.

That brings us to where we left off in the last episode! 

I pull off the road to give the crew a potty break and for me to stretch my legs.  I set out the drink dish.  Reggie, after doing “the backhoe” (photo at left) hurries over and drinks heartily.

I always place a dish of water between the back of the passenger seat and in front of the bench seat whenever the crew rides in the Perfect Tow Vehicle.  Bridget drinks from this dish when we’re in transit.

I don’t think Reggie ever does.  That’s why I set the water  dish on the ground whenever we stop for a break.

I toss the crew into the PTV and consult my California Benchmark map one last time.  Then we board the interstate, going east, then southeast, to Needles.  As we pass beyond the southern end of the Dead Mountains into the wide, river valley, we’re hit by . . .

Crosswind!

The wind comes from the north and hits us broadside.  This is the worst crosswind we’ve encountered in our four years on the road.  Well, there was that notorious wind between Rawlings and Cheyenne back in 2012.

Anyway . . .  If we weren’t on an interstate, I would slow down considerably more than I dare among this traffic.  I’m glad I only have to fight the wind for about ten miles.

At Needles we pick up Route 95 again and shoot south.

The road wiggles through Lobecki Pass (at a whopping 1,520 feet) between the Sacramento Mountains and the Chemehuevi Mountains.  Then it’s a straight line through scrub.

I spot a sign set back from the road on the left.

Oh, this is Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness.  Our turn should be somewhere up on the right.

(To read about and  see a photo of Chemehuevi Mountains Wilderness, click here.)

Road signs aren’t plentiful in this vast, “empty” desert. 

Fortunately I spot a kiosk several yards off to the right, a lone break in the sage.  I bet that’s it!

As I make the turn, a short stick about 3 feet tall has “Turtle Mountain Road” printed sideways up its length.  This looks like the place, guys!

Bridget and Reggie jump around in the PTV, yipping with anticipation.

Reggie looks out the window at the ocotillo (first photo).   His head swivels one way and the other.

“It’s a big desert, isn’t it, boy.”

We need to take a look at the condition of this road.

I go around and open the passenger side door.  Bridget has hopped into the seat next to Reg and is muscling her way in front of him.  I place her squirmy body on the ground first.

I have a little talk with an excited Reggie while trying to hook his suit to the tether.

“This is big time desert, Reggie.  It isn’t a place for sissies.  You gotta’ be tough, okay?”

I set him on the ground and he takes off.  Bridget and I trot after him as he gleefully runs up the sandy road,

“Whatcha’ think, Reg?  You gonna’ like it here?”

~ ~ ~

It’s time to wrap up this post.

Before I do, here’s a preview of the new camp in two photos.

Bridget knows desert

~ ~ ~

Our camp at the edge of Turtle Mountains Wilderness, California

rvsue

NOTE:  For the weather forecast for Turtle Mountains Wilderness, click here.

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