Our first full day here at Owl Canyon Campground begins peacefully.
We have only two “neighbors” this morning.
Of course, Spike gets away from me to go snoop around the other campsites before the people emerge.
One large section of the campground is empty.
I consider moving our camp, and then decide to stay where we are. With the expected influx of campers this weekend, it probably won’t make much difference what site we’re in.
A sign at the entrance implores campers to leave the desert tortoises alone.
I postpone our exploration of Rainbow Basin.
It’s too windy for photographs, and I know I’ll want to take a lot of photos of the colored rock formations.
I managed to snap these pictures during a lull in the wind.
Instead the crew and I go into Barstow to stock up on groceries.
I think the PTV has a honing device for Wal-Marts. I don’t know where the Barstow Wal-Mart is located, yet the PTV takes us all across town right to it!
We’re back in Joshua Tree country again.
In the early evening the wind subsides.
Bridget, Spike, and I go out for our nightly walk. As we’re crossing the campground three white vans the size of the PTV come roaring in, dust flying. It says San Diego State University on the driver’s door of each one. All the seats are filled. Taking up the rear is a truck with slat sides. It’s loaded to the top of the slats with tents. Hoo-boy.
This scene shows about one-third of the campers from the university.
I look out the window as I type these lines and see four cars coming in for the spiritual gathering. The bulk of that group will arrive tomorrow. At least it’s unlikely any of these campers will booze it up or get rowdy!
rvsue
beautiful campground. Sounds like quite a weekend coming up !! I wonder what kind of spiritual gatherring it is??? There may be drumming and chanting. Who knows. Or do you know?
I don’t know, but I’m sure to find out if there’s drumming and chanting. This is, after all, California!
Ha Ha Ha !! That is the truth.
Maybe by spiritual gathering they mean a gathering with spirits.
Ha! The leader of the group promised there’d be no drinking.
in california, ya’ gotta’ worry about what they be a’ smokin’….’member I lived there ro 30+ years! but I never found that neat campground !!! 58 is boring…. Bridget and Spikey look great..Radar much better and all say WOOF!
Good to hear Radar is doing much better following his roll off the bed. Thanks for the update.
Interesting that a State University is involved in a “spiritual Gathering” our taxes at work? Oh well lots of things are done with tax money that I don’t like and nobody asked. I hope they are not to noisy and respect quiet hours (ya right).
Oh, no . . . These are two separate groups. The spiritual gathering is one group and the geology students from San Diego State University are another group. I should have made that clearer.
Not exactly like your quiet little site in the Alabama Hills, is it? Hope they are all quiet weekenders.
The only “noise” so far has been the little boy camping in a tent with two men. He’s about four and absolutely adorable. He was so excited about the tent, and hammering stakes, and running around squealing! He was having a great time. All is quiet now. He’s probably conked out in his sleeping bag.
Looks like a nice campground. Hope both groups are quiet. How is the weather?
Yesterday was pleasantly warm. Last night was warmer than the nights at Alabama Hills. We were comfortable with one quilt. Today was cooler. Of course the wind makes it feel cooler, too. I’m hoping tomorrow is calm, both the weather and the campers!
Sue you are invited to camp at the Hidden Oasis RV park in Wikieup AZ. There is hardly anyone here except for my wife and I in our little egg we call Cassie. Cheap rent for a month only $200 + 14 cents per kilowatt. It is so nice and quite too, because it is out in the middle of nowhere on Hwy 93. David the owner and manager says “We will leave the light on for you”. You met him in April when you camped in Wikiup…remember? Very nice people here and pet friendly, nice place to roost for awhile. Small Cafe, new restroom, showers and laundry room.
Yes! Of course I remember David and his wife. They are such nice people, hard-working and friendly. I was so impressed with their place, and the price is very reasonable. I appreciate you reminding me of their park. I don’t know if I’m ready to commit to a month’s stay anywhere. I still have itchy feet, you know, being a newbie still.
Enjoy your stay. If I do decide to roost somewhere for a month, Hidden Oasis will be a top consideration.
If you have to have week-end warriors, these sound like the kind to have. College kids with no drinking. Sounds great! I’ll bet everyone will love the crew and the crew will love all the attention they are bound to get. Remember it’s only two nights and then whoooosh, they all disappear on Sunday.
You’re right. These are the best kind of neighbors to have. The students will probably be out looking at rocks tomorrow.
I think this campground is well worth going to. Also it’s closer than going to Tuttle Creek from my house here in San Diego.
Comparing Tuttle Creek and Oak Canyon . . . Barstow is a lot bigger than Lone Pine, but it lacks the charm, IMHO. I did see on the way to Wal-Mart a railroad museum that might be interesting. You don’t zip into town like you do at Tuttle.
The drive out here on Hwy 58 is monotonous. It’s worth the trip if you like what you see of the campground in my photos, also the hiking, exploring, photographing, and doing the geology thing at Rainbow Basin Natural Area is pretty neat. I did notice a sign at the Basin road prohibiting trailers and RVs (something to think about… anyone considering buying a Class C or motorhome… some places you aren’t allowed.). It is well worth the trip out here, at least to see it once, and then to come back if you like it.
Can a small Class C (22 ft) get to the campground? It isn’t as long as your outfit and has about the same ground clearance.
Pat . . . .Any size RV can come into the campground. The road forks before you get to the campground. To the right goes to the campground — any size vehicle can take that road. To the left goes to the Rainbow Basin Natural Area — that road is not for RVs and trailers.
Sue
In my comment about Owl Canyon/Rainbow Basin Campground Area, I was referring to the distance between San Diego, and Barstow.”Comparing Tuttle Creek and Oak Canyon . . . Barstow is a lot bigger than Lone Pine, but it lacks the charm, IMHO.”
I have to agree, and IMHO Tuttle Creek is as you put it More charming than Barstow ever was.
I am laughing to myself regarding your upcoming weekend,,,sorry!!! – hopefully your proximity to a “spiritual gathering” will be calmer than my experience from many years ago – in the early 90’s we chartered a sailboat in the British Virgin Islands, everyone said, you must go to Cane Garden Bay so we dropped anchor in this bay of picture perfect tropical paradise—blue water, white sands and palm trees. Unfortunately, no one told us to avoid mooring on a Sunday. And of course that is the day we were there.. we heard (operative word here!) 1st hand a local evangelical “service” on the beach night that began at sunset and lasted until 4am- music, loud speakers, drums, everything one might expect of a local Caribbean religious celebration. result was zero sleep…so much for tropical paradise!!! Anyway, I had forgotten about that night until reading your post.. thanks for the flashback! Just be prepared to pick up and move,,, we didn’t have that option in a sailboat in the dark.
Now that would have upset me… chartering a sailboat and then kept awake all night. Glad you can laugh about it now, Mel.
Dang, but the neighborhood is getting crowded.
People who usually camp in parks with 80 sites or more would think this is sparsely populated. To me, after camping in the Alabama Hills, this is the city!
It might be a christen’ weekend retreat, go campin’ with fellowship, a learnin’ experance, maybe th’ college kids ar’ gonna get saved, AAAMMMEENNNN………..,,ya might get a knock,,,,knock,, on your door, Sue, better dust off His Word.,,,,,to bad th’ winds a blowin’,,,,,,Wow, look et that moon.
It looks like a men’s retreat. I asked one of the guys if it was okay if I stayed and he laughed. The wind has stopped for us, hope so for you, too.
rv sue you are amazing!!! write a book please so i can read it!!! cuz i already cannot put this down!!!!
anita!!!!! i luv ur comment!!!!
I remember another “spiritual gathering” . It was the Heaven’s Gate people. Remember them? They were Californians, and lead by some …. something Applewhite I think it was. Trouble was, they thought there was an alien space ship following Comet Hale-Bopp. So, they dressed in their new blue jeans, sneakers, and tucked 5 dollor bills in their shirt pockets. Then they drank some poisen and layed down to pass on to the after life where they thought, they would be picked up by the alien space craft. I’m sure their ghosts are saying “YOU DUMB AS#?!% !!
Yep they were Californians.
Hi Mark , , ,I remember them. What a sad bunch of lost people.
That was in Rancho Santa Fe where those idiots headed to “Heavens Gate”. I lived nearby at the time. What weirdos….Good luck this weekend Sue, just the “energy” of that many young people living nearby would set my alarm.
Thanks for the good luck wish, Jim. I’m doing really well accepting my many neighbors. I hope I can make it until Sunday afternoon.
“When in Rome, do as the Romans do!”
Can’t wait to hear how this weekend goes!
But I thought this was MY Rome!
As previously mentioned, they’ll be gone by Sunday night and you can have your peace and quiet back. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday are our favorite days in campgrounds. Unless it’s Summer in a big attraction, they are usually the quietest days of the week.
Hi Reine . . . You know, I’ve been wanting to post all the work you did for me on the six-months financial statement. It comes out all screwy when I transfer it to WordPress. I need to figure out how to make a chart on WP. Just want you to know …
I hope it was a peaceful night for you. I was wondering about the wind and all that sand, if it blows into the Casita? We’ve been having a lot of wind here in Las Vegas too. But this morning it’s sunny and calm!!
Take Care, Ginger
No, the sand doesn’t blow into the Casita. Sometimes the crew and I track the sand in. This sand here is coarse so it doesn’t cling the way dusty, fine sand does.
The railroad museum is awesome but the building it is in was originally a Harvey house. There is also a Route 66 museum in the same building. One time we were there they had a sandcastle competition in one of the dry washes. It was weird seeing sand castles so far from the beach. There is a lot of BLM land surrounding you that you could boondock in. You may want to check out Afton Canyon. A little history…. From Barstow to Afton Canyon there use to be a lake called Lake Manix. Thousands of years ago there was an earthquake and the lake emptied in 48 hours and that is how Afton Canyon was formed. While you visit the RR museum or the Rt 66 museum look for a book written by Bill Mann. Before he passed away he wrote 5 different books on places to visit in the East Mojave and surrounding area’s. I wish I was there I would show you the sights. My hubby wants to go hiking tomorrow out in that area but my back is out so I am not sure I can go.
I’m reluctant to go looking for boondocking sites in this type of landscape. It’s wide open spaces and sandy, as you know. Not knowing my way around, I could end up stuck in the sand or at a place where I can’t turn around, off with no cell signal. There’s no need for boondocking when a $3 camp is available. As for the people, they’ll leave. Today I learned of another interesting camp that we’ll go to next… . but more about that in a blog entry!
I always love reading your blog and the comments you get. I hope your weekend is going great. Just think how boring it would be if all your neighbors were always the same each time you camped. Love you
Hi Pauline… If the neighbors stayed the same, I wouldn’t be RVing. I’d be in a house! I hope you’re enjoying the weekend,too.
I agree. The desert is beautiful. Once the crowd leaves I’ll get out and around, taking pictures.
I am enjoying your blog so much! Thanks for putting a ‘window towards the possible’. Stay Safe!
Hi Barb! “A window towards the possible” . . . That would make a good slogan for a blog Thanks for your comment.
Hi Sue, I was just wondering why you don’t have a generator to run your air conditioner? Is it because the gas is smelly inside your PTV? If you wanted to you could put a Honda 2000 on the tongue of your BLT and put a 5 gal jerry can on the back of your PTV. I had a guy weld an angle iron cage around my Honda 2000 generator with a big padlock. It fits on the tongue just ahead of the two propane bottles. This doesn’t interfer with pulling the trailer at all. The genny only weighs 42 lbs. and you can take it off the tongue and put it away from the propane bottles to start and run the genny. You don’t want to run any engine near your propane bottles because of an explosion or fire danger. Being able to run the A/C when Boondocking sure is nice and the little genny is quite as a mouse. Your neighbors won’t even hear it probably. You can run a siphon hose from your jerry can to the genny without having to lift the heavy gas can. You can fill the can without taking it off the rear mount too. Wallmart sells a siphon hose with a rubber bulb for only 4 bucks…but better hurry they don’t last long on the shelf. You can also find ’em at Harbor Freight stores too. It won’t be long until hot temps are here again. Look for sales on the Honda 2000 generator. Camping World sells ’em sometimes for less that $1000. I got mine under the BIG TENT in Quartzsite for $945 but that was a couple of years ago. Everything keeps going up and up including the Suns temperature. If you are concerned about your little genny walking away use a long chain and padlock. Now to scare off no goods go to the Good Will and get a BIG pair of men’s shoes and sat them right outside your door. If anyone asks you just tell ’em your Husband will be right back or he is sleeping inside. And as Forrest Gump says, “its just a little white lie and nobody will get hurt”. Oh yeah the Honda 2000 is just big enough to run your AC but not anything else at the same time. Have fun out there.
On Sun, Oct 28, 2012 at 7:40 AM, rvsue and her canine crew wrote:
> ** > rvsueandcrew commented: “Hi Barb! “A window towards the possible” . . . > That would make a good slogan for a blog Thanks for your comment.” >
Run for cover Joe, you should have read RvSue’s complete blog!