Sawtooth Canyon Campground is a free BLM campground.
As I write this, the crew and I are the only campers here, except for Ranger Jim and his wife Janet who are camp hosts. Our campsite has a picnic table, shelter, and fire ring, all in good condition. It’s tucked up along big boulders which provide privacy and a windbreak.
Our campsite is next to the kissing rocks.
I love to camp where I can turn 360 degrees and not see any evidence of human presence.
The only campsite near us and it’s vacant!
Let me go back in time to . . .
Monday, November 5
Spike investigates not far from our campsite
Karen and Randy from Apple Valley, California, come by as I’m finishing a breakfast of raisin bran outside the BLT. (They’re a couple I met at Owl Canyon Campground.) It’s nice to see them again. Of course they have their three adorable rat terriers with them!
From left to right, Pearl, Rattles, and Pixie
Walking the dogs around the campground together, we join fellow campers, Joan and Francois, for a brief visit.
Later that day Spike, Bridget, and I see a coyote behind Ranger Jim’s site.
An early arrival for dinner (Photo zoomed and later enlarged in editing)
Jim has a pool in his backyard that attracts various wildlife. I learn that coyotes have an extensive vocabulary of sounds. What songs they sing for their supper! Jim says he sees the coyotes flush the chukars, and then the coyotes jump up and catch them in the air.
The boulders at Sawtooth Canyon are much different than the tan rocks at Alabama Hills or the lava rocks at Fossil Falls.
Tuesday, November 6
I’ve enjoyed visiting with Francois and Joan the past few days.
Here come Joan and Francois for a last visit.
They stop by this morning to use my air card and return my California Benchmark map. We exchange emails and phone numbers and hug goodbye.
The crew and I are going to stay at Sawtooth Canyon Campground for several days.
The weather is wonderful, highs in the mid-80s and lows in the mid-50s, all week. I read online that temperatures for the Barstow, California, area will drop to a Saturday high of only 54 degrees and a low of 37 degrees.
The kissing rocks from the other side.
I hope the predicted cold overnight will keep the rock climbers and campers away over the three-day weekend. I’m selfish. I want this entire campground all to myself while I pay nothing!
rvsue
Canine Corner: “Spike behaves himself” by Bridget
Good boy, Spike!
I’m very pleased with Spike’s behavior lately.
He didn’t embarass himself again when Pixie, Pearl, and Rattles visited us the other day. Young Pixie came over to him, and instead of slobbering around her like a lovestruck fool, Spike discreetly looked away. He actually listened to me when I told him she’s way too young for him!
How ya’ doin’ Bridge?
Not only did he control himself in front of our guests, he’s been very attentive towards me lately!
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. I don’t agree with that. I’m going to keep working on Spike. It’s a big job, but I’ll make a gentleman out of him yet.
What another lovely site……………..free and no neighbors??/ What more can you ask for! Whoooeeee! Not selfish at all…nothing wrong with peace and quiet!
How is Bridget’s leg doing? Haven’t seen the stroller in awhile. Love the pic of Spike looking at Bridget.
Do you normally cook inside or outside the BLT? OMG does a BBQ sound good right about now.
I’m jealous of your weather……..here in the Adirondacks it was 18 this morning with a high of 32………not sure I like this.
Hello, cinandjules!
Bridget’s leg is going great. Sometimes she favors it in the morning. Once she’s limbered up, the limp goes away. She still doesn’t have the stamina she once had. (We have to stop and let her rest.) Regular daily exercise should help her get back in shape.
I usually cook inside the BLT. It’s easier and I eat simple foods. Firing up a BBQ would be fun, but for one person it’s not that practical.
Enjoy the quiet, I know how important solitude is sometimes. Nice pics and campground.
It is wonderful to be out here with no traffic or people sounds. It’s like “refined” boondocking!
This looks like a perfect campground to take a week off and just relax! After all the tension from trying to help Buddy you deserve a week to yourself! Love the kissing rocks!! Weather here in Mimbres NM is just perfect… 40’s at night and mid-70’s in the day. A bit chillier than I like in the morning, but as soon as the sun rises over the Black Range Mountains it heats up quickly! I keep meaning to tell you that the cacti you gave me this summer are doing great! I will have to transplant them when we get home in 3 weeks!
Hi Geri,
I was sitting outside in the afternoon sun, soaking it up, felt so good! Your weather sounds good, too. I’m glad the cacti traveled well. I wondered if they’d make it to your yard.
Great job finding another terrific campground. You definitely have the touch. What’s the 3 day week-end coming up? I can hardly remember what day it is. Clearly you are in much better shape. Good luck to Bridget on the Spike as a Gentleman goal! HA!!
Hi Sherry, It’s Veteran’s Day, November 11th.
Yes, Bridget works hard to clean up Spike’s act. There are certain personal habits we won’t go into here.
Love the kissing rocks & your canine corner always cracks me up. Looks like Briget is really giving Spike a hard time in the last photo….. cute.
Bridget gives me that same look.
Love the pictures, Sue. So glad that you are able to slow down and relax–looks like the perfect spot.
The crew and I will be living easy the next few days.
From the “Herd” : Spikey, you’re wimpin’ out !! Don’t let Bridget rule you…you da’ man !
Scotty, Radar and Doogie
Free, beautiful and quiet – sounds pretty nice to me. The weather here in NE has turned chilly the past couple of days, so where you are sounds perfect to me. A nosy question which you shouldn’t feel you have to answer: did you vote on a SD absentee ballot? Just curious for future reference.
I could have voted on a SD absentee ballot but I didn’t make the arrangements. This is the first time in my life I didn’t vote since I became of voting age. Now I feel guilty.
Oh gosh, Sue! Didn’t mean to make you feel guilty and maybe I was out of line to ask 🙁 I’m curious because we will full-time in the not-too-distant future and I was wondering how much of a hassle it would be to deal with an absentee ballot while moving around. Not any more difficult than any other mail, I guess!
I like to follow your travels and I can’t find Sawtooth on Google. I only know it’s south of Barstow. Can you somehow fill me in?
Really enjoy your travels.
Dave
Sawtooth is sort of “under the radar.” It’s recently been changed over from an OHV staging area to a campground where OHVs are not allowed. (There’s a big OHV area to the north of here.) It’s southeast of Stoddard Wells, an OHV dispersed camping area.
Sawtooth is about 15 miles south of Barstow on the west side of Route 247.
It’s a few miles south of Slash X Ranch and Saloon, if that helps any.
Sue,
I think I know where Three Feathers and Timber are staying south of Lake Havasu City and will try and find them when I go by on November 10th. If you are going to be in the area also to visit him let me know, my email address is on my web page. I would like to meet you if you are in the area. I’ll stay a month at Castle Rock Shores which is near Parker Dam and about 10-13 miles from where I think Three Feathers will be camped.
I’d like to meet you, too, Ed. I’ve read your blog for a while now. We seem to have similar thoughts on several topics! I’d also like to see Rusty (Three Feathers) and Timber again, but I don’t know exactly where they are in the Lake Havasu City area.
I don’t know when I’ll get up that way. I have a hankering for Darby Well (Ajo), too. If I’m in your area, I’ll email you.
I’m now closing my eyes and imagining my rig in that vacant campsite next to you – warm, dry . . . . sigh. This weekends plan include Cape Disappointment State Park on Long Beach penninsula, Washington. Not expected to be warm or dry – but the winter beach (with a lot of fleece and a shot of peppermint schnapps in my cocoa) should be fun too. And Molly will get to run on the beach!
I hope you and Molly have a great time at the beach!
Don’t feel bad, Sue, I mist’d th’ reg., to vote too,,,,,,,,,,,Hows Buddy n’ Shagy doin’ Timber ask’d, Hope they’r Ok….
As far as I know, they’re fine. Give Timber a hug from me and the crew!
Rusty…. Click on Ed’s name below (in blue) and it’ll take you to his website. His email address is on there. If you’d like to meet him, send him an email and give him directions. Your decision.
I love to camp where I can turn 360 degrees and not see any evidence of human presence.
Me, too! 🙂
So you’re territorial just like me!
Nice place to kick back and spend a little time “relaxing”. That area is populated by rattlesnakes so I hope the crew know to stay away from them. When you are out in those rocks never put your feet or a hand where you can’t see. Have fun Sue and once again, good work on the Buddy situation.
Thanks for the warning, Jim. We took a long hike this morning further south in the Canyon. No sign or sound of snakes . . . We always stay on the path and I pound my walking stick into the ground as we go.
Get yourself a set of Snake Guardz…I am enclosing a link.http://www.goldrushtradingpost.com/snake_gaiters
There are many company’s that sell them they should be easy to find out near Barstow, with all of the Prospecting shops out there.
Thanks, Patrick!
Sawtooth seems to be a camping area worth looking into soon….thanks for posting about it. Also thanks for posting about Buddy & Sruffy. (seems odd talking about Buddy our throw away dog’s name is Buddy…we rescued him from the San Diego Animal Shelter)
Great blog, keep up the good work!
Looks like you have picked a lovely spot to chill for a few days.