Finding Our Way Without Our GPS, Tense Moments Ready To Explore The Sculptures.

Our Location today is at the Rockhouse Trail, Borrego Springs, California.

Click on the pictures to Enlarge

With the Blog written early last night and our plans at having an early start in the morning we were in bed by 10:00 PST. What we didn’t expect was that we would both experience a Pretravel Night’s Sleep. In other words we would sleep for only a short time then wake up with our heads full of nonsense that wasn’t even important during our normal waking hours.

When we got up at 7:00 this morning we were both feeling dragged out but we knew that if we got to our destination and set up early we might be able to shave a day off our visit and add it to another stop. That was our plan and everyone knows how plans work out.

We had the Jacks up and were rolling off our spot by 8:10. There were very few others outside as we drove towards the front gate. From there it was only a Five Minute drive before we turned the Truck back onto I-8 heading towards El Centro.

I-8 to El Centro

Driving without our GPS and only Printed Instructions we started making good time until we came upon a slight Construction Detour on I-8 which appeared to be the same as it was nearly Two Years ago but it ended just before our Off-Ramp. Heading up SR111 it looked like we were back on track until another Construction Detour took us off the City Bypass and had us driving right through the heart of town. There didn’t seem to be any Rush Hour Traffic just a few more Construction Detours.

When we finally emerged on SR86 making our way towards the Salton Sea it felt that we had already been on the road over an Hour but were still far from our destination. Then we came upon the Border Patrol Check Point which we had a courteous nod that sent us on our way.

As we were about to get back on SR86 we had to stop for a Heavy-Duty Tow Truck was hauling away a Semi Truck and Trailer crossing our lanes. As we were started moving Kathy noticed a road sign to Octillo Wells and because of the location of the Inspection we were missing our turn.

At the next Intersection we came to we cautiously turned around. Almost opposite the Inspection Station we turned on SR78 heading in the direction of the Printed Instructions.

We both found the detail amazing.

We had been driving for some time when Kathy started getting worried that this wasn’t the right road because there had been no Highway Indicator for nearly Twenty Miles. A brief stop at a Recreation Area allowed us to go On-Line to verify we were on the right track.

Soon we were taking a Roller Coaster Ride on S3 that would take us to Borrego Springs. Our instructions read that if we reached Christmas Circle we would have gone too far so as soon as we started seeing some of the large Metal Sculptors we stopped to take a few pictures.

A tight trail.

Doing that while still attached to the Trailer is quite the challenge so when we saw other RVs off in the distance we thought that we could join them. The path was in Washboard Condition and was barely wide enough to travel down. There were only a couple of spots where two vehicles could pass one another. The Corners we had to turn were treacherous and we held our breathes as the Trailer leaned more than we wanted. At one of the Corners we worked ourselves back in the direction that we came having to use our 4X4 mode to pull through the soft sand. We both promised we’ll never take the Trailer where we aren’t sure is Safe like that again. That path would be suitable for much smaller units. 

As we were leaving we saw this guy shopping.

Looks like a Cooper's Hawk.

When we finally got to Christmas Circle the Local Vendors were just closing up their Friday Farmers Market. We were directed to the Chamber of Commerce Building where we got a Brochure of where all the Sculptures are. They tried recommending some of the Higher Priced RV Parks in the area but after our $$$$ Repair Bill we asked for directions to BLM Land.

The verbal directions were right on and we were soon pulling on to Rockhouse Trail. There was plenty of space to park without any worries of damaging our Trailer. With the area being surrounded by Mountains we chose a higher spot away from any washes. We towed the Trailer 105 Miles today.

It was already Six Hours since having breakfast so after getting set up we were too hungry to cook and we need Drinking Water anyways. Back in town we found they had a small Strip Mall and they had a Restaurant for us to eat. We both had a filling meal that was very satisfying and tasty.

Our nearest Neighbours about Five Hundred Feet Away.

We wanted to be Home before dark but before heading there we found a market that had the Reverse Osmosis Dispenser. There was a neat looking 55 Chevy with California license plates on it that pulled up but when he went to pull away it was burning oil badly. Time for a rebuild.

The brightest we saw the Sun all day.

We’ll take the next couple of days to check out and photograph as many of the Sculptures as possible before we head down the road for our next adventure. Thank you for following along and feel free to leave a comment.

Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

Words of Inspiration

Whatever our souls are made of,

his and mine are the same.

Emily Bronte, English Novelist