Fri. Jan 7th Holtville CA

Join us as we travel North America in our Holiday Rambler Vacationer,

 since August 2006

today's adventure

      Well we have spent enough time in Pio Pico, nothing else we want to see in the area so this morning coffees and putter about, pack up then on the road a few minutes after 9:00am. We made our way to I-8 and headed east. Now this is heading thru the mountains and will be a scenic drive.

      We started at 200 feet above sea level and began gently climbing, taking our time, don't need to push it, we can relax and enjoy the scenery passing signs at the various elevation levels 1,2,3 and 4 thousand feet until we reached Crestwood Summit at 4,181 feet above sea level. As the elevation changed so did the scenery and landscape, it was very scenic, and the pictures I took don't really do it justice.

      Once we reached the summit there was a long line of windmills for electricity and even windsocks to warn us of the dangerous crosswinds. Now our descent was approaching as a sign telling us of a brake check area for trucks. The signs for  6% grade for the next 7 miles and a truck speed limit of 35 mph so we gear down and hang on for the ride once again enjoying the scenery and even the runaway truck ramp, which consisted of a ramp of very deep, loose gravel and a small hill of more loose gravel , enough I am sure to stop any vehicle in a hurry.

      Finally we see the flat desert areas and sand dunes, then irrigated green fields of southern California and passed a sign telling us we were at Sea Level. Now its only 11:30 am and we are arriving at our destination just east of Holtville Ca. The Hot Springs LTVA (Long Term Visitor Area). We decided to stay here and pay the permit fee of $40.00 (its good for 14 days in any LTVA of Southern California and Arizona). Lots of room here and we headed to eastern side where we know some people that might be camped here. And sure enough two couples from Kenora Ontario that we have not seen for a few years. So we staked our claim for home dirt, had a bite to eat and set up camp. Then I went to town for a few groceries, back home to relax and read for a while, then happy hour began at George and Gay's site. A few wandered in, anybody is welcome, we had people from all over, British Columbia, South Dakota, New York and Ontario. Chatting, nibbling on munchies and adding layers as the temperature dropped, then George started a campfire to take the chill off. A good time chatting then we decided it was time for a late supper, some cheese, crackers, chicken emphadas some tasty New England Clam Chowder.

Todays' Pictures

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