Saturday Dec. 15, 2012
It was cool and rainy again as I headed out to start the final westward leg of the trip. I figured there was about 375 miles remaining to 29Palms, and 200 or more of it is on I-8. Not too long after I was underway, those cacti with the arms starting appearing in the desert. There were hundreds of them of various sizes. And just as quickly, around Gila Bend, they disappeared. It's all desert, but takes many forms. I passed several large irrigated fields that appeared to have produced hay for a couple of large cattle farms in the area. There are many RV parks in the area also. Another thing I've noticed occasionally are the crosses and flowers alongside the road. I also saw these on the walk and assumed it was for the immigrants who died coming into the US across the desert.
As I-8 approached a mountain range about 20 miles east of Yuma, the westbound lanes turned left and passed over the eastbound lanes.....so now cars were passing on the passenger side rather than the driver side. It stayed this way until the other side of the mountain, then changed back. I can't imagine what engineering difficulties caused it to be built this way. Shortly after passing through Yuma, I crossed the Colorado River and into California.....gaining an extra hour as well. I called Larry Bowden to let me know my location and expected time of arrival in 29Palms. The desert I've been in most of the trip takes many forms, but none like the deserts we see on TV. Not far west of Yuma is an area called the Imperial Sand Dunes Rec. Area, it looks like the "real" desert......dunes everywhere. There were lots of tracks from motorcycles and other rec vehicles on the dunes.
I passed through a border check station along the way, and the guy asked if I had any produce or fruit in the car. I had 1 apple, and he said I could either pull over and eat it, or give it to him. I'd just finished one, so let him have it. After the dunes I entered an agricultural area, and now know where we get our lettuce. From the end of the dunes until I reached I-10, the whole area is covered with fields of lettuce and all sorts of other agricultural products. Some fields had sheep, others vineyards, palm trees, fruit trees, etc. Lots of irrigation was visible, and I crossed aqueducts carrying water from the Colorado river. At El Centro I turned north on Hwy 111 toward 29Palms. Somehow I unintenionally left 111, so stopped in Brawley to ask directions.
A guy at a service station, who spoke "a little" English, gave me these instructions: "see that truck turning? It's going to 111 so just follow it." Well, maybe it usually goes to 111, but not today. I finally passed the truck, and at the next intersection got out of the car and asked him was he going to 111. Not today, but he told me how to get there. Then I came to the small town Calipatria, and again was confused about directions. Stopped at a store to ask a woman who spoke "a little" English, and she told me (I thought) to go 4 stop signs and turn left. I eventually discovered she meant an intersection with 4 stop signs (a 4-way stop). Finally was on Hwy111 heading north.
I went this direction to see the Salton Sea, and Larry advised me to go on the east side of it because it was a nicer drive. I followed 111 east of the shoreline to a small town named Mecca. There I decided to change to an alternate route that would take me through Joshua Tree National Park, and then to 29Palms. I asked a guy for directions and he said it had rained last night and the canyon might be washed out. If so, I'd have to turn around and go another route. I decided to take the risk and headed that way. It wasn't washed out, and was a beautiful drive all the way to 29Palms. I found Larry at Dana's frame shop, talked a while, and checked into a Best Western (Larry's guest house is occupied this weekend.)
Larry and Dana were invited to a friend's for a Christmas party, so invited me to go along. It was a nice evening. Tomorrow Larry and I are getting out early and going gold mining. He has an 80 acre tract, and we're going to do some digging and panning.....that should be fun. I'll stay here until Monday morning, and then head east toward Julie's, visiting along the way.
Pictures:
Saguaro cacti along I-80;
Entering California;
Salton sea in the background;
Irrigated field of produce;
Another Salton Sea;
Entering Joshua Tree;
Entering 29Palms.
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