Distinctive Jaunt

This will be the first time our Casita has been officially on the road since last February. We would have been out and about a few times but due to our move we didn’t have time. Then Mom started with more health issues, we were with her for the last month. We were home just one week to catch up on things and now we will take our Casita up to Napa and park in her side yard. She has a half acre lot so it is not really a hardship. We will “live” in it there for a time until 24-hour care can be trained, established, and in place comfortably for her. Looks like we’ll have to forego the plans to go to NOLA in Oct/Nov as my sister made plans and we agreed not to be gone at the same time due to Mom’s health. Anyway, we got things somewhat organized yesterday, including new tires! We were able to retain one for a spare but the Casita is now sporting new “shoes” for the future!

Storage

It was sad for us to move our Casita to Derrel’s Mini Storage today. It is so nice to have it right by us at home. We tend to go out there at least once a week to check something or maybe just to wistfully think about a trip. BUT this is just one of the things we have to compromise on with downsizing. At least once we are settled in we should have more time to use it!!! This is nice covered parking and not too far from our condo.

Off Site

In less than a month we will be moving our Casita to off site covered storage. This is because we are downsizing and will not have a place to park it when we move to the condo. It is an uncomfortable feeling but it is one of the sacrifices we have to make now in order to have more time use it!!!  We are still toying with the idea of going FT in the Casita. Of course if we didn’t like it we could switch back, but it does seems so enticing! 

Wright’s Beach

Today I lurked for an hour and near the appointed time I clicked on “reserve” every minute as the 8a time approached. At 7:59a I began to click every few seconds! Then at last HOORAY it took me to the “complete reservation” page!  So now we have 1 week reserved in the most ideal spot at Wright's Beach, Sonoma State Beach Campground, site #8, September 21-27, 2015. We are looking forward to a relaxing time and a little exploration of the area. I spent much of my childhood along these Northern Coast Beaches.  Who knows, we might even need to watch "The Birds" again before going! Actually, I have not been to this area for many years.  I am looking forward to walking at the beach at Goat Rock and seeing Fort Ross again as well.  

Heading Home

We decided to head home today for a couple of reasons. 1) We have seen everything we are going to see and 2) It has gotten crowded and noisy here!  Last night I think the coyotes were protesting visitors as well I guess, since they howled much of the night, which in turn had Tony growling! As a side note it also seems to be getting warmer! We decided to go the more mountainous route home so we took 190 west to 395 then picked up 14, 58, 99 and home! We briefly stopped at Mesquite Sand Dunes but decided we didn’t want to hike out on the dunes like so many others. We continued on the 190 route, which is the Death Valley Scenic Byway. It was interesting to see but I doubt we would go that way again. It is a two way road, nicely paved, but steep and lots of cliffs, that’s how the “scenic” gets it’s name. Owens Lake was probably lovely at one time but there isn’t much left of it now. It was shocking to see how little snow was on the Sierras as well! We made good time with just a few stops and very little traffic, except on Hwy 99 of course. We were home just before 7pm. Tony immediately went in and hopped on our bed between the pillows! 

Tony was Tuckered Out Last Night

Mesquite Sand Dunes

Padre Crowley Point

Owens Lake & Sierras

Home At Last!

Titus Canyon and Beyond

Our main adventure today was a fabulous drive through Titus Canyon. However, our first stop was Salt Creek where we wanted to see the Pupfish. We took a nice little walk on the boardwalk path and saw a couple schools of the fish along with many stragglers. Interesting little fish and happy we got to see them. The water is very salty as we took a taste where we could reach it from the boardwalk. The area actually has more water than Badwater, also more plants in the form of Pickleweed. The Pickleweed absorbs salt and when it reaches saturation it grows more “green” for animals to eat and also absorb more salt, amazing. We also drove to Stovepipe Wells to see what was there, which wasn’t much; a small grocery store, bare campground and gift shops. We saw the dunes we wanted to see as we drove by but there were a lot of people so we opted to keep going in the direction of Beatty, NV where we would pick up the road through Titus Canyon. Thankfully, we have the Jeep and we can enjoy some of these more challenging road adventures. It is a high-clearance and 4x4 road only, though I think our van could have done most of it! What amazing views along they way, we really enjoyed it a lot! The photos taken do not do it justice. We made several stops along the way to take in the astounding views. After that drive we were back to the main road and headed back to camp with just a brief stop at the Harmony Borax Works. We are tired now and we don’t think there is anything else we want to see. We tentatively plan to head home tomorrow. I probably forgot to mention there was a coyote that ran right past our camp last night. They caution people to keep their pets close by. When Tony saw the coyote go by last night he had the most vicious sounds coming from him that we ever heard! Later in the evening when John took him for a walk he put on his brakes and would go no further in the dark. I suspect he smelled a coyote then, even if he didn’t see one at that time.  He wanted to go back to the trailer! 

Salt Creek Trail

Pupfish at Salt Creek

Pickleweed

Leadfield Ghost Town

Our new Jeep Latitude loved the dirty, rough road!

Titus Canyon Road

Titus Canyon Road

Titus Canyon Road

Harmony Borax Works

 

Fiddler’s Campground

We decided to spend a restful and quiet day around camp. Most of the other Casitas were scheduled to leave today. We had a few nice chats with others before they departed. Thankfully the woman apposed to our generator departed early so there was nothing more of her opinions. When we talked to others we expressed concern if our generator bothered them and none said it did, in fact quite the opposite. They commented on how quiet it runs, which of course is an attribute to the little Honda 2000 and why we bought it. The next time we decide to try out a Casita Rally or gathering of some sort we will first as about the use of generators, etc. Apparently at the Rally these people came from there were maybe 100 Casitas and certainly a lot of them used generators, and not quite ones either! Before it was too warm today we went on a “Headquarters Plant Walk” that started at the Visitor Center, just a brief walk from where we are camped. It was interesting to hear about the different wild flowers, shrubs, and trees in the area. We are told in the coming weeks there will be a lot of wild flowers in bloom but the bloom will be very short if there is no more rain. This I can believe. Mesquite is the only natural occurring tree in this area. Fascinating to hear about all the uses of this particular tree! One can even grind cooking flour from the pods. During the afternoon we relaxed, read, and played cards. I managed to put most of my photographs in order and labeled this afternoon as well.  Tonight we went to a “Seekers of the Stars” program, also at the Visitor Center. It was not very impressive, but I have one nice photo from the talk. When they began to talk about dark sky pollution and extraterrestrials we decided to head back to camp. It must have been above our thinking. One thing we heard today that makes one pause for thought – In the desert “things” either stick, sting, stab, or stink.  I thought that was funny, though pretty accurate!

Furnace Creek Visitor Center

Creosote Bush and Butterfly (lots of bees too!)

Desert Holly or Atriplex Hymenelytra

Globemallow

Evening Brown Eyed Primrose

Seekers of the Stars