Friday after testing our new T-Mobile wi-fi device, which seemed to work just fine, we did another walk around the lake and watched the preparations for the triathalon in the park this weekend.
We had been warned that some of the roads in the park and surrounding area would be closed due to the Desert International Triathalon, so on Saturday morning we left the park by 6:15 A.M. Even that early, we had drive off the road to get by people setting up. We stopped for breakfast at Denny's, about the only place open at that hour of the morning. We then went on the Palms to Pines National Scenic Byway from Banning (just west of Palm Springs) to Idyllwild. We were a bit concerned about the roads, as there were clouds low on the mountains, and Idyllwild is at 5400 feet above sea level. Fortunately, the bit of fog we drove into did not pose a visibility problem. It was a very scenic drive from sea level to over 6,000 feet. The temperature dropped from 24C to 2C. There was even some snow in the forest at the top.
From Idyllwild, we dropped into the San Jacinto South Fork Valley, stopping in Hemet at Mr. You's Donuts for some smoothies. From Hemet, we returned to I-10 and the outlets at Banning. Even though we didn't find anything we wanted to buy, we had a good walk through the many stores. We did a grocery stop on our way back to the trailer, then watched some of the Brier curling. We had a few new neighbours in our area of the park, all obviously preparing for the second day of the triathlon.
Sunday morning our new neighbours taking part in the triathalon where up by 5:00 A.M.getting prepared for the event. By the time we got up the only evidence we saw of the participants was the runners on the route going past the trailer. They had a cold and rainy day. Rain in the desert, quite a surprise to us. We hunkered down and watched curling.
Monday we did our final walk around the lake, and visited with a new couple from BC, chatting with them while they got their satellite set up to watch curling as well. The mountain sheep had returned and were busy eating the lush new greenery that had appeared thanks to the rain.
Tuesday we eventually got packed up and moved to the dispersed camping at the Ocotillo Wells SVRA (State Vehicle Recreation Area). The area we had checked out was less than an hour from Lake Cahuilla. By lunch time we were parked, satellite signal obtained, solar panels working hard at keeping our batteries charged so we can watch the Brier. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a cell signal from the trailer good enough to use our T-Mobile wi-fi. It was a warm beautiful day so we sat around outside enjoying the quiet camping area. This is free camping at its finest. No power or water, but there are bathrooms (chemical toilets) and garbage containers. In the past when we have been out in dispersed camping we have had to find a place to dispose of our garbage.
Wednesday morning we hiked out along the Tectonic Gorge trail. Our first point of interest in the gorge was the site of the filming of the final episode of X-Files. Any evidence of the production had been removed. We then came across an Oasis. It had a beautiful palmetto bush. Although the information signed promised that bats could be seen during the day hanging on the leaves, we didn't see any.
Although that was the only 2 marked points of interest we enjoyed walking through the gorge looking at the various rock formations. Round rocks that looked like large cannon balls, interesting formations on the canyon walls.
Thursday morning we packed up to move. As we were just about ready to go we saw 3 motorized parasailers. One of them noticed that I was taking pictures of them, so he circled the trailer a few times and dipped down to wave at us. We suspect they were part of the Tierra Del Sol desert safari.
We moved to the south side of the SVRA, not too far from a cell tower. Even though we could see the cell tower from the campground, the signal wasn't strong, as is only 2G. We spent some time checking that the wi-fi would work before deciding to stay. While we were trying to get the satellite aligned, which involves some shouting back and forth from the dish to the TV, we kept getting drowned out by planes roaring overhead. It turned out that there were two twin prop planes circling at low elevation from the Salton Sea just east of us, out to the hills on the west. This part of the SVRA is beside the US Navy Salton Sea Test Base. As well, the north end of the US Navy Bombing Area is about 8 miles to the south. From Jeeps and ATV's running around to planes flying overhead, it seems like silence is not to be had this weekend. By the time we got the satellite aligned and had lunch, things had quietened down. Shortly after lunch, a park ranger stopped by with an information package and garbage bag for us. She asked if we had seen the Osprey's earlier, the planes that had been circling over us. We had a nice chat about things to do in the area, and about places she and we had been to in Utah. She spends the summer in state parks Utah, as the parks in the California desert don't have many visitors in the heat of the summer.
The wi-fi device worked well enough to post the blog from here, better than in some RV parks.
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