Ahhhh! A steep climb and long soak! I know I'm actually blogging twice this month. Can you believe it? I can't. With a new 8-week session of classes starting up tomorrow, I have a ton of work to do yet, including trying to publish my latest PowerPoint and activity guide about famed tessellations artist, M.C. Escher. But, I can't resist sharing my experience I had at Remington Hot Springs. I found Remington Hot Springs online at http://freecampsites.net/#!7410&query=sitedetails I thought I would try both the camping experience and a soak or two. My right knee had an unexpected soreness to it and so this was perfect timing to go soak in some hot springs. I got to soak twice in two days. Since I really need my space, peace, quiet and privacy, it wasn't happening for me to camp overnight in the parking lot that's mentioned in the above link. I found a pull off with someone's van broke down in it with a note saying to please not tow and they'd be back for it. What a perfect spot! He/she wouldn't be back for their van anytime soon (I could tell by the pile of clothes laying on next to it) and no one else was going to try to squeeze into the spot with us. Rochelle and I enjoyed two days in this nice pull off across the street from and about a 1/4 mile hike down the mountain to the hot tubs! The long 1/4 mile descent down switchback trails wasn't as harrowing as I had thought it would be. Although, with a sore knee, I moved down it at about a snails pace to be on the safe side. Plus, I did not bring my dog Rochelle as she would have pulled me down the mountainside, since pets have to be leashed. She was on patrol duty back at the van to keep things safe. These paths had been worn down for ions, probably established by the Native Americans, no doubt! This is the first tub I encountered. It was the perfect size to fit 1 person or 2 very closely connected people. I love the yellow scrub brush giving us a hint! Not far up from this pool, there was a young man living out of his tent with his puppy. Lucky fellows! Here we come upon the hottest of the main area of pools. This handmade beauty was regulated at 104 degrees. It could accommodate up for three people sitting sideways. When I arrived on Thursday, March 6, there was one skyclade gentleman sitting in this one, and two men in bathing suits sucking down beer and tossing the cans over my head in the pool to the right of this one. What an intro, indeed! The gentlemen in the "hot pool" was named Bill and was the builder of the three large pools. Very cool! Here you can see all three pools, all with varying temperatures, with the Kern River in the background. The next day, I tried hard to "beat the crowds" and got down to the pools in the morning. There were two Asian ladies chatting away. I quite enjoyed hearing them in the background, talking in their language sometimes softly, medium, then loudly, then softly again. It actually was a comfort having folks down there that weren't drinking. The night before, had it not been for Bill's presence, I would have left the two drinking men behind and not hung out alone with them. Bill felt safe to me to be around, plus he has a staked interest in making sure the pools are taken care of, since he made them! I took this photo on my way back up the mountain to get back to camp. Whew! My heart sure hammered making my way back up. This gal needs to get into better shape! I know it was very healthy for my heart and body to do this challenge. I Shall return!
I am going to make sure I come back here soon, probably next weekend, and stay for 1 - 3 days! I already have my next camping spot scoped out. I can't wait!
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The journey that led me to Sequoia National Forest This is my first year as "full timer" as folks like me that live on the road call it. All through the winter I tried to get my game plan as to where I'd spend the summer months. I could not very well hang out in 120 degree weather in the desert, so, plan I must. My leaving the desert was strategic too, because desert temperatures were growing rather too warm, in addition, my big Maxx Air ceiling fan is now out of commission. So, we left Joshua Tree National Park for cooler weather two weekends ago. California seems to have the strongest appeal for me right now. Between the Pacific Ocean (which I have yet to meet) and the giant sequoias, I have my journey mapped out. But, as "full timers" say, all plans are "set in jello". This means, I could change my route at anytime. And, why not? I have my home on 4 wheels. So long as I can afford the gas to get there, I can go wherever I please, within a few limitations. What are my camping "must haves"? "Must haves" for me, include the following priorities:
I prefer to be as close as possible to great shopping, yet still be in a natural, quiet setting for camping. I prefer shopping that offers stores like Trader Joe's and Sam's Club. I just became a member with Sam's Club and I've learned the new art of stocking up for 2 -3 months at a time on staple foods for half the price I was paying to stock up at Walmarts! Now, I just need to be about 20 minutes from a small town, like Lake Isabella for things like gas, trash dumping and to pick up a loaf of bread, do laundry or restock toiletries. Currently, I'm 10 minutes from town, and this has been convenient! When we stayed at Joshua Tree National Park, we were a 40 minutes drive from the nearest cities. The good thing about that, is that it kept me from spending money to be out in the middle of nowhere! The Sequoia National Forest, Lake Isabella, CA! So, I chose the Sequoia National Forest, Lake Isabella area for my late winter to early spring stay. Why? The weather is PERFECTION and the scenery is spectacular. We have everything we need here. Everyday, it's been in the upper 60's to low 70's with night time temperatures in the 40's. We've had one rainy weekend. Hopefully, we'll get more, since CA is in a bad drought. In the mean time, we're enjoying cloudy and sunny, cool days. We haven't seen any of the sequoia trees yet, but, I'm hoping to visit 100 Giants about a 1/2 hours drive from our current camp. I will save that for my spring break so I can really enjoy it. Below are some photos that have led me to my current camp. I hope you enjoy them! Quartzsite, AZ - The RV mecca in the US. Every year hundreds of thousands of both full time and part-time "snow birds" head for Quartzsite. And watch out for when the "big tent" goes up, because you can hardly get up the road from the choking traffic. That's when I head out of town for some peace, quiet and sanity! Slab City, USA - The last "free land"! This is another place snowbirds go to stay for the winter in the desert. It's free for as long as you want to stay, but, there can be quite the characters here and you should take pre-cautions. A very cool place to visit. I stayed for 5 days. This image is of "Salvation Mountain", which was put together by another full timer who recently passed away. Slab City, USA - The Shoe Tree! It's another tourest attraction here. People who don't want their shoes anymore can decoratively attach them to this rather gracious tree and be done with them. I had fun angling the camera up into the blue, blue sky! Mittry Lake, AZ - We stayed here for one night on our way back up to Quartzsite for Bob Wells' famous RTR or Rubber Tramp Rendezvous. Kofa Wildlife Refuge - This was one of my favorite places to camp. It has probably been the most peaceful of all places to stay since I began my travels last May '13. The desert mountain views are spectacular here! Joshua Tree National Park - The sunsets were out of this world gorgeous! Joshua Tree National Park - We even had our own mailbox! Painted Canyon, CA - This was a rock mountain and giant boulder heaven. I felt so tiny amidst such giants! The Kern River, Sequoia National Forest, CA - This was our first night's camp here! Gorgeous view! But, since it tended to be a party area, we left for higher ground. Sequoia National Forest - Rochelle enjoying the views! Remington Hot Springs, CA - This is our latest camp. I have to trek down a pretty steep climb to get to these pools, but the climbs back and forth are well worth it. Our current campsite is about a 12 minute walk down to the pools. |
AuthorI'm Natureglo, founder of Natureglo's eScience! I'm an avid nature lover, photographer, hiker, full time camper and an online teacher. Categories
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