I planned to pull out of my three week boondocking spot off Rockhouse Trail Monday, not too early in the morning, with a trip to town then mosey southward to treat myself to a soaking at Agua Caliente. That means hot water in Spanish, just in case you didn’t know.
That’s confusing
Sunday afternoon my fridge went out, for several hours. It would click but not light. I turned it on and off and on and off….. Nothing. Nada. The stove lit so I knew there was propane. I smelled no ammonia. I changed propane tanks even though the first one didn’t show empty. Still nothing. Ice cream was starting to get soft and there was more than I could eat. Many suggestions came over Facebook. Then after cooking dinner I tried again. Click, pop, poof. The fridge lights and runs for quite a while to catch up. Maybe there was air in the lines. And maybe I should keep a spare thermal coupler on board.
That’s stupid
The next morning I discovered both truck batteries were dead. Lesson learned that the batteries are hooked together so I wasn’t just running off the auxiliary but the starter battery too. Thank goodness just before my phone went dead I get message to Lynda asking for a jump before they went to town. Howard came over, jumped the truck and I let it run for over an hour.
That’s luxury
About 11am I headed to town via a stop for a 10 lb bag of red grapefruits for $4. Can you believe that price. They and oranges grow in this valley. Topped off the fuel, filled water jugs and picked up a few groceries. Then on impulse, and a growling stomach, stopped for lunch at Los Jilbertos Taco Shop and enjoyed a delicious Chili Rellenos with rice and beans.
Hardly any traffic on the drive to Agua Caliente which was not the case the last time between the holidays.
Arrived at Agua Caliente before the 2pm check-in time and Diane, the Park Attendant, let me drive through to pick out my spot. It’s OK but I wouldn’t want to live here. Close together with limited vegetation and unlevel sites. And I got one of the “shady spots”. With water and electric, no sewer, site costs $29/night. Absolutely no phone or internet. I think one night will probably do it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad place, just not really my cup of tea.
I immediately went to soak for 1 1/2 delightful hours at 101F in the indoor pool. The outdoor pool isn’t currently heated. I thought this was natural thermal. Not at all crowded, I never shared the large pool with more than three others. I planned to return after dinner.
So because I have electricity I’m living it up. Used the microwave to heat up leftover lunch. Turned the fridge to electric to save propane. And I have a heater going so I’m toasty.
That’s bogus!
After dinner I returned to the pool with my damp bathing suit and planned to warm it and me up in the shower before another good soaking. I just hate putting on a cold clammy suit. The shower wasn’t even warmish so I shivered into my suit only to discover the gate to the pool locked. Guess I should have read the sign. Open from 10:30am-5pm for everybody and 9:30-10:30p for adults only. I’ll be in bed by then.
Although the park isn’t terribly crowded it’s still noisy from air traffic. Someone by the pool said we’re near an airport. Probably military as they’re all over the southwest desert. But really, 8pm and not only listening to helicopters but actually feeling their vibration.
Crissal Thrasher seen in camp
I figured on soaking one more time in the morning before remembering, not until 10:30. And although check out time isn’t until 1pm this place is many hours from anywhere other than the surrounding Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. And I wanted to explore another palm grove not far down the road before hitting the highway, doing some shopping and getting to my next boondocking spot. Maybe somewhere along the way find enough signal to post this.
Now about that shower. It takes quarters. Can you believe that? Paid almost $30 to get one soak and no shower.
OK, the whole place isn’t that bad. It’s very clean and does have sites for tents to full hook-ups and small cabins. But even without electricity, I prefer where I am boondocking for the night at Mountain Palm Springs.
Beautiful scenery Gaelyn but what a bummer about the opening times of the pool, the fridge, the batteries . . .
Hope all goes well from now on.
Thank you Arija. At least I got in one soak. So far things are going good, and working.
Oh my, I would not have been a happy camper.
Will be anxious to read about Mountain Palm Springs as it is new to us.
I was bummed. Mt Palm Springs is a nice place to camp and easy walks. No signal.
So sorry about the $30 soak – – You know how I LOVE my soaks –
Taking Jim with me for dental cleaning to Prescott, so, not sure what the day will bring – you know what I mean. have a few stops to make- Costco etc. It is freezing – as in 32 this am, so, that should make you feel better about the temp where you are.
Are you still planning for Quartzsite?
Hope the shake down cruise ends soon –
Love
Berta
It would have been cheaper and better in Laughlin with you.
Warm on Ogilby Rd this morning but very windy.
Should be in Q by Sat.
Have fun with Jim at the dentist.
Will call soon.
Hugs!
Too bad about Agua Caliente but at least you got a soak and use of your microwave and electric heater! Hope to meet you in Q. We should be there by the weekend.
Well now I know about that place. Doubt I’d return. Should be in Q by this weekend also. Would be great to meet. Are you staying on long-term or short?
You got some beautiful shots, Gaelyn! Looks like there is an airport very close by, plus you aren’t that far from El Centro Naval Air Facility which is the winter home of the Blue Angels.
I’m just not into the noisy airplane places. Glad to be on quieter desert now.
We will not be going back to Aqua Caliente any time soon, and Mt. Palm Springs is usually a day trip. We do need our signals, wonder if a booster would have helped? Enjoy Q, several are headed that way!
I won’t go back. There was signal not too far from Mt Palm Springs. Still haven’t gotten the booster out.
Even though you have had a few problems it sounds like you are have a great time. I have to say I am jealous 🙂 Keep well Diane
I am having a great time! Hot water or not.
Heard of someone else having the same fridge issue recently… nothing, nothing, nothing then poof. It worked??? all the while stove lit etc. Hummm, propane can be strange.
Regarding Agua Caliente, the hours are not 9:30-10:30p for adults only. It OPENS 9:30 AM – and is Adults only till 10:30AM. Weekends at least during the Dec and early Jan it was open 6:00PM till 9:30PM I believe.
Yep it is treated water and only tepid from the springs. Showers are HEATED water and you do have to pay for a hot shower in the main bath house. The outdoor pool is normaly heated nut due to equipment failure and repair schedules there was a time when it was not being heated by the propane heater only solar.
Unfortunately the helicopters were very active with training flights quite often, there is a lot of military in the area.
The best time to be there was during the week before the middle of December. Like having the place to yourself most of the time.
Not sure if we will go back either due to the lack of cell connection. ARGGGGG on that one for sure.
I really need to learn to read signs more carefully. But as it was I left Agua Caliente before 9:30, to get to a signal and post. The outdoor pool was cold.
so, not bad for a soak I guess (with the bonus of electric hookups), but the hours and the paid showers are annoying. This place hasn’t made the “list” for us. I guess we might stop if we were traveling thro, but otherwise no.
Nina
It’s clean but I just wasn’t overly impressed.
Came to check and I see you’re still the vagabond! At least you got some great photos of the trip there and the surroundings. Glad you’re having fun, but I thought it would be warm wherever you were!
I love being on the road. It’s ‘warmer’ but not hot.
Nice place but they need to expand their pool hours and get some wifi action going. I actually felt bad for you reading along and not being able to soak the second time.
It has been eons since I’ve been in a hot springs type pool and they are wonderful. Beyond wonderful as a matter of fact.
And the quarters. The Oklahoma State Parks have started that trick.
I was Really bummed. I love soaking in hot water and a RV has no tub.
Looks wonderful there and I would have loved to be there exploring with you. The hot water pool sounds like fun. Glad you got the fridge working again and did not have to eat all the ice cream. 🙂
I’m loving this desert warmth even if not seeing elephants. Even I could not have eaten 1/2 gallon of ice cream, although I tried. 😉
Simply magnificent pictures of your original campsite and the drive. So glad none of the problems proved to be deal breakers. How frustrating to only be able to soak once and have to pay extra to shower. Boy that’s nickle and diming. Did you ask what’s with the pool closed from 5:00 to 9:30? That makes no sense to me at all. Well at least the fridge and the microwave and the batteries and your heater are all working. One night’s enough there for sure.
So far all problems have fixable without costing a fortune. But I guess I am cheap when it comes to paying for an RV Park. Another reader did say I read the sign wrong and “Adult” time is 9:30-10:30 am. But still not night hours sucked.
This comment isn’t about the place but rather about the trip. I am starting to realize more and more that I would love to take a roadtrip across the USA. The open road, exploring different areas and having a bit more freedom than a tour.
Oh yes, an American roadtrip would be the way to go. Unless I’m your tour guide. 😀
I’m sorry but that sounds expensive to me! For that wonderful shot of the Crissal Thrasher though……..:) They are elusive little buggers. I’m glad you had the battery thing figured out. You know what? I was a chicken over in the Salton Sea area. If anything happens out there, there isn’t any internet connection, phone service….plus I’m not sure about the tires so after that trip I am considering my next car to be a bigger one that’s off the ground. I really wanted to visit with you and you do hang out in some pretty remote places:) Such is the way of the gypsy I suppose:)
I should be able to bird watch for free, right? I do take extra cautions hiking alone. If your going into the boondocks a high clearance rig, maybe you could even sleep in, would be ideal. Then just think of the remote places your gypsy soul could go. 😀