On the road again

June 3 - 9, 2019:

I’m officially on the road again, but it’s kinda weird, without Twinkles.  She is fine though, just done with this nomadic lifestyle and holding down the Tucson homestead.  I have been working hard all year to get ready for this day, but now that I’m leaving I’m feeling a little awkward, you might even say lonely ?  My Van “Snowflake” is looking great though, but several things will have to prove out under use.

My first day takes me to Organ Pipe National Monument.  I plan to avoid most campgrounds, but this is a half price $10 cheapie and I practically have the whole place to myself.  Snowflake” is gleaming (almost blinding) in the sun and has survived the first day with no issues except for a few expected rattles.  Organization of storage space and getting the bare essentials to fit in my cooler is a work in progress at this point.  I also have several rattles in my cargo area to work although some of this is just the way of the beast, can’t be corrected, I’ll turn up the radio volume.  The gas station and store at the town of Why was packed with cars and RV’s which gave me concern that some event was going on.  I soon found that the highway to Organ Pipe continues another 10 miles to the Mexican border crossing to Sonoyta, Mexico which obviously is a popular spot.  Organ Pipe on the other hand was empty.  The Organ Pipe cactus flowers pale in comparison to the amazing Saguaro Cactus .  Organ Pipe Cactus also bloom only a night, very weird, and most of the Organ Pipes did not even show flower buds.

Seems to be the main attraction in Why, Arizona

This is the main attraction at Organ Pipe National Park

Organ Pipe flowers are beautiful but not plentiful

The Saguaro Cactus are incredible and plentiful

  

Next was Yuma, AZ with a stop at the interesting town of Ajo, Arizona.  This was another huge mining town similar to Bisbee, but not so wild.  As at Bisbee, the mine closed and the jobs and people mostly left.  It has somehow survived but much of the town is very poor.  Riding around town, I was impressed, even in the poor areas how the residents have made their tiny houses look nice.  They have a beautiful public square in the downtown, a couple historic churches bordered by many beautiful houses.  I spent considerable time at the downtown Artist Alley which makes it clear how the local populace feel about the current border controversy.  There were many signs in front yards for “humanitarian aid is not a crime”.

Artist Alley is most interesting

The art was well done and thought provoking

Inspirational stuff

I agree

Beautiful historic Church

Ajo Copper News mural was great !

The huge open pit mine

In Yuma the historic Main street looks more vibrant to me these days as I wandered around.  It was near 100 degrees invoking me to have a beer at the Prison Hill brewery (new) and then dinner nearby at Lutes Casino Restaurant (old).  I ended up spending  the night parked on the street next to a Cracker Barrel Restaurant which was very convenient for breakfast the following day.  After that big breakfast I went to the park area under the Sea to Ocean Bridge and went for a short walk along the Colorado River.  The park area doesn’t look as maintained as it once was,  interpretive signs are fading, this very costly irrigation system seems to be totally torn apart and inoperative.   By mid afternoon afternoon I’ve had enough of Yuma and head into California, past the Imperial Sand Dunes to El Centro, California.

The Downtown Yuma sign

Nice welcome mural

The Prison Hill Brewery

Lutes Casino

The Sea to Ocean Bridge over the Colorado River

These irrigation ditches will eventually drain the river dry

The river is still beautiful

This building paint job is an eye catcher

Snowflake in front of the dunes

These are serious sand dunes

Next adventure was to to El Centro, California with a stop at Jacumba, CA to see the historic Desert View  Tower.  It was built in the 1920's when the dirt road was constructed.  It is a pretty incredible structure, privately owned and currently for sale.

The Lazy Lizard Saloon was discovered in Ocotillo, CA 
off route 8

Also Miller's Garage sits crumbling away

The Desert tower is  an amazing structure, all hand built

Great view from the Tower

It's a long steep uphill grade to get here

Interior of the tower is filled with odd collectables

Adjacent boulder Park with animals carved from the rocks

An unbelievable effort went into this place

El Centro is surrounded by agriculture fields all made possible by irrigation and is booming by the looks of the mega malls and chain hotels and restaurants on the upscale side of town.  However, If you drive across town you will see the markedly poorer hispanic side.  I saw virtually nothing in the way of attractions in EL Centro (didn't even take a photo)  to hang around for so it was a one nighter at Walmart.  Not sure if this Walamrt still allows RV's to overnight, most are not these days, but I don’t look like an RV and can hide in the crowd. 

Next stop is San Diego, California with tons of attractions, but also tons of traffic and congestion.  I had read a blog post by a van dweller who overnighted in a parking lot in Mission Beach across from Belmont Park.  I arrived on Thursday afternoon to find several derelict looking RV’s and vans in the parking lot and plenty of open spaces.  Belmont Park attracts large crowds with its nostalgic Jersey shore looking amusement park geared towards the young crowd with arcade games, various rides and a classic old roller coaster.  I wasn’t that impressed with Mission Beach otherwise, it’s kind of sleazy.  A few miles north is Pacific Beach which has way more going on.  It has a pier and a more surfer vibe to it.  I’m kind of taken back by the dangers of walking anywhere around here what with the powered scooters that everyone is blasting around on.  There doesn’t seem to be any rules, anything goes, totally out of control !  You then add in the runners, the traditional skateboarders, the inline skaters, the bikes, it gets totally crazy !

Belmont Park coaster

Way more exciting a night

Old Town San Diego Historic Park

Lots of nice art work for sale 

Very colorful

Nice to see a few old school musicians performing

I next visited the Maritime Museum which I had seen several times from the outside but never really visited, not sure why, it was really great !

The Star of India built in 1863 has an amazing history and is still is in sailable condition

Miles of ropes on this ship

Must be exciting to be at this wheel

Great figure head 

Old canons on the frigate H.M.S. Surprise 

H.M.S. Surprise is a replica of a 1700's British frigate 

Russian submarine in foreground is very interesting exhibit

This Russian submarine officer may have averted a nuclear war

The Star of India with San Diego in the background

The tour of the submarine involved crawling through these porthole

Also visited Mission Basilica San Diego Alcala which was the first California mission founded in 1769.

Beautiful Mission architecture and horticulture 

The Bell Tower is a beauty

Mission interior

On the week I soon found on Friday evening that the parking lot was filled, so I went to Pacific Beach and after riding around town for about a hour found an open street parking spot that had no time limitations, some are two hours, some Ok except during street sweeping operations.  I’m not sure that anyone checks, but it’s not worth a fine if it can be avoided.  I can park overnight about anywhere it fits, but I want to stay out of residential neighborhoods, so I’m being probably overly cautious.  I have found weekends are probably best avoided here, it’s too crowded, going anywhere is really not much fun.

Beautiful beach view from Pacific beach Pier 

This is the way to travel in Pacific Beach

Big crowd to hear a band on Pacific beachfront

He was horrible !

Scooters are plentiful along this coastline

Liked the mural

Making bubbles was a big attraction

Little Italy street archway was impressive

I wondered why they were playing old Do Wop music

Also why is this English Pub in Little Italy ?

This was real Italian !

Actually this area makes me sort of sad and angry as it was once, only a few generations ago, one of the most beautiful places on the planet.  Today, it’s mostly ruined by unrestricted development and greed. Everyone is racing around in their fancy cars, to their big houses thinking they are so awesome with their gym muscles and tattoos, I’m not impressed !  There I’ve said it, now I feel better. 

That being said, once you learn your way around, you can van camp fairly well here.  You can park free on the street several blocks from the beach, food and supplies are close by.  You can walk to the beach, enjoy the sun, surf and views and use the  beach shower to clean up.  After about week however, you will most likely get annoyed by the traffic, the crowds and want to head for the hills !

Next stop is Oceanside, California: