Day Trip to El Centro CA

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We started looking ahead to our next destination. We will be in Ehrenberg about two more weeks, and we want to see another part of the desert southwest.

Frustrated with what seemed available based on online research of RV parks in Tucson, we made a daytrip to El Centro, CA; we visited Sun Beam Lakes RV Resort and the Rio Bend RV and Golf Resort.

The drive was about 100 miles on Hwy 78 south from Blythe, CA through some farming and hay growing areas that are irrigated by water from the Colorado River. After Palo Verde, the highway became a twisting rollercoaster affair through wild, undulating desert.

It is an understatement to say there was a bit of wind. There was a lot of wind. In one area, the desert turned into sand dunes, and waves of sand rolled across the highway. Not sure what to do, I slowed The Beast and turned on the fog lights.

Fortunately, we never lost visibility of the roadway, but there was a concern. We knew the weather forecast included high winds, but failed to anticipate the possibility of a sand storm. The Beast shouldered to the task and remained on solid footing through the river of sand snaking over the roadway.

On our return trip, we saw a snow plow truck scraping sand from the highway!

Our first choice of RV parks near El Centro was a place called Sun Beam Lake RV Resort. Pet owners are second class citizens at this place, and the only site available to us had a cramped, unattractive view.

Next, we visited Rio Bend. Ka-ching; we put down a deposit. And we don’t even play golf!

We have a pet friendly site, and the amenities of the campground are appealing. There a planned activities for snowbirders; pottery, shuffle board, bocce courts, sing-alongs, horseshoes, heated swimming pool and spa, Monday night bingo and Friday night fish fry. There are planned field trips to casinos, shopping and ball games. Why, I might volunteer to cook up some rattlesnake chili to go along with that fish fry!

Rio Bend has every thing that our current RV park lacks. So we will hitch up and head out on January 6 to our new location.

Today is festivus; merry festivus to you and yours. We are using the lower part of the flag pole for the toddy flag as the unadorned pole for the festivity. Of course, later today at toddy time, I’ll adorn it with the toddy flag!

I’ve posted a digital painting I did of cattails and river grass on the bank of the Colorado River.

Stay tuned,

Paddy

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Photos

Cattails and River Grass
Digital Painting of cattails and river grass on the bank of the Colorado River near Ehrenberg, AZ.

Comments

[Terry]

Response
Good to hear from you. So you are fond of dust storms, huh? When you return to damp western WA you will have to shake the dust from your boots...and your home. Maybe we would have the start of a beach in Cougar Ridge. Be well and enjoy the rattlesnake chili! Merry Christmas!

[Tom Mackin]

"Wild and Windy"
Good thing you were both a couple of 'cow-hands' in an earlier life or time. Sounds like driving that one hwy was like riding an angry bull. Adventurous indeed! Be glad you are out of Dodge City (Olympia). Not nearly as bad as last winter but damn cold. I spend most of my time in the bathtub and under our new heated blankets. Spring will not be here soon enough. Otherwise MOS. Tiger-gate has slowed somewhat. The saga has been as good as any golf round he ever shot or likely to shoot. If he fails to face his fans before too long they will certainly be ready to flash bulbs and provide mistimed hollering on his back-swing when he does come out from hiding. It will be great theater! Stay safe, have fun and certainly have a Merry Christmas! Love, Tom and gang