Large Boondocking Camp Party in Ocotillo Wells!

Spring brings camping trips, and camping trips mean fun, food and friends!

It's no secret that we love dry camping and boondocking, but we love it even more when we get to share it with friends and fellow camping enthusiasts.

Our church group got together for an "off the beaten path" weekend full of off road adventures, exploring, campfire tales and pot luck (with lots and lots cookies...no seriously, there were a lot of cookies there)!

Near the main turn off, we saw an out of place billboard marking the location of where the 1991 movie "Bugsy" was filmed and we found ourselves on a very long and very rutted out road along the outskirts of Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area. After twenty minutes of teeth chattering, we were nicely shaken (not stirred) and we arrived at our dusty destination.

Our home for the weekend consisted of a large circle of class A's, travel trailers, pop-ups, tents and fifth wheels. People of all ages crowded around this large circle and we had fun getting tours of everyone's "home".

By day, we were all explores, although we explored the vast desert in our own ways. Some chose to lounge around the camp, some went off on their quads and dirt bikes, while others (the totally trailer crew), chose to explore deep canyons, wind caves and ancient fossil beds!

By night, we huddled around an all consuming bonfire, swapped stories and ate a lot. There was a hefty line for the potluck which allowed me the opportunity to climb on top of our rig and get some overall shots of the happy campers.

Kids running and playing in dirt, teenagers huddled together having "important teen conversations", adults swapping RV stories and lots of laughter filled the night skies over Ocotillo Wells this weekend.

We met a lot of new people and we feel very blessed to have been a part of this adventure. Life is good, so share it!

Funny sign in the middle of the desert about the filming of the 1991 movie "Bugsy"

 Hubby and new friend, doing "Trailer Talk"

 A portion of our large circle of toys (Totally Trailer is the brightly glowing one with monster flag)

 Somebody got a new laser toy and we all had fun with it around the campfire...made for an awesome pic too! (p.s. those specks in the sky are actual stars..amazing night)

 Campfire Tales in Ocotillo Wells 

 There's always a line at the buffet!

Check out the view I have from up here of the sunsetting over Ocotillo Wells 

And of course, what is a camp site without a flag. In our case, it's a monster Welsh flag!

Because kids don't remember their best day of television......

The National Wildlife Federation reports that camping increases imagination, cognitive focus and leads to longer healthier lives!

A 2015 survey suggests that only 6% of kids play outdoors and yet the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend at least 60 minutes of unstructured and outdoor play.

Getting outside to hike, explore and camp is a perfect opportunity to feed your child's soul, developmental needs and form strong family bonds!

So get out there and go camping and RVing.....

Keystone Cougar 28RBSWE (aka 28RBS) Totally Trailer Tour

Take a look inside our new rig!

Who doesn't love playing in dirt and rocks?

The Totally Trailer Gang is not shy about posting entries on the Anza Borrego Desert State Park, but this expansive park never ceases to amaze us. Every time we visit, we uncover new treasures and find more adventures.

On this trip we explored more mud caves and found a very prominent earthquake fault line. The mountains look as if they were cut apart, folded like an accordion and then clumsily glued back together. Anza Borrego sits within a complex and intertwining zone of fault lines and active tectonic activity. According to scientists, the southern San Andreas Fault System has produced ongoing seismic activity for millions of years. This is the same system that caused two plates to diverge, therefore causing the Salton Sea (Trough) and the Gulf of California to open up. In the recent geological past, many basins in this area have been uplifted and manipulated. These shifts, lifts and erosion have formed breathtaking mountain ranges that look like intricate jigsaw puzzles with colorful bands and ribbons running through them.

This trip was all about dirt and rocks, since we admired and explored these mountains from the inside out!

Here’s a great quote that is fitting for this entry and for the Anza Borrego area: “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious; It is the source of all true art and all science. -- Albert Einstein”

Our picturesque boondocking camp spot in Mountain Palm Springs primitive campground 

Check out these views of the valley...not too shabby!

The Cougar all nestled in to her spot

Looks like little one is enjoying the view too!

Incredible force from a fault line

The accordion ripples almost look man-made

A spooky entrance to one of the 22 mud caves in the area

Equipped with lanterns and flashlights we are off on another adventure deep within a cave

Little one is becoming one with nature and enjoying being inside the expansive mud cave system

Peeking out of the mud cave, there is nothing around for miles

Around every corner is a new surprise in the mud caves...like the streaming light!

A large cave system can suddenly make you feel so small

Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort

The final leg of our "shake down cruise" with the trailer led us down the San Andreas Fault, through the geology rich Mecca Hills, around the Salton Sea and at the Fountain of Youth Spa RV Resort. Hubby and I had been here before, but it was a first for all three of us. We knew there were multiple pools and mineral tubs to choose from and usually a lot of other kids for her to hang out with. Driving through the Mecca Hills was a geologists dream, with portions of the landscape split in two from earthquakes. One area had protruding, jagged mountains slanting up the to right and the other side of the mountain was split in half and it was slanting heavily to the left (creating a perfectly carved V in the center of this wash). Amazing history of the fault zones here (San Andreas and San Jacinto) and some very impressive geological reminders that this area was created from massive earthquakes. We will be going back soon to do the Painted Canyon's Hike and explore more of that area.

The first thing we did when we pulled into Fountain of Youth was head up to their RV wash area up in the dry camping lot. What a find this was!! For fifty cents we were able to wash and rinse off our car and trailer (and boy did it need it). The wash was on a paved slab and the hose had great water pressure (note, you do need a spray nozzle or attachment or your thumb will get tired).

Because hubby was in charge of the hose, we all got wet. Luckily it was hot and we all enjoyed the refreshing impromptu shower.

We got a spot close to the family pools and little one and I went right for the pools and sunbathing!

The park has 835 full hook up sites, 165 dry camp sites, 2 pools (adults only and family pool), Artesian mineral spa, 3 fresh water hot spas, 4 rec halls, 8 bathrooms (4 with showers), natural steam rooms and an oversize spa with a waterfall...and so much more! Little one found friends to "hang out with" (apparently I can't say play with anymore because she is a teenager..haha). They played a unique teen version of water volleyball, which essentially means no rules, just lob the ball and hope to make it over the net. I got enjoy the warm sun and hubby got to enjoy the warm mineral baths. We all enjoyed the waterfall (some of us more than others) and overall had a great time at Fountain of Youth.

The next morning as we were unhooking and getting ready to leave. Hubby hooked up the black water flush tank for the first time and water started pouring out from under the bathroom sink. Apparently we had a leak and this was not tested at the dealership. We had a brief frantic moment of dashing around and mopping up water, before we found the little part inside the bathroom cabinet that was leaking. After drying off and calling

Fault Line Map of the Area

Mecca Hills with Geology Slanted Left from Earthquake Activity in the Area

Dust Devil at the Salton Sea

Baby's First Bath :)

Waterfall Fun at Fountain of Youth oversized Spa

Going on an adventure behind the waterfall

My two waterfall kids

Another beautiful sunset from our site 

First time using our very cool awning LED lights 

Introducing The Newest Member of Our Family

After selling our old beloved Aljo trailer, we  took almost 6 months to research and find the perfect trailer and model for our family. We had very specific requirements and looked at over 100 different models and types (used and new). We finally settled on a 2015 Keystone Cougar 28RBSWE and she is a very "pretty kitty"!

The process with the dealership was a nightmare and there are a few fit and finish things we needed to address and many upgrades we still want to make....but, we are very excited for all of our new adventures. We were so anxious to get camping again, that on the day we picked up our new "baby"  we packed our Suburban FULL of trailer supplies and drove over an hour to the dealership. That same day, we drove off the lot and scouted a direct course for beautiful Palm Springs! We wasted no time starting our "shake down cruise" and getting to know our new Cougar.

Looking into the backseat of the Suburban which is packed from floor to ceiling (notice you can't see the rear window)?! We are loaded and ready for an adventure like a seen out of Beverly Hillbillies with everything we own stacked in a car!

Baby's First Picture

Cougar 28RBSWE side profile...isn't she pretty?

Sneak Peek of the Clean, Modern and Neutral Interior 

**Pictures of Palm Springs, Joshua Tree and Fountain of Youth coming soon (our first weekend in the trailer)!**

Merry Christmas from Catalina State Park (Totally Trailer Style)

We celebrated Christmas, Totally Trailer style in Catalina State Park. Christmas Eve we each baked and decorated cookies for baby Jesus and awoke Christmas morning to blue skies, saguaros, an excited kid, homemade quiche. a festive trailer and lots of love!

The stockings were hung in the trailer with care....

Christmas Eve cookie making

Our own holiday masterpieces 

Christmas morning look of sheer shock and excitement

Tears of joy on Christmas morning 

Thanksgiving at Tumco Ghost Town

Our Thanksgiving holiday led us out to ghost town and old mining area in the Imperial Valley. We've driven by this area multiple times and have always wanted to stop and explore. We did some research and realized there was so much to explore, see and find. We loaded up our trailer with a metal detector, black lights and flashlights and headed out with gold fever! We had two magnificent camp spots that were walking distance to the historic Tumco Site, abandoned treasures and hiking trails galore. We explored the historic Tumco site, ruins from the old town, roped off mine shafts and remnants of a town abandoned almost one hundred years ago. Multiple mines surround this area including the recently purchased American Girl and American Boy mine and many more in these Cargo Muchachos Mountains. Want more info on this historic town, there is actually a song written about it on YouTube... John Malcome Penn wrote the song "Tumco Mine" which we've added below, but beware, the song can get stuck in your head!

             Welcome to Tumco Historic Mining Site !

       

       Take a look at the waterfall effect of this mine shaft

We fell in love with the beautiful teal colors in the abundant "kyanite" 

View of our spectacular camp spot right next to Tumco!

Our little one looks even smaller in the basement of the old Miner's Club Saloon

Not only did we love the sign, but we also loved the remnants of the old Golden Queen mine 

Look what we found! Small tunnel on the outskirts of Tumco

Foundation to old building from Tumco Ghost Town

Cans, bottles, pottery pieces and thick glass remnants are a reminder of life back in the mining days

Small cave and prospectors mine in Tumco

The mountain ranges surrounding the area are indented with caverns, holes, nooks and crannies!

Plenty of "rusted history" was left behind in the old ghost town

 View looking down onto what is left of the eastern neighborhood -check out the tailings in right corner

Considering this structure was built in the 1800's, we were amazed how much was still standing

A photo of what the town of Hedges looked like in it's heyday

       The sun sets on the last two walls remaining from the town hospital

My miners staking their claim

Looking through the iron bars down the mouth of a very large mine in Tumco

4 cyanide vats bake in the desert sun

Welded iron guard the mystery of this gold mine and keep visitors safe