Parking in Parker (we did more than park though too)!

With so many fun day trips within easy driving distance, it’s no wonder the town of Parker is such a great camp spot! 

No matter what time of year we visit Parker, AZ there is always something to do and someplace new to explore. Parker, AZ sits right on the Colorado River and is well known to river enthusiasts and is a great place to float and boat on those hot Arizona days.  

This visit, we didn’t come to Parker to play on the water….we came to explore ghost towns, old mining towns, World War II internment camps, a little off road racing action and to take in the radiant Arizona sunsets. The town of Parker holds quite a bit of history having been established in 1909 for the sole purpose of being a railroad stopover, watering and shipping station. The majority of land in and around the town of Parker is owned by the Colorado River Indian Tribe, which represents the tribes of the Mohave, Chemehuevis, Navajos and Hopi. The reservation was actually established as an act of Congress in 1865, prior to the actual “town” of Parker existed. There is also a beautiful museum and library that offer a plethora of insight into the tribe’s heritage and traditions. 

The railroad holds a considerable amount of economic value to the town and the landmark train depot fittingly sits in the middle of the town for all to see.   

Summer, winter, spring or fall, Parker is a quaint town surrounded by an area rich in culture and history.

Any time of year, there are plenty of places to park your RV and do some camping and sightseeing around Parker. Bring your boat, your off road buggies and your RV/Trailer and be sure to take in all that this area has to offer!

Camp spot right on the water and tucked under some much needed shade

Just steps to the Colorado River

Historic Train Depot in the heart of town

This very polite sign is welcoming us to Parker!

Classic old railroad tracks expand across the Colorado River as the sun sets in the background

Up close and personal with the train bridge and the fast moving river below

Totally Trailer Welcomes a new baby Ford

Give us a moment of silence for our dearly departed Chevy Suburban. 

This was not just a car, this was our trusty steed that allowed us many adventures and the car that our little one grew up in. After we bought the car twice over with repairs, we stepped into new territory with dare I say…..a FORD! 

We did an extended amount of research comparing the Chevy Silverado and the new Ford F150. I spent countless hours researching and reviewing, hubby spent hours watching test drive videos of each truck going head to head while towing and multiple test drives found us buying a new Ford F150 Supercrew.  Although hubby really liked the Silverado’s tow mirrors (that came standard), we felt the Ford blew the Chevy away in every other category that was important to us (and trust me I was a hard sell since I grew up a Chevy girl). 

The new F150 is built with an aluminum frame which makes it lighter and really easy to drive. We also went with the twin turbo 3.5L Ecoboost engine, which offers an astounding 11,900lb towing capacity.  The Supercrew is enormous and offers more room in the back than the Suburban and little one has mounds of room (although already at my height, hopefully she doesn’t grow into it too much more)! 

The Ford is a breeze to drive, so much so, that I forget I’m driving a truck sometimes. It’s smooth, quiet and exceedingly comfortable.  The 3.5L Ecoboost delivers 365 horsepower and 420lb-ft of torque….que the Tim the Toolman Taylor grunt. Not only does it give us the power for towing, but the interior is a lot more comfortable than the Silverado. I felt like I was in a big ole’ truck in the Chevy. It drove more rigid and the seats were not nearly as comfortable as the enveloping F-150’s seats. 

Between the backup camera, heated seats and all the bells and whistles of a luxury car…on top of the super duty tow power, built-in trailer brake and it received a 5 star safety rating…the Totally Trailer gang is very excited!

We can't wait for even more RV and trailer travels and stories to share.

On the lot before driving it home for the first time

We found out that the new baby likes Palm Springs!

Already making friends (well this is a forced friendship since they are attached)!

Another summer day comes to a close and offers a glorious Sunset!

The Totally Trailer gang is quite partial to the Colorado River, and we keep coming back to it for the rest, relaxation, warm water and great memories.

During the summer we visit with both of our toys (the RV and da boat).

We boat, swim, laugh, eat and float…but when it comes time for sunset, we all stop and take in the last few minutes of the day. We “ooh” and “ahhh” at the vibrant colors, the reflections in the water and how the outlines of the jagged mountains seem to fight the sky for attention. 

 There is a quote I found that seems to sum up our time on the water: “Time is like a river. You cannot touch the same water twice because the flow that has passed, will never pass in that spot again. Enjoy every moment of life”.

There are plenty of Colorado River RV camp spots available from the northernmost portion of the river in Page, AZ all the way down to Yuma, AZ. We hope you'll bring your RV or trailer and camp along the Colorado River and enjoy one of these amazing sunsets with us!

Like a boating magazine advertisement...it's so beautiful!

The clouds, the sky, the mountains and water all compete for your attention at sunset!

Deep Sea Exploration, Dumbo Octopuses and Sperm Whales...Oh My!

If you’ve ever been fascinated by the discovery of the Titanic or have dreamt of being an ocean explorer, you will probably be exceedingly jealous of our behind the scenes tour of the Nautilus Live Ocean Explorer vessel. 

The Ocean Explorer Trust was founded by Dr. Robert Ballard who discovered the resting place of the iconic Titanic. He’s also a well-known National Geographic explorer and along with his team, they embark on worldwide scientific and ocean explorations aboard the magnificent 192ft Nautilus. The Nautilus chronicles their journey online and through live web-streaming. Day and night, you can log on and watch live video, hear the scientists discussing what they see, chat with the scientist and see data they collect from the ocean floor. 

Our family (especially hubby) has been a little obsessed with this team, the boat and all of their discoveries. The Nautilus gained followers young and old as they captured footage from underwater ROV’s (remotely operated vehicles) and met adorable new sea creatures like the dumbo octopus that was SO cute, it's discovery went viral this past year. If you haven’t seen one of these "Finding Nemo-like"cuties, you have to google it and check it out!! They also had an up close and personal visit with a rare sperm whale, all while collecting samples and data about the Galapagos Rift and the site of the first hydrothermal vent that was discovered in 1977. 

What’s not to love here? Big boats, awesome sea creatures and underwater adventures…sign us up! 

Our big break came this summer as the Nautilus was docked in San Diego Bay for about three weeks. They were busy exploring cold seeps off California’s coast and a 3 year old whale carcass. During this time, we got lucky enough to see the boat and even got an invitation to board and tour this massive vessel.  We got inside the bridge and pretended to be captains (for a few minutes anyway), we saw where they slept, ate, worked out (yes, there is a small gym on the boat), the lab, the live streaming room and we even shook hands with the famous robotic ROV’s Hercules and Argus. 

As the sun set on the picturesque San Diego Bay, the Totally Trailer gang earned our sea legs and thoroughly enjoyed our time on the Nautilus and the crew. The crew gave us a highly informative private tour and allowed us to live out our underwater exploration dreams! After all, it's just an oversized floating RV right?

Check out the Nautilus website for information on their expedition, videos of the best moments of 2015 and to learn more about underwater research and ocean life: http://www.nautiluslive.org/

With the city of San Diego all lit up, Nautilus is all tucked in for the night

Little one and hubby listening about the ROV "Argus" while I snuck off and the boat for a sunset shot

The San Diego skyline almost looks fake in the background

The smaller ROV of the two is Argus and he is seen here enjoying the view and warm weather in S.D.

"Hercules" is the larger ROV who does all the collecting of samples (seen here with his robotic arms and little baskets for collecting and bringing samples back to the surface)

Inside the main control room where the scientist and volunteers sit day after day watching and analyzing each of the many cameras on board and in the water. As well as radar, position and weather. This was definitely the coolest spot on the boat! Hubby liked :)

Little one also took a seat in the control room admiring all the sea creatures swimming by underneath her

Little one learning about the joystick and how it controls the ROV's underwater (as seen above in one of the monitors)

Hard to get hubby to leave this fascinating room.....

Proof that I was here in a family photo taken by a nice crew member! Another gorgeous day in Southern California

Pretending to be the captain of the vessel

Oh, don't trust her driving!

The 192 foot vessel docked in San Diego

This boat has seen some action!

Both ROV's hanging out on the back deck of the Nautilus until they are called for duty again

The Volcano Spit on Me!

If you squint really hard, you can almost imagine what life was like back when dinosaurs were becoming extinct. 

The land is dry, cracked and barren and everywhere you step is a bubbling, active volcano. It smells like the tar pits and in this highly seismic area, it is normal to feel an occasional earth shake. We knew we had to venture back in time by witnessing the geothermal wonders of the Salton Sea Mud Volcanoes.  

Although not true volcanoes (because they don’t produce lava), they still spew and bubble with molten mud, creating a fun and fascinating sight. The earth is always making a mud-like substance and it mixes with the boiling water that is heated deep within the earth. This hot mud is forced upward by an intense amount of pressure from a geological fault which creates the appearance of these mini volcanoes and mud baths. The Salton Sea area has a tremendous amount of heat rising from the earth’s crust known as geothermal activity. In addition to the geothermal activity, this area sits below sea level and directly on the overly active San Andreas Fault. These geological ingredients create a “hot bed” (pun intended) and breeding ground for these miniature natural wonders. 

We had heard that the smell was really intense, but during our visit the area directly around the simmering pots smelled like the La Brea Tar Pits but it was not overwhelming. We had a great time getting dirty and listening to the earth gurgle and spit. On multiple occasions, we got a little too close and the mud volcanoes reminded us that this was their home, by flinging scalding hot mud on us! Each volcano had their own story to tell, some were big open pits, some were boiling mud baths and some were a perfect representation of real volcano. 

The mud pots are not hard to find and can be easily reached by car, but be sure to dress appropriately to avoid the occasional mud flinging and spitting!

Totally Trailer recommends that you take your RV or trailer and camp on nearby BLM land or at the Fountain of Youth Resort in neighboring Niland, CA.

Aerial view of the mud volcano location

Large mud baths...chocolate milk anyone?

Looking into the mouth of the pot in mid spit and pop

Although it's not lava, it sure leaves an ominous trial like from a real volcano

You can see the dry, cracked land, mud baths and mini volcanoes as they erupt!

Hidden Kumeyaay Pictographs and Our New Apartment...shhh.....

This well -kept secret of the Anza Borrego Desert State Park is worth the trip and exploration to find it. There are no roads, no maps, no directions to this Kumeyaay dwelling site. Grab your 4x4, a hiking stick, some water and be sure to bring your best investigative skills to seek out this historical location. 

High above the valley floor, the rocks and boulders look like something out of the old Flintstones cartoons.  The hike takes you back to 1500 AD when the Kumayaay people roamed the land. We imagined walking barefoot along the sharp rocks and vegetation as well as the cruel thought of surviving the harsh weather conditions (extreme heat and cold). Although the site was not too far from where we parked, every rock outcropping looked like it was the rock shelter we were looking for. Exploring the area you can see how these rock outcroppings must have provided a tremendous amount of shade, protection and exceptional viewing over the entire valley for the Kumeyaay people.  

When we finally found the La Rumerosa style pictographs, we were in awe of the simple, yet intricate details and designs. Makes you wonder what they were thinking when they drew that picture and what they all meant. La Rumerosa style is characterized by polychrome rectangular and curvilinear designs using red, black, yellow and white. They used a lot of sunbursts, divided circles, bold lines and simple stick figures. The style is linked to the Kumeyaay Indians around 1500 AD and these pictographs can be seen in the Southern United States and Mexico. The images were well preserved and many people who have visited are doing their part to keep them protected, by never divulging the location. 

Not only were the pictographs themselves interesting, but we found the entire surrounding area fascinating. There were overhangs and hidden entries behind large boulders that must have been rooms and living quarters back in 1500 AD. Smoothed rocks perfectly shaped as chairs (they were actually quite comfortable and perfectly rounded for the gluteus maximus) and smooth long rocks that would have made a perfect bed. Little one and I spent the majority of the afternoon in our new “apartment”. We found it cozy, cool and protected and it took a lot of convincing to get us to leave! If there was a buffet nearby, I think we would have moved in!

Totally Trailer does not recommend accessing these primitive roads with an RV or trailer. There are many RV camp options in Anza Borrego Desert State Park (many are free) as well as RV parks and campgrounds in the surrounding area. Happy Camping and Hiking!

Little one found a bone and poses happily in front of the hidden pictographs

La Rumerosa style Kumeyaay Pictographs from 1500 AD- we like the long armed man!

Our favorite Where's Waldo photo of the area (can you spot hubby?)

It's hard to tell just how high up we were, but this seat was the perfect lookout

Steps up into another hidden opening

Morteros were everywhere 

She looks awfully happy for getting wedged between two giant boulders!

We did not try to fit through this one. However, look how perfectly this is sliced in half and how smooth the cut was made....truly remarkable acts of nature! 

Lounging in our humble abode!

Living off the grid with our solar panels and soaking up the abundant desert sunshine!

Home is where your heart is....our heart is here!

Hubby makes this spot feel nice and cozy with our own light show!

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