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 

Joshua Tree and Packed Campgrounds

Heading out to Joshua Tree all three of us were very excited. We had picked out our favorite campground (Belle Campground) and even went as far as to narrow down the spot we were most interested in getting. There are nine campgrounds inside Joshua Tree and they are first come, first serve spots.Three of the campgrounds (Hidden Valley, White Cove and Indian Cove) will not allow trailers over 25 feet and none of them have RV hook-ups. Being that it was the week before Easter, we called the ranger station on our way to see how full the campgrounds were getting. We were told it was filling up, but that there were still quite a few spots open around the park and in various campgrounds.

By the time we got there and checked in at the welcome center, there was a large sign that read: ALL CAMPGROUNDS FULL (except a few spaces in Cottonwood Campground). Cottonwood was the campground that was furthest south and furthest away from the typical Joshua Tree sites we wanted to see. We envisioned a camp spot nestled among the inspiring jumbo rocks and picturesque views and stargazing. Cottonwood was so far south that it was a very different terrain, with no big boulders and jumbo rocks to climb or admire. The spaces were "pull off the road to your right" spots that left our slide out on the main road waving "hello" to everyone that passed.

We had never been to Joshua Tree, so we picked a spot in Cottonwood long enough to fit our rig and settled in. Campers next to us said there had been no wind and it was perfect temperature outside when we arrived. Blue skies, hot sun on your face and an occasional light breeze to cool you off and keep you comfortable. We opened up all the windows in the trailer and sat for a few minutes just to enjoy the breeze and finally take a moment to relax in our trailer.

Before sunset we ventured up into Joshua Tree, not realizing that the nearest campground and large boulders were a 45+ minute drive. We drove through Joshua Tree completely in awe of the sheer size and remoteness of the park. You can't see anything but the park for miles and mile and the terrain changes from flat open, prarie-like areas to rugged mountain terrain in a matter of minutes. The park itself is 794,000 acres and NO cell service anywhere...talk about feeling remote and isolated (even with the 1.4 million visitors they get each year)!

We finally found the jumbo boulders as it was getting dark and we had to head back for dinner...no rock climbing on this trip :( We decided to only stay the one night and come back again when we can camp at Belle or Jumbo Rocks Campground and really make the most of the true Joshua Tree experience. It's a good thing we decided to leave the next morning, because the high winds followed us up to Joshua Tree and we spent another night and early morning with a rockin' trailer. Up next for us....San Andreas Fault and Hot Mineral Baths...

Cottonwood Campground in Joshua Tree at 3,000 ft elevation and has 62 sites

First Joshua Tree we saw near the entrance to Belle Campground at 3,800 ft elevation

Breaking in the appliances with some good old fashioned "burnt" marshmallows!

Hubby also put out small orange cones around our slide out on the street, just as an added precaution. We tied rocks to them to keep them from blowing away, lo and behold, they ended up scattered around the camp area when we woke up the next morning. If you were to pan right you would find three other cones on the far side of the road!

Palm Springs and First Few Hours in the Cougar

The first few hours with the trailer were spent hunkered down in the dealership parking lot. We had the inspection, little one and I were unloading and stocking up the trailer, hubby was installing new Blue Ox hitch and batteries. By this time, we were already exhausted and proceeded to sit in rush hour traffic to Palm Springs. We chose the Thousand Trail's Palm Desert Campground right off the 10 freeway for our first night. We got an end spot, everyone was very nice, full hook-ups and surprisingly, we could not hear the freeway traffic (which was an initial concern). The wind was really starting to pick up and the entire West side of the campground was all dirt sites. Not to mention a large, open dirt/sand field that sat bordering the west-side of the campground. The consistent dust storm that blew all night made everything filthy dirty. The inside of our Suburban still has sand in it and when we turned on our A/C the next morning, we all got blasted with dirt and sand particles. Apparently we also parked over a leaking pipe in the ground, so we had a lovely mixture of mud and a thick layer of dirt in every new crevice of our new trailer! Luckily, we got a couple good pictures of it before it turned a slight tan color all over. So sad, to wake up and see the Cougar so dirty in less than 24 hours.

 We decided not to stay another night at Thousand Trails and headed out to Joshua Tree (hoping our cars and trailer were not too badly sandblasted). On our way out of the park, we went past multiple rows of campers who had heavy layers of dirt embedded on their tow vehicles and RV's, such a shame....

Night one, also brought leaky hoses and a new learning curve in selecting camp sites wide enough to accommodate our new super slide out and using the new Blue Ox hitch. What new adventures await us in Joshua Tree???

Off Interstate 10 in Cabazon (notice bent palm trees in background from wind)!

Before the dust storm at Thousand Trails...looking practically perfect in every way (sunset included)!

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)!**

Fallbrook Fire Caught on Film

On May 15, 2014 a fire broke out on the outskirts of Fallbrook, which is a small town in North San Diego County, California.

We happened to be right down the street, after hearing of SIX major wildfires in San Diego County burning at the same time. These included the "Bernardo Fire" near Rancho Bernardo, the "Tomahawk Fire" on Camp Pendleton, "Poinsettia Fire" in Carlsbad, "San Luis Rey Riverbed Fire" in Oceanside, "Cocos Fire" in San Marcos and the "Highway Fire" in Fallbrook/Bonsall.

Dubbed by the news media as "San Diego's May Firestorm". By the time it was all said and done a total of 9 wildfires broke out, over 29,000 acres were scorched, the trail of destruction spanned from the coast to inland cities and the county estimated $60 million dollars worth of damage

We witnessed the start of the "Highway Fire" from Interstate 15 and Highway 76 in Fallbrook. The flames started as a low rumble over the hillside and threatened the nearby Rancho Monserate Senior Community. Accelerating in speed and ferocity, the flames quickly spread over the hillside, down into the creek and then shot up into firenado's that were seen for miles. These tornado's of smoke and fire were a sight to see and I was able to capture a few photos of these "Twisters of Fire" as well as the quick response of CalFire planes.

I was tweeting the pictures, when the Weather Channel saw the photo and asked to use it on their broadcast. Later that day, I saw my name and photos on TV (ironic that hubby is the photographer and yet my picture was on TV...neener neener)!

I have included the Google Map that shows the location of the fires throughout the county. Many thanks to CalFire and the local fire agencies for working tirelessly this month! https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=z2vmEWbf1lFA.k4IKPtjk6YJ4

Circling the fire to make another drop

I kept snapping and got a whole sequence of the plane's fire retardant drop

The infamous Smoke-Firenado photo!

Hiking Palomar Mountain

High above the city lights, Palomar Mountain majestically watches over North San Diego County.

At 6,142 feet elevation, it is dwarfed by the nearby San Bernardino and Riverside County mountain ranges, but it is nevertheless a quiet escape for many San Diegans.

Well known for it's winter wonderland and summer camps, we chose to visit over spring break and enjoy the tranquil landscape, green fields and blooming flora and fauna. We were also greeted by wildlife and "oohed and ahhed" over a herd of deer that were grazing right in front of us.

We trekked "over the river and through the woods" and had a picnic at the pond (where the birds stole a cookie from my lunch bag....man, I really wanted that cookie). We hiked over, under and across fallen tree branches and found a multitude of trees riddled with woodpecker holes.

Palomar Mountain is also known for it's 200 inch telescope and Observatory, but on this adventure, we stuck to the great outdoors! www.palomarsp.org

Welcome to Palomar Mountain State Park!

Sing with us... "Over the River and Through the Woods...."

This enormous fallen tree branch spans the entire forest floor, making it's own bridge

Steady Now....Hiking across the "bridge", it's a lot higher up than it looks!

Fascinating hollowed out tree branch looked like a carved out canoe

Our Little Log Climber

When Wood Peckers Attack!

Hungry herd of deer don't seem too bothered by us watching them

We call this one "Cirque De Hungry Deer"

Arroyo Tapiado Mud Cave Exploration

I am not sure if the Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are one of the best kept secrets of the park, because many people I run into have never even heard of this magnificent place!

Granted, you feel like a lost sheep wandering the vast desert to find them but they are "totally" worth it!!

The drive to find the mud caves, is almost as much fun as the mud caves themselves. The trek in makes you feel like you are a million miles away from everything. There are no city lights, no freeways, no stop lights and no one around for miles.We kept playing the "Indiana Jones" theme song in our heads while traversing the desolate dirt roads! Every twist and turn made us hold our breath wondering what was around the corner. The rock and mud formations along the way were a sight to see and left us wondering "what was back there"? At every corner we wanted to get out and hike and explore the area, but we kept onward to our mud cave destination.

There are no neon signs, no "Welcome to the Mud Caves" billboard and no physical way to see that these mud caves exist from the road. The only way you know where they are is if you follow another motorist in, someone is parked down near the area, or if you have been there before. This anonymity adds to the mystery and anticipation of exploring these natural wonders.

The name Arroyo Tapiado derives from the Spanish language meaning "walled wash" and the Arroyo Tapiado canyon is full of 22 known mud caves and 9 slot canyons! These mud caves are the most extensive mud cave systems in the world with some of the caves extending over 1000 feet! These are not claustrophobic caves either, some of these systems are cavernous with ceilings 80 feet tall and 325 feet wide.

They were formed by fluvial erosion caused by periods of heavy rain fall. When the heavy rain occurs it cuts channels into the mud hills which causes erosion and forms canyon with undercut walls. Some channels deepen and some cave in. The mud of the collapsed walls dry and adhere to other portions of the canyon thus forming bridges, archways and even natural "skylights" in the caves.

It's truly a natural wonder and you can spend days there and not see everything that Arroyo Tapiado has to offer.

Some notes of interest and words of caution:
* 4WD is recommended to traverse the dirt roads in.
* Make sure you bring water and snacks (you are a long way from civilization and it is dry and hot out there).
* The mud caves can be unstable, so use caution (it is also recommended not to walk on top of the caves for fear of cave ins). People have lost their lives in these areas, so use caution and common sense (this is not rock, this is unstable MUD)!
* Bring lights, i.e.: flashlights, lanterns. Once you are in the caves, there is no light and it becomes pitch black.
* Don't leave your trash please, let's keep it nice for many generations.

***On a side note, we recommend doing that while in the cave...gather everyone around and simultaneously shut off your lights. The blackness is astounding and the quiet is deafening!!***

Our taxi to the great unknown!

Even my parents came to explore the caves...it was a family affair! 

                                    Three Generations of Explorers!

The entrance to the cave is a back breaker, but looks like fun doesn't it?

Equipped with lanterns and Camelbak's we are ready for adventures

There is no greater skylight than God's skylight!

Taking a break and eating some lunch perched at the mouth of a cave

Papa and little one went off exploring on their own 

Wedged into a narrow slot and passageway

Oh No, look who the tour guide is?!

Hubby and I walked right up on this perfectly coiled and perfectly camouflaged rattler...that will give you a moment of pause!

Con Bro Chill Concert- Party Like a Neon Rock Star!

Let me first preface this post by saying that the "Totally Trailer Family" loves music! We love all kinds of music! Little one and I can regularly be spotted singing along to all of our favorite songs (or just about anything that comes on the radio). Hubby and I love to dance in front of her and embarrass her (because that's what good parents do best) and overall we like to make sure little one stays well rounded, so we make sure she is exposed to all genres of music (cue the teenage eye rolling)....

Hubby started following a new band called Con Bro Chill, and their catchy "get up and dance" sound and fun/upbeat lyrics. Their videos are well produced with lots of crazy neon outfits (they call themselves #NeonArmy). The videos made us all gather around the computer to laugh and dance along. When he found out that Con Bro Chill was coming to our area, we naturally couldn't pass up the opportunity to take the family on a neon outing! We hit up a local WalMart and bought every piece of neon clothing we could find (which was surprising a lot)! Everything from neon tights, scarves, shirts, shoes and glow-sticks....we were set. The venue was small, but due to our outfits and the outfits of other concert goers, I am sure you could have seen us from space. We even got pictures with some of the band members after the show! What a fun experience for all of us!

We made our own Neon Army (the 80's called and want their clothes back)!

Our concert flyer

Con Bro Chill rocking out in full costume on stage

Glow Stick Girl

Performer stopping to sign autographs and pose for pictures

The video that started it all and kept us laughing 

Ringing in the New Year with AAA Towing

While most people on the West Coast were singing "Auld Land Syne", watching the ball drop on T.V. and toasting with their friends and family....we were sitting in a parking lot in the middle of El Centro, CA waiting for our tow trucks! The lyrics of "should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind" were making us want to forget this experience!

On our way back out Interstate 8 to ring in the New Year in Arizona, our trusty Suburban decided she was done traveling for the winter. We stopped in El Centro to refuel and upon re-entering the freeway, we noticed we had no momentum or power to accelerate and we lost one of our gears.

We pulled back off the highway to take inventory of what was happening. Of course it was nighttime, nothing was open and it was New Year's Eve....so, an immediate repair, fix or assistance, was not in the cards for us.

Pulling into a grocery store parking lot, we called AAA and requested (TWO) tow trucks because we had to head home. Both our truck and trailer made the long and SLLOOWW 150-mile haul back that night on the back of tow truck. Our tow vehicle, was officially being towed home :(

Once the holiday passed, we had a new transmission and we were back in business......We love new adventures and never knowing where the road may take us, but in this case the road sent us limping all the way home!

Suburban on one tow truck and the trailer behind another ...this is how we party on New Year's Eve!

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