Leisure Travel Van Maiden Voyage

Peter has decided to trade in the Navion IQ for an easier to drive straight van made by Leisure Travel - Free Spirit. After several days of detailing the IQ until it's totally cherry, he heads off to San Marcos to make the trade. We've had so many good times in the IQ, I hate to see it go, but I also believe the new van will work better for us and the way we travel.

Peter waves good-bye

and heads off down our driveway for the last time.

Within a few days, he's back with the new van. Unlike the Navion, it's a straight van without any pop-outs, which makes it easier to drive and get much better gas mileage.

Our new Free Spirited Escape Pod

While the new van is getting outfitted, our curious dogs are busy checking it out. Toby and Checkers approve, but Mary's still not too sure about it. It doesn't smell enough like home to her satisfaction.
David gives us a few days of travel time for a Christmas present. We decide to take advantage of his critter sitting offer and pick a short trip to Mercey Hot Springs for our shake down cruise.

I check the maps while Peter does the last of the loading

and we head over Pacheco Pass.

Hwy 152 or Pacheco Pass as it's more commonly known, runs along the eastern edge of the San Luis Reservoir.  It's unsettling to see the hills look like they did the end of last summer rather than covered in green, which is usual for this time of year. Although we are well aware of how little rain we've had this season, we are shocked to see how low the reservoir water level is... in fact, it's the lowest we've ever seen.

Dry

Drier

Driest

From Hwy 152, we drive south on I-5 a few miles before reaching the exit to Mercey Hot Springs, which is the same destination we took the the Splinter on its maiden voyage.

Painted bluffs

old ranch

Sign for Mercey Hot Springs

After signing in at registration, we set up our campsite and get to know some of our neighbors. Apparently, Mercey is popular with folks from the Bay Area during the holiday season. Our closest neighbor is DJ from Santa Cruz, who's a "full-timer," that is he lives full time in his motor home.  Like many full-timers we've met in the past, DJ tends to stay in one location for a time period and then move on to their next location. So far, he's been at Mercey for around a week and plans to stay at Pinnacles National Park next.

Registration area

First Free Spirited campsite

DJ's motor home is parked right in front of us

The next morning we wake up refreshed and decide to explore the grounds to see what all has changed since our last visit several years ago.

New Airstreams have been added to rent

New community tent for yoga

Nice family BBQ area

It's the new solar electric panels on the hill above Mercey that intrigues us, so we hike up the hill for a closer look. It certainly looks like they get enough sunshine to work well here. The panels are set up with special controllers allowing them to track the sun as it moves across the sky during daylight hours.

At the top of the hill we discover a frisbee golf course, a shed, and 360 degree views of the surrounding landscape, including the Mercey Hot Springs complex.  Not too far away towards the northeast, we spot a herd of cattle who are probably the source of the mooing sounds we've been hearing.

Frisbee golf anyone?

Peter checks out the solar panel controllers

Hey - there's the cows we've been hearing

Mercey Hot Springs

On another visit, some hikers told us we could walk all the way to the painted bluffs by going up the Panoche Hills Recreational Area road, so we decide to give it a try. These hills and surrounding areas were once Bandido territory.

Panoche Hills sign

We start up the hill on a gravel road

The locals eye us intensely

The gravel road goes sharply uphill past a private observatory. The staff at Mercey tell us private astronomy clubs own the land and invited the staff to peer through their telescopes long before the current buildings and observatories were installed. Unfortunately, it's completely private and only open to a few special interest groups.

Private observatory

Peter checks cell service

CU of observatory grounds

At the top, the view of the surrounding hills is spectacular. We spot the grey-blue streaks marking possible oil shale deposits. No wonder we've seen so many local signs opposing development.

Panoche Hills

After the hike, it's time to take another soak in the hot springs. There are several choices, including a clothing optional area... with our aging bodies, the time for nudity has long passed, so we opt for the more public choices.

Warm swimming pool

Individual hot tub area

Peter soaks in a hot tub

The next morning we're back on the road homeward via county route J1 which takes us through scenic ranch lands and narrow canyons where the bandidos used to hide out. With the lack of rain, even the stalwart oak trees are dying.

Dry ranch lands

Bare oak tree

Orange leaves on oaks

By mid afternoon we reach the small town of Tres Pinos and stop for a good lunch at Flapjacks Country Cafe, which DJ had recommended.

This BBQ place also look interesting

Main street of Tres Pinos

Former train station, now a feed store

Drought or not, we really enjoy this drive through the countryside and can easily see why it's a favorite with motorcyclists. Speaking of the drought, we may be in for a long haul before the rains return as explained in the recent newspaper article entitled "California drought: Past dry periods have lasted hundred of years, scientists say." The most recent mega drought from 1140 to 1320 brought down the Anasazi culture.  We wonder what this one will do to our current culture.

San Benito County J1 through Panoche Valley

In terms of our new van, this trip was literally a shake down cruise. A pot hole caused the spice rack to go flying off the wall. Turns out it was not very well attached. Peter has already fixed it by making it smaller with an extra support bracket.  We do miss our "great room" created by extending the side slide on the Navion, but the extra storage and easier handling make the Free Spirit a better choice for our needs.