Tecopa Hot Springs and China Date Ranch

It only takes a few hours on I-15 to get from Temecula to Baker where we turn north towards Tecopa Hot Springs. Since it's close to lunch time, we decide to check in at the Mad Greek Cafe, which used to be our standard stop during the '70's. It was owned by a local Greek family and they served the best date shakes we've ever had.  In those days it was a hang out for students traveling through. The decor was basic tables and bean bag chairs for kicking back and reading an amazing collection of newspapers from around the world.

We had heard it had changed, but then again, most things have in the last 40 years. So we crossed our fingers and stopped. According to Yelp, their specialty is no longer date shakes, but fresh strawberry shakes and gyros which are well advertized on their walls. We shared a gyro and a shake. At first, both looked great, but then we started in on them. The "fresh" strawberry shake did indeed have a FEW fresh strawberries in it, but the main flavoring was obviously from a manufactured syrup and had a machine taste to it. We won't even go into how the gyro tasted.  In short, avoid this place at all costs. Not all change is for the better.

If you're heading off the Interstates for the open desert, do fill up your vehicle on fuel. Baker has the cheapest prices you'll see in quite awhile.

Avoid the Mad Greek Cafe

This pigeon is about to pay them

We head north on Hwy 127 also know as Death Valley Road, then take the right turn to Tecopa Hot Springs.

Once we get there, we cruise the campground, pick a site, and register for the next two nights. Although, the campground isn't the most scenic we've ever stayed in, it does have electrical hook ups and is inexpensive. The hot springs are for nude bathing only in separate quarters for men and women. Tecopa attracts foreign visitors, evangelicals, desert rats, aging hippies, prospectors, and conspiracy theorists. Apparently it's a favorite stop for a wide range of clients.

Tecopa Hot Springs RV Park

Our campsite

Hot Springs & Registration

Several of our fellow campers' vehicles look like they came straight out of Mad Max. We speculate that some owners are aging hippies or possibly prospectors as this area is rich in gems and minerals.  We are both surprised when we meet the people in the big red 4x4... they turn out to be a fun group of retired teachers from Wisconsin, who are hiking the Old Spanish Trail. Yup - I was always told I had an over-active imagination.

This rig's owner is a prospector from Utah

The Wisconsin retired teachers' rig

Although the afternoon is quite windy, the winds calm after sunset and we're treated to lovely desert vistas.

Salina by our campsite

Small pond is a refuge for all kinds of water fowl

The next day we leave to check out the China Date Ranch Farm which is only a few miles away.

Looks pretty rugged and dry

Very dry

Wow - it's starting to get greener

According to the sign as we enter the Date Ranch:

"In the 1880's a Chinese man Ah Foo came to this canyon from the Borax Works in Death Valley. He developed a successful ranch raising livestock, hay, fruits, and vegetables to help feed the local silver miners and their draft animals. The 'China Man's Ranch' became a favorite resting spot, with it's cool running stream and beautiful trees.

In 1900, Ah Foo disappears somewhat mysteriously though the name has stuck. After many changes of owners and financially unsuccessful ranching attempts over the next 90 years, the current owners began planting young date palms in 1990 and opened China Ranch to the public in 1996...."

Sign pointing to Gift Shop

Date Ranch Gift Shop

Cactus green houses

After so many miles of open desert, it's easy to see why an oasis is so appealing. It's a paradise. Before treating ourselves to their date shakes (which are wonderful), we take a walk through the groves. At one point, we discover coyote scat filled with date seeds and a few steps later we learn why. It's amazing what all a coyote will eat. At our hikes around home we've even seen chardonnay grapes in their scat.

Garden of Eden this way

what a magical place

Coyote chow

Walking on the road back to the store, we find it lined with many different varieties of date palms, many with signs describing the tree, it's origins, and it's fruit.

Medjool

Honey Dates

Barhi

Halawy

To work off some of the calories we picked up with our date shakes, we decide to hike to a slot canyon just off the nearby Old Spanish Trail.

Looking back towards the China Date Ranch

We follow a dry arroyo, which seems to have been a garbage dump for many previous residents. We also discover the ruins of a single room rock cabin with "1903" carved on the lintel stone. We wonder who lived here and what did they do.

1930's car?

1903

Stone cabin ruins

The hills take on interesting shapes as we hike down the arroyo. Soon we spot the slot canyon just ahead of us.

Hills along arroyo

Slot canyon ahead

Covered over Borax mine?

The Old Spanish Trail runs parallel to the slot canyon, so we hike it for about a 1/4 mile to get closer to the canyon.

Peter on Old Spanish Trail

Narrow slot canyon

Peter climbs rock fall at end

Success!

We return to Tecopa Hot Springs, tired but happy to have the relaxing waters soak our bodies in. The next morning we are up early to get settled in Death Valley.

Lake Tecopa

Desert Rats with a sense of humor

Ouch! no kidding!? Glad we filled in Baker

On the road to Death Valley

SoCal Sojourns

Before heading out to the California deserts, we drive south to the San Diego area in SoCal to meet Peter's two sisters, Jill and Holly, at their family home in Leucadia. They are gathering to conduct some family business.

We leave just as fog burns off at Moss Landing

The earth sighs with relief from the recent rains.

We decide to camp along the old Coast Highway in Ventura County and end up at Faria Park. It's a wonderful little county park right on the beach and we find a campsite along the seawall.

Entrance to Faria Park

Campsite

Peter enjoys the evening's sunset on the seawall

Sunset along the Ventura County coastline

The next morning dawns with clear blue skies (and no smog). So clear, in fact, that we can see the Channel Islands from our campsite. The waves are up and and so are the surfers. We've observed for each surfer in the water there are at least five surfers just sitting and watching the waves from shore.  For breakfast, I'm joined by some furry freeloaders who live in the rocky seawall.

Surf's up

Surfers watching the waves

One of my breakfast companions

After breakfast, we decide to take a short walk along the old Pacific Coast Hwy to check out the campsites along the road. We get a big kick out a camper in particular. Without meeting him in person, here's what we gleaned about him from his camp trailer:

1. Patriotic Disabled Vietnam Veteran
2. Beach Bum (license plate) maybe former surfer (Endless Summer ad)
3. Has memory problems "Ever stop to think... and forget to start again?"
4. Retired "I was tired yesterday, and I'm tired again today"
5. U of Oregon fan
6. Married "Wife and dog missing. Reward for dog"
7. Likes to watch TV (portable satellite dish)
8. Quirky sense of humor

Camping along Old Coast Hwy

A self proclaimed beach bum

Cell towers mixed with real palms. Which is the real one?

A great feature of camping at Faira is the fact it's not far from LA, so we can sneak through on the Diamond Lane mid morning between the morning commuter rush and the lunch crowds. After a fairly painless drive through the LA area (it's never easy), we stop at the Rest Area by Camp Pendleton, which has recently been remodeled.  We notice this rest stop now has more vending machines. "Hey Peter, looks like they still have pain relievers and condoms available, but are out of allergy meds."  We wonder who are the main customers for the condoms... the truckers who regularly stop here or the marines? Probably both.

Ahhh... a wide open Diamond Lane. Our favorite.

Vending machines at Rest Area

Humm ... looks like you can buy all kinds of things here

We reach Simons' RV Resort by early afternoon. Thank you again Simons! Jamie and Suzy have been installing large raised beds for growing veggies. Suzy gives us a tour of her amazing garden. All the veggies look strong and healthy.

Camped at Simons

Suzy gives us a tour of her garden

Beautiful kale

After breakfast, Jamie tends to his chores while Cono waits patiently in the car to be taken to the beach. To prove a point, Jamie finds an old sign he painted in the '70's. This sign hung from the entrance to a house I shared with others in Del Mar for several years.

What? Not too excited by raking leaves?

Yes - it does say "Exit from the Rear"

Cono - Such a patient puppy!

The day is perfect for a stroll on the beach. While Jamie and Suzy play with Cono, I snap a few beachy photos.

Dog day at the beacho

Self portrait

Another surfer scanning the waves

We join up with Holly and Jill to cruise through the Cedros Design District and to run some errands.

This outdoor shower is perfect for Simons (too bad it's out of our price range)

Classic SoCal cruiser

Designer succulents at Cedros

We also make a run through the Leucadia Farmers Market, where we meet some real characters amongst the vendors.

Despite a demo of this "Backsedator",  Mark wasn't buying

Cute mushroom dealer

This vendor would bless any fruit you are interested in

That night, we treat Patti to dinner at one of her favorite restaurants, the Hunter Steakhouse. She elects to stay home while the rest of us trek on to the Belly Up for their evening show Vaud & the Villians (thank you Holly for the treat). Wow - the Belly Up has certainly changed since when we watched Dan Hicks and Maria Muldaur play together.

Uhhh... Patti, maybe you shouldn't drive home tonight

Da-dumm, da-dummm.... the new shark above the bar at the Bell Up

The next afternoon, we all decide to check out Doc Opp's vintage eyeglass frames. We had originally met him through his eBay Store DocOpp's Antiques, when a part of vintage frames Peter brought for me had some problems. We enjoyed talking to him so much over the phone, that we promised to visit him at his home close to San Diego the next time we were around. We are so glad we did.

His home contains a museum of his many years of collecting various eyeglass related items over this long career as an optician in Hollywood. He made his mark by designing frames for many well know performers, including Elton John and Elvis Presley. We learned in the early history of eyeglasses, many were disguised in other objects, as for a long time needing eyeglasses was considered a sign of weakness.

Doc Opp points out a pair of scissor frames he has collected

Optical advertizing .

Rare eyeglass hidden in a fan

Of course, all of us women bought frames from Doc Opp. On our way out, he showed us his prized antique Rolls Royce, which has appeared in several Hollywood movies. In some, Dr Opp appears as the chauffeur driving his own car.

Me, Jill, Doc Opp, and Holly modeling our new frames

Mark and Jill check out Doc Opp's vintage Rolls

The sun is waning by the time we leave the San Diego area on I-15 headed towards the deserts. Needless to say, we don't make it very far and settle in at the RV Resort at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. We are delighted at all the amenities this RV park offers for the price. Being too tired to fix dinner that evening we walk over to the casino, where people recommend Kelsey's to us. We enjoy a great informal dinner there, both the food and service are excellent.

Last rays of sun light up my favorite overpass on I-15

Entry chandelier at Pechanga

Colorful light show on entrance fountain

The campsite we select backs up to the hills behind their golf course (Mark and Jill - take note). Even though we are close to the freeway, it's a quiet location so we get a good night's sleep. The next morning dawns with blue skies decorated with high wispy clouds. However, the weather forecast is for high winds in the afternoon, so we get an early start up I-15 towards the desert.

Campsite at Pechanga

Blue skies with high clouds

Pool looks inviting, but we need to go