El Centro is an old Spanish name for "In the Middle of Freaking Nowhere"! Left early this morning this morning, gassed up at Costco ($1.27 a gallon). Sorry, I just can't get over the low price of gas down in Tucson.
Went north on I-10 to I-8 and crossed the desert over to Gila Bend where we had breakfast. The landscape along that road is pretty flat with the occasional mountain rising straight out of the flat desert floor. Passed by Picacho Peak which is a landmark used by old-time travelers going from Mexico to California. After leaving Gila Bend, we went on to Yuma right on the Colorado River. Although it's not very wide, it seemed to be pretty full. We stopped and took a walk down to the River just to stretch.
Upon leaving Yuma, we passed through the Imperial Desert Recreational Area. I think every off-road vehicle which had been up in Parker for the Best Ride in the Desert moved down to the Yuma area. The sand dunes there are amazing and even from I-8 it was fun watching the off-road vehicles charge up and down the dunes. Lots of campers and RV's out in the desert dry-camping. Guess it pretty well clears out when the weather starts to get warmer. As it was, we enjoyed the 85 degree temperature.
It was interesting as we entered El Centro to see a line on the water tower about twenty feet off the ground marked "sea level", so we are a little below sea level here. We're just south of the Salton Sea which was formed years ago when the Colorado River broke through its' banks and established it. Since then it has not received any substantial inflow and keeps getting more salty year after year.
Tomorrow we're heading north up through Bakersfield to hit 395 and head north. Probably stay somewhere around China Lake and head home either Monday or Tuesday. Not anxious to hurry back to the cold weather.
Take care.
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