Beautiful Butterflies and Boondocking in the Boulders

Monterey, CA
Elks Lodge

Brrr, it was below freezing when we left in mid-January from Placerville. When we brought the slides

in, it sounded like breaking glass as chunks of ice fell off the slide toppers.  Some were half an inch think. 

We had worked hard cleaning and washing the truck and trailer and were headed out towards Arizona.

After a late start we pulled into Monterey first to visit our grandson, Jaxon.  We stayed at the Elks Lodge for a long weekend and babysat him Friday which was a lot of fun.

Since they live in Pacific Grove, sandwiched between Carmel and Monterey, the beach is just down the street.  We had a good time searching the tide pools for sea urchins and crabs.

Giggly boy throwing rocks in the tide pools.

We didn't know until later at night that these huge waves were from the earthquake in Tonga causing tsunamis on the coast of California.  Just big waves here but there was some damage in Santa Cruz.

Very cool!!!  A Sea Enemone eating a Starfish!

On Saturday we went to My Museum which is a great little kids hands-on discovery-type museum.

Pebble Beach golf area.

Daddy and Jaxon.

Hospital, Fire Departments, Main St, etc.

Farm area where they can "plant" and "harvest" crops.

Then it was on to the Monarch Grove where the warmer temps are starting to bring out the butterflies.

Monarch clusters in the trees.

Monarchs

 

Jaxon had not seen these big beauties and he loved them flying all around.

A huge Cypress out front.

Boys and trees!

Me, Steve, Jax and Ryan (Diana was out of town)

Bubbles at the park.  Another winner!

Papa and Jax

Atascadero, CA

Elks Lodge

Then it was time to head down the road for an overnight in Atascadero. $35, FHU, #1.

After an uneventful night we drove over to Lancaster to meet up with good friends Rick and Angie who we'll be traveling with the next few weeks.  There was snow on the mountains above Tehachapi.

Lancaster, CA

Elks Lodge

$25, W/E/Dump, #43.

Another overnighter then it was off to our first boondocking site.  On the way we stopped in the tiny town of Boron to visit a couple museums. 

Our first was the Twenty Mule Team Museum.  Lots of local info on Borax and the filming of Erin Brocovich.  Very small but cute with helpful staff.  Donation.

Next door was the Milestones of Flight Museum.  It's currently closed due to funding problems but when we asked our museum docent, he called up a gal who opened it up for us and showed us around.  There is also a Route 66 museum nearby, but we didn't have time for that one.

Now that our legs were stretched, we headed off to a spot I'd been wanting to check out.

Rick and Angie with their Solitude behind us.

Kelso, CA

Kelbaker Boulders NP

A good halfway point between Lancaster and Havasu worked out perfectly at Kelbaker Boulders.  It's in the Mohave National Park boundaries but you don't have to pay any fees.  It's a couple of miles down a nice dirt road off of Hwy 40 to get to the turnoff for the boulders.  Our friends stayed nearby at Whole in the Wall campground in the park and they had some great hikes!  That's now on my list.

The road is hardpacked dirt/sand and pretty flat.  Easy to get our 40' rigs down.  There is room for 2 big rigs or 3 smaller ones.  It's a dead-end turnaround so if someone is camped there you would not be able to turn around to leave so best to scout it out first.

We were so happy it was unoccupied.  We spent the next couple nights and days relaxing and hiking around the boulders.  Steve was working and the Verizon signal was strong.

Here are the coordinates but you can get them off Campdendium too.

These shots are from Angie's new i-phone.  The camera takes some really fantastic pics!

Another 2 hour drive continuing on 40 east, and we were leaving CA behind (and those gas prices) and crossing the bridge at Needles into Arizona.  Heads up, gas up in Barstow or Needles if you can't make it into AZ.  We calculated wrong and ended up with our most expensive gas at Ludlow for $6.59!  Ouch.  Next up we will meet back up with my brother and a bunch of other friends for some boondocking south of Lake Havasu City.  Maybe we'll see some balloons at the Balloon Festival?