Inland Empire Free Riders

In case your ready to try something a little different,....and a little more adventurous, than the normal family gathering at home,...try enjoying part or all of the Thanksgiving holiday at Ocotillo Wells. This is nothing new mind you. Each year around 100,000 people descend upon the 85,000 acres of Ocotillo Wells to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. There is an endless parade of campers and off road toys that cascade the vast landscape, all in the quest for extreme fun and food in the desert. It's wide open, it's free, and it's lots of fun! Each year, we seem to attract about 20 campers, and it's always great to visit the highlights of this vast desert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ4Azg76IlI

The Free Riders and other participants will be encamped near the corner of Main St and Highway 78 from November 21st to the 26th (Mon - Sun). The coordinates are: 33°09'10.1"N 116°08'57.6"W.All it takes is a tent, or RV of some sort, to camp overnight. Come for a day, a few days, or the entire week. No fees, no rules, just fun. Bring food, and sand toys if you have some.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kvKhZXRI-k

There is much to see and explore at this place. Here are some hotspots worthy of exploration:

• Sandstone Canyon
• Slot Canyon
• Blow Sand Hill
• Gas Domes
• Devils Slide
• Pumpkin Patch
• Shell Reef
• B29 airplane yard
• Mudcaves, many caves, up to 1000' long
• Wind caves
• Font's Point, the California version of the Grand Canyon.
• Truck Haven, man made 4x4 playground.
• Huge BLM shooting range, 10 minutes from the Camp site
• Restaurants, grocery stores and tennis courts in Borrego Springs

All are accessible by car, 4x4 or ATV. At our campsite on Main St., there is running water, public showers and bathrooms, two general stores up the road, a restaurant on Highway 78, and a trash disposal area close by. The nights are clear, the planets are visible and there is usually an Astronomy Show during the weekend, all free, with hot chocolate, courtesy of the Rangers. The town of Brawley is just to the south, and features everything including a super Walmart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PS0rogVgto

We can all indulge in cooking turkeys, and all the trimmings on Thursday (23rd). We can set up tables, chairs, and enjoy this day, well into the night, by campfire.

I will be bringing two 4x4's and 6 quads, and there is an ATV rental place across the street (Highway 78) if we need more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_DQea3iR0c&t=23s

If you've never tried a "quad", you can try mine. They throttle, brake and shift just like your motorcycle.

Location:

Near the intersection of Highway 78 and Main St. (33.151300, -116.149690). This is about a mile east of "Ranger Station Road". Call my cellphone number to locate me, if you don't see the camp (951 591 2368)

Accommodations:

If you don't own and RV, but would like to try one, rentals are available at RV Share, in Temecula CA (https://rvshare.com/rv-rental/temecula/ca). There are also lots of RV's for rent on Craigslist. Many folks rent one, to try this out, and eventually purchase an RV once they find out how much fun this can be. Many campers use a tent at Ocotillo Wells too. There are also hotels in the area. Camp for a few days or all week!

This is a great family, and couples adventure, so invite all your good friends!

In case your ready to try something a little different,....and a little more adventurous, than the normal family gathering at home,...try enjoying part or all of the Thanksgiving holiday at Ocotillo Wells. This is nothing new mind you. Each year around 100,000 people descend upon the 85,000 acres of Ocotillo Wells to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. There is an endless parade of campers and off road toys that cascade the vast landscape, all in the quest for extreme fun and food in the desert. It's wide open, it's free, and it's lots of fun! Each year, we seem to attract about 20 campers, and it's always great to visit the highlights of this vast desert.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZ4Azg76IlI

The Free Riders and other participants will be encamped near the corner of Main St and Highway 78 from November 21st to the 26th (Mon - Sun). The coordinates are: 33°09'10.1"N 116°08'57.6"W.All it takes is a tent, or RV of some sort, to camp overnight. Come for a day, a few days, or the entire week. No fees, no rules, just fun. Bring food, and sand toys if you have some.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kvKhZXRI-k

There is much to see and explore at this place. Here are some hotspots worthy of exploration:

• Sandstone Canyon
• Slot Canyon
• Blow Sand Hill
• Gas Domes
• Devils Slide
• Pumpkin Patch
• Shell Reef
• B29 airplane yard
• Mudcaves, many caves, up to 1000' long
• Wind caves
• Font's Point, the California version of the Grand Canyon.
• Truck Haven, man made 4x4 playground.
• Huge BLM shooting range, 10 minutes from the Camp site
• Restaurants, grocery stores and tennis courts in Borrego Springs

All are accessible by car, 4x4 or ATV. At our campsite on Main St., there is running water, public showers and bathrooms, two general stores up the road, a restaurant on Highway 78, and a trash disposal area close by. The nights are clear, the planets are visible and there is usually an Astronomy Show during the weekend, all free, with hot chocolate, courtesy of the Rangers. The town of Brawley is just to the south, and features everything including a super Walmart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PS0rogVgto

We can all indulge in cooking turkeys, and all the trimmings on Thursday (23rd). We can set up tables, chairs, and enjoy this day, well into the night, by campfire.

I will be bringing two 4x4's and 6 quads, and there is an ATV rental place across the street (Highway 78) if we need more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_DQea3iR0c&t=23s

If you've never tried a "quad", you can try mine. They throttle, brake and shift just like your motorcycle.

Location:

Near the intersection of Highway 78 and Main St. (33.151300, -116.149690). This is about a mile east of "Ranger Station Road". Call my cellphone number to locate me, if you don't see the camp (951 591 2368)

Accommodations:

If you don't own and RV, but would like to try one, rentals are available at RV Share, in Temecula CA (https://rvshare.com/rv-rental/temecula/ca). There are also lots of RV's for rent on Craigslist. Many folks rent one, to try this out, and eventually purchase an RV once they find out how much fun this can be. Many campers use a tent at Ocotillo Wells too. There are also hotels in the area. Camp for a few days or all week!

This is a great family, and couples adventure, so invite all your good friends!

It's time for Death Valley again...

Death Valley entering from the south entrance I love the Death Valley ride twice a year fall and spring so Let's get away from all the traffic in the inland empire and enjoy Death Valley again!

This desolate place has the reputation for being the lowest, hottest, driest and most unforgiving place in the northern hemisphere. It's a reputation that has been repeatedly earned, especially in the summertime. However, there are times, when this place can be enchanting for the prepared. Spring is a great time to visit Death Valley. The temperatures are cooler, and the landscape looks extraterrestrial. The plant variety includes Gravel ghost, phacelia, rock daisy, pin cushion, and brown-eyed evening primrose. Life finds a way even if the rainfall is less than 2" per year.

In spite of the high temperatures and limited rainfall, Death Valley exhibits surprising biodiversity. Wildflowers, fed by melted snow, cover the desert floor each spring. Animal life includes bighorn sheep, red-tailed hawks, coyotes, and wild burros. Death Valley has over 600 springs and ponds. Salt Creek, which is a mile-long shallow creek has pupfish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDlji7FO2OY

When borax was discovered, it took two horses and eighteen mules to pull their load over a distance of 165 miles to Mojave which took them ten days. Eventually, a railway was built. In 1881 Harmony Borax Works (near Furnace Creek), which is now partly restored and open to visitors, came into operation. Others soon followed. Although Death Valley has been a "National Monument" since 1933, borax can still be mined within its boundaries, but only underground.

Details:
This is an overnight ride. The Free Riders will meetup at Bakers Drive Thru @9:30am located at 1310 E Washington St, Colton, CA 92324. We will leave there at 10:00 am. Arrive early if you wish to indulge in breakfast there. We will travel north 215N, 15N, 395N, Right on Trona Rd. Turn Right on CA-178E/Trona Rd. Turn left onto Panamint Valley Rd. Turn right on CA-190E towards Furnaace Creek Lunch at Stovepipe Wells. After lunch we will head E on 190 to Scotty's Castle Road N to the Ubehebe Crater...if Scotty's Castle if open we can visit it too, then onto Beatty and stay at the Exchange Club Motel (newly remodeled) the address for the motel is 119 West Main Street Beatty NV 89003 Phone number is (775) 553-2333 and they do offer triple A or military discounts....there are other hotels in the area too if you want to stay in a different location.

Gas and convenience products are available in the park at Furnace Creek Ranch, Stovepipe Wells Village, and Panamint Springs Resort, we will stop as needed for Gas and bathroom breaks about every 100 miles.

After Breakfast on Saturday, we will depart Beatty and head into Death Valley from the north side. The interesting places that we will visit are Death Valley Junction, Dantes View, the Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, Bad water, Artist drive, Zabriskie Point, and Ubehebe Crater. Later in the day, as we exit the park on the west side, we will seek refuge at the Dow Villa located at 310 S Main, Lone Pine, CA 93545 phone number is 760 876 5521. winter rates are reasonable in both Beatty and Lone Pine.

We usually make a run to visit the Alabama Hills and the Mount Whitney portal before heading home if the road is open.

Friendly advice:
Bring extra water, pack some snacks and check those tires, bring warm cloths it usually gets cold before we reach Lone Pine. Make sure your rubber is good. God favors the prepared. Murphy does not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wU8NNFwyoHg

Okay Free Riders. Bring your camera, bring your gear, and bring a friend. If you signed up for adventure, this trip will not disappoint!!