San Diego here we come

On Sunday morning we attend devotions at Desert Rose, an inspiring session of Baha'i readings and prayers in the company of some of the people who attended the weekend program as well as members of the local Baha'i community.  We leave, pack up the RV, and take to the road again.

We're spending 4 nights at Pio Pico RV Resort near Jamul, California, which is in a valley about 30 miles east of San Diego.  It would be easy to drive there in one day in the car, but since it's over 350 miles and we're driving the RV we choose to break the journey.  I'd found a place for free camping (boondocking) just over the AZ/CA border and the original plan was to overnight there.  But some folks we met at Desert Rose told us of a place a little further on where there is a free hot spring and free camping.

The "little further" turning out to be about 40 miles, just east of Holtville but it's still early and driving along I-8 is easy.  We find the place with no problem.  The hot spring is indeed free to use, but the campground is a long term camping place that would cost us $40.  This would be good for up to 14 nights of camping but it's expensive for one night.  The campground host tells us of a place for free camping and gives us detailed directions.  It's not far but he warns us that there are two "soft spots' on the road.  He says no RVs have got stuck there but "It'll scare you!".  Given this info, we decide to give it a miss and instead spend the night 10 miles further down the road in the (surprisingly quiet) parking lot of the Walmart in El Centro.

We're only 100 miles from Pio Pico now, so next morning we jump on I-8 and prepare for the mountains.  We love the ascent through the rugged uplands - at this point they could be the Southern terminus of the Sierra Nevadas or the Coast Range, but they're spectacular and beautiful with little plant life but lots of large boulders.  We reach the first summit at Jacumba, leaving I-8 to continue its way to Tecate Summit, instead following CA 94 West along the border with Mexico.  This is a more scenic route, a little twisty at first, but easy enough for the RV with the car in tow, despite signs warning against vehicles over 40 feet in length.  We travel through farm and ranch country and through several small towns.  We have constant views of the mountains along the border, and even the infamous wall, in places.

Finally, just as advertised, we find Pio Pico (named for a governor of Baja California, which at the item included this area).  The people at the resort are welcoming, and we're able to find a pull though site with a full hookup, and settle in for our 4 night stay.  We pick up a puzzle from the activity center and are able to complete it before turning in for the night.

Tomorrow we'll complete the trip into San Diego by car.