We pulled out of Chula Vista KOA at around 10 and headed for the gas station and grocery store. After replenishing our supplies we took Highway 94 east, a highway that skirts the Mexican border. In fact, we saw about 30 Border Control Officers and were stopped at two checkpoints. I even asked one officer if I could take his picture. Jokingly he said, "for five dollars" and laughed as the shutter clicked. I was intrigued by the amount of security along this route. There were dogs, guards, helicopters, barbed wire fences and a very high metal fence at the point where the road actually touches the Mexican border.The landscape along here was mountains and rocks...lots of rocks. After turning north the landscape change to more desert like and it was hot. We passed through several small towns where all of a sudden we would see lots of vegetation. As soon as we drove out of the town, the vegetation ended and we saw desert again.
We arrived at Salton Sea at around 5. Salton Sea is actually an inland body of water that was formed when irrigation damns broke due to flooding on the Colorado River. The water flowed for 16 months and this lake was formed...40 miles long and 20 miles wide...the largest body of water in California. It is now very salty and is evaporating quicker than it is being replenished and is therefore shrinking. The lake is full of fish and many birds stop here on their north/south flight. We are 228 feet below sea level here.
I had a great chat with the park host, we walked along the beach and stayed well back of the sagebrush because there is a sign indicating that there are rattlesnakes in there! Tomorrow we will visit Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park.
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