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anutami Posts: 491
8/4/2014
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After getting hot tip to visit the mud caves in the summer we finally headed out to check them out. I also was itching to test out the my new truck camper and see how Wolfy II would handle the 4x4 trails of Anza borrego Desert. This trip was a bit premature due to the dealer installing the wrong size Air Conditioner on my camper. They put a 13.5 BTU unit, but I ordered a 9k BTU unit. The 9k BTU unit will run off my honda 2000 watt generator no problem, but the 13.5K BTU A/C is iffy. It runs at my house in Ramona, but was not sure how it would handle desert conditions. Thinking we would be pulling in the evening it wouldn't be too extreme, we went for it.
tested out the total wash board road, everything held together
recent rains have a few bypasses around the washes
This is usually so crowded and busy we always just drive on by and have never really explored the caves...Daren thanks for the heads up
we arrived at the perfect time. It was still pretty warm temps were in the high 90's low 100's
.this was going to be our campsite for the night...again nobody around
we noticed a small openning near by
entering the cave felt like the temperature immediatly dropped 30-40 degrees! What an amazing place
it just kept going
and going
.a few skylights, temp got in the high 90 degrees again, what a crazy mixture of temperatures...this is awesome 
a bit spooky...I hope this was a dog
It is crazy when you turn off your flashlight you can't even see your hand in front of your face....How does this guy do it?
I guess the moths just fly right in the webs
a few bats hanging out
We headed out of the caves and it was probably around 9pm. I was hopeful the A/C would work. When I fired it up I was pumped to see it was working but after about 1 minute it shut down!! We tried to endure it the best we could but it was just too hot for us. I decided to drive out to blair valley and gain some elevation. I was probably in the high 80's in blair valley and humid because of the weather, and I was bummed to find out the A/C would not work there either.
We woke up to the storm rolling in and raining on and off. Ranger Steve stopped by our campsite in blair to let us know that there was a flash flood watch going on.
It was pretty humid out and I couldn't get my kids pumped on a hike (I don't think they went to bed until 12:30 so they were so pretty tired). I didn't want to head home so we checked out butterfield ranch and the kids wanted to swim. We checked in. I think we were the only ones there.
playground is and oldie but a goodie
there is also a nice hot tub
the old stage coaches are cool to check out.
and the resident donkey
All in all in was a great trip. We really love our new camper. I would have liked to spend more time around the mud caves area, but with flash flood warnings and rain we did not head back. I am looking forward to getting my A/C issue fixed with the dealer and hopefully they will get the new one swapped out we will be heading back out the caves. It is so nice to have the place to yourself.
edited by anutami on 8/4/2014
edited by anutami on 8/4/2014
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
8/4/2014
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Really nice looking camper Nolan.
Wow last time I went thru there there were 8 jeeps parked exactly where you camped.
Oh yeah... that was Spring 
Thanks for posting.
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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ziphius Posts: 911
8/4/2014
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Nice trip Nolan. Never been to the caves. You guys turned an A/C failure into a swimfest vacation.
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
8/5/2014
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Nice! The summer is the best way to see the caves, glad you guys got out there. I am surprised ranger Steve was out at Blair, that is ranger Jenifer's territory.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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Borregolinda Posts: 69
8/8/2014
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Wise move staying out of the washes with flash flood watches!
Living in Birrego we do a lot of exploring in the summer. Lot less people! And during the season we go out mid week, less people then as well. We try not to go out on the weekend if we can help it! Nice photos.
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rockhopper Posts: 668
8/9/2014
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Looks like a memorable trip. Those mud caves could be a life saver to escape the heat but dangerous at the same time.
Your kids are some of the luckiest kids in the universe.
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DesertWRX Posts: 135
8/10/2014
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dsefcik wrote:
Nice! The summer is the best way to see the caves, glad you guys got out there. I am surprised ranger Steve was out at Blair, that is ranger Jenifer's territory.
I don't think Jennifer is a ranger here anymore.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
8/10/2014
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DesertWRX wrote:
I don't think Jennifer is a ranger here anymore.
bummer...I liked her..you know that for sure?
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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