Diamond Valley Lake

Built in the saddle of two mountains, Diamond Valley Lake—Southern California’s newest and largest reservoir—is a vital link in the regional system that’s brought water to Southern California for the past 60 years. The lake nearly doubled the area’s surface water storage capacity and provided additional water supplies for drought, peak summer and emergency needs.


Water began pouring into the reservoir in November 1999 and the lake was filled by early 2002. Diamond Valley Lake holds 800,000 acre-feet, or 260 billion gallons of water. By comparison, Lake Havasu, on the Colorado River, holds just 648,000 acre-feet or 201 billion gallons.(copied from their website) 

Looking at the lake from the lookout the first picture is on the right and you see the earthen dam and a second dam in the far center (hard to see);  the second picture is the center view with the third dam out of view and the third pictures  is on the left with the pump house,

The lookout is about 5 miles from the park.. The water is low due to the drought.

Dogs are not allowed at the lookout, only in the parking lot.  It was stifling hot and we decided  not to go to the top and leave Logan in the hot car.  The Ranger came over and said she would keep Logan while we walked to the top. 

She was from Memphis and an avid Elvis fan. Her sister went to school with Elvis.  So we got good stories.  She would say "Thank you very much" and try to sound like Elvis.  She was fascinated with  Logan and gave him water and treats, and more treats.  Logan really liked her. 

We ate lunch in the shade of the make shift tent.  I realized after seeing the condition of the rangers skin that those who work unprotected in the desert environment literally cook their skin.   It really pained me to see the condition of her skin..

BOOM Crack BOOM

Greg and a lawn maintenance worker were raking leaves and collecting them in the trash can this morning when BOOM.

Thunder and  lightning shook the coach..then it started to rain and sleet.

The drainage system is a slight indention in the middle of the road.  At the other end of the park it rushes into a series of large ditches that collect the water.  The indentions run through all the streets in the city and can made it a little rough when you drive a little car.

The rain was wonderful, it was painfully needed.

Logan and I went for a walk later and there was sleet still hanging around.  Obivously,  the temp has dropped.  The marjority of the people here are from Canada: British Columbia mostly and Victoria Island...and we all agreed it felt really good.

I believe it...

I saw this license plate holder while Logan and I walk the park.  Sounds like a winner to me.

We have had a army of "sugar ants" invade the coach.  The park sprayed the ground and advised us to spray bleach on the counters and where there were ants.  Next is to spread comet powder cleaner around the coach. 

I think it works like in the cowboy days you laid a rope around you when you slept on the ground to keep the snakes away.  :-))  It is safer for Logan than harsher chemicals

Plus, my computer is getting slower and slower.....

Would you believe, I'm not a happy wife?....now you know the situition here.

Idyllwild, CA

Today we drove about 25 miles to Idyllwild a small town at 6000 ft. up the mountain.   Hemet is located  in a valley and the trip was just about straight up and straight down. Thousand Trails has a park at the end of the road past Idyllwild, at the top of the mountain. The park was preparing for snow, draining the pond and closing part of the park.  I would not take the coach there. I hate narrow winding roads and horseshoe turns and trying to park the coach on narrow and hilly sites.  I was surprise at the number of occupied sites.  The ranger said in the summer it would be full.

Idyllwild reminds me of Leavenworth minus the German theme. The homes cling to the side of the mountain. Most of the shops were closed (it was Monday) and  near the end of the summer season.

Lots of art, tourist shops, restaurants, etc. An artist was carving a welcome pole out of a tree. Darn, I had my camera but had forgotten to replace the disc after downloading pictures. The view from the top was spectacular but you will just have to take my word for it.

On the way up we saw the aftermath of a fire. The ground coverage was mostly short brush growing at widely spaced intervals and lots of rocks from a couple of feet in diameter to very large ones.. It became denser the higher we drove and around 5000 ft., the pine and oak trees just seem to suddenly appear. The Oak leaves were turning and very attractive.

The tallest flag pole

This is the tallest flag pole.   How is that for an educational blog. The information was on my map and I just had to take the picture so you could see it.  It is located on highway111 East of the Salton Sea.

Saved by the Peak

We got out of Tucson around 4:00.  For me, it was unbearablely HOT.  Greg wanted to get out of the big city area, so we took off.  Driving West into the sun finally reached too hot for Greg.  We saw a RV park and pulled off for the night.  It was Picacho Peak Park...and the sun was going down behind the peak, it cooled off quickly with the breeze. 

We learned the next day that on the weekends rock climbers are all over the peak climbing to the top.  Can't understand that sport.

Another attraction next to the park was Rooster Cogburn's Ostritch farm.  It was closed on Wednesdays...darn.

Adding to the economy in Tucson

Well, before we leave Tucson we decided because of the other issues we had with the broken serpentine belt we should have an oil change.  I was beginning to think because we had an "older coach"  WE were the only ones with breakdowns and hanging around the repair shops.  But, not true.  Check out that line of big new rigs in line for service, and that was the "I'm next line"  There were others parked outside.

We had an appointment at 10:30.  The coach didn't get on the rack until 2:30.  Logan wasn't allowed inside the customer lounge.  So we spent our time "sitting around" outside.