Our last night in Anaheim was a visit back to Disney for the evening production of the "World of Colour". It is about a 30min show put on by water jets, bright light projectors, music and singing. It was awesome! You could reserve your viewing area by getting a free pass during the day and there was tons of seating for us cripples. It was a perfect ending to a magnificent week in LA. Sorry no pictures, you will have to come and visit but here is a link to me filming the 'Screamer' with my GoPro. Yes, that is Kaye screaming for the whole ride.
Even better was to find a return email from Bashford Hot Springs when we got home. In broken English, with no punctuation, it said that that they are not very good with email, don't take reservations and to call first to see if anything is open....crap. We decided to roll the dice and head in that direction as it was only 4-5 hours depending on the traffic.
We braved the major freeway traffic to get out of LA. You have a small window of time. 10:30 to 11:30 and 12:30 to 2:30. I set my goal to get off the major Interstate highway and onto some lesser roads as soon as I could. No accidents, smooth sailing and when we turned off the highway we found the side road freshly paved and traffic vacant.
From a great distance the Salton Sea (AKA Sonny Bono State Park) looks very attractive. This state park continues for most of the Eastern side of the lake, with campgrounds every few miles. A lot of campsites but mostly empty. Many closed down businesses with all the same signs; "Liquor and Bait". A very barren landscape and flat as it comes. We found out later that the salt lake (ice age remnant) had good fishing in the 30-60s and the baby boom turned it into a camping mecca with boating resorts, winter Oasis homes, etc. As the years past, the lake rescinded, the salt level is now twice that of the Dead Sea and all businesses and real estate venues have died. The state took over the shoreline some time ago to preserve it and many still come to run their off road machines and dry camp.
Bitching Betty found the turn off to the Spa and it was clear the road headed East into the foothills of the mountains. There were abandoned mobile homes and Adobe buildings all along the way and the road was so bouncy our speed was reduced to near walking. However, there were also massive signs announcing the coming of Bashford Hot Springs and The Fountain of Youth RV Spa Resorts at every mile marker. We felt much better.
Palm trees appeared above the underbrush and the sight of RV roof top Air Conditioners gave us confidence. At check-in the lady in the office spoke just like she wrote in the email but there was 'Room at the Inn' and we were happy. The RV Park was estimated to be 75% Canadian. As we arrived, a 'service' was just ending for one of the long time park guests so there were golf carts abandoned everywhere around the Social Centre which was right in front of our pull through. As we were getting set up, people came to introduce themselves. Lots of prairie folk. It turns out we had arrived on 'Happy Hour Wed' which meant a live band in the social room starting at 4pm. With Corona in hand we took the bait. We were likely the bait as we were certainly the youngest there. The three local campers belting out 50s/60s tunes, all in the same key, were the hit of Broadway and the dance floor was packed. They play the legion too!
At our table, our new found friends stated that they now own a doublewide mobile in the park. Bought it last year for $4200 complete with outbuildings, golf cart and furnishings. They explained how they stopped in for one night three years ago, ended up staying for a week, then came back for three months and then bought the mobile following a resident's death. When we asked about the services for the fellow that passed they explained that the park has a nickname: "God's waiting room!". We looked at each other and said in poor harmony; "Time to get out of Bashford!"
Now that the poking fun is over, do not stroke this place off the map. The park was very clean, the showers were great, the mineral tubs were true to form and the pool/hot tub were excellent. If you need to kill a couple of days and just relax before hitting the highways of California, keep this one in mind. Have your fridge stocked before you arrive as there is nothing close.
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