#MyCalifornia: Lower Colorado River Valley, Pt. 2

Picacho State Recreation Area to Blythe, CA

Part 1: https://steemit.com/mycalifornia/@creationofcare/mycalifornia-lower-colorado-river-valley-pt-1

I awoke early Monday morning, and lay listening to the coyote packs sing their call-and-response songs across the canyon:
woof woof ahwoooooo!
ay-yi-yi-yi-yow!

Eventually, the other call of nature drove me from the cuddly warmth of the marital tent. Here is a little video where I am just drinking in the peace and solitude:

The park is surrounded by wilderness zones and wildlife refuges, and the game trails are as firmed-up and shelved as hiking trails in some spots. I climbed to campsite #1, and shot a video, hoping the coyotes would pipe up again, but as you heard above, only faint birdcalls and silence resound.

Coyote track and burro scat near camp gives physical proof to the auditory evidence given all through the night.

More coyote spoor on our tour.

@Mattlovell and I packed up our camp and took off to explore the park and try our hand at fishing on the final day of our fishing license. We backtracked to the main campground where they have better access to the water with a small jettee and a sandy beach. It was cold, cloudy, and windy, no luck with the god of fins.

Main Campground beach and fishing jettee.

Driving north on Picacho Road, we took in more of the interesting geology:

View of the dry creekbed and erosion patterns.

Midway, there is a nice detour to visit Bear Canyon dry waterfall:

I love the tilted Cottonwood gatekeeper!

Although the falls were dry, a significant tank of water about 5' deep lay beneath. I felt sorry for the foolish burros who'd toiled at digging a drink from the sandy wash prior. Or else, perhaps that's the equine version of filtered water?

We had a snack, and continued northward upstream. The next stop was marked as another campsite on the map, but in real life, is designated Day Use Only. The wind scoured our faces, so we had a look and drove on.

View of the day use area

@Mattlovell surveys the scene

Next stop: "Camp 4-S". Now, this is the sweet spot of beach spots at Picacho. At $25 per night, per site, it's a mere $100/night for a group to secure this amazing Colorado River beach party zone for your entire party! (First come, first serve.)

Camp 4-S features beach sites equipped with shade ramadas, picnic tables, fire barrels, and vault toilets on a beautiful sandy beach right on the banks of the river.

The northernmost campsite is named "Outpost Camp", but given the rich quantities of feral burro manure, we redubbed it, OUTHOUSE Camp.

Here is a video where I take one for the team. Let's go Down the donkey hole to discover what's the draw? Why do feral equines flock from all corners of the Colorado Desert to party at the Outhouse Camp?

That's right, it is a protected, shaded, and fodder-rich watering hole of epic proportions!

Just remember to bring a manure fork...it smells like corrals need cleaning.

I am the supreme master of failing to catch fish, so take this with a grain of salt. This would be my first choice for a fishing camp out during swimming weather.

We tried our hands, but no bites.

A sandy spit and an inlet for fun in the sun during warmer seasons.

Grasses and gratuitous bliss.

Plus a garland of mistletoe requires a kiss! (It is, after all, the 21st Anniversary of OUR first kiss!)

The length of Picacho SRA now traversed, we turned outwards on Indian Pass Road to exit via a wilderness corridor of untamed Sonoran Ocotillo- and Creosote-clad lavaflows. Come ride with us:

Ocotillo jazzhands with supporting artist, Chollo Cactus.

We shuffle off via Bradshaw Trail into the shelter of a Blythe Motel 6. Until next installment, I bid you a Happy New Year!!!

Love,cat
@creationofcare

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