Glamis North KOA kamping style

Glamis North KOA is different. It's the only KOA (that we know of) that closes for the summer and stays open only during the winter. The type kamper that is most prevelant is the type with "toys", you know, the kind with motors and fat tires that play well in the surrounding desert terrain. ATV's, if you please. Almost all sites are large, pull-throughs with full hook ups. There are a few back-in sites, and ten housekeeping cabins

Some of the kampers and some of their toys. The most common type of RV you will find here is the kind referred to as a toy hauler. Chocolate Mountains in the background.

Here's a dad supervising his kids on the practice track. The track is a great place for kids to learn handling skills before heading out into the desert.

Some of the ATV's heading out for a trek in the desert.

Many of the custom and/or homemade ATV's are based on the Volkswagen chassis and engine.

There are several styles of desert buggies. This one is custom made.

Pat with some of the staff in Sassy's Outback Cafe. Josue (say ho sway) and Kyle.

This stack of US Mail boxes kind of portrays how remote we are.

Sassy's is a classy little restaurant. There is also an outdoor deck for additional seating. Great food, and you can review the menu on the Glamis North KOA website.

This is the kind of sunset we have to endure (not that that's a problem). Looking west, of course, across a bit of desert, the Salton Sea and Santa Rosa Mountains. We can handle it. By the way, it was about 87 deg here at mid-day, and still 60 deg at 9 pm. How is it up north? Come see us.

A Visit to Sonny Bono's

It's a Sunday afternoon, and we are visiting the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge on the Salton Sea. Yes, that Sonny Bono. The refuge is about 30 miles from our KOA so it's an easy visit on a day off, or even part of a day off.

Remember, we're in southern California and the busy tourist season is during the winter. That being said, just a couple weeks before Christmas found us at the NWR with very few people present. This is good because the wildlife was not very much disturbed and we saw lots of it.

Pat and I got acquainted with this frigate bird in the visitor center. Many of the species found here are on mounted display in the center. Makes it easier to ID the real thing when you see it in the wild.

Lots of canals and streams on the refuge, but not natural. These are created by pumping water through pipes and funneling it where it is needed. It's all flat here, so there are no waterfalls.

Salton Sea looking west. Brown pelicans, several kinds of seagulls, and more waterfowl than we could id from our books.

Flock of snow geese coming to land on the refuge.

Not a bad beach scene for December, don't you think?

Pat intently watching a flock of birds with her binoculars. The smoky plant in the background is one of many geothermal electric plants in the area that produce electricity by tapping into underground magma. Don't know how many of these plants are near here, but we counted six visible from the refuge and have seen smoke coming out of stacks all around the Salton Sea so I'm guessing that this is a major source of power around here.

Fresh-water pond (water piped in) for breeding/nesting sites. Lots of heron, egrets, and a variety of waterfowl.

More of the snow geese.

Salton Sea and Chocolate Mountains in background.

There's a coyote in this pic, really. Wouldn't you know, not a minute after I switched from the long lens to the short lens this guy appeared in the roadway just ahead of us. That blob in fronto of the dark square thing and just to the left of the brown pole is the coyote. Next time I'll leave the long lens on all the time because this place is jumping with wildlife. And there will be a next time because we like this place. There is a LOT to see.