From a Failed Ghost Town Attempt to the Grand Canyon to a Medical Clinic
The last few days have been interesting. On Friday, we moved the Sabrina Lake Campground in the Inyo National Forest. It was the best campsite we had so far on this trip. Sabrina Lake is a little small but we enjoyed getting on the water again in our kayaks.
It was cold Saturday morning, but we were at 9,000’ elevation in mid-October so it was expected. Surprisingly, the reverse camera in the truck magically worked, which hasn’t been the case for several years. Weird. We hit the road, heading to our next reservation at the Calico Ghost Town.
The road out of Owens Valley was straight but lovely with mountains on both sides. Once we hit the Mojave area, it was less lovely and more desolate. It was about a 7 hour drive, which was too long.
Calico Ghost Town was not what we expected. I truly expected it to be a cheesy, touristy campground by the ghost town but something we might get a kick out of staying a night. The lady in the reception booth was not helpful and didn’t tell us where our campsite was, give us a map or any directions. We drove around the campground and were disappointed. It was large and quite full. There were HOVs and ATVs everywhere, which shouldn’t have been a surprise because the entire area is off-road vehicle friendly. Based on what we saw, it appeared that it was obviously going to be a loud night in the campground. We eventually found our campsite and were further disappointed, to say the least. It was the skinniest campsite with a skinny, little tree blocking easy access to the campsite but providing absolutely no shade. We were still in the Mojave Desert and it was hot.
To back into the campsite required a nearly 90’ degree turn around the tree. We started the process - it was going to take a while - and then realized that “partial hookups” meant “electric only” and we needed to get water. We found ourselves pulling the trailer into a dead-end with cars parked along the edges of the road, making turning around incredibly difficult…well, actually impossible for us because we gave up after several efforts of inching back and forth between the parked cars and tents. Oh, yah, there was also apparently a school outing because we saw about 50 school-age kids with tents not too far from our campsite. Mike reversed out of that dead-end, we turned around and then made the only rational decision and bailed on the campground.
While exploring our next move, we discovered a KOA just up the street. It had large trees to provide shade, full hook-ups and, very important, availability for that night. We even got a pull-through site. It was the perfect place for us and we both took a deep, satisfied breath. That night, while sitting in our comfortable trailer with the AC on, I looked out the window and saw the shadow of a large fire. Mike went to check it out, and a camper apparently lost control of a fire but it was quickly resolved. The wind had picked up and it was the beginning of a really cool desert lightning storm.
Some places on this trip are more scenic for running than others. My run on Sunday morning was not in one of the good places. It was hot, dry, had barking dogs and views of old tires pinpricking the desert. But I also got a selfie with the large Calico Ghost Town sign, so it wasn’t all bad.
We knew it’d be another long drive to the Mather Campground at the Grand Canyon, and it was. We stopped at the Grand Canyon Brewery in Williams, AZ for dinner and didn’t get to our campsite until just after dark. The campground has nice, large sites sitting in the woods with cacti, the largest ravens we’ve ever seen, and the Grand Canyon just a short drive away. It’s great!
We headed to the Visitors’ Center and the Rim Trail the next morning. Iris was doing much better so we decided to walk the Rim Trail for a bit. We probably walked too long because she started sweeping/dragging her hind feet. It was so bad that she got a ride back to the truck. I think she appreciated the lift.
I had been having on-and-off low back pain (probably from lifting the dog) throughout our trip but thought I was on the mend. That morning, for the first time, I felt sciatica pain so I did some stretching exercises. Bad idea; they intensified the pain.
So, we are changing plans again. Instead of going further east, we’re going to take it day-by-day and explore Arizona and either Nevada or head into southern Utah. We’ll slowly start heading back towards Oregon but seeing sites on the way. Who knows where the road will lead?
Our next adventure was to visit the very nice medical center in the park, where I was prescribed muscle relaxers. It didn’t work, nor did the large dose of ibuprofen. Yesterday afternoon and last night were the worst. This morning, we visited the medical center again to try to get stronger pain relief. There was a different doctor who couldn’t have been more different than the one I saw yesterday. Instead of discussing strengthening and back exercises, this doctor had had the same type of injury in the past and understand how painful it could be. He gave me a shot in the butt of a strong anti-inflammatory for temporary relief - it was wonderful! - and prescriptions for Prednisone and Hydrocodone (to take if necessary). I don’t like taking a bunch of medication if I don’t have to but, after last night, I’m very thankful to have the option.
