Tacopa Hot Springs

Feb.26 We traveled with Larry and Lori from Quartzsite Arizona to Blyth CA.and headed north to Death Valley. Our trip took us through the Mojave Desert where we passed several dry lakes. As the lakes evaporated from the desert heat they left a thick carpet of salt that stretches for miles and miles across the desert floor. From a distance the salt on the old lake beds looks like snow and must have fooled the early travelers as they passed through on their wagons.

We camped at a RV park on the shores of a dry lake bed in a place called Tecopa Hot Springs, that turned out to be most peculiar.

When we arrived at our campsite there was a drizzle of rain falling that mixed with the salt on the ground, resulting in a slurry of salty mud covering the area where we were parked.
No big deal, because after all, there was a Hot Spring and the idea of a warm mineral soak was definitely appealing. What? Wait! you're kidding, we have to be nude to get into the water and the men and women are segregated to different areas. Now as much as I like and enjoy my brother-in-law's company the thought of sitting nude with him in a hot spring was a little too much for me and I'm sure he felt the same way.

No big deal, there was still the restaurant on the premise and after a long day's travel we were all hungry. So, full of good cheer and anticipating a great meal we set off to the Bistro. As we entered the front door the interior was dark and dingy with the only light being a small candle in the centre of each table. Still optimistic we asked for menus and a flashlight so we could see to order our food. Now, if there was ever a menu specifically designed to make hungry customers flee in sheer terror this was the one. There was absolutely nothing palatable to eat on the entire menu. We all glanced at each other, got up in unison, and left the restaurant. There was something decidedly off kilter about this whole place and it would be a perfect setting for a Stephen King novel.