Day 11
We packed up camp fairly early and drove to the Imperial Sand Dunes. This is featured in Star Wars... you know the big desert they walk through..... all the dunes. :) I know, I'm a geek. Anyway, we talked about movement of the dunes, where all the sand came from, as well as had a jumping contest. It was fun. We all had sand where sand does not belong. But it was just fun. We then drove and stopped along the New River, to talk more about California Water Issues, then moved on to the Saltan Sea. The Saltan Sea is a very sad story. We got off the bus and it just stunk! We walked out onto the beach and looked down. It wasn't sand. It was all just barnacles. There were dead fish along the shore. Of course we have a lecture here for about 30 minutes. Apparently there is a big restoration going on for the lake. I really hope so. So much I could say about all the damage done to this lake, but I won't go on too much on it right now. I will have my say on it in my paper. After the Saltan Sea, we stopped at a pumping station, this is a station that through pipes, pumps water OVER the mountains to California. Since there is such a shortage of water in California, they go through great expense to gather it from other states, and this is an example. Due to security, we couldn't get too close, but we managed to have a lecture roadside and see them in the distance. It's just unreal. that night we camped in Palm Springs in a Campground that was like an Oasis (it had showers!!). Just kidding, it had an amazing pool area, lots of animals, like 6 hot tubs, saunas, laundry. It was a really neat and gorgeous place.
Pic #1 - Saltan Sea
Pic #2 - Palm Springs Pool Area
Pic #3 - Sunset at Campground