| By: Paul S. Cilwa | Viewed: 5/3/2024 Occurred: 1/2/2024 |
Page Views: 247 | |
| Topics: #Autobiography #ElDoradoHotSpring #Tonopah | |||
| My new New Year's tradition: getting in hot water. | |||
Back before my walking issues began, my New Year's Eve and Day tradition was simple. No drinking (because I hate the taste as well as the aftereffects) on Eve, and a wilderness hike on Day. However, hiking is a bit past my ability for the time being. So car camping and soaking at the nearest hot spring seems like a good alternative.
I decided that this truck would be a good omen. I mean…we do, right? (Bonus points for the license plate!)
From Gilbert, I can take the 202 Loop all the way to I-10, well past Phoenix metro.
Approaching the Tonopah exit.
There's Saddle Mountain, which lies just to the West of the hot spring.
I asked for, and got, the Pale Verde campsite. It's near enough to the Desert Pete public area that I can walk there without a cane.
El Dorado is now home to an ostentation of peacocks. Most of them are actually peahens of course. But there is a very enthusiastic male desperately trying to get a females attention.
My campsite also provides nice sunset views.
The Tesla displays this cute graphic when it's put into Camp
Mode
. In this mode, the heater and stereo continue to work all
night, even without a body in the driver's seat. (The screen turns
off after a bit.)
I don't know what this thing is, A sundial? Whatever it is, it's dressed up for the holidays.
I awoke craving a McDonald's Bacon, Egg and Cheese McGriddle. The nearest McDonald's is 18 miles away in Buckeye. But the sunrise drive was exquisite.
This is the Palo Verde Generating Station. It is the largest nuclear power plant in the U.S. by net generation and the second largest by rated capacity. It consists of three pressurized water reactors that were commissioned between 1986 and 1988. The plumes, of course, are pure (and non-radioactive) water vapor.
So, back at the hot spring, I spotted this gorgeous white peacock. It is not an albino; its eyes aren't pink. It is most likely a leucistic peacock, which is a result of a genetic mutation that causes loss of pigmentation in the feathers, but not in the skin or eyes. Leucistic peacocks are very rare and only occur in the Indian peafowl species.
The spring is also home to Guinea hens. Although they would not be interested in dating a peacock, the peacock is still holding out hope.
Lady peacocks (peahens), like most birds, leave the flashy outfits to the boys.
I am still blown away by how sensitive phone cameras are these days. This is moonlight! And several days past the full moon, at that.
