Arroyo Salado Primitive Campground, as the name implies, is a primitive campground. There are vaulted toilets, but any other convenience is up to you to bring. There is one thing that Arroyo Salado does have over other, more developed campgrounds in Anza-Borrego: an amazing view.
After big horn sheep, our second greatest interest is in hiking a slot canyon. Along with being on our way, Palm Slot Canyon is accessed by a rough road that requires 4-wheel-drive, which scratched our overlanding itch. Though, our eagerness to tackle such a challenge may have gotten us in trouble.
Sometimes, someone may set their keys on the drivers seat while they put on a jacket. Sometimes, another someone may lock the car, ready to begin a hike.
Like all road trippers, we have a long, long list of places that we "meant to visit" but never quite made it in the past. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park was one of those places for us for several years. I have a feeling that the anticipation will not leave us underwhelmed.
We arrive at this the Culp Valley Primitive Campground late at night. The sun set hours ago and the only light comes from a few dispersed campers already in position and a faint glow from the city's light pollution across the mountains. As with many primitive camping sites, there isn't a lot of signage to indicate where to go. After a bit of fumbling about, though, we managed to back into a little nook and settle in for the night.
After spending all day wandering around Morro Bay, we have little time to travel to a campsite before dark. Fortunately, Montaña de Oro State Park is only six miles south of Morro Bay.
It is about lunch time as we approach Morro Bay. Without any particular plans for the day, we agree to pause for lunch by the water. Yet, it doesn't take too long for us to discover that we will be staying for a lot more than just a meal.
If you close your eyes and listen, you might think you are in the echoing halls of a labyrinthine restroom as the entire population of a broken cruse ship strive to handle food-poisoning. Yet, the sound of moist flatulence is actually coming from a different orifice and species.⠀
So, we've been raving about Big Sur a bit. But here is the down side: rock slides. I'm sure you've heard plenty about them. The slide between Mud Creek and Salmon Creek Station is expected to close that portion of Highway 1 through 2018. That means no through-routes of Highway 1. For trailers and other large rigs, that means Highway 1 is an in-out trip starting in Northern California. But we have a truck camper and are taking the Nacimiento-Fergusson Road.⠀
We are done wandering in eastern and central California. It's time to go to the coast. It's time to head to Big Sur and Highway 1.