RSVP & Adv. Payment are REQUIRED (10/1 at Noon is the deadline to cancel for a full refund.) Saturday, Oct. 9 thru Monday, Oct. 11 (Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day/Leif Erickson Day W/E) Tecopa Hot Springs Soak & Death Valley Trip
Have you ever soaked, showered, etc in water that feels as smooth as silk? Well, you literally can do this in Tecopa, CA & neighboring Shoshone, CA!
And yes, this may be one of the farthest trips we've planned, but it's well worth the drive!
Did we mention that the waters here have been proven to have curative properties for various aches & pains?
And since it is a good drive, we seriously suggests making this a 2 night/3 day trip, so we can get the most out of it all! (Which means leave for Tecopa early Sat. & return Mon., if at all possible. If you can't take off for 3 days, let us know when you can attend.)
Not only can you bathe in the very smooth waters of the natural hot springs in the area, but this trip will be a chance to have a lot of space to hike (nude if you want if you're on BLM (national) land, which is most of Tecopa... You just have to be at least 1 mile from any road or building), and/or see the sights of a real, old-west ghost town, visit and sample the goodies at a date ranch (grows all but 3-4 of the world's types of dates - doesn't get cold enough there for a few!), see the Death Valley museum, and more!
Unfortunately, only our room/cabin, the hot spring pools, and hiking, as well as perhaps some of the drive out there are clothing-optional... The rest do, unfortunately, need clothing. (It should be noted that the hot spring pools REQUIRE NUDITY, and the showers are in the hot spring pool enclosures, so do expect to be nude around the other guys at this event at least at some point.) :)
* IF WE ARE AT Delight's Hot Springs Resort, which we'll use if we have over 4 guys for sure: They have decent size cabins (sleeps up to 6) for several guys to spend the night, as well as having 4 private hot spring pools, which have open air enclosures - no roofs, just netting - and may offer a chance for stargazing or catching some sun while soaking! -Their pools also feature showers within each. (And I guess that means you can have an "AHP" anytime inside our room(s) or the pool areas, since they are private, as long as those with you do not object.)
* IF WE ARE AT Tecopa Hot Springs Campground's "glamping" motel rooms: We'll have room for up to 4 guys here, and we would like to stay here for a change, so we can use the communal, men-only, nude-mandatory hot spring pools. These are next to open-air pools, like the above, however I believe the 1 changing room is open to the sky, which would give a view of the Southern sky, at least, at night. (The only true privacy here would be to walk/hike a bit away or in the room, so feel free to take a walk or remain in or return to the room if you need privacy.)
Those attending may bring games to pass the time... Or if someone has a TV & DVD player they want to bring we can run movies or whatever back in the room.
(On that note, there's no local reception of TV, radio, or even cell phones out there, which is a nice get away from it all trip, unless you have to stay in contact... There are land line phones, and WiFi is available. ONLY SATELLITE TV, radio, & phones work in the area. It is possible that Verizon or AT&T has service in the area, however we were unable to verify this on our prior trips.)
We suggest bringing your own beach-size towel, as well as sunblock, sunglasses, and/or a hat for any daytime outdoor time. You will also need to bring your own water & other beverages. (The water in Tecopa & Shoshone is not safe to drink - it contains very high levels of Arsenic, Lead, & Fluoride, as well as a cocktail of other metals & minerals. You can buy bottled water & ice nearby, but it's not cheap.)
We are looking for someone to drive their vehicle out there & back, and you may have the option of allowing someone else to drive part of the time, should you desire. Estimated driving time from Western O.C. is about 4-5 hours, one way, and we recommend stopping for 15-20 min. at least once on the way, or perhaps 10-15 min. twice, so everyone can stretch their legs and whatever. (One good stop is at an In-n-Out Burger just off the freeway in Barstow or if you need food sooner, in Hesperia or Victorville. There's also a CiCi's Pizza [$5+ buffet] off the 91 not too far East of the 15 in Corona, or Golden Corral in Hesperia.)
We plan to buy groceries as a group & dine in our cabin to keep costs down, and a share of that, plus a share of the cabin, & gas for the trip is expected in advance in full.
If you're not riding with our main car pool, naturally you're on your own for gas, but the remainder of any shared expenses will still be due in advance.
***The trip is currently estimated at a cost of $130-$210 with a share of food (or $30 less if you buy or bring your own food), or possibly a little bit higher, depending on prices of gas, food, & rooms. (Cost is dependent on number going per car, it’s MPG, current cost of gas and any possible increases in the cost of food, as well as the number of guys staying in each room or cabin - they have some that can sleep 6 easily.) –This cost can only be finalized any further once we have MPG figures from a driver and know relatively certain how many want to make the trip. (FYI, the cost of Delight's rooms have gone up since our last trip in early 2017.)
***We will announce a deposit/estimated cost for the trip, which will be required at least 5 days before the event if you want to attend with us (depending on how paid). Currently, we expect this to be around $165, with any expected overages due upon arrival at the event and any remaining funds will be refunded within 1 week of the event. (It takes 48 hours to process after our return, plus an add'l. 2-4 bus. days for the service you paid via to process the refund or for our bank to issue a check.)
An advance deposit/pre-payment is required to attend this event. We will not accept payments on the trip except for cash for extra expenses to be paid by all.
(Should we stop at a restaurant or other place with expenses of any kind, you are liable for 100% of your own bill, to be paid directly by you - individual checks/receipts.)
