Discovered

Where do I begin? Destination: Imperial Valley, in the middle of nowhere at the bottom right edge of California. It began as self-discovery, choosing the least likely of places to visit. I remember hearing about Imperial Valley from family and had no idea where that was even at. So, it began. I take the three-hour journey to find some solace in a place reminiscent of the Old West. I need something different from Orange County. A change of scenery and a change of pace. So far, this is my second year of this journey to unexplored land. A journey where I am discovering myself. Land that might as well be hundreds of miles away. Here I can be myself. I call it unexplored because I have discovered new places that I had no idea about. As the saying goes, “it’s about the journey, not the destination.” I use traveling to the “Valley,” as the locals call it, as an excuse to explore along the journey.

What have I discovered and experienced? A town called Boulevard, CA with a friendly lady who makes chocolate by hand. Being chased down by Border Patrol after stopping on side of road to answer my cell phone. Little did I know that Mexico was a hop and a skip away in the town Jacumba. And then there is the young man at the motel front desk who is darn good at research. While finding out more about the place I lodge in the Valley, turns out a famous Los Angeles architect designed the airport terminal nearby. Pretty cool for a town in middle of nowhere. I determined that I can live in 118-degree weather during the summer. It is a bright idea to test my sleeping bag even though label says for freezing weather because it may not work when I am actually in freezing weather. I found out the hard way, and so I left at 5:30am from camping in Julian after freezing most of the night in mid-30-degree weather. While leaving early that morning, I saw a family of deer at the front gate. What excitement! And later on, that morning, a coyote and I made eye to eye contact in middle of desert. My lesson learned from freezing, I ordered on Amazon - wool base layers, a new sleeping bag with good reviews, and better insulating gloves. Another visit even led me to finding what I think was gold, but left it behind (I like to think it’s gold, makes for a better story).

I have seen some of the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises. No need to travel to exotic places in an airplane to faraway lands. A sweet surprise came one day when I took a quick exit on Sunrise Highway and discovered Mt. Laguna, a hidden gem. I even somehow came across a rusty bedframe that made its way on the side of the Pacific Crest Trail (I have no idea how). I have traveled down the DeAnza scenic route which my ancestors were part of from the DeAnza expedition. I found out turkeys can be aggressive. I have camped on campsites with mountain lion footprints everywhere and ironically, was not scared. I worked through my fears. I have seen stars in all their glory more times than I can count than I would ever see in Orange County. I even touched snow on Christmas Day along the 8 freeway near Golden Acorn Casino, my to go spot for gas, inexpensive breakfast, free coffee and cheap Mexican falsa blankets at $9 a pop in an assortment of colors. On my way back home, Flinn Springs County is my to go place to rejuvenate before I head back into the rat race. I walk or hike and contemplate life.

Or for a real treat, I take highway 94 near Tecate, Mexico to wonder through the backend of California, through the mountains and spilling into San Diego. I even checked out Campo and took the train tour that stops right at the entrance of Mexico and saw Border Patrol running around. And if you are feeling risqué, you can even check out the clothing optional resort nearby off Kumeyaay Highway. Did you know part of the 8 freeway, known as Kumeyaay Highway is built over the original Kumeyaay trail when the native tribe traveled between the winter and summer? Well, now you know. My favorite one though is the first night I decided to do something different in life, and drive to the “Valley.” It was pitch black as I drove through the 8 freeway pass about two hours away from Orange County. I saw it. This beautiful lightning storm in the distance, most likely in Arizona. I have also seen the most beautiful red moons, a few shooting stars, the Milky Way, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus, and satellites. I have even had company with me while camping at night, a small round desert mouse (which at first scared the heck out of me). I have heard scary animal sounds outside my tent, but I am still alive as I am here writing this on a Wednesday evening. I realized I don’t need much to live. I like both Julian apple pie and the Julian bookstore with the retired science teacher.

I have even ventured out of the “Valley” to Yuma, Arizona. There I met the guy at Bandanna Bookstore, the owner I presume, who I struck good conversation with while I inhaled his cigarette smoke and choked a bit (only in Arizona, I am so Californian). He said I must be the only person in California who reads. That’s what Arizonians think of us. A Yelp review even says, “this place is not for the prissy or faint of heart.” That about sums up Bandanna Books. Also, fun fact, there are two California missions in San Diego backcountry that are relatively unknown. I even did some off roading in my little Mazda 2 when I accidentally turned onto a real street that was all dirt in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. Hey, my iPhone map told me to make a turn there. Adventurous! My poor little car rattled but made it through. Oh yes, I am a fan of Airbnb which brought me to the house with a few teepees and chickens walking around in Barbara and Randy’s yard. I haven’t stayed in the teepee yet nor eaten the fresh eggs, but on my bucket list. That’s another one of my to go spots when I am too weary to drive straight through to the Valley and decide to stay in San Diego County (there is more to San Diego than Downtown). Randy is the real-life Indiana Jones (or so he thinks in a delightful way) and his wife a sweetheart.

The best thing, though, is I bring these experiences back home to Orange County, my home base, to serve as inspiration in my community. I am even writing a book that my adventures inspired. I tell my coworkers about my adventures, and I see the spark in their eyes. It’s a desire that touches their hearts deep inside – the human need to explore. Some ask, “aren’t you scared.” I say, “of what?”

By Lena Bauchet

Yellow blooms

Somewhere in middle of desert

Pink blooms

Mount Laguna / Pacific Crest Trail