Dolmen Project (Year Twelve) Confessions of a “Guerilla Artist”: Another Roadside Attraction with Rattlesnakes and Aliens

Vaughn Desert Tower

Day 11 (3/29/12)

After spending a relaxing day on Weds trying out the local fair it is time to head it on back to San Diego. Our intention was to set out early but everyone knows what happens to the best intentions. Finally, after noon we say our goodbyes and hit the road. It is another beautiful Arizona/Southern California day. We make our way back west down Highway 8 through the dunes across the desert and finally start up the mountains. We have made this trip several times before but I am always impressed with the dunes and the mountains which look more like piles of stones. The last time we stopped and played in the dunes so we decided this time we would try the mountains. We started looking for a place to pull over and take some pictures when we came across a sign for the Vaughn Desert Tower and Springs. This was exactly what we were looking for so we turned off and headed towards Jacumba and the tower. Less than a mile down the road we found the tower. After finding an employee and buying our ticket we were off to explore. We climbed the tower and the view was breathtaking. In the distance you could still see the dunes of Yuma which had to be close to a hundred miles away. After soaking in the scenery we decided it was time to soak up the springs. We started up the trail which was well marked by old painted saw blades marking the way. Along the way through the stones we confronted all types of animals carved out of the raw stone. After finally making our way to the top of the peak we realize that the joke is on us. There in front of us is a collection of old steel springs. It was right about that time that Eileen saw a rattlesnake slithering across the trail. I tried to get a good picture of it but it just would not sit still. When we told an employee about it he said the good news is that they are one of the least aggressive rattlesnakes, the bad news is that they are one of the most venomous. We watch the trail much more carefully back down the mountain. After leaving the tower we are confronted by a bunch of aliens but they too were not very aggressive, must be a desert thing. We continued our way back to San Diego and much cooler temperatures.