Fire In The Desert - Opal Hill Mine

The Opal Hill Mine, located about 15 miles west of the Arizona border and just south of the 10 freeway, is quite the hidden gem. Owned and operated by Howard and Nancy Hill is one of the only places that the public can dig for the rare and beautiful gemstones called “Fire Agate.”

About a 4 hour drive from our home in Santa Monica, the mine was easy to find, but a bit tough to get to. After exiting the freeway onto the dirt road leading out into the rolling hills of the desert, we soon began to question our navigation skills as everything around us looked the same. “Were we lost?” After passing by the entrance to the palm tree lined, state prison, the road became bumpier and with all of the forks and trails…we eagerly anticipated seeing the sign for the mine. After about 20 minutes of dirt road we finally saw the small, yet distinctive sign for the Opal Hill Mine. Off to the left we went. Excited to get to the mine and set up our camp, we did not mind the rough road we had turned onto. After about 10 minutes we realized how rough the road really was. Rocks, bumps, hills, dips, all sand and loose rock. It was a good thing we had 4 wheel drive…otherwise we may have had to do all of our digging right there in the road. The last ¼ mile reminded me of the story of The Little Engine That Could. I think I heard the car whispering, “I think I can, I think I can.”

We passed a few more small signs for the mine, letting us know that we were in fact going the right way and then, after scaling another steep hill, we were at the entrance to the mining area. The sign, out house and old trailer were all of the indicators that we needed. We proceeded up the winding driveway to the parking area and turned off the engine.

We got out of the car, stretched out legs and walked over to where we saw two people huddled over a small hole in the ground near the entrance to the digging area. As we approached, I asked if they were Nancy and Howard, then we introduced ourselves.

We spent the next 20 minutes or so watching and admiring the new find that Nancy and Howard had uncovered. After Nancy and Howard showed us the crystal formations they were uncovering and how they were extracting them, they indicated to us that we could set up our campsite about 30 yards away on a flat landing on the hillside.

The view from our camping location was great. We had a nice view of the mining area, the surrounding hillsides and the desert floor all the way to the town of Blythe (9 miles away.) After getting our site set up, we walked back down to where Nancy and Howard were digging. They continued to show us what to look for, how to dig and most of all…how to find the Fire Agate that we came to find.

As the sun was setting over the hills, we were both shown to a few spots in the mine that were speckled with the fiery gem. The Hills equipped us with hammers, chisels, buckets and brushes and sat by our sides, offering helpful guidance, while we got a start to the digging process. After spending an hour or so chipping rock away from our finds and getting to know these incredibly friendly mine owners, we headed back up the hillside to our site and the warmth of the fire that we had started.

Our first night camping at the mine was great for the most part. The weather was nice, a bit windy, but comfortable. The one downside was the terrain. If you plan on tent camping at the Opal Hill Mine…Bring a cot, an air mattress or egg crate…the ground is hard and is all sharp rocks. I have to say that I tossed and turned most of the night and waking up with Swiss Cheese-like holes in my legs, hips and ribs did not make for a good morning. Camping at the mine is free, which is nice for those of us that are early birds. You can wake up, have a cup of coffee and start digging. There is also a port-a-potty on site that remains remarkably clean.

We dug for Fire agates and Quartz crystal formations from about 8AM until after sunset that day and I can tell you that if I thought that the sleeping situation made me sore, I was dreading how I was going to feel the next morning. The digging was hard work. Hunching over and swinging the 3 to 4 pound sledge all day in the hot desert sun was exhausting. See Mariah’s in-depth article about the gems and digging.

That night we laid out all of our finds to examine what we had found and spent the next hour or so sifting through our pile for the handful of jewelry quality pieces that we had collected. According to Nancy Hill and several other mine patrons, we had, indeed, found some very nice specimens. Additionally, Petrified Wood , Apatite, Barite, Calcite, Clinoptilolite, Flourite, and Gypsum are also found at Opal Hill Mine.

The next morning, we decided to pack it up and head out. After getting our site packed up, we went back down to the digging area for one last look around and picked up a few little pieces from the tailings area. We said good bye to the others who had started the digging for the day and proceeded to navigate the windy road out of the mine.

Digging at the Opal hill mine costs $25 per day for anyone 16 and older. Children can dig for free with a paying adult. There is NO water, ice, food or drinks available onsite and all trash must be packed out with you when you leave. Bring plenty of food and lots of water. As far as supplies go, you will at least need to bring a 3 pound sledge hammer, a large rock chisel, a smaller chisel, a brush, a water spray bottle and a 5 gallon bucket. There are supplies there that you can borrow, but depending on how many other people are there, you might want to have your own.

There is no limit on how much you can take from the mine for your $25 per day. All in all we had a great time. We loved Nancy and Howard and the rest of the folks digging were a fun and interesting bunch to dig with. If you ever have the opportunity to get out there, make sure to give Nancy a call (760) 854-3000 and stop by the mine for your chance to uncover your own fiery gemstones. It is well worth the trip.

Directions to the mine:
From Interstate 10, take Wiley Well Exit and head south on the graded dirt road for 17 miles. You will see a sign for Opal Hill Mine on the left side of the road. Go left here and travel east for a few miles on a rough dirt road. A high clearance vehicle is needed to navigate on the last dirt road to the mine.
Yahoo Maps

Head To The Hills – Chino Hills State Park

Tucked away, in between the hustle and bustle of Anaheim and Ontario we found one of LA’s hidden gems. Chino Hills State park is an immense park boasting more than 14,000 acres of nature stretching nearly 31 miles. Chino Hills State Park is one of the most well-maintained, low-key, yet easy to get to state parks that I have been to in Southern California. We found this massive park on a fluke. We were driving by and saw a sign so we decided to check it out. Located minutes from the 71 freeway, we were shocked at what we found there. Not only was the 2 mile drive along the dirt road easy, but it was an instant transformation. It was like walking through a door from the noise and pollution of LA to rolling hills of Montana. We were so impressed that we instantly decided to stay the night.

The campground (Rolling M Ranch and Campground) at the park is small, about 20 sites around one loop. For the most part the sites were all pretty good. They were spacious, had great views of the blossoming hillsides, equipped with fire pits, tables & grills. We drove the loop once to choose our spot for the night and decided on site #9, which was on the upper part of the loop, looking out over the “valley” and bordered along the back by high grass and a colorful palate of wildflowers.

Once parked, we began our site set up, much easier with just the two of us (we are now down to just over 5 minutes.) With our tent, chairs, cooking area, cooler and everything else in place we took a stroll to check out the bathrooms and see how they measured up. The bathroom building was immaculate! There were several flush toilets and two free hot showers.

As there was only one other site being occupied this night, we decided to have a nice relaxing dinner and just sit back and relax by the fire. We still had about 2 hours before the sun went down so we explored a bit, picked flowers and just sat, listened and exchanged our thoughts on how nice it was there.

Just before sunset, it started to get a bit chilly so we layered up and threw another few logs on the fire. The campsites are very open, no shade or shelter from the elements there. The wind coming through the hills was “COLD.” Once we got jackets on and positioned in the right spot by the fire, we sat back and could hear the wildflowers and the tall grass behind us swaying in the wind. Not something that we heard too often in LA. A bit later we heard the infamous call of the coyote. Not one or two…my guess would be closer to a dozen. They seemed to get pretty close. It was kind of cool as it just made me feel more and more like we were way out in some rural forest.

The chatter between the coyotes lasted about an hour before they moved on to another area. The stars were out in force, the air crisp and cold and the fire was now a low flicker, so we prepared the site for the night and crawled into our tent. Thankfully the ground, although it was mostly dirt, was not too hard. We just got back from several days in the rocky desert and I don’t think my ribs and hips could take another beating.

All in all I would say that this campground would fall into my top five in the area. Please note that there is not much to do there for children unless they like to hike and explore trails. There are more than 60 miles of hiking trails within the park and plenty of hillsides to play on, but no playgrounds, swimming or organized activities.

Yahoo! Map of Campground area

About the campground:
# of sites – 20
Tenting vs. RV – TENT ONLY - NO RVS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bathrooms – 4
Showers – Free (hot)
Water – Spigots scattered around campground
Electric – No
Convenience Store – No
BOA Recommended sites – 8, 9, 10

Freelance Sportfishing At Davey’s Locker

Pulling up to Davey’s Locker, in Newport Beach, at 5:15AM, I was pretty excited…tired but excited. Excited, that I made the hour and ten minute drive, on 3 hours’ sleep, in the pouring rain and gusty winds alive. This was my first trip of the season, so I was not going to turn back just because I was tired and the weather was bad.

After everyone checked in and boarded the boat, we began making our way out of the harbor at a little bit after 6AM. This was soon after Capitan Norris Tapp made the call that the current weather was not going to stop the trip. The majority of the 20 other anglers aboard started mulling about, some getting their gear ready, some honing in on the coffee pot and finding a comfortable seat in the spacious galley (as I did.)

I have to say that the first hour or so was pretty rough. The sturdy, steel, boat was seemingly being toyed with by the sea, but Capitan Norris remained on course. After about an hour or so the weather “laid down,” the sun came out and everyone on deck had a great view of our destination for the day, Catalina. It took us about 3 hours to get there, but once we did, the weather was great and fishing seemed hopeful.

Our goal for the day was to fish for Calico Bass. After speaking with a few of the squid boats in the area, Capitan Norris told us that there had been talk of some nice White Sea Bass in the area and that we were going to see if we could land a few. The Capitan and his crew, Chuck and Chad (who have been working the Freelance off and on since 1985) instructed and assisted everyone with getting their gear set up to catch White Sea Bass. I was using 15 Lb test line with a 1 1/5 ounce sliding sinker and a # 2 hook. It was a basic set up. Chuck and Chad began scooping live squid into the bait wells and cutting strips of some dead squid.

At the first sign of the engine slowing, everyone aboard scampered about to grab their rods and find “Their” spot on the rail. Capitan Norris then stopped the boat and announced that he had a nice amount of White Sea Bass on the sonar. Chad dropped the anchor and once the boat was in place we all “let ‘em go.” It was about 9:30AM and everyone had their lines in the water. Some people were fishing with whole, live squid, some with strips, and others with jigs and plastic lures.

The anglers aboard seemed to be the usual mix of guys. There were a few guys visiting from out of state, a few boat regulars, Ronnie (of TV’s Fishing Expeditions - the local celebrity,) a father and son team and a family of four (2 sons, father and uncle.) Oh, I can’t forget to mention the Capitan’s trusty dog, “Snoozer” who made his rounds making sure that everyone was happy and then made his way back to a comfortable spot for a nap.

There were a few early catches, most of them too small to keep. We all continued throwing our lines out, changing up the bait and trying different tactics. The Capitan came back on the PA and announced that he was going to readjust and try another close by area. We all reeled in our line as we headed about ten minutes east along the south side of the island. Once again, the boat came to a halt and Norris and his crew quickly positioned the boat and told us to “go get ‘em.” It was not long before I started feeling some good bites at my bait. All of the sudden I felt “The Bite” and the tip of my pole bent. After ensuring that I had set the hook, I kept the tip of my pole as high as I could. Chuck rushed over to me and confirmed that I had a good “Fish On!” Chuck and Chad did a great job in clearing the way for me as I struggled my way, back and forth, around the back of the boat. At first it was just a tug of war. The fish would run and then I would reel in. Then, out of no where, I felt my line give. I knew that I had lost a nice sized fish. I was quite bummed as I began to reel in my line. Then my line started racing out again. I guess that the fish had just shot up toward the surface, which made it seem like I had lost it. After about ten minutes we could see glimpses of the fish. Chuck yelled up to the Capitan, “Color! White Sea Bass!” Quickly, Chad and Chuck were glued to each side of me, each with a gaff in their hands. As soon as the fish hit the surface Chad extended his gaff with precision and hauled my 20 pound White Sea Bass onto the boat. This catch seemed to revitalize the rest of the anglers. We all knew that they were out there and everyone wanted a taste of the action.

I have to say that Capitan Norris Tapp was far from a lazy Capitan. He did not waste any time in deciding when to reposition the boat or move to a new location. The “Tapp Attack!” He genuinely seemed to know the waters, know the fish and take pride in doing everything he could to ensure that everyone on board had a chance to land fish. Norris, fishing since the age of 3 (with his father) has been fishing out of Davey’s Locker since 1982 and has been a main, full-time, Capitan of the Freelance for 17 years now.

Before long I heard it again, “Fish On!” This time it was 14 year old Alex, from Los Angeles, who was there on the boat with his older brother, his father and his uncle. From the look of his rod tip, it looked as though it was another big White Sea Bass. Holding his own, this young angler fought his way around the boat with grand plans on landing this beast. Again, with gaffs in hand, the deck hands, Chuck and Chad skillfully plucked the second big fish from the water and laid it out on the deck for Alex to admire. Alex, who fishes with his family once or twice a moth, claims that this is his biggest fish ever.

By about 2:30PM the catch totals were somewhere in the area of; two 20+ pound White Sea Bass, and a few Calico Bass, Perch and Sheepshead and one small Halibut. The bite laid off and Capitan Norris announced that he was going to the front side of the island, near Avalon, to look for the Calicos. Everyone found a seat, reorganized their gear and set-ups, had a burger and a drink and relaxed a bit before we got to the next spot.

Once we were positioned near Avalon, there was not much action. Capitan Norris skillfully moved the boat from one place to another, looking for the right spot. After a few short fish were reeled in and the sonar looked bleak, we all realized that the Calico’s were just not biting that day. It was around 4PM and we were told that we’d hang in there for another 30 minutes or so to see if anything bit, but then we would head for home.

We motored away from Catalina at 4:40PM. It was time for the jackpot. We all knew that it was going to be close. Alex and I were the two in the running. Chad gathered our fish and put them in the scale……..WOW, was it close. When all was said and done, Alex beat me by about 2 ounces. Chuck and Chad asked Alex and I if we wanted our fish filleted. I told them that I did. Out came their knives! It was almost like being at Benihana’s with them flipping the fish around. A cut here and a slice there and the 20 pound fish was quickly reduced to some nice, grill-ready, fillets. After filleting my catch, Chad cut out the “stones” from the head of the two White Sea Bass and offered them to me and Alex. He told us that they were actually treasured trophies found only in White Sea Bass. He continued to tell us that some people made jewelry from them, some kept and souvenirs and some as good luck charms.

Upon my researching, these “stones” were actually the ear bones of the White Sea Bass. They are called otoliths and have long been considered good luck charms and were used as wampum by early California Indians. Otoliths have been found in Indian middens throughout California and even to this day many fishermen save these large calcareous ear bones for ornamentation and good luck charms.

The ride home was about 3 hours, but it was a smooth, uneventful, (restful for me) trip into the harbor.

If you are in the Newport area or looking for a great open party boat to go out on, I recommend the Freelance. Both the Capitan and the crew are a top notch bunch and I hope to be able to go out with them again soon
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“We really like kids (due to their enthusiasm and desire to learn about fishing) and ladies who come out after determining that sportfishing is fun, wholesome and for everybody,” says Capitan Norris Tapp. “The other Captains on the Freelance and I are concerned about catching whatever type of fish is available...it's all about the passengers catching and learning how to catch fish. “

The Freelance is a 80x24 foot steel sport-fisher which was custom built in Wilmington in 1985 for owner Don Brockman, who was the original Capitan for it’s first 10 years serving anglers of Southern California. The Freelance operates out of Davey’s Locker in Newport Beach CA and offers ¾ day coastal and Catalina trips. There are also 4 other boats that operate out of Davey’s Locker; Western Pride, Tide Change, Caliber and Bongo’s offering anglers everything from ½ day trips to overnights and 6-Pack charters. I can’t wait to get out on those boats – if they operate anything like the Freelance.

For further information and reservations, visit their website at http://www.daveyslocker.com/ or call them at (949) 673-1434.

Jalama’s Beach Camping

Located about an hour north of Santa Barbara (just south of Lompoc,) Jalama Beach is one of the coolest campgrounds that I’ve been to in years. The combination of the great beach, on-site store/café, individual and group sites and its remote location make this a one of a kind camping experience.

Upon heading up the 1 freeway from the 101 (north of Goleta), we quickly realized that we were in the middle of nowhere. It was nice to be completely surrounded by nothing but trees and pastures. Once we got to the turn of for the campground, we spent another 30 minutes driving along the windy country road all the way out to the coast.

Upon arrival we checked in with the ranger and found that there were only 2 sites available for the weekend (99 and 100.) These sites are located up on the hill above the check in booth and would not have been our first choice of spots, but we did have a spectacular view of the beach and ocean as well as a full view of the entire campground.

Jalama is one of the remaining few campgrounds that is still first-come-first-serve so it is recommended that for any stay, during busy times, try to arrive on a Tuesday or Wednesday for your chance to get one of the 12 “on the beach” sites (53-64.) Sites 1-9 and 17-26 are also pretty cool if you are into socializing with your neighbors. They are all lined up next to one another in a grassy area in the middle of the campground. All of the sites that I have mentioned do have enough space for a family to be comfortable, but make sure to bring an EZ-UP or umbrellas for shade as there are not too many trees on site.

The beach is great! There was a huge assortment of people enjoying the water. Everything from surfing, kite-surfing, swimming, body boarding and searching the tide pools for cool rocks and sea creatures. We had a blast at the beach. Running around with our trusty camping dog “Amy” and collecting rocks, seashells, driftwood and fossils of all kinds kept us busy most of the afternoon. One thing that I love about the beach is that the south half is soft sand and the northern section is rock formations and tide pools. No matter what you like to do at the beach….you can do it there. We spent an afternoon just sitting there on the beach letting our dog run wild, watching the schools of dolphins dancing in the surf and taking pictures of the crazy kite-surfers speeding through the water. The crowd at Jalama is a nice change. There were a perfect mix of people – from elderly RVers and parents (with their kids) to college and high school students.

After taking all of the hot sun that we could, we took refuge in the shade at the café. Jalama’s store/café has some of the best burgers that you could ever want. Depending on the time of day, you could end up waiting (as we did) for nearly an hour for the burgers to be done. They get BUSY!!! I would suggest ordering your food and then going back to your site for a cool drink and rid the sand and saltwater from your hair and body. By the time you get back, your food should be ready. The store also offers; groceries, personal care sundries, firewood, fishing bait and tackle, ice, beer and wine and much more.

The campground has a cool grassy picnic area on the north side and an incredible group camping area “C” in the southwest corner. Plus a children’s play area

Basic Info:
There are 98 campsites, all overlooking the ocean or beachfront. Each site has a picnic table and BBQ pit, with hot showers, restrooms and water nearby. 29 sites offer electrical hookups, and dump stations are available. 5 bathrooms and 1 shower building. Campsites are assigned on a first come, first served basis -- one site to one vehicle. Only group areas may be reserved in advance. Keep in mind that summer is their busiest time, and that campsites fill fast. Check-out is 2:00 pm. Campers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Jalama Beach County ParkStar Route, Jalama Road Lompoc, CA 93436Recorded Information (805) 736-6316Group Camping Reservations (805) 934-6211Park Office (805) 736-3504
http://www.sbparks.org/2007/Jalama/jalamabeach.html

Georgia’s Premier Getaway - The Lodge at Smithgall Woods

The drive through the rolling hills and plush forests of northeastern Georgia really set the mood for what we were to find at Smithgall Woods. We spent about an hour in the car navigating through some of the most beautiful woodlands that we’d seen in a long time. It was even necessary for us to stop the car a few times just to get out, breathe in the clean air and take in what seemed to be “the perfect forest.”

Once we arrived at the property, we entered the welcome/visitor center for the 5,600 acre conservation area that is home to the Lodge at Smithgall Woods. Greeted at the desk by a very friendly attendant, who not only got us checked in, but proceeded to inform us about the lodge, its amenities as well as their current conservation efforts. Inside the visitor center we had an opportunity to see and hear about three snakes that were currently being nursed back to health so that they could be freed once again into the surrounding hills.

Once we arrived at the Garden Cottage, we were shown around by one of the friendly staff members, who went above and beyond to go over everything that we would or could want to know about the cabin and surrounding property. The ‘cottage’ was actually more like a state of the art condo, disguised on the outside as a rustic retreat. Inside we found all of the modern day amenities ranging from full kitchen, living room, bedroom, TVs and washer and dryer to a rustic porch spanning the entire front side as well as a 6 person hot tub hidden in a wooded nook along the side of the cabin. Our cabin faced a perfectly formed herb and vegetable garden that Smithgall’s chefs use for their organic meals.

After getting our things settled we went outside to meet up with John Erbele, the property’s General Manager and resident expert on the lodge, the grounds and the history of the area. John was, from the very beginning, a very informative, funny and personable guide and he wasted no time loading us into one of the lodge’s vans to tour us around the property.



The Lodge at Smithgall Woods is made up of 4 cottages (Creekside, Garden, Dover and Laurel) plus the Smithgall (the main lodge). With its total of 14 rooms Smithgall never has more than 28 guests on the property at a time. Surrounded by acres of hemlocks, pines, oaks & rhododendron along with walks along the many hiking trails and exploring the banks of the two pristine trout streams ultimately brings you to a seemingly flawless, ‘fairytale’ piece of the world. Smithgall also has 60 (out of the 100 on the planet) endangered evergreens growing safely on the premises.

As we were on-site on an ‘off’ day and there were no cooks on the property so we decided to make the 5 minute drive to the small town of Helen for dinner and some general exploring. Driving through the town you can’t help but to do a double take. It is as if someone decided that a small woodsy area in the hills of northeastern Georgia would be a good place to replicate a small German village…one that maybe Hansel and Gretel could use as a second home. Filled with shops, restaurants and markets, Helen is a worthwhile stop when visiting the Lodge at Smithgall Woods.


Within the Smithgall Woods Conservation area, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources does a great job of both maintaining the natural look and feel of the forest and landscape, but also strictly enforces their regulations which help to keep the resident wildlife populations intact. It is nice to know that the hunting and fishing regulations will keep these woods full of the deer, wild turkey, bear, rabbit and pristine trout that we witnessed feeding and playing in their safe haven at Smithgall. Dukes creek runs through Smithgall Lodge it is strictly ‘catch and release’ and enforces barbless hooks. The largest trout caught at Smithgall was 29 ½ inches long!

One of 7 lodges operated by Georgia State Parks, The Lodge at Smithgall Woods is by far one to make a point to visit. Make sure to reserve your cottages ahead of time. Prices range from $249 to $399 per night…and is well worth it. Smithgall Lodge is the ultimate destination for corporate retreats, spiritual discovery and a wonderland for nature enthusiasts. Although children are welcome, it is NOT geared towards children; however, they do have children’s educational programs and provide natural resources for youth programs.

For reservations, please contact the lodge at 800-318-5248 or send an email to gretchen_vanderbunt@dnr.state.ga.us
The Lodge at Smithgall Woods State Park 61 Tsalaki Trail Helen, GA 30545 800-318-5248 Lodge Reservations 706-878-3087