Road Moments III- Weird and Frightening

Craziness and Cowardice in the Desert

Recently I read a story, in High Country News, about a campground in Colorado that was overrun by gun "enthusiasts".  It sounded pretty bad and reminded me of a trip I took to Mojave a year or so ago. 

I was camped in the site you see above at Hole-in-the-Wall campground. It was quiet and calm and fairly private. One late afternoon, while entering the trailer, I grabbed a small exterior  handle to hoist myself inside and didn't see that a bee had decided to latch on to the back of handle.  I felt a burning sensation and then - DAMMIT! I'd been stung.  I saw the poor dying bee, sticking to the side of my hand, but felt little sympathy for the SOB.  I went to the first aid kit and got the tweezers, pulled the stinger out of the side of my hand but it immediately started swelling.  I took three aspirin, ate a pain filled dinner and iced up my hand. 

At about 8:30 that night I decided I'd better turn in but, wimp that I am, my hand was hurting and continuing to swell and I couldn't fall asleep.  I read and listened to the radio and finally, I'm guessing around 11:00 fell asleep.

At around midnight I awoke to a light, bright as day, shining in my trailer.  I then heard the gunning of engines and went to open the door and my campsite was bathed in light from some jerk's spotlight that he had mounted on his Jeep.  I was pissed.  I decided to get dressed and have a word with my new neighbor.  As I was getting my pants on I heard several more vehicles drive around the campground and started to get a little nervous.  Still, I was mad and with adrenaline kicking in decided to confront these morons.  

Charging out of my trailer I heard the "Pop-pop-pop" of gunfire.  I stopped.  Directly across from my campsite there were four or five men armed with rifles and shooting at something in the vast darkness. 

​OK - new plan.

I high-tailed it back to the trailer and locked the door (which I never do) and looked for my bear spray and machete.  Yeah, that's me...I bring bear spray and jungle clearing implements to a gunfight.

The gunfire, now sporadic and accompanied by loud, drunken shouting continued for probably 20 minutes. I decided, at that very instant, to become a pacifist and not confront these "people". I tried to go back to sleep and the throbbing in my hand really kicked in (from the adrenaline kick I'd guess).  I had the persistent  thought that I might have to go to the emergency room, an hour away in Needles, if the swelling continued.  After awhile the gunfire stopped completely although my campsite was still lit up like Fifth Avenue and 45th street.  Around 3:30 or 4:00 AM, I eventually fell asleep. 

I woke up the next morning to the racing of engines and more loud voices.  I looked out the window and there were probably 6 or 7 Jeeps and maybe a dozen guys  packing them up.  I made coffee, fretted a bit about my hand, and stepped out into the sunlight.  I heard these guys talking and discussing their plans for the day.  They were talking about a route on the old Mojave Road.  As they got ready to leave one guy, with a minor conscience, I suppose, walked over and said, "I'd tell ya I was sorry about the noise last night but we're all retired cops and we don't apologize- hahaha".  I didn't say a word.  I did give him a bad ass glare, however. 

They were gone within 30 minutes.  I jumped into my truck and drove to the nearest Ranger Station to report these community pillars. 

It was closed and locked. 

​My hand got better. 

America, 2016.