In truth, this is about the rare occurrence of a landmark being relocated, and since the April 10, 2010 quake moved all of Calexico 31 inches, it seems like a natural transition….and a way to use a very cool movie stock photo.
July 1993
From Fort Pacheco it’s east on Worthington Road , then south on Highway 86 through El Centro (land of Cher
Highway 111 runs through the heart of Calexico just like it runs through the heart of Palm Springs Colorado Desert has to offer, yet it’s doubtful the entire 129 mile stretch is ever driven as a whole by a single driver.
From the album booklet:
Actually the plaque has been moved sometime since the first visit here 1993 due to the construction of the new Calexico City Hall
It wasn't much of a camp in reality and lasted only a matter of months but it must have been a welcomed sight for the '49er's with their small 6' x 9' wagons after the long haul from Yuma. As the emigrants got closer to Camp Salvation
West Point graduate Cave Johnson Couts moved on to bigger things, married Ysidora Bandini, purchased the San Marcos, Buena Vista, and La Jolla ranchos, and was even known to have hosted Helen Hunt Jackson while she was collecting material for the epic 'Ramona.' He was born near Springfield , Tennessee , November 11, 1821 and died at the Horton House, in San Diego
Plaque Inscription: No. 808 CAMP SALVATION Here, on September 23, 1849, Lieut. Cave J. Couts, Escort Commander, International Boundary Commission, established Camp Salvation
Location: Rockwood Plaza Sixth Street East at Heber Ave, Calexico*
Google maps: 32.670879,-115.49351
67 miles into the trip (not counting travel to the first landmark) and you’re feelin; pretty good. Well, get something to eat here and grab some snacks for this is it for convenient gas, food, and lodging till Yuma
Here’s a link to a video sample of the song:
Fire up the mandocello.
In the summer of '49, we left St. Jo Missouri
Wagons loaded 6 x 9, for the gold fields we'll find surely
The wagon master he did say, "Folks I'd better warn 'ya
It's the Southern route were gonna take, on the trail to California
Chorus -
The heat could melt the devil's heart, cause a drover's blood to boil
I curse the day we made our start, across this sandy soil
Wagon wheels a-turnin' slow, the worst place in creation
We still have 20 (10 etc.) miles to go, to reach old Camp Salvation
Pleasures few and hardships great, on the Southern Emigrant Trail
But it surely beats the Donner's fate; we're determined not to fail
Many have tried to cross these dunes, and many a traveler died
Hungry eyes stared at the moon, and wondered why they tried
Now Lt. Couts is a brave young man, he's built a camp so fine
The fish will jump right in your pan, and the water tastes like wine
Fresh horses, mules and oxen too, can all be had for free
And they all ask what they can do, for a weary refugee
When we arrived we were surprised, it weren't like expectations
Just some soldiers left aside, from the Whipple expedition
But water's there and we're refreshed, this place we'll soon abandon
We passed the desert's cruelest test, now it's on to old Box Canyon
Chorus 2 -
The heat could melt the devil's heart, cause a drover's blood to boil
But I bless the day we made our start, across that sandy soil
Wagon wheels are turning nigh, to a gold field destination
Now it's time to say goodbye, to good old Camp Salvation
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