On Saturday I arrived at the Freedom Trail head at 1:00pm. I spent 1 hour and twenty minuets cleaning the graffiti from the trail. I got most of it cleaned and estimate that one more quart of paint remover and one more wire brush will make a graffiti free trail. I counted 6 more bright red arrows and a mural of a 3 foot penis with hairy balls to be removed , soon. The penis mural is at the bottom of the first hill as you leave the parking lot heading to the springs.
When I got to the springs I noticed 3 naked guys at various locations around the springs and a couple who were first time visitors were in the Womb pool. So I asked them how they found the springs. They said they found the Deep Creek Volunteers web site and got directions. They were a very nice couple from L.A.
I spent 2 hours digging the sand out of the Arizona pool. When I started I could walk across the pool and not get my knee wet. When I finished I could not walk across the pool with out getting my privates wet.
When I first got to the springs Scottie came over to thank me for the ride I gave him the week before. He said he was leaving the springs for good. I asked where he was going? He said he was not certain but he was going to try to go to Saline Valley. I told him I could give him a ride out. He said his pack was too heavy to carry up hill. And he was going out to the spillway. I told him to be sure to take out all of his trash. He said he was going to clean up his camp like he had never been there. He lied. At 4:20 he came by the pools to say good bye. I said so long as he struggled with his heavy back pack towards the spill way. When I surveyed his camp site I look in the bushes to find about 200 pounds of trash. Including 3 bags of tent poles a 40 gallon trash bag ripping at the seems and a 30 gallon trash bag also. As it was I did not have a trash bag with me. Another camper volunteered a 30 gallon trash bag to me so I got as many cans and a couple of glass bottles out of his mess and centered the trash near his camp fire. So others can help carry his mess out also.
It did not seem like a weekend but a week day because there were only a few visitors for this Saturday.
On Sunday I arrived at the Freedom Trail head at 12 noon. I brought 2 more 30 gallon trash bags and filled them as much as possible with Scotties trash.
I Took out my digital thermometer and the creek water where most cross was 59 degrees. I took it @ 5 feet up stream from the Arizona pool and it was 56.4 degrees.
All pool temps were taken near the center of the pools and near the surface. It was 3:00pm when I took these temps:
The Womb was very nice at 101.3 degrees.
The crab cooker was 114.4 degrees.
There were 2 men having an intense conversation in the Serenity pool so I did not disturb them.
The Anniversary pool was 107.8 degrees.
The Arizona pool was 108.8 degrees.
It was more like a weekend with more visitors than the day before, but, still kind of quiet and peaceful. Every one seemed to enjoy being here. I know I did.
Happy Soaking !