Date: 5/3/26 11:34 pm From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Bob's Gap parking hazard
Hi, I should have written this email Friday morning when it actually happened. I went to Bob's Gap at sunrise to see Scott's Orioles and other desert birds and I got off the road and drove down into the hidden, secluded parking area along the road and as soon as I went off the paved road and down the little ramp the back of car made a loud thunk and I found my front wheels up to the rims in soft sand. Apparently, this winter's rain deposited a lot of loose, soft sand and carved a little gully, so it's no longer safe for passenger cars. A big pickup truck or Jeep could do it easily, but I wouldn't take a Prius down there anymore. Fortunately, others who have also experienced this had left some old worn plywood pieces scattered about and I inserted them behind my front tires. I put the car in gear and only slowly push down on the gas pedal, and as soon as my tires got onto those pieces of plywood I had enough traction to back out of there, and I just never took my foot off the gas pedal until I was back on the highway. Specifics in the eBird report, below. [Why did I want to park down there, instead of parking along the side of the road? Because I have had bad experiences where I parked on a road or on the side of the road and people broke into my car. This was up on the 2--not at Bob's Gapbut still]
