Day 35–Mission Bay RV Resort CG–San Diego, California

The 170 mile drive to San Diego was different then we expected. Traveling I-8 was very mountainous and slow going at times with very winding roads. We would climb to 4000 feet then descend to 1000 feet only to make the climb again. The scenery  was quite different and sometimes made one think that this is the land that God forgot.

 

                                                            

 

So imagine yourself driving the better part of 170 miles up in the mountains and your low fuel alarm comes on. Ron & I were looking for even a remote sign of a gas station with none in sight the entire time we have been on I-8.

We thought since we are only 20 miles from San Diego we should run into a gas station when we get on I-5. Wrong again. We could not find an exit with a gas station available on the section of I-5 North either. Oh, and there is our exit to the CG.

We arrived at the CG and there were RV’s stacked up five deep in three rows  checking in. We didn’t make any reservations so weren’t sure if there was availability. We never thought it would be so busy!!!

As it turned out we were able to get two nights with our Passport America discount but would have to move if we wanted to stay a third night  ------ or we could stay in a $90.00  per night site for three nights in a row. Well, we all know that wasn’t going to happen – right Ron! LOL

The CG is basically a huge paved parking lot with little strips of grass separating  the back to back sites. Jewel was vey happy to see some grass and immediately started to eat it.

The sites are nice and big and flat and  we could see the bay from our site.

 

It was a gorgeous day so after a late lunch we took a walk along the bay.

  

Short sleeves, sandals, green grass, blue water, palm trees and the view of San Diego in the background. Just what we needed!

 

  

There are beautiful flowers in bloom everywhere!

  

 

   

                                                                                                                                                                      

 

So beautiful and in full bloom in February. We’ve been told the weather here is almost perfect year round.

Adjacent to the walkway is a trailer park and many of them have been refurbished and don’t look like trailers at all.

 

We had decided to kick back and enjoy the rest of the day. On Tuesday we plan to go to the San Diego Zoo. Looking forward to that excursion.

Day 34–Super Bowl Sunday–Niland, California, Slab City, Salvation Mountain, Salton Sea

Today is Super Bowl Sunday and we have to keep reminding ourselves that we are on Pacific time so the game is at 3 pm instead of 6 pm. We got up early to get out the door to do our touring and to get back for the game.

First stop – Slab City and Salvation Mountain in Imperial County. Slab City was once a Marine Base that was decommissioned in the late 1950’s. Over time the buildings were demolished and only the cement slabs were left behind. The government eventually turned the  land  over to California and over time people began migrating to the area and setting up camps on the slabs.

LINK:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slab_City

Our first encounter was one of the original guard shacks.

Prior to entering Slab City proper we came upon Salvation Mountain, the brainchild and incredible art piece developed over a period of decades by Leonard Knight, who passed away in 2014.

We are totally amazed at the size of the mountain made from trash, clay, mud, straw and tons of gallons of paint, not to mention the love of Leonard Knight.

LINK:

http://www.salvationmountain.us/

        

 

There is a yellow road that Ron chose to climb and ended up on top of Salvation Mountain.  Not only is there  lots to see on the outside there are small cave-like areas under the mountain.

  

                                                            

 

 

                                                      

 

We spent quite a while at the mountain and were totally amazed at the massive size and the art work that was done.

 

                            

 

                                 

 

        

 

                              

 

                                                                            

 

Salvation Mountain has been deemed a National Folk Art Site by the Folk Art Society of America and has recently been refurbished to reflect the bright colors that had faded in the sun.

 

After enjoying Salvation Mountain we drove into Slab City  and took in the sights. Amazingly,there were  so many different things to see from trash thrown around, trash made into unique art, rusted out motorhomes to high end motorhomes.

 

This place would be a good sociologic study for anyone willing to spend an extended period of time here.

 

Although most of the people here are open and friendly, like most societies, there are those who do not want their space invaded.

 

 

 

Some Interesting Art:

          

   

 

Then there were the living quarters:

                                    

                                                                             

We were told by one of the residents that every night musicians play at the Range. It has loudspeakers and black leather couches.

                     

 

The local garage!

What’s left of a Homestead.

 

Then we went to Low Country where there were better campers and cleaner sites.

There was even a 12th man Seahawks fan in Slabs.

We stopped at the pirated radio station and bought a Slabs t-shirt and a video made by the DJ all about slabs.

   

On the way out of slabs we watched a guy hand gliding into the desert.

 

More Slab City residents.

Some of the people here have their water trucked in by huge containers.

 

On the way out we saw a cute but true sign.

We passed back through Niland and stopped at an abandoned warehouse. The art work on the building was incredible.

    

The area is in decline and it appears that the only real infrastructure and jobs is at the  Niland Gas Turbine Plant.

We had two hours left to kill so decided to head out to the Salton Sea. We stopped in Bombay Beach to see if we could get close to the sea itself but no luck. We noticed there was a lot of damage and buildings that had collapsed along the levy. As it turns out there was a massive flood there in the 60’s that practically wiped out the resort town of Bombay. We were told by a local resident that there used to be a harbor loaded with boats and all types of watersports on the Sea. Today the town is a shadow   of itself with vacant municipal buildings, closed storefronts and vacant homes.

 

 

 

                   

 

We stopped at the Salton Sea Visitor Center and watched a short video presentation. The Salton Sea has a unique history beginning in 1905 after an unusually wet winter caused the Colorado River to break through a poorly constructed canal cut : for about 16 months unchecked  with the river’s entire volume pouring into the nearest  low spot, the Salton Sink 332 feet below sea level. Unlike most lakes it has no natural outlet running to the ocean. Water is lost through evaporation and percolation. The Salton Sea is so large (35 miles long by 15 miles wide)  that from some vantage points  the earth’s curvature hides the opposite shore. It is estimated  that in 50 years the Salton Sea will have completely evaporated.

 

Scores of dead fish along the shore stopped me from tasting what has been reported to be water that is more salty then the ocean!!!!!

 

We had a great day and  headed back to the CG to watch the Super Bowl.

It turned out to be a most incredible game with twists and turns that made you hold your breath. For once the ball bounced in the right direction – and happy to say our team won! Both played an incredible game.

We plan to leave in the morning en route to San Diego. Still hoping to get one day we don’t have to put the heat on. Shouldn’t complain – better then snow!