Around Camp

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Not an exciting day today.  We decide to stay close to our camp here at Mittry Lake and shoot photos of the area.

Took Yuma for a walk this morning just as the sun was rising.
 

It was around 11 am and we took another walk.  This time we walked along the road that goes around the south and east side of the lake. 

There is a canal running along the road where I am camped.  Yuma is very curious about the canal and keeps wanting to go down the embankment which is fairly steep and goes directly into the canal.  No place to stand at the bottom and as you can see, the water is running quickly in the canal due to all the rain they had here the other day.

Because we are so close to the north end of the lake, I decided we would drive north on the dirt road to hwy S24 near the Imperial Dam.

As you can see, spring has come to Mittry Lake.  Everything is growing and there are leaves on the trees.  The wind has picked up and is coming out of the north. 

Below are photos of the canal that runs along S24.

Yuma wants to jump in I think.  Mittry Lake is on the other side of those green reeds.  We are camped not far from those mountains in the background.

One more walk as the sun sets around our camp.

Looks to be a full moon tonight.

See you later.

Mittry Lake outside Yuma, Arizona

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

This morning, I decided to head towards Yuma, Arizona.  Our time in California is over for this year. 

Because we’re only driving about 100 miles today, we didn’t rush to leave.  I waited until around 11 am when the mud and sand around our motorhome had dried up and I could leave without sinking into the mire.  We had no problem at all.

Drove down hwy 111 stopping at the rest stop that has the free dump and water.  Got that done and continued on down hwy 111 bypassing Brawley and connected with to I-8.

It wasn’t long before I was looking at the southern end of the Imperial Sand Dunes as we approached the western part of Yuma.

Passed by the small church on the hill overlooking I-8 as we neared Winterhaven, California.

Before we know it we are in Arizona and gas is instantly $1 cheaper and it is one hour later. 

Stopped at the Flying J on Fortuna Road and filled the motorhome and the propane tank.  I was almost on fumes with the propane.  The last time I filled the tank was mid-January when I left Yuma last time.

Then we headed to Mittry Lake.  Always loved this mountain.  Don’t know the name of it, but it is beautiful.  Reminds me of the potato mountain in “Encounters of the Third Kind”.

The lake was crowded and there were lots of puddles from the rain they recently had.  Over half way around the lake I finally found a pullout that had a fire pit and I claimed it as our new camp.  No one near by so we are secluded.  This is looking east away from the lake.

This is my view of the lake looking west.

Our day Is over and time for rest.

See you later.

Salvation Mountain

Monday, March 2, 2015

This morning, the clouds broke and the sun made its entrance here at the Slabs.  However, there was a lot of mud still around the motorhome and jeep, so decided to walk down to Salvation Mountain and take photos.

It was a beautiful morning; warm with no wind.  I had expected clouds all day according to the forecast so will take this instead.

As we walked south towards the mountain, I took a few photos along the way.

The Sun Works, owned by Solar Mike, is a very popular RV solar installer and is well known in the RV community.  Many RVers come here specifically to have Mike and his crew install solar panels on their RVs.

That’s Solar Mike’s  yellow solar powered car in front of his place of business.

A few cultural items along the way.  A sign for Slab City and a tree with shoes all over it and under it.

Salvation Mountain is built into a hillside and over the year’s built up into a maze of rooms several stories high.  It is made of hay bales, trees, tires and adobe clay to hold it all together.  A lot of painting has been done to give it the bright colors you see in the following photos. 

I am not going to try to explain each photo.  Just look at them for what they are; passageways and rooms all decorated in color.  Be sure to click on the link at the top of this blog to learn more facts about the man and his mountain.

Of course, Yuma makes friends where ever he goes.

The artwork is very colorful and beautiful.  A lot of love and labor has gone into this massive architectural art masterpiece.  I am impressed and admire the work that has been done here.  You could tell from Yuma’s intense stares that he was impressed.  He was good and didn’t leave anything behind.

See you later.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Sunday, March 1, 2015

I believe this is the first day in the two winters I have been in the southwest that it rained all day and I was stuck inside.  It quickly brings back memories of all the winter days back home when I was locked inside by inclement weather.

Here are few more photos I took yesterday on my drive in.

As I sat here today, I would occasionally look out my window and see drab young people walking about in the rain.

 

I saw four people sludge through the mud to their tent in the field behind me.  Soon, I saw all four walking back carrying blankets and sleeping bags as they headed through the muddy field, across the road to an old motorhome.  Evidently, the rain and cold had given them the courage to move in with a friend with better living conditions for this climate.

Near my motorhome there is a car with darkened windows.  It was there yesterday and has been all day today.  I hear the engine running when I take Yuma for his walks.  I wonder how a person can live day after day in a car.  I guess, I had best not complain.  I live in luxury by comparison.

I briefly think I should offer the occupant or occupants if they would like a cup of coffee, but then my better judgment tells me to mind my own business and only offer assistance if asked.  So Yuma and I walk on by.

It is times like these that Slab City looks its worse. The skies are grey; the plants are grey, and the mud is grey and everywhere.   Dampness prevails around here.  There is very little movement as everyone hunkers down; waiting for the healing rays of the sun.

Early, this morning, while taking Yuma for his walk, I photographed some of the underbelly of the “city” in the muddy field beyond the slab near my motorhome.

It would be easy for me to judge and say, “Look at this mess!  Why don’t you clean it up?”  But then I realize what I am really saying is “Lets get some rules around here.  We need to make these people do what is right.” 

So, as an outsider, I need to look at Slab City as what it is, and not what I think it should be.  Who am I to say what is right and what is wrong.  It is not my place to judge.  Enough said.

Last evening as I was taking Yuma for his evening walk, I could hear a siren off in the distance.  It came ever closer, and soon a fire truck roared by on the road near my camp.  It went on a little further up the road and the siren stopped.

Then a car with siren blaring and lights flaring, roared by following the fire truck.

I wonder if someone needed medical assistance?  Was there a fire?  Who pays for it, since these people are squatters, pay no taxes and have no paid services?  Probably never know these answers.

I picked a great place to stay if I like music.  Last night just after sundown, the singing and the band started up.  I found that I live next door to “The Range”. 

On Saturday nights, they have a band and people get up and sing.  Unfortunately, I didn’t go over to find out exactly what was going on, but they sounded like they were enjoying themselves.  Their fun did not bother me at all.  After all, I am only a guest.

Watched several hours of TV and read my book today.  That was pretty much my day.  Hopefully, tomorrow I can get out and see more of the beauty of the “city”.

See you later.