End of the Road

After 212 days on the road and more than 13,000 miles of driving, we finally reached the end of the road . . . at least for this trip.  We said “Goodbye” to our Yuma friends in early February and headed home, stopping for a few days at Lake Minden (near Sacramento).  Gas prices were rising rapidly, so we decided to put the motor home into storage and drive the Honda home, then return to California later this summer for some warm weather camping.  This will be our 20th and final chapter of our travel blog.

Salton Sea

We wanted to visit Ron’s cousin Sherry and her hubby Bill in Indio, California while we were in the neighborhood.  So, we drove west over the dunes to El Centro, then north along the Salton Sea.

Salton Sea:  The Salton Sea has an interesting history.  It was created by accident in 1905 when an unusually heavy rainfall and snowmelt caused the Colorado River to flood.  The floodwaters overran gates to a major irrigation canal, breached an important dike and created two new rivers into the “Salton Sink”, a large dry lakebed.  Efforts to stop the flow of water failed and the Colorado River continued to flow into the valley for two years, submerging the town of Salton while creating what is now California’s largest lake.

The surface of the Salton Sea is 226 ft. below sea level.  Since water doesn’t flow uphill, the lake has no outlet and, over the years, agricultural runoff and other factors have contributed to the water quality deterioration and high salinity.  Today it’s a valuable haven for birds, but not a good home for fish.  Talapia still thrive, but many other species have died out.  Massive fish kills have left the shorelines messy and stinky.

Resort communities were built on both sides of the Salton Sea but few prospered.  We walked along the deserted beach at Salton Sea Beach Marina and drove through neighborhoods that were flooded and abandoned decades ago.

 

It’s a sorry sight today, but efforts are underway to restore the water quality and maybe even future living conditions.  Much of the current interest was sparked in the 1990s by the late Congressman Sonny Bono of Sonny & Cher fame.  His widow, Mary Bono Mack was elected to fill his seat and continued his efforts to improve the Salton Sea.  In 1998, the Sonny Bono Salton Sea Restoration Project was named for the politician . . . and the beat goes on.

 

Salton Sea neighborhood fixer-upper

 

Indio:   It was our first visit to Sherry and Bill’s waterfront home in a beautiful RV community in Indio.  They live in a very nice “casita” and turned their motor home into our guest accommodations for one night.  They gave us a golf cart tour of their community and topped it off with an excellent potluck dinner.  Very nice indeed.

View from Sherry & Bill's patio.

Ron, Sherry & Bill - at home in Indio CA

 



Slab City:  Our return trip from Indio took us around the east side of the Salton Sea to the town of Niland. 

 

Highway 111 along Salton Sea

A few miles from Niland, and well off the beaten path, is a very unique community known as Slab City.  This is the site of World War II Camp Dunlap, but all that remains are concrete slabs that once supported Marine barracks.  The area is now a popular wintering place for campers, squatters and snowbirds who park or pitch their shelters on and around the slabs.  Many “slabbers” are retired folks on fixed incomes.  Others live on Social Security or Disability, and others came here simply for the freedom, to be left alone, or to live “off the grid” with minimal finances.  Summer temperatures often exceed 110 degrees, but an estimated 150 permanent residents manage to make this their home.

The military site is decommissioned and uncontrolled.  There are no fees for camping or parking and virtually no facilities or amenities that would normally be associated with a campground.  Electricity is not available, there is no running water, no sewers and no trash pick-up.   Water and other provisions can be obtained in Niland and a few slabbers use generators or solar panels for electricity.  We found an interesting assortment of recreational vehicles and tents, along with lots of scattered trash in some areas.  Some folks are working to keep the place clean while others obviously aren’t.  Some are devoting much of their time to artistic pursuits, such as “art cars”.  It’s total freedom here.  No rules.

Salvation Mountain:  This work of art is Leonard Knight’s tribute to God.  Leonard created his masterpiece to include biblical and religious scripture as well as flowers, trees, waterfalls, suns, bluebirds, and many other fascinating and colorful objects. The mountain is 50 ft. high and 150 ft. wide and made totally of local adobe clay and many gallons of donated paint.

Visitors can walk all over this artwork and explore several tunnels through its interior.  Leonard’s health is failing and he’s now in a nursing home, but his creation is something to behold.

Interior passageway

Some vintage recreational vehicles also grace the property.

We met many very nice friendly people during our two month stay at Cactus Gardens RV Park in Yuma.  Most were Canadian snowbirds, mostly from Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.  And, many brought their musical talents and instruments to Yuma.  There was no shortage of afternoon jam sessions, and the group “Canadian Critters” provided good music for dancing.

The Canadian Critters provide music for dancing at the rec. hall.

Lots of participation for Water Volleyball

 

We couldn’t keep up with all the steak barbecues, breakfasts, BINGO, darts, cards, water aerobics and volleyball, and other activities.  Bonnie joined a craft group and got a good start on making a pine needle basket while Ron was playing shuffleboard every weekday morning. 

Friday Burger Barbecue

Shuffleboard

Yuma doesn't have the best drinking water, so most folks take their plastic water jugs to one of these little water booths where they can get a gallon of fresh salt-free water for 25 cents.

Thanks to all the retired folks in town, Yuma offers many festivals, concerts, dinners, “meat draws” and other activities during the winter months.  We also made three trips over the border to Los Algodones where we got new glasses and brought back a few souvenirs and a bottle or two of liquid spirits.

We went to Yuma to find out why so many of our friends go there in the winter . . . and we found out.  Half of Bonnie's high school class was there and it seemed like we had more friends in Yuma than we do at home.  It’s a great place to spend a few months surrounded by folks of similar ages and interests.  The weather is very comfortable, the sun shines nearly every day, the lifestyle is relaxing and pleasant, prices are reasonable and the people are terrific.  We don’t know if we’ll go back next winter, but we’re seriously considering it.

Our last sunset in Yuma - Feb. 5, 2013

We checked out of Cactus Gardens on February 6 and drove to Sacramento.  We stayed a few days at Lake Minden before putting the motor home in storage and driving home.  And so our extended vacation came to an end.  It was a good one.  We'll have lots of great memories and we thank you for following along.  Until next time . . .

        Ron & Bonnie