Quartzite II

 

After leaving the Imperial Dunes, we made our way back to Dome Rock, near Quartzite.  It was the week of the Quartzite Gathering, and we wanted to attend a couple of days before heading toward home.  When we arrived there was already twenty or more trailers present, though the event didn’t officially start till Thursday.

As the week progressed, more and more arrived. Just pick your piece of the desert and set up.

Our spot.

It was really great to meet up with many of the Casita and Blogger friends we have made through the years.  John and BJ, Lynne and David, Jim and Carolyn, Don and Kathy, Paul and Sharon, Mike and Gail, GrandJan, all the Diane’s, and many more.  Much better than any other reunion we’ve attended.  All those folks, and many more, all because of our silly little trailer.  As my brother says, it’s a cult.

I didn’t take many pictures.  Just spent our time wandering around the area during the day, and visiting around a campfire each evening.  And though we departed the gathering early, it was reported that over one hundred molded fiberglass rigs were counted as attending on Saturday.

Departing the area, we made it to Deming, NM the first night, then the Davis Mountains of Texas the next evening.  Road weary, we decided to take a day to rest…..jc

Imperial Sand Dunes

 

One of the benefits of visiting Slab City was a drive through the Imperial Sand Dunes.

What a playground for dune buggies, and ORV’s.

Located just a few miles East of the Imperial Valley, which is an irrigated oasis growing everything imaginable, they are something to see.  Soaring hundreds of feet high.

I would have loved to own a buggy and get out there, roaring around.  Can only imagine what all that sand does to bearings, chains, and all other mechanical parts, though.

Just another little place I can say “been there”.  Heading toward home.

…….jc

Slab City

 

I first read of Slab City in the book “Into the Wild” years ago.  About a young man that left home with the dream of homesteading in Alaska.  He spent some time at the Slabs before continuing on to Alaska, where he ultimately starved to death.  His journal was used for the book, and later a movie.

When we started planning our retirement and reading RV blogs, Slab City was mentioned quite often.  Folks went there to spend the Winter months in the warm dry climate.  The history of the place is that it was a Marine base before, and during WWII.  Hence the old guard shacks at the entrance.

Our little compound.

Shortly after the war ended, the Military tore down the entire base, leaving only the roads, reinforced concrete structures, and bare concrete slabs.  Hence the name.  The property was returned to the state of California and basically forgotten.  Sometime later, a counter culture of folks that didn’t necessarily like the way things were, started moving onto the slabs. Lots of artists.

Creating whatever type shelter they could, the became squatters.  As word got around, more showed up.  There is no water supply, garbage, or sewer system; nothing but desert.  Some live here year 'round.  Old folks, young folks, some look like bums, some look like college students.  Male, female, kids; all represented here.

There is a library,

with a reading room.

And, Capitalism has found it’s way into the Slabs. One of the best solar guys around runs his business from the slabs.

Garbage and trash is everywhere.

Scattered among all the trash and hovels are motorhomes and fifth wheels of Winter snowbirds.

What brings them here is a mystery to me.  The area around the Slabs is either desert or agriculture.  No attractions like casinos, or anything else.  The town of Niland is a ghost town for most part.

Maybe some have that longing to live outside the box, but aren’t ready to give up their creature comforts.  Whatever it is, I don’t get it.  There are way too many nice places to get away from it all.

I understand that the state has plans to evict everyone and clean up the area, again.  They might be better off just leaving them along.  Where would they all go from here.

The best part of our time in the Slabs was this.

A great evening with friends.  We all made a break for normalcy the next morning.  Been there, done that.  Don’t think we’ll be going back…..jc