A cool day in the desert (was only going to be in the low 70's today), so we decided to head out of town to visit Salvation Mountain...an area so many locals have told us about and a "must see". So here are our pictures from our day of exploring.
Heading East on Hwy 111, our first stop was at the Salton Sea...was windy out there. Stopped for lunch at Buckshots Deli and Diner in Niland...talked to Steve, the owner, who said they were busiest during the "fowl" hunting season there...said everyone is dressed in camouflage and it looks like Afghanistan. Best Mexican food ever. We asked directions to Salvation Mountain, glad we did as the main road was closed...had to take a round about way to get there...down a dirt road and a detour through some agricultural fields. But we found it.
We arrived. Here's a little background...this is Leonard Knight's tribute to God. Salvation Mountain is out in the middle of the desert, is made of local adobe clay, is about 50 feet tall and 150 feet wide and all of the paint is donated. Leonard estimates that he has put well over 100,000 gallons of paint on the mountain.
Several other tourists were visiting here, too (had met them at Buckshots.) They say that during the season about 100 people a day show up here to view the mountain.
Lots of color on the mountain.
And, he has even painted cars.
and more cars...
More art...a sea of flowers.
And trucks...
And tractors...
Lots of messages on everything...he must get them donated, too.
and more flowers, as we headed up to the top of the mountain. It was quite interesting, I must say.
Then we headed over to Slab City to see this counter-cultural development. Oh, who's peeking out that hole...
Some creative art here at the community bulletin board....
Slab City is an abandoned Marine training base (was Ft. Dunlap during WW II) which is now occupied by local squatters. Only the concrete slabs of the barracks and Quonset huts remain. Here's a fence made of old box springs.
An art exhibit and even some for sale. One slab was called the "Range" where there was live music playing every night.
Some interesting trucks here...wonder if they drive them? Looked like about 100 squatters there.
and cars...lots of time went into this one.
and an interesting interpretation of a "shoe tree".
Needless to say, it was an interesting adventure...took all day to drive out and back. We have now driven totally around the Salton Sea. And, we can tell others about Salvation Mountain. Allan says he knows where to take all of his old paint now.
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