Home Sweet Home

Corner Spot With Lots Of Green Grass

I am back in Eugene.  It is cold and rainy, so different from the desert, but I am happy to be back in this town that I love.  I am set up for a month which I am sure will pass by all too quickly.  But for now, it feels like home.

Home Of The Daffodils

Flowing Waters

And Beautiful Trees Framed By My Window

Salvation

No trip to the Slabs is complete without a visit to Salvation Mountain.  You can't miss it.  Do a google search and you will find plenty of pictures and videos and even its own website (http://www.salvationmountain.us/).  This was one man's passion that to me felt like it also held a bit of madness.

Down The Rabbit Hole

Shrine

After two visits to the Mountain I am left wondering... what sin did he commit that so needed repenting?

Slab Experiences

My Carriage Awaits

While at the Slabs I was treated to my first ATV experience.  An invitation from Bruce was gladly accepted and we went off into the desert and up into the Chocolate Mountains.  Unfortunately after I took this picture I went back into Minnie to get my water and forgot my camera on the counter.  Otherwise I would have pictures of the Slab's 18 hole golf course, a flowering cactus and the naval aerial gunnery range.  Good thing is I didn't lose my camera somewhere out on the desert, bad news is there are no pictures from this wonderful excursion.

Fox Chumming

I also didn't get a picture of the Fox that Bruce lures in on a nightly basis.  It came in too quickly to snap a picture.  I also thought twice about startling such a beautiful animal when coming in for its nightly meal.  I have never been fox chumming before so that was a totally new experience.

What I did get was this amazing pictures of ORBS!!  The top picture was taken right before the bottom picture so no, folks, it was not my camera.  I was taking pictures of the full moon and just happened to get a blast of orbs passing through.  So amazing.

Another picture I didn't get was a shooting star that passed over me as I was walking back to Minnie on my last night in Slab City.  That was for my eyes only.

Sunset Out My Front Door

Full Moon On The Desert

Bruce

Bruce was one of the kindest men I have met in a long time.  Not only did he take me ATVing but he also invited me for dinner several times.  As I was pulling out of the Slabs he ran out his door to wish me a safe journey and ask if I wanted some food for the road.  Thank you Bruce for all the new experiences and the food:).

I had my best conversations with this gentleman.  He told me he was legally insane which makes me wonder about myself, and society.  I would have gladly spent many more hours talking to him and hope our paths meet again.

The Slabs In Review

For my first boon docking experience I think I did really well.   I learned to monitor my water usage like a miser, ran my generator sparingly and now know more about how much propane it takes to run my refrigerator....not much.  I discovered the benefits of solar panels, how to recycle water over and over again and how often to flush the toilet.  I used an RV dump for the first time, used my fresh water tank for the first time and lived off my generator for the first time.  I think the biggest issue I had were the new noises the generator made and my concerns about those new sounds.  I intimately know all of Minnie's many voices and when a new one shows up I always pay attention.  The new sound of a generator working alerted my hearing antennae but I think after 9 days I felt more comfortable with the sounds and this new way of living. 

I became very conscious of my internet usage, how long to run the generator to recharge my phone and ipad and now feel like an absolute pig with how much electricity I am using.  Even though there are water faucets at this park and I certainly have enough water hoses, I still feel the need to conserve water and am living from my fresh water tank.  I thought I was living lightly upon the Earth, but seems I can live even lighter.

Robi Was My Nearest Neighbor

Minnie On The Slabs

Thanks To Robi's Handmade Sign I Could Find My Way Home

Just Down The Road

Friday Night Jam Sessions Venue

Also Known As The Head Hunter's Lounge, Tiki Mike's or Radio Mike's

Trash is a real problem on the Slabs.  There is no garbage collection and unless you have a Niland address you are not allowed to use the local landfill.  It is another thing you think about while living on the Slabs,  how much garbage do I senselessly throw away each day without a moment's thought?  "Garbage" becomes art and you see it through a different perspective.  How far will your creativity take you?

Bottle Tree

ShoeTree

 

That ends today's presentation.

What Is Reality

Sign Leaving The Slabs

I left the Slabs on Saturday, a day earlier than anticipated.  The weather in the North West is quite unstable and I am trying to find that perfect window of opportunity to get me over the mountain passes.  Time will tell if the earlier departure proves advantageous.

I drove to Bakersfield and spent the night.  Best Shower Ever!  I also did some laundry and watched a little TV.  I also watched how much TV everyone else seemed to be watching.

I loved not having TV while at the Slabs.  I loved live music, live people and live conversations.  I loved that there were so many single people after meeting so many couples in my travels.

More about all of this tomorrow.  I am hunkered down in Red Bluff, CA waiting out the storms but will be here at least one more night.  I put in an 8 hour drive today so will wait till my mind is fresher.  And, I have more pictures!

Virgo Full Moon Talking To My Virgo Moon

I drove into Niland the other day to dump my tanks, get water, some groceries and gas. The grocery store is basically a convenience store and gas is at an outrageous price. I half closed my eyes while paying for it hoping that would soften the blow but the price for unleaded gas was around $4.39. It is shocking how fast the price has gone up. Definitely keeps me more stationary than I would prefer. I couldn't find anyone to pay at the dump station so that saved me $10.

Coming back into the Slabs felt different than my original entry. It feels like a huge happenin' event has just ended and all that is left are the crashers and the trash. I have heard the months of November, December and January are the best months to be here. I came a little late to the party.

And I am getting a little dirty. I try to keep my face, hands and feet clean but it has been over a week since my last shower. I did wash my hair once using bowls of water but the dust storm blew in and left my hair with more tangles than usual. It is just part of life on the desert.

But my real comfort comes from living within a clean and tidy environment. I can go awhile between showers, but when my home becomes too dusty and dirty I become a bit anxious. I blame this "clean gene" on my Virgo moon. Virgos appreciate order in its many different forms. I love organization bins, cans all in a line and a well swept floor. I find it very peaceful.

So I may be leaving in a few days, traveling onward to a shower and concrete. But I would love to come back.

(I am afraid that I will loose this post if I preview, so excuse any typos)

Experiment

Lately it has been a challenge posting on my blog. I have written several lengthy posts which have vanished into thin air. I have no idea where they went, or how to get them back.

So this is an experimental post just to see if it will publish, or vanish.