From the "slabs" to Tucson

Remote locations and busy days have kept us from the Internet. West on I-10 into southern California, and south to the east side of the Salton Sea is the small town of Niland. Two and a half miles east of Niland is "The Slabs"

What's left of a WWII instillation abandon years ago is the concrete floors (slabs). Slab City is the last free place. No electric, no water, no government. One square mile inhabited by squatters to form a community with a few religious organizations, social clubs, musicians, transients, and some normal people. A continuous stream of seasonal snowbirds find their way in and out, some just to look, some to stay a few days, some stay the winter, no reservations needed. From tar paper shacks to the nicest RVs, this one square mile is home. We find our spot just past the "LOWs" (loners on wheels) a singles group and settle in for a few days. We're here to find SolarMike, he operates The Sun Works at the slabs.

Mike Goul has answers about solar equipment and tips on instillation. I get what we need to install later, and we stay a few days enjoying the slabs, checking out the area. Murals on the old water tanks have 60s anti-war, political and religious influence, but the art is deep, the weather is great, the people unique. Soon we're on the road after stopping to check out Leonard Knight and Salvation mountain. A personal tour from Leonard shows us how clay mud and straw held together with paint has formed his "Shrine" on the side of this mountain. His personal message to repent is an ongoing calling since 1985. He lives in an old bus and only asks for donations, mostly paint.

We catch up with our Escapee friends in Yuma, Arizona. Dry camping at the "Q" casino is not as free as it sounds, it's time for a campground and housekeeping. Lee has sent the mail, we get some rest and catch up on laundry. Plans are made to walk across the border for a day trip to Algodonas, Mexico before we leave Yuma.

Jerry and Mary Ann Nugent show us the way. Parking in the border lot and walking less than 1/4 mile we cross to Mexico. It's a circus. A tourist trap. Young and old, beggars and businessmen they come out of the woodwork with anything and everything needed. Some surprises are eyeglasses, dental work, medicine and beauty shops. Pharmacy prices are cheap, no Rx needed. I had the lenses replaced in my work glasses with the latest prescription, 588 pesos ($49). These dual segment bifocals were ready the same day and and the work is great. We have a good lunch at a colorful restaurant and spend a long time in the customs line crossing back. Its been a long day and we're ready to rest back at the campground. Yuma's history is begging us to explore more but it's time to move on to Ajo and rendezvous in the desert.

Roy and Kathy Gilbert, Jerry and Mary Ann and Linda and I convoy from Yuma to Ajo, Arizona. A three hour drive on a beautiful day with lunch at a rest stop, and we arrive at the rendezvous area in time to set up and go to happy hour. We're in the middle of the Sonora desert on BLM land. Most of the Escapee "boondocker" group have been here a few days already. I'm anxious to start installing the solar panels and spend the week on and off installing the system.

Work is interrupted by side trips to the town of Ajo and Puerto Penasco, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, pot luck suppers, and happy hour. We're close to El Camino del Diablo (the Devils Highway), passing Border Patrol on constant lookout for drug smugglers and illegal immigrants. The Sonora Desert is beautiful, mid 70s day, high 40s night. The sun is warm and the sky is clear. Even though it's "arid" this is called the green desert. Average rain fall is eight inches a year. On the only rainy day here, we went to Mexico where it didn't rain. We drove by car to the sea of Cortez, for Mexican "culture" and fabulous seafood.

Our group gathered for lunch in Pureto Penasco (Rocky Point) at a waterfront restaurant. The seafood is great and the shrimp are in season. Service is good, prices are low and a serenade with our meal. We spend the day exploring Rocky Point, the market area, waterfront RV parks, the beach, and drive "home" through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. A national monument to cactus, the desert, and an eco system that's so unique. Ten days of dry camping in the confusing, shared boundaries of the Barry Goldwater Air Force Range, the Town of Ajo, BLM camping area, Cabeza Prieta Wildlife refuge, the Sonoran Pronghorn Antelope project, and Mexico will be a highlight of this trip.

On our way out of the area we spend two night at the Organ Pipe Cactus campground. The campground has evening programs with talks from National Park Service Rangers. With 208 spacious campsites in a natural setting it's spectacular. At the amphitheater this evenings program was standing room only with a program on mountain lions and other desert wildlife. The Ranger played the violin to accompany the opening and narrated a great computer presentation. Late winter, early spring in this high desert is the time for flowers and a carpet of green. The winter storms off the Pacific and from California have been more than expected. We see the area coloring already with yellow and red cactus flowers.

We're on our way to Tucson through the Tohono O'Odhan Indian Reservation. We'll catch up with Jerry and Jeri Dettmann who led us to Quartzite. It's time to explore Tucson and see all the things we missed last month.