The last days of 2009 & the 1st days of 2010

Desert Flowers


We just got back home from the Riviera, our family home escape out in the Anza Borrego Desert next to the Salton Sea, "The Riviera". What a great week that we had out there. I am attaching some pictures with stories to share the highlights of the week with you.

This first picture is from our 1st FULL day out there. This is my son Kevin headed up to the Phone booth. Someone planted an actual phone booth on top of one of the highest ridges in the Truckhaven area and this is a favorite off-roader spot to visit. Not just for the phone booth, but for the views as well! This is the first time Kevin "drove" up to the phone booth. It's a sketchy climb as there is a shear drop off if you do not make the right turn towards the top.



This is the view from the backside of Phonebooth hill.



Day 2, One of Kevin's football coaches and his kids came out to visit us. We did a group ride to Gas Domes, Shell Reef and the "pumpkin Patch". Below is a picture at Gas Domes. They're essentially really stinky mud puddles. (sulphur smell, which smell like rotten eggs) We're not sure how deep they go Folks have stuck their legs down them and still haven't felt the bottom.



This is a view from the Gas Domes. Looking towards the Salton Sea. I love this picture for the colors. I took other view pictures as well, which look just as good. It was a tough choice picking my favorite to post here.



This is Shell Reef. Named for the millions of fossilized shells that are in the area. This desert used to be under water several thousand years ago. Shell Reef is a popular hang out to watch the better riders climb this and do jumps.



One of the riders jumping at Shell Reef.



The "pumpkin patch". These large boulders started off as a small shell, or pebble and rolled around the desert for hundredes of years in the sand and became what they are today. It is truly amazing to see this site. There are several other areas where there are smaller "pumpkins" This area provides the biggest. Sadly over the years people have stolen the pumpkins and the population has dwindled. The park service has fenced off the area in an effort to protect these big guys.



Another view of these "great pumpkins"



Day 3 took us around the ENTIRE Salton Sea. Starting off at Salvation Mountain, then off to Bombay Beach and back around to "the Riviera." This first picture is of Salvation Mountain, built by Leonard Knight. Here is the link to the offical site for Salvation Moutain if you want to learn more.

http://www.salvationmountain.us/



Here is a picture of Leonard Knight in front of his mountain. Leonard is a sweet old man that is very compassionate about his mountain and the message of God. He was gracious enough to give us a tour. He gets so excited everytime a group of cars pull up in order to provide a tour. At the end of the tour he gives his guests a "picture puzzle", postcards and a DVD about the Moutain.



Next stop is Bombay Beach. Bombay Beach is a small community on the East side of the Salton Sea. Anthony Bourdain, No Reservations of the Travel Channel visited Bombay beach. Here is the episode in which he visits Bombay Beach. To watch the following video, press the pause button on my pink playlist to the right of this blog.



We did visit the Ski Inn as mentioned in the video above to purchase some "fish assholes". "Fish Assholes" are cans of spaghetti-O's re-labeled as Fish Assholes. They are sold as a fund raiser for the Bombay Beach Fire Department. We only know they are spaghetti-o's cuz we opened up a can when we got back to the house.

A few years ago, Bombay Beach was flooded. Since the flood a Dike was built to protect the community. Unfortunately the flood had some casualties. This decayed trailer is one of the most photographed casualties of the area.



A view from the "beach". The Pelicans are BIG here.



December 30th is Paiges Birthday. The last 3 years in a row we have celebrated Paiges Birthday in the Desert. 1st year was on our property off of split mountain road in our motorhome. Last year was on "the Riviera". Last year was a year to remember as Paige celebrated a milestone birthday. We will never forget that year. The festivities were topped off with a refreshing dip in the Salton sea a little before midnight. Some lamebrained idea of one of our other friends. Even though it was lamebrained, we'll talk about it for years to come. This year was not as spectacular, however, memorable for Paige I am sure. We did a Taco night, then Wii Kareoke. Fun times! Happy Birthday Paige!



We spent New Years Eve at Mobiland in Ocotillo Wells at our friends place, playing bunko with up to 40 other folks. Good times. To Celebrate the New Year, they had purchased a couple of cases of silly string. This has become a tradition, and what a good time it was!



We went on a New Years Day ride. Unfortunately, so did everybody else. The desert was packed full of Off Roaders. We cut our ride a bit short as it was SO dusty and hard to see and just plain dangerous. The picture below show our two toys in the foreground and Debbies cute pink Razor in the back.



They say all good things must come to an end, but this is different. This is the start of a really GREAT new year and it started off with a really good time in the desert with some FANTASTIC friends. The picture below is of the sunset on New Years Day. Definately a sign of good things to come in 2010. Happy New Year!!!