GETTING TO GRAPEVINE Niland, CA to Tucson, AZ May 6, 2010

We left the "Fountain of Youth" RV park this morning after taking a good soak in the mineral spas.  It was pretty nice but I had to get out sooner than I wanted as I felt it was best to stay awake at the wheel during our drive. 

Our first stop was just down the road in Niland, CA where after a slight detour off the main road we came to Salvation Mountain. 

Salvation Mountain has been created and built by Leonard Wright over the past 26 years. Leonard is 78 years of age and still does work on the mountain every day. You have to admire his determination.

Leonard arrived here 26 years ago on the exact spot he is now when his truck broke down.  It still hasn't been fixed.

Leonard now lives in a bigger truck and greets everyone of the visitors he gets.  In the peak season that could be as 1200 per week following off to 300 per week in the warmer weather. 

Leonard is still hard at it and it is pretty amazing what he has been able to accomplish with mostly donated paints, straw, tires and other assorted needs. What hasn't been donated has been picked up in the desert.

SALVATION MOUNTAIN

We have heard of Salvation Mountain but just didn't remember it.  The movie " Into the Wild "  is the story of  Christopher McCandless who abandons all his worldly possessions to travel around the country until his death a few short years later in Alaska.  It was during this travels that he came to Salvation Mountain and the mountain was shown during the film.  Leonard Knight gave a tour of the mountain on film and that what was in the movie.

Christopher McCandless's trip to Salvation Mountain was an afterthought as he was close by.  He actually came to Slab City.

It takes its name from the concrete slabs and pylons that remain from the abandoned World War II base Marine Barracks Camp Dunlap. A group of servicemen remained after the base closed, and the place has been inhabited ever since, although the number of residents has declined since the mid 1980s.

The city is busier in the cooler months as people from the north stop in for awhile. There is a group of around 150 permanent residents who live in the Slabs all year round.

In the movie the area was depicted as a thriving community made of people who wanted to be free of government or any kind of influence.  Today, however, I think ( my opinion only ) that the majority of the people are here out of necessity and not choice.  It is pretty barren.

After leaving Slab City we had to make some time so we headed south of the 111 and picked up Interstate Hwy 8 and scooted into Tucson where we spent the night.  It was another good day even with the temperature in the high 90's.