ON OCTOBER 10 SOME 28 SENIORS BOARDED A BUS AND HEADED FOR ADVENTURE IN THE CALIFORNIA DESERT.  FROM DINOSAURS TO A STRANGE PUEBLO TO A PAINTED MOUNTAIN, AROUND THE CONTROVERSIAL SALTON SEA TO THE VAST DESERT LANDSCAPE OF ANZA BORREGO.  FROM A VISIT TO THE MOON, AND TO THE ARTISTIC METAL SCULPTURES TO PEG LEG’S ROCKS, IT WAS AN EYE-OPENING ADVENTURE!

Below, we board the bus in the early morning.

FIRST STOP: THE PUEBLO OF CABOT YERXA IN DESERT HOT SPRINGS. WE ENJOYED THE GIFT SHOP, LEARNED ABOUT THE ADVENTURESOME LIFE OF CABOT YERXA AND TOURED HIS STRANGE AND ARTISTIC PUEBLO.

WE ALL FELL IN LOVE WITH WAOKIYE STANDING 40 FEET INTO THE BLUE DESERT SKY. HE WAS CARVED BY HUNGARIAN PETE TOTH AND IS ONE OF MANY – AT LEAST ONE IN EVERY STATE PLUS CANADA AND MEXICO.

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AFTER LUNCH AT THE MIRACLE HOT SPRINGS SPA HOTEL, IT WAS BACK ON THE BUS HEADED FOR SALVATION MOUNTAIN. WE MADE A PHOTO STOP AT THE COWBOY AT THE SALTON SEA.

THE SENIORS WERE AWESTRUCK AS WE PULLED UP AT SALVATION MOUNTAIN. A DOCENT EXPLAINED ITS HISTORY. BELOW WE GIVE THANKS TO LEONARD KNIGHT, NOW DECEASED, WHO DREAMED OF PAINTING THIS MOUNTAIN AS HIS WAY OF HONORING GOD AND RELIGION. HE LIVED AT THE SITE FOR DECADES, AN ELDERLY MAN SURVIVING IN HARSH CONDITIONS WITH NO AMENITIES. A FOUNDATION IS NOW PROTECTING HIS MOUNTAIN.

BELOW JUDY INVESTIGATES THIS QUIRKY SITE.

AFTER A DRIVE THROUGH SLAB CITY, BACK THROUGH NILAND, AROUND THE VAST AGRICULTURAL AREAS, AROUND THE SALTON SEA, THROUGH THE AGRICULTURAL WAY STATION AND INTO THE HARSH LANDS OF THE LARGEST STATE PARK IN CALIFORNIA CALLED ANZA BORREGO, TO OUR WILD WEST HOTEL: THE PALM CANYON RV RESORT AND HOTEL.

AFTER A LOVELY DINNER ON THE HOTEL PATIO AND ENJOYING THE WARM DESERT EVENING. WE CONVENED AT THE AMPITHEATER WHERE AN ASTRONOMER TREATED US TO STORIES OF THE MOON AND PEEPS THROUGH HIS TELESCOPE.

ALAN AND GARY WENT OFF WITH THEIR BLACK LIGHT FLASHLITES IN SEARCH OF A SCORPION:

GREETED BY THE DESERT SUN WE ENJOYED A BUFFET BREAKFAST.

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WE THEN HEADED OUT INTO THE DESERT TO VISIT THE FASCINATING STATUES OF RICARDO BRECEDA. IT WAS A TIME FOR PICTURES GALORE. TOOK SOME BUS TRAVEL ON DIRT ROADS BUT OUR DRIVER WAS A TROOPER!

BELOW VINH STAYS A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE MIGHTY DRAGON

THE LAST STATUE IS ONE OF THE MOST CURRENT PIECES OF ART, A JEEP!

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HOME BOUND WE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ROCKPILE DEDICATED TO PEG LEG SMITH AND MARKED BY AN E CLAMPUS VITUS PLAQUE, ON TO A PIT STOP AT HADLEY’S AND FINALLY HOME WITH PHOTOS, MEMORIES, FRIENDSHIPS AND ADVENTURES UNDER OUR BELTS.