It's Been Awhile

Phew, it's been awhile since I've written! I've composed a bunch of posts in my head, but none of them seem to have made it to my blog! We have been crazy busy for the last month. We did the marathon drive from Texas to Arizona where we met up with friends and with my parents. We were busy with work and visiting for a couple weeks. In fact, we have been busy enough with work in Arizona that we've decided to finish out the season there. However, we had left work pending in Texas, so we rushed back to Texas where we worked for just over a week before heading back to Arizona again. We returned to Arizona just over a week ago and my parents met us for another visit. We also participated as vendors in a rally right away and have been busy working. I'll try to get caught up on posting soon!

Biosphere 2

After leaving the other families from Fulltime Familes, we went to Tucson for two weeks where we worked hard for most of it, but were able to take a few days off. My parents will still with us for the first week, so Son got to spend time with them while we worked. We did take a day off with them to explore Biosphere 2.

Biosphere 2 was originally built to as a way to study interactions between life systems. It also explored possible use for space colonization. From 1991-1993 eight scientists were sealed inside for this purpose. It is now owned by the University of Arizona and is being used as a research facility. In one of the biomes, they are slowly cutting off the rain supply in a rain forest to study the effects of a drought.

As we were waiting for our tour, Son and my dad played a game to learn about the water cycle.

Here they are researching whether or not having rooftop gardens can insulate a building from the heat.

Helping take temperatures for research

View from alongside the biosphere

Slab City

Slab City (aka The Slabs) in California is known as the last free place on earth. It is one of those destinations that most RVers have heard of and I was under the impression that it is on the bucket list of every RVer. Having just come from Quartzsite, AZ - which is a mecca for RVers during their annual RV show with a majority of those RVers boondocking out in the desert - I have to say our visit to Slab City was a bit of a shock. Our experience at Quartzsite was pretty much the same as it is anywhere with a group of RVers - with a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. I was expecting the same from The Slabs. That was not the case. Just driving in I immediately felt uncomfortable. The RVs parked when you first drive in look as if they've been there forever and I just didn't get a welcoming feeling about the place. I was grateful that we did not come to The Slabs for the first time on our own, but rather with a group of families from Fulltime Families. As we were not sure of the layout, we stayed out on the edge and found an open place to park.

The sign said "Welcome", but the people didn't

Shortly after getting set up we walked over to Salvation Mountain to take a look. On the way back, we took a path that looked like it would come out not too far from our camp. Instead it came out along the back side of where someone else had camped long-term. Realizing what we had done, and not wanting to infringe on anyone's privacy, we walked as far around the camp as we could (it was on a hill, so that wasn't far). The person camped there immediately came out yelling and swearing at us. He had two large dogs chained up and moved like he was going to sic his dogs on us. My thought was that for a "free"place, people here are very territorial. We rejoined our group and proceeded to have a wonderful evening around the campfire. Turns out I wasn't the only one not feeling completely safe at The Slabs. Hubby doubled checked that everything was locked before going to bed.

The next morning several of us moms and kids drove further into the "city" to have a look around.

Shoe Tree

Bottle Tree

There was supposedly a library and we wanted to find it. Well, we found a library all right. We pulled up and Kimberly got out to talk to the people sitting around. She was greeted with "We shoot people with cameras and notebooks around here." After chatting a little while, they warmed up to her some and directed her to the library we were looking for.

The "library" was interesting as it wasn't really in a building. It's obvious they don't get much rain there. Another rather unsettling sight was what appeared to be a grave at the entrance.

Lizard Tree Library

By now we were wondering why we wanted to visit Slab City in the first place. However, sometimes a wrong turn puts you in the right place. We missed the turn back to "camp" and found Live.Work.Dream.! Now we had never met them, but had been on their website. What a relief it was to see something familiar! Jim and Rene were very nice, and along with their neighbor, Sam,  gave us the scoop on Slab City. Long-term residents of Slab City feel like they have been burned by the media. Films like Into the Wild were shot there and profits were made, but Slab City saw none of the profits. Also, because of these films, tourists (like us) have been flocking to Slab City to take a look. The result is a jaded, non-trusting outlook towards newcomers. We were told if we were able to stay about a week we would be able to get a truer sense of the place. Their advice for anyone wanting to come to Slab City was to go to the church and introduce yourself there. From there get to know the people and let them get to know you. They really are an accepting bunch if you give them a chance.

Photo courtesy of Live.Work.Dream.

In touring Slab City, we also noticed that it is a lot like a city itself. There were well-defined neighborhoods, and like any city, there are some neighborhoods you just want to steer clear of. Slab City does have its share of drug addicts and people who are there because they are hiding from something. But it also had its neighborhoods of snow birds who are just looking for a place to escape the cold, northern winters. Is Slab City a place to take kids? According to Sam (who has grown kids of his own), “Would I bring kids here and stay a while? Definitely not. This wacky, offbeat community with its somewhat seedy-underbelly isn’t the best environment for kids. Would I come here for a few days to see it with kids? Definitely! Families can skip the local watering holes like the Oasis Club, but taking a trip out to the East Jesus art installations, the mud pots and of course Salvation Mountain, are a one-of-a-kind, eye-opening, unforgettable experience found only here at the Slabs."

"The Range" - Where the live entertainment takes place

Shortly after our tour of the Slabs, the other families headed on. We were set to head back to Arizona. However, after a very busy work week, then a marathon drive to Quartzsite, and late night campfires, we were exhausted and decided to just stay parked where we were another night. With my new insight into the Slabs, I began to look at things around me a little differently. I sat back and watched how the long-term residents interacted with each other. We went on a bike ride and stopped to read the head stones in the pet cemetery.  I thought about the loving words I had read by the grave at the library, and my impression started to change. There is definitely a dark side to Slab City. However, I also started to feel an undercurrent of deep love and caring for one another. I had the sense that Slab City doesn't let people in very easily, but that those that are allowed in have found the best friends a person could ask for.

Later that day, two separate couples arrived to spend a night at Slab City and see what it is about. Remembering how uncertain we felt when we first arrived, we invited them to camp by us. We spent a wonderful evening around the campfire with them. The next morning, I was conflicted about leaving. The dark side of Slab City, which we had caught a glimpse of, scared me. On the other hand, the sense of community we saw elsewhere intrigued me, and I found myself wanting to learn more about the people there. Would I go back again? Maybe. But not by ourselves. I would want to go with someone who is already "in" and can help us figure out the right places to go ... and the places to avoid.

Twenty Miles per Cookie

"Let's do it, John!" I said excitedly. My eyes had taken on a gleam, my shoulders had been thrown back, and my back was a little straighter. "Let's go! Let's quit our jobs and take off. After all, our kids will never be eight years old again. We've only got one chance at life - let's make it a good one! Let's throw caution to the wind and take off! Come on kids - hang on tight! We're in for the ride of a lifetime!" ~Nancy Sathre-Vogel in "Twenty Miles per Cookie".

For the Vogel family that was the beginning of a 12-month, 9300 mile bicycle trip through nineteen US states and five Mexican states. The book "Twenty Miles per Cookie" is the story of that adventure. Recently this book was our family read-aloud as we made the long trek from Texas to Arizona. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. Granted, we are not traveling on bikes, but the book reaffirmed our decision to leave normality behind and hit the road.

In her book, Nancy leads her readers through the journey process, from inception to completion and on to the next step. She shares their trials, accomplishments, and sights seen along the way. She doesn't gloss over the hard times and merely emphasize the good. Rather you get a sense that she is sharing the whole story. Nancy also reaffirms the goodness of people as "Road Angels" appear to help them through many of those hard times, or to just make things a little easier for them. One such story is of two men in Mexico who hide bottles of Gatorade along the road for them turning their day into a treasure hunt! Of particular interest to Son were the letters written to their grandma which Nancy included in the book to give the children's view of the journey.


"Twenty Miles per Cookie" is an inspirational book. While it may not inspire you to hop on your bicycle and ride across the country, it should start you thinking about your own dreams. Are you living the life you were meant to live? If not, what are you waiting for?

To read more about the Vogel's adventures including their latest accomplishment - bicycling from Alaska to Argentina - visit their web site at Family on Bikes. To purchase "Twenty Miles per Cookie", click here.

Salvation Mountain

Visiting Salvation Mountain near Niland, CA was an amazing experience. I honestly didn't know much about it except that some guy painted a mountain in the desert and Hubby wanted to see it. So, when Kimberly at Fulltime Families recommended we go there after Quartzsite, we said we were in.

What an experience Salvation Mountain is. I've been trying to find the right words to describe it. Leonard Knight is the artist behind the mountain. He had a life-changing experience in the 60s where he found God. In the 80s he started Salvation Mountain as a way to share God's love and it has grown and evolved into what it is today.

The mountain is made of adobe clay and paint.

He has also started a museum next to it using hay bales. The dome is supported by "trees" made using old tires and branches found in the desert.

He lived in a truck at the base of the "mountain".

I'm still trying to find words to describe how I felt there. We stayed in the area for a couple days. The first day we toured Salvation Mountain, I was in awe of what I saw but didn't really let it sink in. Instead I was playing the part of the tourist, running around and taking photos. The next day we returned and really took our time walking around and letting ourselves get lost in the wonder of it all. We felt like we had stumbled into a fairy tale. One follows the "yellow brick road" to get to the top of the mountain.

The pastel trees in the museum makes a person feel like Alice in Wonderland.

We exclaimed at every turn we made over the new wonder we had found.

 

More than once we asked each other what is was that compelled a man to do this. All around us were messages of "God is Love" and the Sinner's prayer (Jesus, I'm a sinner, please come upon my body and into my heart.)

This blog post does not do Salvation Mountain justice. You just have to see and experience it for yourself. Unfortunately, the future of Salvation Mountain is uncertain. Leonard Knight is currently in a long-term care facility. I consider myself blessed to have been a witness to his wonderful testimony. However, I feel like I am missing a large piece of it since he was not there to discuss it.

Quartzsite

Last week we made the looooong drive from southern Texas to Quartzsite, AZ to meet up with some friends and family. We picked up some business on the way - which is a good thing - but it put us a little behind. Hubby drove 960 miles in one day to make it there! Phew! We pulled in around 1am to find a few of our Fulltime Families friends sitting around the campfire waiting for us!

We had a great day in Quartzsite with at least nine families. The kids had a great time playing together. Son loved having other kids to play with. At one point I looked over to see what the boys were doing and the older ones had propped up a pallet to use as a target for knife throwing. To me it seemed like something out of Daniel Boone! One of the other moms and I noted how creative kids can be when we just step back and let them be. We asked the kids to move the fire pit and they immediately split into boy/girl groups. The boys hauled all of the rocks from the old location to the new while the girls arranged them into a nice circle. It was great to see kids of all ages playing together so well all day.

One of our friends gave the kids a gun safety class and taught the kids the five fundamental safety rules:
1. A gun is always loaded. Even if you think it isn't; and even if the clip isn't in it. They should always handle a gun with the assumption that it is loaded.
2. Never point a gun at something you don't want to shoot. Along with that he explained that a gun should always be point at the ground rather than in the air. A bullet shot into the air can land on someone.
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. He showed the kids how to keep their finger on the frame of the gun so as to avoid accidentally puling the trigger.
4. Keep all guns unloaded until ready to fire them.
5. Always pay attention to what is behind your target. He explained how a bullet that misses a target will keep going, so make sure there is nothing behind it to hit.
He also made sure the kids know what to do if they find a gun. He told them not to touch it and to find an adult. If there are other kids around, stay with the gun to keep them safe until an adult arrives.

We made and installed sun screens for the home of one of the families.

My parents arrived in their new-to-them RV in time for the pot luck!

Photo courtesy of Fulltime Families

At the end of the day we enjoyed a pot luck and conversation around the campfire.

The next day five of the families headed to California together. On the way we just had to stop near Glamis at the Imperial Sand Dunes.

Everyone piled out of the rigs and we let the kids get rid of some energy. They had a great time rolling around in the soft sand!

Sand Dollars

If you are ever in Aransas Pass, TX, you need to visit The Shell Store. It is a great little store that has tons of shells. The owner is very friendly and knowledgeable, and Son got an education while shopping! Anyway, while there I told Son he could buy one small sand dollar. I knew about the five doves in every sand dollar and have always found them fascinating. I wanted to be able to show the doves to Son. He already had one sand dollar someone had given him. I told him I would buy another small shell to crack open, and he would still have a whole one. Of course, a small one wasn't good enough for my son. He wanted a big one.  (After all, bigger is always better, right?!) After listening to us, the owner told me if I purchased a bigger one, he would throw in two smaller ones for free. That way he could have a smaller one to crack open and a bigger one to keep. Okay, I caved and bought the bigger sand dollar. However, now Son wanted another big sand dollar to crack open. He wanted to see the bigger doves too. There was also a shark's tooth necklace there that Son wanted. Again, I was urged by the owner. "Buy the necklace, and I'll throw in another of the larger sand dollars." Son had money saved up to pay me back for the necklace, so how could I say "no"? He was playing on my fascination with sand dollars and it worked! To be honest, I too wanted to see what the bigger doves looked like. So, we headed home with some knowledge, a shark's tooth, and four sand dollars.

We couldn't wait to crack open our sand dollars. Following the instructions from the owner, Son made scores in the shell.

Then we cracked them open. Just like they were supposed to - five perfect little doves inside each!

Turns out I was glad that we had a larger sand dollar to crack open. We could see a lot more detail in the larger doves.

Son then got out his microscope to get a closer look at the shell and the doves.

The store owner also gave us a card containing "The Legend of the Sand Dollar".

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

There's a lovely little legend

That I would like to tell,

Of the birth and death of Jesus

Found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely

You'll see that you find here,

Four nail holes and a fifth one

Made by a Roman's spear.

On one side the Easter Lily,

Its center is the star,

That appeared unto the shepherds

And led them from afar.

The Christmas Poinsettia

Etched on the other side,

Reminds us of his birthday

Our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open

And here you will release,

The five white doves awaiting

To spread God's will and peace.

This simple little symbol

Christ left for you and me,

To help us spread his Gospel

Through all Eternity