To be frank, I didn’t drive down to the Salton Sea only to visit that beautiful toxic wasteland. Indeed, it was projected to be 122 degrees in Palm Springs, and I had never actually been to Palm Springs in 120 degree weather. So I thought that I would experience that awesomeness as well. Palm Springs and the Desert Cities did not disappoint, nor did the swimming pool and the ice cold beers at the hotel either.
Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, and Indian Wells were surprisingly nice! Sure, the asphalt was melting and my flip flops were goo, but the towns were pleasant. The hotels were good, the restaurants were packed, and everything was open for business, with barely a face mask in sight. When we did see people wearing masks, we just left them alone. We figured if they couldn’t figure out that a coronavirus can’t live in 120 degree heat, … well let’s just leave it there. For the most part though, people were in their finest swimwear and beach attire, running around town soaking up suds and ice cream.
After spending one day rolling through the Desert Cities, hanging out poolside and pubside, we called it a night and set out for The Salton Sea the following morning. It turned out to be one of the coolest experiences that I have enjoyed in quite a long time.
Art and Life Rise Out of the Desolation
There is something uniquely special about wandering around in the desert as the sun bakes your beer soaked brain. Some advice – beer does not count as hydration, so glad I happened have some water in the car, or I may have ended up as the newest exhibit on the seaside. As it turned out, though, there were signs of life in Bombay Beach. The town is slowly coming back to life in a beatnik, bohemian sort of way. Once abandoned mobile homes have been renovated, those beyond repair have been turned into art exhibits, there are now a couple of shops in town, and I could have sworn that I saw Elvis and Ghandi watering their plants outside a couple of the trailers…
Check out some of the quirky artwork…
