Some of my "tribe" enjoying a frisbee tournament --40 of us--here for a week---our rigs are parked in the background.
Each day we walked a portion of the slabs where I arranged interviews with resident personalities. I'm leaning against the slabs bulletin board. Slabbers also have a "radio station"---channel 23 on the CB where Linda---the Slab "Mayor" communicates all the news worth reporting.
Here's Jo Ann---my Co-host---a very creative lady who thought up several of our tribal experiments---which I will detail later in the Drama post.
Meet Container Charley---Surely the Slabs' most creative and enthusiastic resident---here lecturing our group on his latest acquisitions: the whirlagig behind him (used as a prop in a recent Bruce Willis movie)---and the geodesic dome pictured left.
A close up of Charley in his power room. Each of those rectangles is a 700 pound battery and he has 32 of them---charged by an awesome array of photovoltaic panels. He doesn't particularly need the power---just enjoys having it. His grandfather invented those individualized packets of salt and pepper you see everywhere.
Solar Mike and wife----as they emerged from a sound sleep to behold one of our experiments---our SPOOKY WALK SING SING--- More about that in my Drama post. Mike runs a thriving business installing solar panels on RV's. Imagine running a business with no rental overhead.
A New preacher in town---no license or degree required--just put out your cross and people will come. I took a pict of an AA meeting in progress but chose not to show it. They meet behind this trailer.
This guy was just passing through and was allowed to pitch his tent here out of the wind by the friendly oasis people.
This guy lives in a tent under that tree---had a strong desire to build a certain item---needed a goat skin---bought a goat for $60---hired a fellow camper to slaughter and skin it. The killer's price was the meat-----Will show you the completed item in my next post.
The meat is hanging to dry all over this tree--- becoming jerky--Can you see it? The horses are his also.
Nearby is this German nudist living in his truck. (took this pict surreptitiously)
Saturday night entertainers at the "ranch"--- an informal stage --lights and sound equipment powered by batteries---charged during the day by solar panels. The movie "INTO THE WILD" features this strange stage----with "Insane Wayne" singing his signature Slabs song.
A cluster of mavericks roused from their campfire when our SPOOKY WALK SING SING boldly marched into their camp--they were astonished and delighted that ANYONE would come calling on them. More on this is my next post.
Surely the Slabs most eccentric and fearsome character---meet MOTH! I sneaked this photo to show his intimidating dimentions, dreadlocked hair and bizarre dress----yes, he wears a dress and god help you if you ask about it. He bloodied one guy this night---- lives in the large septic tank I pictured in the domicile post. So far I've not had the courage to approach for an interview. FLASH: Thanks to THE BAYFIELD BUNCH we now can have a look inside that mysterious tank that MOTH lives inside along with lots of other picts they made at the Slabs 3 years ago---since that time you will notice from my pict of his tank that he built a steel door with lock to stop future visitors. http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/36DEC20LASTDAYATTHESLABS# RANDY COMMENTS: Next up, I will focus on my favorite aspect of Slab life ---The Dramas in play.
15 comments:
Randy - Thanks for sharing your side of the world. Hopefully, someday I'll make it out to the slabs myself. At least with your coaching I might have a clue once I get there.
Charles
Great series of posts Randy. Would be fascinating to see inside Moth's septic tank but your apprehension is understandable. Wonder how he keeps from baking in that thing?
Jack
Very interesting, we were in the "tank" 3 years ago. Not sure if Moth lived there then..... but there was a sleeping bag and some food.
Kelly
I have some photos from inside that 'tank' you were talking about at the Slabs. Somebody was obviously living in there at the time as evidenced from the photos. Check the pics here....
http://picasaweb.google.com/stargeezerguy/36DEC20LASTDAYATTHESLABS#
We spent a few days at the Slabs in December of 08 while Solar Mike did a Solar installation for us. Blogged about it & took lots of pics:)) AL.
Can hardly wait for part 3. This is a wonderful series!
Thanks Al for the photos. The netting hanging from the tires with the sleeping loft is fascinating.
Jack
It is a strange and interesting place.
Awesome. Thanks, Randy!
Some very interesting characters there! It seems to be a great tank, full of ingenuity and freedom-I'm wondering about the dramas tho which have to exist where ever people are--have to wonder why that fellow counldnt buy a goat skin Im sure they're sold in lost of stores where leather is sold probably cheaper than $60!
That was fun. It's "The Range" not the ranch though. Sorry you missed Insane Wayne and Chef Roger in their days there.
Hey Randy, question:
Among the tribe, is there any type of motorhome/trailer that stands out, or comes highly recommended?
Thanks!
Randy, great description of the Slabs! Just found your blog through our friends, the Bayfield Bunch.
My husband and I are actually camped here now as well until Sunday...we're along the canal across from County & Tank Roads..I'm the avocado seller and the one with the massive Motosat dish on the Arctic Fox 5er.
Stop by and say hello if you get a chance, you guys look like a lot of fun!
-Rene & Jim, LiveWorkDream.com
Great series, Randy. I look forward to the rest of it. Thanks.
An excellent post, but I think that the topic is beneath you. The Slabs (Quartzsite, Yuma VFW, etc.) are RV-winter cliches that should be left to all the newbie blogs. Seeing such places one or two times will suffice.
I thought this blog was for RV "graduate students," rather than freshmen.
If Moth seems scary to you, maybe it's because he's creeped out by people like the Bayfields snooping through his house while he was at work, taking pictures of everything and bragging about it on the web.
Golden rule, people. Or, in more down-to-earth Slabber terms, "Don't be an asshole".
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