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18 | THE COLONY NEWS | MARCH 2023 | SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS By Kathy Sullivan I'm back on California soil and, of course, I am already on a short sojourn to the desert. I can't believe how many people have not experienced our beautiful deserts or have only passed hurriedly through on their way east. The only way to appreciate the desert is to slow down and get acquainted. Where I am staying now, the East side of the Salton Sea, is honestly, not the most beautiful desert – that would be Joshua Tree National Park, but it is one of the more interesting places to visit. East Salton Sea, with the Chocolate Mountains in the background, has areas of sheltering artists, huge flocks of birds, thermal water ponds, a loving tribute to God and escapee's from civilization. Salton Sea is the largest lake in California. Sonny Bono, yes the singer/actor/politician, has a National Wildlife Refuge named after him. More than 400 species of birds have been spotted in the refuge, one of the highest counts of different species of birds anywhere in the U.S. On the east shore is Bombay Beach. This is a place where I say "but for the Grace of God" I do not live there. In the town's defense they are cleaning up their community and have opened it up to artists who have fun creating large scale art pieces. Bombay Beach has a dive bar named Ski Inn, the lowest bar in the western hemisphere at 236 feet below sea level. Visitors have pasted thousands of dollar bills everywhere in the bar. Not far away from Bombay Beach is Slab City, on the ruins of a WWII Marine base which were returned to the State of California in 1961. The structures were dismantled and all that was left was the concrete slabs. The slabs have become the home of non-conformists, escapees of civilization, snowbirds, artists and retirees. I have taken people to visit the slabs and some are worried that they are in danger, others stick up their noses on how the people live (and all the trash everywhere) but some try to understand that these people have a different attitude on life and they are not there to hurt people but to enjoy life on their own terms. At the entrance to Slab City is the national treasure, Salvation Mountain. From the mid-1980s to 2014, Leonard Knight spent every day working on building his monument to "God is Love." Leonard died in 2014 and the mountain sustained damage by – you know the type that can't stop being destructive. A non- profit group, mostly comprised of Slab City residents, has brought Salvation Mountain back. Leonard spent over 30 years living on $239 a month and donations building this massive testimony to God's love. It is estimated that he used over 100,000 gallons of donated paint over adobe to keep his monument beautiful. Inside of Slab City is an interesting collection of "junk art" named "East Jesus." These artists have made some of the most innovative art out of just what was available, and Slab City has a lot of availability of junk to choose from. Much of January and February you can find me at a RV resort called Fountain of Youth. It has almost 800 spaces and is filled with snow birds. It's claim to fame is 138 degree well water which has to be cooled to fill the two pools, four jacuzzis, and individual tubs. FOY is the busiest park I have ever stayed at. One of my friends calls it Disneyland for seniors. Sailing on the Salton Sea