A Taste of India

3/11/09

Ok I finally got out of San Rafael at 10 pm after a wonderful sendoff from lots of different folks. I headed for the 5 and keep on driving. I could really feel the weight of all the tools and camera gear that are packed into my truck,

Skill saw
Sawzaw
Jigsaw
Levels
Clamps
Various wrenches and hand tools
Rope
Bungee cords
Tool belt


4 cameras
4 flashes
4 pocket wizards
6 lenses
Tripod
3 camera bags
2 turbo batteries

Tent
Stove
Skateboard
Laptop
Clothes etc

I drove until 2am and pulled over at A Taste Of India, which is abandoned. I opened the back window and crawled in for my first night sleep in the cocoon. (I have named the back of my truck with it's camper shell the cocoon.) I have about a foot of headroom in there. It feels a little cramped …let’s just say missionary might be a bit tight. I put my four-inch pocketknife in my sleeper and curled up for the night. I must say it is a strange feeling not being able to lock the door and not having curtains. I woke up at 8 and started driving towards LA. I meet my brother for breakfast after getting lost in Los Feliz.
Eggs benedict
Crepe dish
Herbal tea
Coffee
$30.95 Breakfast people that is supposed to be the cheapest meal. This affirmed my dislike for LA. I got all stressed out trying to find the place barking at my brother; never the less it was good to see him.

I got on the 10 and headed east to San Bernadino feeling the high of the coffee I was flying all the way to Palm Springs. I took the 85s or something like that and headed to the Salton Sea with the intention of skating this empty pool, which has been a go for over ten years. I didn’t know exactly where it was but I had seen pictures with the sun setting in the background so I determined it was on the northern side of the lake. I started to see the familiar decay which follows a lot of abandoned pools. First place I stopped walked around to the back and there she was just waiting to be had. I took a bucket and a small plastic cup into the deep end and started to scoop the small amount of water into the bucket. After all the water was gone I headed back to my truck to grab a camera and my board. I was pretty stoked all of a sudden I looked down and there was a 5 foot rattlesnake sunning it self on the stairs. It was perfectly still I breathed and regained my composure and moved so I was directly in line with his head about 6 feet away. Sure enough his head was shaped like a diamond. I went back to my truck to get a film camera I loaded some slide film and put a long zoom lens on so I wouldn’t have to get that close. I got back and the snake was no longer on the steps. Shit, I looked on both sides of the path to make sure he wasn’t just chilling. I continued on to the pool and boom shit it was right in front of me again only this time it’s rattle was facing me. I fired off a couple of shots. My batteries are low so each time the film advances it's is a noisy chore. The snakes head turned to face me …it couldn’t decide weather I was a threat or not. There was a very slight audible sound of its rattle. That was enough for me I was really spooked. It finally slithered into the debris under a Palm tree. I took a few runs in the pool don’t get me wrong it is a really good pool but I was fucking freaked I went inside the building which used to be a resort rooms with broken glass dark, graffiti I wanted to climb up the stairs and shoot the pool from the second story…I couldn’t handle it I kept thinking I would find a dead body or some meth head (which the Salton Sea is known for) lurking around the corner. I was out of there that snake was beautiful but it was definitely some kind of sign…i.e. get the fuck out. I followed its advice.

Continued driving until I hit Yuma really nice light and old building with a really cool downtown…yet nothing was open. I wanted some food there was a church group which was holding a meeting at Ethel’s café…After strolling all the way down Main Street there was a casino, saloon and one upscale dinner place open that was it. Ok fine a movie theater but I wanted food damn it. I ate a horrible burger drank a Corona and listened to my neighbors talk about mundane family and work issues. I then kept driving with the new speed limit of 75mph which is pretty sweet. Adios Matt.

p.s. I am heading to Tucson to attend a seminar will check back in about a week.