2-1-2025
H: 75ºF L: 44ºF
Thousand Trails Palm Springs, Palm Desert, California
We decided to relax at the camper all day. When we first started camping, before starting our epic trip, we were still working so we went to local campgrounds in Michigan for long weekends. During those trips we didn’t do much but hang out at the camper and enjoy our home away from home. Now that we’re traveling full-time, it’s rare for us to sit outside in our camp chairs all day because we’re too busy exploring the country. What a life!
2-2-2025
H: 79°F L: 47°F
Thousand Trails Palm Springs, Palm Desert, California
We explored the local area. Palm Springs is known for growing dates. Our friends, Jen and Cindy, got us some Barhi dates which taste like caramel. We stopped at Windmill Market to get some more Barhi dates to munch on during our adventures today. Next we stopped at Thousand Palms Oasis Preserve where a natural spring supports palm trees and other plants.
Next we drove to the Palm Springs Visitor Center and downtown Palm Springs. I love the mid-century modern architecture of the homes and hotels. We also drove by the Roadrunner sculpture in La Quinta, CA which had been featured at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
2-3-2025
H: 79ºF L: 51ºF
Thousand Trails Palm Springs, Palm Desert, California
We had our friend group over. We won’t see everyone again until the summer. I used my dehydrator for the first time to make strawberry-blueberry fruit rolls (like Fruit Roll-Ups) and they were well received by everyone. Recipe coming soon!
2-4-2025
H: 78ºF L: 52ºF
Thousand Trails Palm Springs, Palm Desert, California
I used the dehydrator to make tofu jerky. Such a great snack! Recipe coming soon!
2-5-2025
H: 78ºF L: 50ºF
Thousand Trails Palm Springs, Palm Desert, California
We went with Jen and Cindy to Bombay Beach and Slab City. They were nice enough to drive and let the boys in their truck. We had a blast with them!
We started our adventures with the art on the beach at Bombay Beach, CA which is right on the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea is California’s largest lake and is the result of a 1905 accident when the Colorado River breached an irrigation canal. It was a popular vacation destination in the 1950-1960s; however, due to rising salinity from evaporation and industrial agricultural runoff, it is now filled with the bodies of dead fish and birds. The beach is now full of unique art installations.
The town of Bombay Beach had some unique features too. This town, once popular with tourists enjoying the Salton Sea, became a ghost town in the 1970s. In more recent years, it has seen a slowly growing population as it becomes an artist community.
Next we drove to Slab City, CA. This area is known as “The Last Free Place” and it is full of unique individuals who are squatters, artists, homeless, or seeking to leave society. Its population ranges from approximately 150 in the summer to 4000 in the winter. It is on the site of an old military base which left behind cement slabs from the once standing buildings – hence “Slab City”. We were eager to speak with some residents to get a feel of what living in Slab City is like and why someone would choose to live off-grid in the middle of the desert.
We stopped at Salvation Mountain which is the work of Leonard C. Knight. Mr. Knight spent 28 years building this “mountain” out of dirt, cement, garbage, hay bales, adobe, and 500,000 gallons of latex paint. It has a religious theme as you can see in the pictures. Jen, Daniel, and I climbed to the top and had good views of Slab City.
We drove around the area to get a sense of the conditions and vibe. This is a community built by its residents. We met a man at the entrance to Slab City who sells art made by residents and tries to rehome stray dogs – he had many dogs in his fenced in yard. We met a woman who sells her art out of a camper and gets her food from deliveries by a food pantry. She explained Slab City is divided into neighborhoods and that her neighborhood is run by women. We went in a bar where people lingered on this semi-hot day and a little girl with horribly matted hair came in with her mother.
Slab City has a fair amount of businesses and gathering places.
Overall, we had a couple impressions of Slab City. First, how odd that a large amount of people squatting in squalor draws a large amount of tourists. We were told thousands of people visit Slab City like it’s a tourist attraction. Second, while some living at Slab City may be running or hiding from the law or society, it seems some have found the sense of belonging and community they may have been looking for.
We ended the night with Charlotte and Taylor. Charlotte made a wonderful cauliflower dish in her air fryer along with fresh fruits and veggies. We had fresh carrots and oranges along with a chocolate frozen dessert made from sweet potato and avocado. It was so good and sitting around the campfire with these two special people (and Dexter the Wonder Dog) was a perfect way to end our day of adventure.
2-6-2025
H: 76°F L: 54°F
Thousand Trails Palm Springs, Palm Desert, California
We went to Joshua Tree National Park today! The park is huge – almost 800,000 acres! The combination of the Joshua trees (genus Yucca) and the rock formations makes this park special. We drove the main road through the whole park and marveled at the changing scenery. We drove up to Keys View where the Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault Line can be seen in the distance. We drove from the Mojave Desert to the Colorado Desert, each with their own distinct vegetation. Joshua Tree National Park has always held some indistinct lore for me and it did not disappoint when finally visiting in-person.
Stats
Expenses:
- Tesla Cybertruck fuel: $0
- Tesla Model X fuel: $0
- Campsite: $0
- Camping memberships: $32.79
- Food: $151.72
Tesla Cybertruck miles driven: 179 (129 kWh)
Tesla Model X miles driven: 149 (43 kWh)
Number of people asking about the Tesla pulling the camper: 0
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Happy Vegan Campers are traveling the country and building a passive house! Any suggestions on places we should visit or questions about our house? Love our recipes? We’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or send us an email: happyvegancampers@gmail.com
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