badlands & Slowjamastan

Today was a study in contrasts. I drove a big loop east from Borrego Springs to the town of Salton Sea, then south a ways, then west on Hwy 78, then north back to Borrego Springs, a bit under 100 miles total. 

Along the first leg is the badlands section of Anza Borrego State Park, & I took a detour to Font's Point, a high point in the middle of the badlands. The 4 mile drive in to the point is through a wash, & there were signs warning of soft sand; hmmmmm, should I do this (nobody in sight & no cell service)? Yep. It was funny to actually be thankful for the sections of washboard as that's a sure sign of a solid surface. Here's a pic of the edge of the wash. 

                                       

When I got to the parking lot near the top, & turned around...wow, so glad I came! 

The walk up to the top revealed an even more dramatic scene. This series of pics show a 360* panorama of the view. 






And these zoom in a bit on the rock formations.


Coming down from the badlands, the Salton Sea is visible in the distance. 


In the afternoon, my day moved from the sublime to the ridiculous. 



There's a booth at the entrance for the "border patrol". 




A short walk in brings you to the "town square" (no flag flying today). 

                                          


     

    

Of course, there are rules & warnings to follow. 

  

It seems that the entire nation is powered by a "nuclear reactor".



And a number of territories have formed within the nation. 


 


If you enjoy the ridiculous, there's more info on this "project" here: https://www.slowjamastan.org/

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