I think I discovered the existence of the Salton Sea in 2018. I caught a portion of the John Waters narrated documentary “Plagues and Pleasures on the Salton Sea” on PBS. I knew instantly that I would have to go and see it for myself. Not the Sea, but the area. I wanted to embed myself in the desert, and it’s communities. I didn’t want to do anything in particular, or even see anything… I just wanted to ‘be’.
I determined that going to the desert when it was in the off season, and no longer defined by its deadly heat would be cheating. So I made my first trip in August 2019. As I type this in the spring of 2026, I already have my trip booked for this coming August – my 8th trip (I also made additional trips in November 2020 and February 2024).
It is hard for me to articulate why I am drawn to the region, or even what I do there. I walk around. I ride a bike. I find a place with a little shade and sit there and feel my life force slowly draining. I have visited every community with a measurable population in Imperial County and many more in Riverside County. I found the existence of ‘Salton Sea Story’ when I read ‘Queen of the Salton Sea’. After much searching I was able to find two copies of my own and they are safely locked away. And available here for all to enjoy.
Email me: rat at saltonseastory dot com
Golden halos radiating higher
Diamond visions softly breathing fire
Sky processions, we are watching you arrive
Silver crystals arcing beams below
White light spirals lifting up to go
Glass formations, solar angels spread their wings
Spectral gliders drifting in the air
Wheels of wonder floating everywhere
Draped in rainbows, gently we ascend