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I ain't missing it this year. I might even decide to drive if I can find a bike rack on time. Can't wait to jump in the hot springs and take my vitamin e on the dirt.
How does this trip work? I've never been. Do I need to rent a car or something? Does everyone bring their bikes? Does anyone have room in their vehicle? I really want to go, it sounded like so much fun last year.
you get there any way you can. there are some bouncy dirt roads, but little hondas managed to make it last year. people share rides like any trip and some of us rented a big ass van last year. when it gets closer it will all be worked out.
you bring a bike, you ride a bike, you fall off a bike, you make sweet love to a bike.
Awesomeness. I would totally go in on a car rental with some ppl. Not sure I want to drive though. Haven't driven in over a year, not sure I remember how.
We should be planning a whole calendar of road trips.
FYI. for the others, the way salton sea works is EVERYONE chips in $5 in advance. that way We get porta potties and firewood. There are all kinds of sights to see including the mud towers, hot springs, the aqueduct, salvation mountain, moth's crib, slab city, niland devastation, the ride to bombay beach... bring a valentine as it is valentines day weekend. leave no trace, respect the squatters, love the earth.
The area is in economic depression. No franchises for 30-40 miles. The local bar is awesome.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Coe coe buttaa
09.10.10 - 12:34 pm
I heard there is a flash flood warning this year! Bring buns for falling cheezburgers. Dont forget your English to Womp translation guide. And most importantly SHUT THE FUCK UP!
No, it's been tradition to hold it on the President's Day 3 day weekend which sometimes coincides with Valentine's Day. Next year they don't as President's Day is on 2/21.
Pay up until when the portapotties are ordered, probably a week and a half before the weekend. Who will be accepting the money? Who knows? I vote for Rambod since he's done such a great job with Ridazz Camp dues.
Salton sea falls at a horrible time for me because of work so I don't think I could be due keeper for that trip. I have neither that Friday nor Monday off and may even have to work the weekend
if we have another new years trip I'm more than happy to help with that
I hear Jared Leto is sponsoring the toilets and wood this year, 30 Seconds to Mars is going to play, and they're bringing a bunch of tweener pop-culture consumerists along because no one else likes the crap that he puts out!!!
Shit, I hear there's gonna be vendor tents lining up salvation mountain this year with shirts from all the major rides that happen throughout the city. I've never been to TT (soon to change) but I can't wait to buy some of their shirts and give them to my non-rider friends for their bdays and xmas.
*In case it went over your head, I'm not dissing anyone or their rides. I love our DIY community and we should all do whatever makes us happy and quit lookin at the next ridah's direction. Ride on you crazy Midnight Ridazz.
July responding to a comment by toweliesbong
09.13.10 - 4:09 pm
i have a request for the community- build and bring more freak bikes and sculptures!!!
if this is truly our own little burning man, than we need more self-created vehicles and pieces of art!
the jeffogy was awesome, why not make it bigger, or better yet, have similar structures that that can be set on fire every night ala the portal, the man, the temple @ BM
in terms of rides other than Bombay Beach, im pretty sure theres going to be another Slab City Mosey this year curated by JB and his marvelous mundo.
No welder at Ridazz Camp, that was Jet Fuel at Gigsville, he came to SS last year, don't know if he's coming this year or if he would bring his welding gear.
all over the idea of a central campfire. plot sizes in the img are about 20ft square w/ lotsa padding. poop located pretty close to center but not TOO close!
took a lot of inspiration from how salton sea 2 was set up, just some ideas!
jonnyboy responding to a comment by Roadblock
11.17.10 - 3:52 am
Nice start jonny, just remember, the actual drift of sand below the berm makes such a concentric layout an issue (there's that ledge that split camp last year, as well as the soft sand bog that fronts it) however, unlike BRC, the terrain at Slab CIty changes year to year, so any camp plan is tenative, however I am down to work with an organizing posse idea to get a few people out early to help with layout, etc.
dividing a little more along the road, and placing POOP at the end might work better, but I like the idea of taking from SS2 for layout a little more, keep the road the center. Main fire is good, I think little fires are ok as well, but there should be a main fire. We really do want to avoid the empty middle of camp split level thing we had goin last year.
There is, and has, been a nice central FLAT area that has been the camp fire the first TWO years. Everyone tended to camp around it just nicely. When an early crew showed up, and tried to make the "community" fire off on the hillside, and put all their tents within 20 feet of that fire, that's why there wasn't a community fire this year.
The ring for that central fire is still there, heavily used. It's one of the only flat areas that's actually CLEAR of brush and rocks 50 ft all around. No one camped there, it's near where a lot of red-neck soccer was played (the flaming toilet paper ball.)
I wouldn't PLOT the camp spaces, just designate the central camp fire, and let people camp where they want as long as they are AT LEAST 50 FEET from the fire. Drop off the wood about 50' from that spot, but away from the road, and put the potties where they were last year (which looks about right, according to that map.)
Dak is right about the campfire. Do that, keep the honeypots far from everything, and let the rest develop organically for crying out loud. Don't suck what's left of the fun and spontaneity out of this thing, OK? OK!
PC responding to a comment by jonnyboy
11.22.10 - 3:42 pm
I agree with PC.... let's not plan TOO much but as far as the poopers and main fire I'd like to see the poopers move further south. The reason being is that when the cops come by those poopers become symbols of responsibility, the cops see them and continue drifting on by....
I was one of the early ones last year and we set up camp up top to get away from what we thought was going to be the main area. Unfortunately our camp became the main area!
JULY, JOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL-EYE! I hope you check this thread again because a SCAVENGER HUNT would b awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwesome. I'll help somehow, someway. Just point in any direction gravity will permit me to reach.
p.s. I reallllly hope no one tries to "lay out" the camp. That just leads to segregation. Let it happen organically. Let people show up and camp where they choose. The only thing that needs to be laid out is where the toilets go, where the fire is, and no-camp zone around the fire. : )
ALSO all of your pickley wishes will come true on this weekend!!! If you should have any special pickled requests, post 'em up here.
We might have to go out there a week or two before to plan accordingly. I really would love to make an awesome scavenger hunt. Anyone else want to help out, let us know either through FB or on here or email me at july_cardoza@yahoo.com
July responding to a comment by kryxtanicole
11.30.10 - 3:54 pm
dak- you gonna post Salton Sea on the MR calendar?
I know there is a facebook event for it but I'm sure you didn't post that one, haha.
SATURDAY NIGHT AFTER TWILIGHT -- COME TO THE HIPPYRAVERBIKESCUM RIDE!
Featuring DJ's from LA and Santa Cruz + several thousand watts of cycled sound amplification! Ride time after twilight -> party time o'clock all night at a secret location until the sun comes up.
On route back to camp there will be a pitstop for hot spring showers with classical music or music requests from locals.
as there is going to be no planning for the layout of the camp this year i hear jonny boy is going to set up all 5000watts of his sound system as close to matt stilline's tent/the tren way ghetto as possible.
LOS ANGELOPES ARE GOING TO LICK YOUR EAR DRUMS TILL YOU CUM GREASE AND MELT YOUR FACE OFF AND DRINK IT WITH MESCALINE TEA
Yeah, Rev. Borfo makes a point. Some of you might NOT be prepared. It might be why I emphasized a bit more on BEING THE SCARIEST PEOPLE OUT THERE, because it's fucking scary out there if you aren't careful. We have friends that live there FULL TIME, but it doesn't mean they wont steal your beer or try to take your pretty boys and girls, I AM SERIOUS. It's not a fucking hippy retreat, it's a real exercise in Survival. It wasn't just Tom or Larson screaming in the middle of the night, it was a bunch of tweakers that will burn down your CAMP if you piss them off. One of them considered burning down the bar on the last trip, but it was MOTH who talked him out of it. Serious shit.
and also keep a heads up for law enforcement and ICE. Sheriffs are looking for anything or anyone that seems new or out of place. I was pulled over for nothing and John, my passenger, was given a serious rundown because he was hispanic. Taking an off road trail back to the highway I came across a half dozen Immigration trucks looking for people. The main road has Immigration checks too.
indigis responding to a comment by the reverend dak
12.1.10 - 6:58 pm
seconding what dak said. salton sea/slab city, for the most part is a peaceful and desolate place, but when you get down to brass tacks, it's serious business.
they call slab city "the last free place in america" and shit like that, and that's why so many of us love it. but to go live in the last free place in america permanently - with no running water, no electricity, and a diet of caught critters and "desert shrimp" - takes a very specific type of person. this person is not of the average mindset. and occasionally, a meth filled mindset. on top of that, you're in the desert. hot days, cold nights, things trying to eat you in between.
we've got straight up luxury with porta potties and a bar. it's fancier than a motel 6. but we're still in the desert and still surrounded by strange folk and homeland security. that's not to say that it will interfere with your fun, but a big part of the trip is being aware of your surroundings and your environment. especially in a positive way. salton sea is a place to appreciate and explore. a place to get a different outlook and see the possibilities of society. talk to the locals, swim in the aqueduct, take your pants off.
or, in the words of tomatoes, EAT SHIT.
drink beer, go for a swim, and don't ruin it for everyone.
"Living in the middle of nowhere, between a live bombing range and one of the world’s most spectacularly surreal and barren man-made disasters turned wildlife sanctuary, ensconced in an art compound made principally of garbage, has its advantages. For one, the boring cookie-cutter mundanes you don’t really want to see (I mean, you moved out to the middle of nowhere for a reason, right?) think you’re a weirdo and go away. And then the people you do want to meet, greet and get drunk with on occasion think you’re a weirdo and say to themselves, “Wow! A WEIRDO! One of us! One of us!“
It's time to start thinking about WHAT YOU CAN BRING TO SALTON SEA.
Hey, you fucking bullshit consumerist liberals - this isn't an amusement part, you must bring something for everyone else to ENJOY. Whether it is are, or wood for a fire. Bring something, I dare you.
Calling all MOM RIDAZZ, what will it take to get more of you fuckers out there? Last year our METAL and DENIM was WAY OUT NUMBERED by NEON and TECHO. (not that there is anything wrong with that.)
I will help lug some of your bikes out there if it gets more of you out there. Every MOM that shows up in their colors will get a FREE BEER from the BAR.
Organizing types:
Time to start figuring out WOOD and POOPERS. I'm not doing it this year. Wood is especially if you want a CENTRAL FIRE.
The BIGGEST complaint about last year was there was NO CENTRAL COMMUNITY SPACE. Tren Way attempted it with a bar, fail. Westsiders made a fire and some dirt benches, but put it all up on the SIDE OF A HILL and conveniently placed all their tents around it... that is not a community fire, I appreciate the effort, but it didn't work. The first TWO years had a community fire that was used by everyone. Let's make sure there is a COMMUNIITY FIRE this year, and that community wood is used EXCLUSIVELY for that fire.
We will be bringing the BAR, but it will be slightly out of the way. If you are interested in hosting an event (i.e. Beer & Cheese tasting, Brunch, Game Night, Potluck Dinner, Music Listening, etc.) please contact either ms. Stephanie or me.
I'm willing to be responsible to make sure there is enough wood for the community fire. There is an awesome family-owned fire wood place near my house(seriously).
We basically need about a Half-Cord, which is a 4x4x4 stack of wood. STACKED and cut. That amount alone can't fit in the back of a standard pick-up, almost but no. Well maybe if they're stacked on a pallet and wrapped. We've gotten the wood delivered the past three years, but every time we get ripped off by getting barely a half-cord, and it's usually loose and piled. It's costs us about $250 delivered (add tip to that.)
You'll need to start collecting cash, and find a reputable wood dealer that can deliver, or figure out how to get it there.
Thanks for considering the job, it's an important one. Ask for help, I plan to be in SS early on Friday, so I can accept deliveries (if you get it delivered.)
As for the potties, there is a company that has done us good every year. Might have to ask Marino or Tiffany Tomato for it.
Since it's now basically become a tradition, I'll be bringing the basic ingredients for pizza (dough and sauce) again this year. Anyone who wants to make a pizza in the Hitchhikers' Pizza Oven should bring toppings and/or cheeses to work with and share.
I'll also be bringing a surprise. You'll know it when you see it.
Speaking of lights… bring some god damn lights for your bike. Seriously, lots of people asked me if they could follow me back to camp because they didn’t have lights and wanted to stick together since they could not see shit or be seen.
There are many ways to die out there… at least try to minimize the ones you have some control over
Kakihara responding to a comment by newarkhouse
01.7.11 - 4:04 pm
I haven't posted the 40 mile, Bombay Beach ride yet. But every year people FORGET THEIR LIGHTS. The return trip is at NIGHT on 20 stretch of DESERT HIGHWAY, big-rigs will rattle your bones at 80 MPH - you've been warned. But I'm not sure if I'm hosting it, put someone is free to post. It's been Traditionally at 2PM Saturday.
"I will help lug some of your bikes out there if it gets more of you out there. Every MOM that shows up in their colors will get a FREE BEER from the BAR."
"I hope it's a table. The RAMP IS FOR JUMPING!!! not pizza!!!"
Hey now, pizza can be for jumping too...
But yes, I am finding a table that is not the jump this time (though no, that is not the surprise). It was tacky of me to take it last year. There'll be no more olive oil or cheese stains on the ramp, at least not from me.
Especially the produce and limestone haulers that are ungoverned and run unmuffled Jakes.
But who knows, I might be freakishly routed through that zone and could provide substantial cover.
bentstrider responding to a comment by the reverend dak
01.9.11 - 12:11 am
"1st Annual Slab City Fashion Show will be held at The Range (where else?) at high noon on Saturday, Feb 19th. Unless pigs are flying, the organizers would most definitely welcome an onslaught of urbanites in fancy costumes - the more, the merrier. Pass it on."
so what is this thing really? It sounds like a edgy burning man with meth heads burning down people tents and what not. Is there a charge for going? is there a site i can go to in order to read up on the info the do's and donts?
A long, long time ago, the Salton Sink was about as desolate of a place you can possibly go. It was as low as Death Valley, just as hot, but much larger. One day it was accidentally filled with water to became the Salton Sea, the largest body of water in California.
Its water was fresh, its surface was calm and as smooth as glass. Cities started to pop up along its banks. Speed-boat records were being broken, and water skiing was flourishing. It was a beautiful oasis in the middle of the desert.
Then things started to die.
The pristine lake began to dry up, dead birds floated on its surface, and the putrid smell of rotting fish filled the scalding air. This forced the people leave, leaving all they built behind.
Now a land of death and decay, nature has taken over. Leaving behind a clean slate, or literally blank slabs, in its place. This is our future. This is the opportunity to create our refuge:
SOMEONE FROM THE RIDAZZ COMMUNITY NEEDS TO STEP UP:
1. Arrange for delivery and payment for PORTAPOTTIES
2. Arrange for delivery and payment for FIREWOOD.
3. Collect and deliver the MONEY for these things.
These things can be done by ONE individual, or a TEAM of individuals. Or Separate individuals or teams can handle each thing separately. If you want to STEP UP and handle this, please LET IT BE KNOWN.
We also need some of you EXPERIENCED campers EXPLAIN to people what this trip IS NOT. It's not a drug fest bullshit rave, it's not some post apocalyptic nowhere land.
PEOPLE LIVE THERE, it's PUBLIC LAND so it belongs to EVERYONE.
Do NOT go there to TRASH IT.
Do NOT go there thinking that SOMEONE will take care of you if you get yourself in trouble - YOU HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN WELL BEING.
If walk into the WRONG CAMP, someone WILL SHOOT YOU. It is FUCKING TOO DANGEROUS TO GO WANDERING ON YOUR OWN, especially if you're TOO DRUNK or TOO DRUNK to know what is going on.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Can someone PLEASE pass along and share this information to whatever Social Bullshit Network people have been "inviting" people with.
PLEASE use THIS SITE for organizing, everything else is FAKE.
Charlie, one of our friends that lives up there, needs bicycle wheels. They dn't hve to be true or straight - they will become art. Also large bottles of any color.
So far it sounds like pizza and blinking lights are covered.
Any idea who is making this thing really happen by getting the firewood and potties delivered?
Here's a start, I'll help with questions and details. I just don't have the time to do it ALL myself:
POTTIES: Marino knows a company who already knows us, where we camp, and his costs are basically about $100 per potty, for the whole 4-day weekend, includes delivery. The rule of thumb is 1 potty for every 20-25 assholes. So we'll need at least 6 (for 150) if my predictions are correct, but it might be more like 4 or 5, realistically. I have not clue, but the company is flexible and they "should" be able to add more toilets at the last minute. We'll never really know the numbers until we start collecting cash money. The whole point of the potties is to HELP KEEP the area clean, your shit stained toilet paper flying around the area will be disgusting.
FIREWOOD: If someone is willing to dedicate their whole pick-up for a half-cord, that "might" be the way to go. A half-cord, palletized and wrapped, can be picked up anywhere for around $300, something like that. Otherwise we'll need to get wood DELIVERED. It may cost around the same, they'll typically will take cash on delivery. About a half-cord is all that is needed for the COMMUNITY FIRE - DO NOT TAKE WOOD FOR YOURSELF, if you want your OWN campfire, BRING YOUR OWN WOOD.
Final note: Clicking "YES" on a online invite doesn't mean anything. Payment is the only REAL RSVP. If you don't pay, don't shit in our boxes. Don't stand by our community campfire either. The camp fee is your commitment to a community camping trip. No one is stopping you from going on your own, and doing your own thing. But the reason 100+ come on this trip is because of the community - please support it in any way you can.
Wow, I'm really sorry everyone but it looks like were going to have to cancel "The Salton Sea Four" trip, due to inclement weather. There is a possibility of clouds AND below 50Âş weather at night and we just don't want to put any of you snowflakes in danger.
I heard the citizens of slab city passed an anti-rave law this year too. It would limit music and could possibly send Lenard Knight to jail if people were found using illegal substances near salvation mountain.
larsenf responding to a comment by franz
01.17.11 - 8:18 pm
Yeah that's what greg said too. Must have something to do with the new "AB1914 2011 Anti-Rave act" A lot of desert counties including Imperial already created laws about it last year, which why it will be going state wide this year if it passes.
franz responding to a comment by larsenf
01.17.11 - 8:26 pm
Ahhh, I was just reading about the new laws being passed in california in regards to that damn anti-rave law. I rushed here to see if anyone had heard, and now I'm sad to see it influencing this whole thing.
Shitty that it would be put through so close to the trip, but alas, what can we do?
SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT A CENTRAL PLACE TO PLAN THIS SHIT.
Lance and Brendan are already planning fire / portapotties, per the Ridazz Camp mailing list. I'm not on the bullshit social network, so I don't know what's going on there.
If we end up with no portapotties, I don't give a crap - I can dig a whole and shit in it. If we end up with 5 sets of portapotties, I'm paying for 1.
Canceled!? My cat was really excited about this trip.... How do you tell a 24lb pussy that SS4 is canceled!? Maybe I can order a can of fish assholes on ebay or something.... meh,
The whole weekend goes tits up because of some dark clouds and rain? I was planning on going because of the "because Burning Man is really just a warm up for this annual party in the desert" I’m a fan of Black Rock City and was geared up to see how Salton Sea stacked up. This is weak sauce
That'd be too much like the FIRST Salton Sea, everyone got to know each other, and there was SO MUCH more comradery. But comradery and community is so played out.
I had a game in mind that would have helped build camaraderie and surprised a few people how well others know you without you knowing much about them, but I understand most people won't be taking their daily commute bikes, right?
July responding to a comment by the reverend dak
01.18.11 - 11:32 am
I heard that SS4 is now officially canceled because the Federal Govt declared the area a superfund site. apparently due to massive diphenyl oxalate contamination....
I'll try and check back occasionally, but this forum is so awkward to stay up on...please direct any questions or communiques for me to the google group (linked from the page above) or me directly.
Is anyone on firewood at this point? I'm collecting dues for wood and poop, but I'm only dealing with the poop.
In case ya'll hadn't noticed...when I receive your payment, I'll throw your name up on the 'attendee list' page on the google site. Please allow up to one business day for processing.
If you are interested in investing part of your disposably-canned, adjunct-ridden fizzy yellow beer fund in ensuring we have enough locally-sourced conscientiously-quaffed craft beer to last all weekend, contact bar management. As of now the bar will be well-stocked, but if we really want to drink exclusively good beer all weekend, and not have a shit ton of cans to deal with, it is feasible...but i'll need help.
My brother in law said he could get me half a cord for $100, but he will not transport it.
I do not have a truck/van to transport wood.
Somebody is working on a truck, but said person has not used super committal language, so: If anybody wants to haul a crap-load of wood from Ojai to Slab City, make your presence known.
lackflag responding to a comment by Lance K
01.26.11 - 10:26 am
Alrighty then, wonderful sea people... who's gonna hit trickmilla up regarding this potentially phat hook...?
I ain't in LA, and consequently ain't got no means.
We are certainly still in need of a 'combustion czar'.
I disvolunteer myself, as I'm already trying to take care of what you put into and release from your variegated bodies, at least to some degree. I gots no time to keep you warm, too.
Well...ahem....at least not more than one or two of you at a time. If you're cute.
Any takers?
On the wood issue, i mean.
On the...communal fire fuel issue, i mean.
Ahem.
Lance K responding to a comment by trickmilla
01.27.11 - 1:36 am
A few more notes.
The wood is just sitting so the offer only expires after we have left for S&S.
I will personally come help load the wood, it would even be possible, to load the wood very close to departure, so it can stay in whatever truck it is loaded into.
There should be enough money to pay for gas, or even rent a truck, to get that wood and bring it to SS. Even less money is needed if we borrow a pick-up from someone that can spare it.
Do anyone know someone with a pickup?
Mine will already be full of shit (art) and the bar, and all my camping shit. ... fuck.
Don't wait until last minute. Don't be a cheat either. The list WILL be public, if you've paid you're good. If you haven't, don't bother going - it's cancelled anyway.
The bar graciously accepts donations of unopened handles, fifths, and liters of 'hard a' to be served to the thirsty masses. If you are interested in investing part of your disposably-canned, adjunct-ridden fizzy yellow beer fund in ensuring we have enough locally-sourced conscientiously-quaffed craft beer to last all weekend, contact bar management.
And oh by the way one more time:
Thank you Lance for putting so much work into The Bar's page. And The Beer for The Bar.
got lost in the google groups... where is the direct link for donating to the bar? I paid my dues a while ago but can't find donation link (the one posted on this thread is not working for me)
so does anyone else think it's kind of shitty for FMLY to invite 2,000+ of it's closest friends to salton sea on facebook?
i'm generally all for inclusiveness, but this is a trip done by the ridazz community for the ridazz community. they might all be wonderful folks, but i think it goes against the spirit (and scale) of the event to invite such a large, essentially unrelated, group.
yes, i know there's crossover between ridazz and fmly, and i know about 0.0001% of the people invited that weren't already attending will actually show up, but it's almost disrespectful to send out a mass invitation like that. i wouldn't show up to someone's house party with 50 of my own friends, so why invite 2,000 of yours to our camping trip?
but hey, i've been extra curmudgeonly lately, so maybe i'm the only one that feels this way.
@slowrighthand All I know is, Ridazz Bar is carding this year. Sowwy kidlets, you ain't gettin any love from the Bar. And if there are two kajillion people but we still haven't gotten enough money to cover the cost of porta potties and wood that people have worked hard to organize, I'ma kill a bitch.
What the fuck does FMLY think this is? Ugh. One of the locals is going to come after us with a shotgun.
there will be people from the cacophony society, gigsville, and ridazz camp. all invited as long as everyone pitches in for porta-potties, and everyone picks up their own trash
there hasn't been a huge response to it, so this might all be moot. i think the main difference between gigsville/caco (besides the fact that gigsville is completely awesome) is the scale.
This FMLY invite puts a twist on this trip. Ms. Stephnie can the parents contact you before allowing there children to go to this camping event? Just to see if it is going to safe, ok and no crazy people are going to be out there. Maybe they can get some of the parents or somebody from the school district to chaperon.
Truly I am LOLing right now.
I have an idea, maybe fixie4life can chaperon the minor girls.
sexy responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
02.9.11 - 7:01 pm
Sooo, this is Chris[tmas], some of you may know me, I live up in santa cruz so I don't post to MR like ever... buuutttt JAZ and are all about the bike love and have been anxiously awaiting the return to salton sea because we fucking love this trip! What I'm posting about is that we would like to host an event on saturday afternoon for those riders who find themselves not wanting to ride to bombay beach. Because we live up north there's many cool people we don't know, so we're putting our best foot forward with free booze to help people get to know us because we're pretty cool too!
NotSoFineWINE Mixer:
12-4ish Saturday
An array of shitty wines and cheese will be provided for everyone under our big pyramid shaped shade structure!
The goal is to encourage mingling with friends you don't know yet in a NOTsoPOSH social event.
1. This is a camping trip to a really strange and wonderful place. Hot springs, a DIY public library, a public MUSIC venue, art and history.
2. It's a LIVING CITY, with REAL PEOPLE. There is no infrastructure to wash your shit away, or pick up your trash.
3. It is DANGEROUS out there. The townies WILL KILL YOU. Not a metaphor for your mind being blown, they will USE A GUN.
4. If we piss anyone off, THEY WILL BURN DOWN YOUR CAMP.
5. Whoever keeps telling people that it's a place to do drugs, get wasted, or some other hippy bullshit - THEY ARE WRONG, this is NOT that trip. That is NOT the point of this trip.
6. It is NOT A PUBLIC EVENT. This is a Midnight Ridazz trip and we have invited special guests that we TRUST. The only real invite is THIS forum thread. Everything else should be DELETED.
7. Support the local community by donating and patronizing the business.
PAY THE DUES OR DO NOT GO.
Also note:
Ridazz Bar, BROUGHT TO YOU by Tren Way, will be carding.
FINAL NOTE:
If any of you get anyone, or thing, I care about arrested, killed, or burned down - I will raise fucking HELL.
That facebook link is dead. I hope that means the invite was rescinded. I gotta say, I'm all for inclusiveness, but FMLY's involvement makes me nervous.
I will be carding at the bar, and I am a TOTAL hardass about it. If I don't know you, bring your ID!
Lance K responding to a comment by slowrighthand
02.10.11 - 9:34 pm
Wow, so I haven't been to the salton sea before. I assumed it was somewhat of an excuse for people who live with their parents to go batshit in the desert. Yet, reading this thread is making me think otherwise. Would I be welcomed if I payed dues?
Way to go Avner!! that's quite a ride...I hope you're doing it in two days! I don't think anybody who's ever finished a ~170mi ride in one day wanted to be someplace like the salton sea at the end of it, regardless of how much ass it kicks....I sure know that's never been the case with me!
i was just dumping some mud butt in the handicap stall in my office's bathroom and, although very roomy, found myself wanting to be pooping in a porta potty in the desert.
Actually I've been selling a VIP package that includes an all-inclusive ride to the Salton Sea in a 254 foot long art bus. Free Steel Reserve and Xanax, your own portapotty, your own personalized megaphone, free entry into the Sock Wrestling and Staring Contests, a sleeping bag next to the campfire, and a free tattoo of your favorite rural real estate agent.
LouisAve...are you saying you have dues? If so, I need to know more specifically who you're paying for. we already have an 'alex' on the list, for instance. Unique identifiers (or at least a last initial) would be great.
Feel free to paypal the money to my email with a list of names instead of using the button; we can save on the fees that way if you say it's for 'personal expenses'.
I handed LaHarr $6 last night as payment for dues. He mentioned he'd go ahead and give word to either Dak or Ms. Stephanie and also that he was going to be the point man out at Salton Sea for the porta potties.
I also wanted to know if I could just donate some money to the bar in person (I don't own a cc nor a paypal acct.)
July responding to a comment by Lance K
02.12.11 - 12:46 pm
PS. has anyone given any thought to the idea of having a SHARE CUTZ EVENT for anyone interested... or anyone who happens to pass out with their shoes on?
Louis. Please contact me directly via email with your list of attendees, including some sort of way to identify them uniquely. my email is my username here, minus the space, plus an 'a', @gmail.com.
As July said, it looks like Laharr is gonna be the man wid da cash for the sani peeps, 'cause I'll still be picking up kegs when ya'll early arrivals will be wanting to go poopy-time.
Who else is packing their Wellie's? I've got a decent rainfly for the ol' domocilio, but I'm worried about mud - anybody recall the grain of the dirt in hitchiker's camp? I want to recall it being fairly coarse and sand-like, but I'm worried I may just be being optimistic.
The dynamic of a bunch of cloistered cult-tribes holing up in their shade-cum-rain-structures, communicating with megaphones to barter for goods or flesh, actually sounds kind of fun. The rain will help dampen the dance music, too!
Lance K responding to a comment by LouisAve
02.13.11 - 1:02 am
I have not gotten your email. While we seem to have made some headway on the new people as far as identification goes...I still need to know WHICH alex and adam and daniel and jose you are sending me money for. Also, "+1"s aren't gonna fly - too confusing on the ground at the event. I need names.
Lance K responding to a comment by LouisAve
02.13.11 - 7:21 pm
"I also wanted to know if I could just donate some money to the bar in person (I don't own a cc nor a paypal acct.)"
July, just bring shit to donate.
@EVERYBODY ~ BRING MIXERS. Grizzly old alcoholics like me can drink really shitty hard liquor out of a bottle and not flinch, but others may not be able to. WE WILL NEED MIXERS.
If you're 21+ and you would like a beverage from the bar, you gotta BRING YOUR OWN CUP.
Wait, one more reminder:
There will not be a community trash can in the bar (or anywhere else around the camp for that matter), so whatever you walk into the bar with, you best walk it back out with you when you leave.
1.5 gallons of water per person per day. There's a market in town (2 miles away or so) are open until about 6pm - you could always patronize it to bring money into the local economy.
I know Nathan has had a pizza oven at Salton Sea the last couple of years which has worked wonderfully and, might I add, deliciously. I came across some suggestions to making your very own using a steel sheet and just wanted to share:
PROBLEM #3: You love Neopolitan-style pizza, but don't want to invest in a brick oven.
SOLUTION: Make an oven out of a steel sheet.
Get a ¼-inch-thick sheet of steel from a metal fabricator (Search online for a local one), have it cut to the size of your oven shelf and insert it in the rack closest to the broiler. Preheat the oven at its highest temperature for ½ hour, then turn on the broiler and slide your pizza onto the metal plate. It should emerge perfectly cooked in 1.5 to 2 minutes.
WHAT'S GOING ON: Pizza in a brick oven cooks at about 800 degrees—way hotter than the highest setting of most home ovens. The metal sheet is more conductive than a brick oven's stone, so it can cook just as fast at a lower temperature.
Facebook canceled SS4 'cause mark zuckerberg wants all the hawt, hipster, American-Apparel-clad bike chixx0rs to himself.
'Homie's Wear' Is highly recommended, as it will get cold at night.
There will certainly be no NASCAR camp...if anyone tries to build a paved, banked elliptical track, it'll undoubtedly be taken over almost instantaneously by fixie4life and crew, right?
Remember, cycling = rotating != biking.
Lance K responding to a comment by fixie4life
02.15.11 - 4:16 am
Weather forecast is 100 deg during the day, and 20 deg at night, with 80% chance of rain on Friday and 100% on Saturday with a likely hood of flash-floods.
P.S. will anyone have a spot on their car on the way back towards LA? I don't really care where you're going, as long as its generally near LA and means I don't have to ride 200 miles home :p
Avner responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.15.11 - 10:42 am
"the last free place on earth... unless youre under 21"
Hey man, I don't give a flying FUCK what people under 21 do out there. They can fucking eat a bunch of pills, drink too much stockpiled 4 Loko and take a header off the water tower, but I sure as SHIT am not going to contribute to any underaged anything. Nor am I going to serve alcohol to a very friendly-looking person I don't know that doesn't have i.d., guarantees that they're 21, drops a few names of Ridazz who post a lot on the forum only for that person to be a fucking narc.
Rides keep falling through. I really want to go. Can you or anyone you know have little ol' me in their car? Please email me micheleappel at gmail if so. Thank you for your help, hope to see you out there.
Sorry about the lack of rideshare wiki...I haven't figured out how to do that with google sites.
I would like to take this opportunity to +1 Ms. Stephanie's lil' rant. The bar is going to be 21+ only, all the time. I will be checking IDs. Sorry, kids, but it's really just one tiny corner of camp.
the last free place on earth... unless youre under 21
Free as in speech, not beer.
If you're under 21 and feel the need to drink in the desert, make solving that problem your job--it sure as hell isn't anybody else's. Get resourceful. Or get your parents to buy it for you, like I did when I was your age. Sheesh, kids today...
PC responding to a comment by newarkhouse
02.16.11 - 3:18 am
im 17 and am going to bring my first fixie to slab city. i spent all my money on bright colored deep Vs so I didnt have any left over for brakes or for my friends bro to buy us beer but can trade high grade organic greens
Please serve me, i know Alex Thompson and someone named 'Xrayz'
my older friend who works for something called the ATF told me tren way has the best beer at salton sea and that i definitely need to try it.
I still remember when Ridazz bar refused to serve Marino because he lost his ID at the hot springs when he went skinny dipping with the techno crowd. He was not a happy camper without his ouzo
One of my friends who is driving up, and taking all my bullshit up in his truck would like to know how to find the campgrounds among the 40 mile long stretch or so.
If you hit Salvation Mountain you've gone too far. If you see a large water cistern, and another large water cistern sized hole in the ground next to it, you have arrived.
Bring shelter, like a canopy. The bar will only fit "so-many" people, so bringing a canopy, rope and tarps will help create other "areas". hang out, drink beer, eat pizza, it'll be fun no matter what.
@jonnyboy - I think there was at least 160 people last year.
@Rogue Rida - if you're going that route, you better show up before the other guy - naturally we will be crossing names off the list as people show up at the bar.
--
Just entered the 213rd name. I like that number.
SALTON SEA 4 is officially SOLD OUT!
Don't forget to bring a cup!
Lance K responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.17.11 - 1:26 am
Karahu Backcountry skis with 3 pin Rottefella bindings are the new 650B tourers, which were the new cyclocross, which were the new fixies, which were the new rollerblades, and so it goes.
franz responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
02.18.11 - 6:48 am
Can someone with admin privileges take the hyphen out of the "Salton Sea - 2011" gallery?
I'm going to add my photos in there, since someone already created that (not me) and I figure creating a whole new gallery would only create confusion. BUT all the other Salton Sea galleries are sans hyphen, so it would be nice if it matched.
Thanks to all who came out for the NOTBOMBAY BEACH ride on Sunday. Have fun cleaning out your drivetrains. I told you it was going to be on dirt! Fuck Bruce!
I was humming Careless Whisper most of the drive back home. I've been humming Careless Whisper most of this morning. I think I'll be humming this song until next year.
What do you got against George Michael? Does he owe you money for a BJ?
Otherwise the best part of the Bar was Careless Whispers. The worst part of the Bar were all those that felt entitled to FREE BEER, you fucking brats ever heard of gifting? The beer was gift, look the word up.
Thanks to @RevDak and @Frumble for the Tomatoes fire memorial. Thanks to @Fuzzbeast for helping me with the Tomatoes memorial plaque. And an ohmygodIcriedlikeababy thanks to @RevMook for the memorial at Bombay Beach. Holy shizznit, it's beautiful. I'm so glad Tomatoes' mom stayed for the whole thing, even though she had to put up with a little too much Australian madness during the fire memorial. But it was so good to see her there.
Careless Whispers for the win so badlee.
@Lanceka, You are one amazing bartender.
@Youstupidbitchwhohelpedthelocalsburnmybarstools, Don't come on rides that I'm on.
Congratulations to the artists who built the Tomatoes burn monument and to Mook for the AMAZING and beautiful Bombay Beach plaque. What a feeling to stop in at bombay beach and take that in..... May it last forever. Best SS4 yet.
Contrary to popular belief it was NOT a 30 minute loop, it was an EXTENDED REMIX.
1 Song, 3 verses, 2 solos... just really really long sexy SAX solos.
Thank you Mateo for making that for me, I'm glad people liked it. And all you fucking hipsters that tried to change the only song I wanted to hear that night, FUCK YOU, EAT SHIT, motherfucker!
The best part of Sunday Morning, KINGS AND QUEENS! That was dedicated to all of you... LOL.
Thank you LANCE and MS.STEPHANIE for running a kick-ass bar.
Thanks you Ms. Stephanie, Lance and Dak for erecting and running the most amazing bar the desert has ever known. Thank you to everyone who came and brought the love and helped to create all the F.U.N. that could be had. Coffee, beer, whiskey, community meals, spontaneous adventures, songs on the mountaintop (<3 to Gibbins & the sluts), mud, fire and a good dose of desert madness. Aaaaaaaaah. DIG HERE!
Thank you so much. This past weekend has taught me so much. Laughing, crying, cuddling, dancing, riding, running, climbing, music making, fire burning, Tomatoes tributing, beer drinking, mud wrestling, mud volcanoes, the moon rain sun and stars, the people, new and old friends, bike cars, the bar, flame cannon. Wow.
Damn i am sad i missed gibbins & the sluts and sock wrestling but thanks to "PC" went on the best ride evar! at one point we thought he was trying to kill us. ok only a few of us thought that... thanks PC!
Kakihara responding to a comment by kryxtanicole
02.22.11 - 7:10 pm
I'm proud of all the ridazz who toughed it out, contributed, participated, and enjoyed themselves.
Great trip!
Perhaps next year we can schedule this so that it won't compete with Mini Bike Winter in PDX? Or perhaps things are fine the way they are...
I just want to say I was happy with how well people behaved with each other and respected that place. Not sure how much longer we will keep the opportunity, but I hope it lasts. RIDE ON!
thank you to everyone who made this trip awesome. i will never forget this weekend. i learned more about myself and others than i ever have. i lost things that will never be found. i made friends that will never be lost. i remember laying in my tent with paul's fire cannon lighting up the whole thing and some beautiful music being made on some crazy shit only to interrupted by the beautiful sounds of george michael's saxy sex. i am so glad i know the coolest people in the world. thank you midnight ridazz for expanding my mind.
so much incredible creativity and energy went into this years Salton Sea it gives me tingles and makes me feel so proud to be part of such a dynamic, inventive and loving community.
I wish i had enough time to finish all the projects i had planned, guess ill have to go bigger next year. In many ways this trip was so much better than Burning Man and I think next year's trip will be even better.
I loved friday night so much. memories of tomatoes cursing out daniel while he was djing last year and the physical east/west divide of camp faded away as dozens of people seeking shelter from the rain lost their shit dancing to jonny boys incredible sound system connected to the bar.
heres the moombahton mix that I played that night-
Nadastrom podcast
speaking of graham, fucker did an amazing job of directing people into camp this year- wouldn't you say?! the camp layout this year was truly top notch. THANKS GRAHAM!
graham also gets my most valuable passenger award. Sorry sheendawg, your navigation skills lack discipline and you know it
ALREADY LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR!! :)
jonnyboy responding to a comment by newarkhouse
02.23.11 - 11:04 am
Graham will always be tren way, whether he likes it or not - it's in the blood. Plus we love each other too much. But just because we don't formally accept dual citizenship doesn't mean you can't, it's all good and we're all midnight ridazz.
I managed to finish about 75% of the projects I set out to do. About 75% appreciated 50% of my art, that makes me extremely happy and feel successful - I wouldn't have been able to accomplish any of it if it wasn't for all of you.
If you don't know what I bring to Ridazz Camp, you're not paying attention.
p.s. I'm still pretty pissed about my Bar Furniture, which took me 2 days to make and everyone another day to decorate. If some of you aren't aware, on the last night some stupid RIDAZZ thought it would be OK to burn my bar stools, 10 of them. (contrary to popular belief, it was instigated by a couple ridazz, not locals. Although they helped.)
The art on them is irreplaceable. They've been to Burning Man twice and Salton Sea twice. You can imagine how bummed I am about them. It's fucked up, and makes me not want to do, or bring, anything for you guys. But I'm forgiving and I can't help myself.
I don't know their names, but they're not welcome around me, ever.
One more thing. Who knows the story about the kid who's mom called the cops on us? Care to share it? I heard the cops printed out this whole forum, and came asking for organizers and stuff.
I hope you learned a lesson, YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS on a PUBLIC FORUM
Thank you Tren Way for showing the rest of us how to do it out in the desert. You guys are appreciated, especially by Cruss Mob.
Thanks to all those that said we couldn't get our little fire going... and we did, and then everyone who came by and shared awesome yumminess! The pancakes, quesadillas and indian pare stand out the most but everything we cooked was tastey and so delicious.
Thanks to Tim for hauling our drunk asses. Hope we didn't dirty the van much.
Thanks to all the music providers and dancers that accompanied the music: had too much.
To all old and new friends for sharing in the experience.
Thank you.
And thanks Justin for providing that link to moombahton mix... there's a song I woke up to that night that mix was playing that I can't get out of my head and that I can't for the love of me find online.
are you fucking kidding? hahaha when did the cops come besides when the tomatoes fire was raging? they asked for the organizer or president... of course there isnt one, they did know that it was an annual event.... but I assumed it was one of the locals who called the cops? do tell more detail!
Roadblock responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.23.11 - 1:09 pm
i just want to say, thank you to everyone this year. it was loads of jeffs cum.. wait i mean loads of fun and lance thank you for a great bar, i love drinking your beer.. especially when your serving it. and dak&staph thanks for the memorial, it was amazing. jonny&paul for the music bikes and graham for the questionable faces throughout the weekend. dylan for the amazing food outside my tent. and the locals for bringing a little slab city to the camp. FUCKYOUMOTHERFUCKEREATSHIT.
YOU and your fire politickin!! you and Graham tried to kill our fire with your so-called EPIC fire! how satisfying t'was to see you back at the real fire later that morning.
Roadblock responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.23.11 - 1:48 pm
I made it as far as Joshua Tree and realized the desert is for zen like reflection and not a bunch of raving dub-step crack heads making too much noise. I am glad you all had fun...
and RIP bar stools 2009 - 2011, we never knew you.....
man all the bar stools? there was history in those mother fuckers! that is my favorite bar, i cant believe someone would do that. maybe they were unhappy with your limited hours.
saturday or sunday during the day an imperial county sheriff suv pulled up to camp and parked by the teepee and stayed for a little while.
graham (maybe alaska? my brain is misfiring) told me that they had been alerted to the 'bike rally,' as a homeland security officer put it, by someone's MOM. they had this thread printed out, but there wasn't really much they wanted, other than to assert their presence.
I am so down for a new location next year- Leonard seems bummed by us, even if its the locals we get drunk who fuck up his mountain.
Thanks to everyone who put their time and effort into making sure others would enjoy themselves.
TREN WAY, you deserve a welcome back parade... Thanks for everything.
Notes: I managed to rescue one bar stool from the fire Sunday morning. I stumbled over to the campfire bleary-eyed just in time to watch one of the local crazies toss it in. I fished it out just as the flames were starting to catch. I alerted him and his associates to the fact that it was furniture and had been through several trips. I think 2 chairs survived in total? After clarifying the difference between firewood and not firewood, i left the circle of crazies hovering around the fire in the early light of the day.
Also, Thanks for hooking up the flames Dak, we ate like desert kings thanks to that little ground stove and fuel you provided.
And, yeah, the cops were definitely wise to what was transpiring in the desert. We had the pleasure of (involuntarily) visiting with them as we left Niland, and they made it clear that they knew what kind of things were going on out there. They didn't say how they got their info, but they knew what they were looking for.
Not sure if they will… not much happens there for them to forget and get over it. One thing I know for sure is that I will not simply “get over it”. Kinda surprised I am reading this form you, Roadblock. What happened to respecting the surroundings, the people who live there, the people you went with and cleaning up your fucking trash? I aint no babysitter. Fuck this shit.
Kakihara responding to a comment by Roadblock
02.23.11 - 4:12 pm
that's kind of fucked up thinking roadblock. I just got word that Leonard at Salvation Mtn was really upset at our behavior. The noise, vandalism and the "Noise-Bikes" really made him uncomfortable. In fact I heard that they're going to do their best to make sure we don't come back next year. I'm NOT making this up. It really doesn't matter who, or what, individual caused any single thing because it reflects on ALL OF US. That means it reflects on ME. I'm a friend of Charlie, who didn't bother visiting us this year because of what happened LAST YEAR. It's fucking bullshit.
I also got informed that Noah was one of the Ridazz that decided it was OK to throw my bar-stools into the fire. I will speak with him soon. The locals have never really fucked with any of my shit before, they've taken beer but when they see OTHERS taking beer from my cooler, it might seem like it's OK for them too (which is why it is important that NO ONE GOES BEHIND THE BAR.) I can go on and on with my complaints, and concerns, and I know most of you heed my warnings. But this is really looking like it was the LAST Salton Sea trip, at least at this magnitude and location.
It's funny because i'm finding it really hard to be pissed off at anyone, because i"m pretty much still glowing from the trip. It was awesome. But as it is, things will need to change if we're to do this again. Which sucks. It means rules, and no one likes rules. But if you can't apply SIMPLE FUCKING COMMON SENSE, it means you need rules. If you need rules STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME.
you don't fucking listen. If we had ONE FIRE, like I said, we "might" not have ran out of wood on Sunday night. If we didn't run out of wood, on Sunday night, I would probably STILL HAVE MY BAR STOOLS. You amaze me sometimes with your hypocrisy. You were one of the complainers saying that we didn't have a central fire, but YOU were the one trying to put the fire up on the hillside instead of in the middle of the camp last year, and you were the one insistent on having the fire next to the bar this year instead of IN THE MIDDLE.
I love you don, but you are not allowed to handle the fire, ever.
p.s. All the wood in the Tomatoes Fire was wood that Hadley and I brought all the way from LA, and NOTHING to do with the COMMUNITY firewood.
I'm pretty pissed about losing those bar stools. they each had a history of blood, sweat, tears, and puke. I only decorated them, but they've been some of my best friends at the best bar in the world. Each one was unique, and each had a story to tell.
Is there any way someone could post the two remixes from the bar? The Careless Whispers and (forgive me for not knowing the name) UNO DOS TRES QUATRO one. Ive had so many people from La and Santa Cruz asking me to find them!
Still tingling all over from this weekend. I will never forget it. Can we go back next weekend? We never had a Moth Vs. invisible Tomatoes rematch at sock wrestling.
yeah my house is under construction right now so im gonna see if we have the right size of plywood that i can donate. If not ima get some anyway from a supply store. Those stools saves my legs from falling of a couple of times so ill do anything to help.
Is there anyone in particular i should give it to?
bwillowz responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
02.23.11 - 7:03 pm
When I say "they will get over it" I'm talking about the sherriffs as that seems to be who was being discussed in the comment I was replying to about someones mom calling the sherriffs.....?
Roadblock responding to a comment by Kakihara
02.23.11 - 8:06 pm
Hypocrisy is seeing that a fire was started next to the generally cetrally located bar... And then starting another huge fire about 30 feet from the generally centrally located fire near the bar and using up a ton of wood on said fire and then blaming me for the lack of wood. Did you grab a tape measure and find center camp exactly? Cause your massive fire was literally 30 feet from the small fire that everyone was gathered around.... I consider that in practical terms to both be "generally centrally located" and therefore your massive fire was uncalled for. Further more you guys were dumping all sorts of fireworks and magnesium into the massive bonfire making it completely unfriendly to anyone who wanted to just chill around a generally centrally located fire and cuddle... And that is my friend why your massive fire failed and our cozy fire survived.... I won't bother committing the fallacy of blaming the huge fire for sucking up wood and compelling some idiot to burn the stools. Fuck who ever did that, but you can't call me a hypocrite for pointing out that your attempt to start a second fire 30 feet away from the cozy fire was a waste of wood and in fact your plan backfired!
As for the salvation mountain guy complaining... I don't even agree that we did much of anything more extreme than last year... Were there more people this year? I doubt it.... Maybe next year we should go south a bit more....
Roadblock responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.23.11 - 8:21 pm
You are waaaay over reacting. Someone called their mommy to drive all the way from LA to ss4 to pick them up and that person apparently tried to sabotage the whole shit. What a twat buy does anyone think that will happen again?. That won't happen again. Everything is fine. This will all be forgotten about by next year. SS4 was fuckin awesome. That Australian bitch needed to get chin checked. And seriously, pdx has it's thang we have ours. The cops don't care about us.
if we knew trang, dadachainbreaker's friend, helped burn the chairs, let's find out her address and send her an invoice via certified mail for the cost and labor of the chairs and just see what happens for the lols.
i doubt dada trolls the forums and i'm sure trang doesn't. who knows how to make a pro looking invoice?
I just want to know who the artist was that managed to shit completely to the left of the hole in one of the porta potties? on further inspection that takes some serious determination... I mean one would have to brush up against the pee funnel to position ones ass that far to the left. You sir, or ma'am are a true artist de merde....
who knew so many ridazz were so untrained in the art of potty slamming. i mean, people will roll around in the dirt and rub their junk against strangers but they wont wipe a seat and sit the fuck down?
I do find it funny that AT's Mouf gets installations every year.
they really should design those toilets with gaping funnel holes rather than seats. squat over the funnel and blast that shroomy shit into the vortex. Perhaps the funnel could be coated with some sort of slippery substance so the dookie just slides on down...
Roadblock responding to a comment by neverclever
02.24.11 - 12:55 pm
"Someone called their mommy to drive all the way from LA to ss4 to pick them up and that person apparently tried to sabotage the whole shit. What a twat buy does anyone think that will happen again?"
That's fucking pathetic. And, yes, it will happen again when you mix clueless, unprepared, immature brats of any age with obnoxious, immature, irresponsible assholes of any age. Anyone with a cell phone can call the cops. That's why the really good shit happens where there isn't any cell phone coverage.
"Maybe next year we should go south a bit more.... "
Yes, south of the tanks instead of the Salvation Mtn with sound systems always aimed away from Salvation Mtn and Slab City.
And please give more respect to Leonard when you're around or passing by Salvation Mountain. We're going to find out what was making him uncomfortable this year.
I passed Leonards twice once on the way to the range and once on the way back... I didn't feel like our parade was disrespectful at all.... would love to find out the story. that ridge is so spectacular at night with the LED art... bummer we have to move, but it's better that way. Though the ridge probably blocks sound somewhat from getting over to slab city.
another thing we could consider is taking a route along the back of the ridge to get to the range if it bother's leonard that we ride in front of salvation mountain....
I am all for showing utmost respect to the locals and to the Sheriffs who were uber cool about the Tomatoes memorial considering the fireworks and magnesium are both illegal to light on fire there. I spoke to the Sheriff for about 15 minutes while everyone was gathered around the memorial and they didn't want to have to break up the party, they just wanted the fireworks to stop which almost happened. A couple stubborn people continued to throw bottle rockets into the blaze after the sheriff drove off.... I tried to spread the word best as I could.
Roadblock responding to a comment by toweliesbong
02.24.11 - 3:10 pm
i love you dak. but FUCK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU! did you even see me on sunday night? check your narc before you ?speak with me soon? i dont have a computer so find my number you know people i know, so that shouldnt be to hard and give me a call. i would like an apologie for you putting my name where it shouldnt be.
dudebra420 responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.24.11 - 5:43 pm
You know the way that most people felt about that Australian psycho dancing and shouting in front of the Tomatoes memorial pyre acting as if she knew better than anyone else what Tomatoes would have wanted? I suspect that Leonard may feel the same way about a gaggle of noisy party casualties sprawling all over his monument to Jesus, drawing attention to themselves instead of his life's work. I mean, Leonard's a pretty tolerant guy, and Ridazz are a pretty tolerant group, but there's a limit to everyone's patience.
As a group of us were riding up toward the slabs on Saturday, there was another group of Ridazz with a sound cart at Salvation Mountain, and I overheard some visitors saying "they seem to be under the impression that we all want to hear their music at full blast." Maybe that was what annoyed Leonard. Or maybe he just wanted to get some fucking sleep at night. Maybe he doesn't like George Michael. I don't really know.
You can say "people live here" as many times as you like, in bold, blinking capital letters, but that doesn't mean that campers are going to take it to heart when they're drunk and under the influence of any number of substances. At that point, asking them to have a subtle appreciation for the locals' sensibilities isn't going to get you anywhere, and for those who were a bunch of entitled little brats to begin with, it was a lost cause from the start.
This all sounds pretty curmudgeonly, but I actually had a good time (better than last year, definitely). I think that on the whole, we were pretty harmless. It just sounds like we're gradually eroding away whatever good will the locals might have had for us. We should stop doing that.
I had so much fun with you all this weekend you inspired me to register here just to say so! You fucking rock in more ways than I can count! I'd name names and specifics but then I'd be going on and on and still leave someone out. Simply an amazing experience.
To those who wound up directly in the blast zone of the synth/Theremin chaos, I would like to apologize for my poor placement choice. I promise that any future noise assaults will be more strategic.
At this point I've decided that deliberate re-programming is the only answer to George Michael...
Most of all I'm stoked for all the great people I met, got to know, or know better! Still buzzing from such a great weekend. Thanks one and all!
Thanks for hauling your stuff out there. Next time you can put your theremin next to my tent instead without any complaints (well depending on my neighbors).
This was my last SS trip with MR (at least for a while) but I always enjoy your synth/theremin set. Listening to Melt Banana was a good break from the 30 minute sax loop as much as I danced to it…
Cheers!
-e-
Noah, I hope you can see where I'm coming from. I was pissed, and ready to blame somebody and anybody. But I'm at a point I don't care anymore. I apologize for throwing your name out there before speaking with you. Someone told me it was you, I went with that - I shouldn't have done that. Again, I'm sorry. I will get your number and call you ASAP, I don't want any bad blood between us.
ok. that one very long song!
i skipped all comments/emails/posts about this song so i didn't know. I am looking forward to mixtemotions' version someday.
Kakihara responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.25.11 - 10:30 am
That's funny, because my little piece of property is [[HERE | http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=salton+sea&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Salton+Sea&t=h&ll=33.345174,-115.969459&spn=0.007493,0.020556&z=17]]
jetfuel responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
02.25.11 - 12:11 pm
I got more information from locals at Slab City. Basically we're not welcome. The damage and disrespect that we did, as a group, is unforgivable. I feel embarrassed beyond belief. I'm really bummed about this. I knew that this trip was going to be a make-it or break-it trip. I didn't know, or maybe I did, but we broke it. We did a shitty job of policing ourselves. We did a shitty job of cleaning up after ourselves, and we did a really FUCKING SHITTY job of respecting the environment, the locals and the area as a whole.
Here's a quote:
"[...] the crux of the problem. Slab City and Salvation Mountain exist here because people try to treat each other with at least enough respect to allow each other to freely live without encroachment. The "freedom" we have here is not about being anti anything as much as it is about personal freedom to live without anyone overseeing you, like a landlord, boss or nosy neighbors. It does not mean that we come out here and do as we please at the expense of others peace or freedom. It is not about doing as we please TO others regardless of their choosing to participate or not, as your group did.
The whole affair was negative for many people who live in the Slabs. The talk at the Oasis Club following the weekend was about how disrespectful your group is and how much everyone wanted to kick your asses for it. It's been the same thing every time you have come here.
Your group seems to misunderstand these ideas. They appear to believe that because they have come from a city to the only real, free place in the desert they have the right to do as they please. Hedonism is fine, but not when you encroach upon others with it.[...]"
I feel truly ashamed. I'm not sure what we can do to make amends, and I'm not sure anything we do would help.
As it stands, we're no longer welcome there. This is on all of us.
I want some clarification... like as in what exactly pissed them off... ok we made a bunch of noise with the music. EVERYONE was a party to that.... was the 30 seconds to mars song the final straw? or was it the george michael loop hahah I suppose it was ONLY the dubstep right? what about all the noise from the fireworks and the motocross bikes? that didnt piss anyone off?
seriously, when we went to the range people seemed to dig the show what turned them sour?
if they cant say exactly what was pissing them off then how can we adjust our behaviour next year. and according to this note, this has been the issue every year. are they just being haters?
like I say everytime, I'm all about repsecting the locals but they cant just hate on us ambiguously. lets get some details so we can adjust.
I will say this, a bunch of people littered the fuck out of the hot springs and that was fucked up. a bunch of people dumped canisters into the fires and didnt pick them up after and that was also fucked up. the exploding canisters and spray cans are fun surprises but if you dump them into a fire, be sure to pick them up when the fire is DONE!
where are you communicating with the locals Dak? was this on a message board? I would like to speak with them and see if we can make amends rather than run away from this amazing good time.
Roadblock responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.25.11 - 12:59 pm
Leave it along, Roadblock. We're stepping up and taking responsibility as part of the group, who gives a fuck what exact moment they decided it was an issue.
Take responsibilty yourself, try to fucking learn something from this, and move on to hopefully better things.
The people who are communicating with the locals are the ones who apparently give a fuck about them and their lived experience in their community more than a party.
"Take responsibilty yourself, try to fucking learn something from this, and move on to hopefully better things. "
That's what I call talking to people face to face or at least via email or on the boards or if you will, how about the night of the Tomatoes memorial where I did actually take responsibility myself and talked to the Sheriffs, got my ID pulled and run and promised that the fireworks - the reason they stated they came out - would end. a broken promise it t'was as people still threw in fireworks despite my conveying the sheriff's demands....
SS5 will be different, but it will happen and the only way we can make good with the locals is to communicate with them and work with them, not just tell everyone they hate us and that we should never go back....
Roadblock responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
02.25.11 - 1:11 pm
"Take responsibilty yourself, try to fucking learn something from this, and move on to hopefully better things. "
If I am asking for clarification on what we did wrong, then isnt that a form of learning something from this? If I'm asking for the ability to communicate then isnt that taking responsibility myself? you guys know how to get in touch with the locals... I'm just asking for an introduction and a line of communication so we can adjust next year.
Is there any way to make this a smaller event at this point? I don't think so. Next year if you have this there are still going to be 200 people with megaphones shitting all over the portapotties. Why do we have to have to have Burning Man Jr. in someone's backyard? Look on a topo map. Find a dry lake bed on BLM land. Go there instead.
Maybe some smaller groups can go out to Salton Sea to make amends for this year by cleaning up for Leonard or something, but I think we're beyond "working out" a plan with the locals for a big weekend party in the future.
Just find somewhere else to go. Here's one reaction from the tren way list:
"Are you kidding me?!? There are about five billion dry lake beds within driving distance of us, none of which are in someone's backyard. That part's easy."
Seriously, Roadblock. I'm asking you in all sincerity to leave it be and start something new. I'm not an unreasonable person, and you know how much I love Midnight Ridazz and Midnight Ridazz trips. There is no way for you to police this thing so that it will be okay with the locals, I promise. No way. As a matter of fact, they know that themselves and have had conversations with the sheriffs about it, so if respecting the locals isn't enough, then knowledge that the sheriffs will be all over it next year should help.
The email is long, detailed, and the grievances start from the very beginning of the weekend and go to the very end, and we are all responsible. I'm not going to repost the email because it's not my place to, and we're not going to share someone's email address because it's not our place to. You need to trust our call, you need to trust MY call, that this can't go on.
I mean, Leonard had to go stay at a motel because all of the noise / car traffic through his site / fire stressed him out so badly that people close to him were afraid for his health. That man has poured 30 years of his life into Salvation Mountain, and we chased him away.
@slowrighthand and @BellBeefer have it right - it's time to find some BLM land, and start fresh.
it sounds like they have the same grievances that any homeowner in LA would have if a ride pulled up to a park near their house and started playing obnoxious bass music and trashing the place.
I understand its 'their land' but if these people want to live in a situation where they can be free from roaming groups of obnoxious bikers, than maybe they should live somewhere that isn't connected to paved roads, has a history of renegade parties and scumy tourists. Were out there for the same reason they are - to avoid the feds and police. if they want peace and quite at night they should live somewhere with a police force to enforce that peace - i understand the whole respect issue, but if someone was truly disrespected enough to want to 'kick our asses' they should come out and say it while were there so something can be done about it - something i actually prefer way more than 'calling the cops.'
all the locals i interacted with, include Moth, who's home we truly camped in front of, seemed super stoked to have us there - including the slab city kid who's dream of making music I helped advance a little further by giving him his first experience on a drum machine. that and our monetary contribution to the Niland economy vastly overshadow, in my mind at least, all the other supposed negatives.
and with that, I'll let it die. RIP Salton Sea Ridazz trip to the fringe zone, time to evolve, time to grow, time to upgrade
An Angelope purchased a parcel of land outside Barstow not too long ago...
agreed. face to face communication is best. but even if they call the sheriff thats fine too. I'd rather deal with them like I did this trip.
I dont like having complaints and issues moderated through interpreters and not getting the full story or details. that's what big government is for....
Saton Sea aint dead, next year we're going to get in touch direct with the locals and work it out direct. None of us are unreasonable. we don't need a huge fire with tons of fireworks and canisters exploding, the small cuddly fire was perfect, we can turn down the bass and it's pretty simple to draw up a map that keeps people from driving in front of Leonard's spot. I spent time with Moth this trip and the man was giving nothing but kudos. I've never shied away from talking things out with people and I certainly dont like being prevented from communicating on behalf of a name I spent a good portion of my life nurturing.... I'm defending this rep because a rep is all a playa got.
I love Trenways but sometimes you guys do get all exclusive and I'm sensing that here... I suppose if Salton sea were to die Trenway would never go back either right? yeah right... learn how to work with everyone. that's true anarchy.
Roadblock responding to a comment by newarkhouse
02.25.11 - 2:17 pm
"it sounds like they have the same grievances that any homeowner in LA would have if a ride pulled up to a park near their house and started playing obnoxious bass music and trashing the place. ... if they want peace and quite at night they should live somewhere with a police force to enforce that peace ..."
OMG If I wanted a false equivalency I'd watch the Glenn Beck Show, SRSLY. It's not nearly the same thing.
"that and our monetary contribution to the Niland economy vastly overshadow, in my mind at least, all the other supposed negatives."
Right, and doing damage and bugging the fuck out of the dude who created and maintains MAIN ATTRACTION of that area for many people sure adds to the economy.
cabhauler responding to a comment by newarkhouse
02.25.11 - 2:19 pm
I'm not going into details, but some people (most likely from our camp)went and fucked up some art, broke shit, and tagged on Salvation Mountain. Tat kind of shit does not fly with me. That is seriously fucked up behavior and I am ashamed to know that our camp may have had some involvement with that.
So there you go. Just as always, it takes just a few douchebags to fuck it all up for the whole. Sure, we can try to make ammends with Leonard and the rest of the community of Slab City, but we have overstayed our welcome and will have to find another place to bring our jump rope and sidewalk chalk next year. Perhaps we can come back another year.
Our community needs to realize that we fucked up as far as being able to police ourselves.
We need to make a MUCH STRONGER EFFORT to educate each other how to use common sense and self reliance in new environments.
Joe Borfo responding to a comment by newarkhouse
02.25.11 - 2:19 pm
"I'm not going into details, but some people (most likely from our camp)went and fucked up some art, broke shit, and tagged on Salvation Mountain. Tat kind of shit does not fly with me. That is seriously fucked up behavior and I am ashamed to know that our camp may have had some involvement with that. "
well. THANK YOU for at least clarifying one of the grievances.... is there a photo of the damage so that we can determine if it indeed was one of us?
I don't think it would be that difficult to arrange for gifts to be made in the form of bucket paint brought to Leonard to help ease the sting even if it wasnt one of us....
get me a photo of the tags. lets start policing ourselves.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
02.25.11 - 2:24 pm
Okay. Dak and I had decided that we cared enough to understand Salvation Mountain's grievance, so we decided to reach out. We did it via email because we wanted them to be able to vent uninterrupted while also being able to later distill it down into actionable items. It's apparent that just an excerpt of the mail doesn't do the whole mail justice, so I'm posting it below so that thereps proper perspective.
Dak and I weren't trying to represent anyone but ourselves. We wanted to reach out, so we did. As such, it will be us that will eventually formulate our reply. They don't need to have a bunch of love or hate mail from folks. In fact, they'd rather never hear from us again. It's Dak and I's gig, but the severity of the words from the Mountain are worth sharing to raise the collective awareness.
Okay, the whole mail:
"Thanks so much for following up on this. I hope some changes can be made before you folks come back here again.
From the morning of the first day, things got off to a bad start. I'm not sure what the deal with the megaphone's is, but some incredibly ignorant and immature people like to start annoying people with them first thing. That first day it started at around 6:30AM. After a completely sleepless night because of the music and noise blaring from the sound system, I had more than enough when it started up. I had to get out of my bed and approach the person with the megaphone. I told him that if he used it again before 8:00 I would "Fuck him up", and I meant it. I am rarely moved to a point of violence over anything, but people who are purposely annoying can take me there.
The next day was filled with cars passing through the Salvation Mountain driveways and parking lot even though there are 2 other entrances to the location you camped in. These areas are often occupied by families with children and older people viewing Leonard's work. Many of your group, not all, but many sped through as fast as they could handle. Then, of course, it rained and the parking area and the road (which was created by Leonard Knight) were muddy. People ignorant of the fact that these roads are used by the few residents including myself, paid no attention to the damage they caused driving in and out in the mud. The parking lot is still a mess of tire tracks and large, loose clumps of mud (now dried hard like cement) because some of your group thought it was funny to drive all around after being asked not to pass through. Finally, we had to close off the parking lot with my van on one end and straw bales on the other. These were completely obvious barriers placed in a futile attempt to save the road and parking area. People from your group drove around the barriers making ruts in the desert. Some even drove across the very delicate ground and struggling plant life making ugly tracks through the mud, now dried hard.
No less than 5 different cars and people defecated and urinated in my drive and in my immediate camp area. One girl stepped out of her car (which was parked about 20 feet from my front door) and began urinating in front of me while I argued with her to get out of my camp. Countless people walked right through my camp, I mean close enough for them to touch my trailer. In many caps in the Slabs, a person could be shot for that.
One piece of Leonard's artwork was destroyed by some of your group who set up a temporary camp in one of the small adobe "igloo's". They removed a mirrored glass that had been decorated by Leonard as a backdrop for some of his trophies. The mirror sat in that same location for about 10 years before your people took it out and broke it. It was left sitting out for us to find in the morning. Chairs, cigarette butts and beer cans left behind.
We found 4 or 5 graffiti markings painted with Leonard's paint. Nothing mean, but painted over his work.
One night, while Leonard was sleeping in his truck, I saw fire shooting in the air and went over to the mountain to see what was happening because we had an arson set fire only 2 weeks before. The guy with the car/bike was shooting flames from the top for photos. I told them they couldn't do that because Leonard was in his house and probably horrified. rather than apologizing and quietly leaving, they had to have one more photo of one more flaming burst, no matter the expense to Leonard. That was the only night Leonard spent at the Mountain during your visit. He stayed in a motel the rest of the time to avoid the stress.
That brings me to the crux of the problem. Slab City and Salvation Mountain exist here because people try to treat each other with at least enough respect to allow each other to freely live without encroachment. The "freedom" we have here is not about being anti anything as much as it is about personal freedom to live without anyone overseeing you, like a landlord, boss or nosy neighbors. It does not mean that we come out here and do as we please at the expense of others peace or freedom. It is not about doing as we please TO others regardless of their choosing to participate or not, as your group did.
The whole affair was negative for many people who live in the Slabs. The talk at the Oasis Club following the weekend was about how disrespectful your group is and how much everyone wanted to kick your asses for it. It's been the same thing every time you have come here.
Your group seems to misunderstand these ideas. They appear to believe that because they have come from a city to the only real, free place in the desert they have the right to do as they please. Hedonism is fine, but not when you encroach upon others with it. When you do, you will get a negative response every time.
I must have spoken to 40 of your people about staying off the road and the parking lot when they were muddy and every last one told me it wasn't their fault, they weren't responsible, and this is the desert so I have no authority. I promise that if you folks come out next year, things will be different.
Unless things change, I will hire professional security to keep all of your participants completely away from Salvation Mountain. I have already spoken to the Sheriff's Department about this and they said it was a good idea. We wish to always keep the Mountain open and available to all who come, but we will not accept the kind of utter disrespect we received from your group again without consequences.
I know this is all very negative, but so was our experience. I didn't even mention how the Hot Springs was trashed every night you were here and how residents were left to clean up after you because nobody likes to take their morning bath with other peoples underwear, beer cans and wine bottles all over the place. Of course, that was only on the rare occasions that we were able to enjoy the springs without 20 people screaming and yelling like fools the whole time. Nor have I mentioned how upset our animals were during the illegal fireworks and bombs, or whatever the hell that was, you were setting off.
I don't know, maybe it's too soon for me to write calmly about this. We're all still pretty pissed about the whole thing. In fact, I think I have to leave the discussion of this up to you folks to have without much from me. All I want at this moment is for your group to never return. Leonard feels the same way. If you must come here, then find another location, far from Salvation Mountain. Many of the people attending your event are simply not mature enough to handle the message and atmosphere of the place. There are 640 acres available. You don't have to camp here and ruin things for residents as well as the many tourists who come to see the Mountain without a bunch of grungy, drunk kids sitting on top yelling, climbing all over delicate areas, and invading any possibility of personal reflection.
Ok, that's enough. My blood pressure is up just thinking about all this. I apologise for the tone, but I think you need to understand the impact your event had on me since I was asked.
I really do appreciate your following up with me and I hope you are able to figure something out so we don't have to waste money and energy protecting the Mountain from your event next year. It would be so much nicer if people could just try a little common courtesy instead."
I'll be offline for the weekend and won't be responding to replies. Just take the words respectfully for what they are.
jetfuel responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
02.25.11 - 2:32 pm
I'm the type of guy that falls in love and can't let go, can't take a hint, won't give up, even when it's crumbling all around me. It's never really worked out too well. One of the lessons I'm really trying to learn is when to let things go.
lackflag responding to a comment by Roadblock
02.25.11 - 2:32 pm
how can I not be defensive? This is my crew that is getting blamed for shit that may or may not have been done on our behalf... you know me. I get involved and here I am being prevented from getting involved in helping heal the reputation of shit that I have been involved in since the beginning.
I dont doubt you've been communicating, but sometimes I wonder who is being blamed for all that went wrong? the last thing I want to see is a particular group be blamed for all the ills to save the rep of another group. WE ARE ALL ONE GROUP like it or not, when we are out there. that was the first thing that bothered me this time around when I arrived. it was like "over there are all the dubstep ravers and over here are all the cool people" sort of thing... someone basically walked up and said that to me as I drove up, I have to admit I was put off by that. I believe we are all as one. not west sidazz and east sidazz.... when we are in the desert we are Midnight Ridazz. the one and only. sure there are clicks and there should be groups of friends... but they shouldnt be pitted against each other. we should be sharing our information and communicating as much as possible.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
02.25.11 - 2:33 pm
I had a great time and I think this all comes down to respect.
I am a military brat and was raised to respect everything.
The golden rule.
This was my first SS.
Maybe the music should be capped at 3:00AM
Maybe no under-agers.
Maybe no flame throwers.
Maybe no huge fires.
Maybe more regulation on where to camp and how to camp.
If you bring it, take it.
With all these things again simply holding respect for everything around you and thinking about their situation in the scheme of things.
I for one picked up more trash at our specific camping area than I made, there is plenty of extra around. I also fed everyone with beer and food that came near our tents and vehicles.
when the fuck did i ever say i was any different than you,. yeah I know you resent me for having a subgroup name but theres nothing i can do about it. stepping away.
Joe Borfo responding to a comment by Roadblock
02.25.11 - 2:39 pm
Some of that - not all of that - but some of that we have been emphasizing from the first year of Salton Sea, and rather than get better, it gets worse each year.
This thing has grown to the point where it either requires actual, official rules, which I want nothing to do with, or it needs to move on.
I was going to write a big old thing but I'll keep it simple.
Do SS5 in the same spot with the same spot. If you do, at best expect searches of cars and personal belongings, expect tickets and arrests for every minor thing the Sheriffs can think of, and end up feeling harassed and on edge all weekend. At worst expect a bunch of the locals who hate us to come down with shotguns and scare the fuck out of you. Around SS2 time there was a ton of violence amongst the locals, don't think they wouldn't be happy to direct that violence towards us.
Do SS5 further away and when passing by Salvation Mountain give Leonard the utmost respect. When he asks you to do something, do it politely! Same if someone in the slabs asks. Then there's a chance Ridazz SS trips will continue to be fun.
Maybe I'm missing something but it seems like common sense to me.
Yeah, there's a reason people buy land out where there are no neighbors, and there's a reason groups like Gigsiville no longer do events near other people.
"Maybe the music should be capped at 3:00AM
Maybe no under-agers.
Maybe no flame throwers.
Maybe no huge fires.
Maybe more regulation on where to camp and how to camp. "
None of that would be necessary as long as we camped further away from Salvation Mtn and Slab City.
"All I want at this moment is for your group to never return. Leonard feels the same way. If you must come here, then find another location, far from Salvation Mountain. Many of the people attending your event are simply not mature enough to handle the message and atmosphere of the place. There are 640 acres available. You don't have to camp here and ruin things for residents as well as the many tourists who come to see the Mountain without a bunch of grungy, drunk kids sitting on top yelling, climbing all over delicate areas, and invading any possibility of personal reflection."
there is not the least bit of resentment towards your group from me.... like I said, I love Trenway and going on trenway trips. I carry trenway stickers on my bike and a trenway patch on my vest. I resent not being in the loop for a far larger group that I'm a part of and caretaker of... that is all. Now that I've read the email, I see that it matches a lot of the gripes I personally outlined earlier.... bombs in the fire and trash at the hot springs and the megaphones and the noise.... we are all responsible adults. It wasnt that hard to bring the message to everyone and I will be that everyone seeing this message can now understand. Thankyou for sharing this once again Jet Fuel. It was important for people to know.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
02.25.11 - 2:51 pm
did you get my message on facebook? I appreciate what you said, but it wasnt necessary. for some reason I cant find your name using my account otherwise I would add you. can you do me a favor and ad me? same name you found me under.
I'm 'Jet Fuel' on facefuck. I'm not on more than seeing stuff come through the phone from it now and then. ...and I didn't see a message from you come through, so...
Best is to write me directly. jet [at] pistonsandrods daught calm.
jetfuel responding to a comment by Roadblock
02.25.11 - 3:13 pm
"bombs in the fire and trash at the hot springs and the megaphones and the noise"
It's all that, and it's so much more.
It's all the people that ignored his requests and did the opposite of what he asked, to his face. Why would you do that? If someone says, hey this is my camp please don't fucking piss here, why would you sit there and look that person in the face while you proceed to piss?
It was the shit in front of the Range before the fashion show started - it doesn't take a genius to see why the locals might be a little irritated by us taking control of their show (Dak actually spoke to Builder Bill about it as it was happening to smooth that over a little bit).
Eh, I think Kakihara summed it up best. Please see her post.
Ms. Stephanie responding to a comment by sack or crack you choose
02.25.11 - 3:39 pm
not to be that guy, but... if we went there to repent and suck god's dick, would things be different? i can understand how the noise, music, explosions, and trash at the hotsprings pissed off the locals. but riding our bikes next to salvation mountain? all the other things mentioned, i tend to not really believe... maybe i just have hope that many in our group are mature and respectful enough to not do that shit. people sped through the salvation mountain parking lot as fast as possible? give me a fucking break. sounds more like locals making shit up just because they think we're weird and don't agree with the lifestyle some people in our group lead. if people fucked with salvation mountain, that's fucked up.
im sorry, but i dont see how we (the "under-agers") were any more responsible than anyone else. if anything we were more respectful because we weren't nearly as shitfaced as many others. try to see this statement as ageist in nature and that it is wrong.
gus responding to a comment by parlorbikes
02.25.11 - 4:01 pm
like Burning Man outgrowing Baker Beach, our Salton Sea trip has outgrown Slab City.
whats done is done and no matter how many times we apologize, I truly don't think we will be able to have the same event in the same spot "with the same attitude."
I want propane tanks exploding every hour of every night. I want to be able to play witch house as loud as fucking possible and have flame cannons shoot out when the bass hits. I want to hear my friends scream out on a dozen megaphones into the star filled night. I want Leonard's mountain to be left as beautiful as it is now for years to come - all these things cant happen if we continue to camp at hitch hiker camp.
again, its time to move on; new spot, new rulez.
this trip has the potential to be something so much better than what it has become - and in order to achieve that we need to responsibly plan for the next stage of this monstrosity.
instead of arguing with each other we should be figuring out ways to make next year's trip more sustainable, beneficial and unobtrusive to the locals.
and if you are or know one of the people who disrespected salvation mountain in any way, than you better make sure you bring buckets of paint to donate next year, or better yet, go out there and help him fix the rain damage.
so wait, was that Leonard who put the hay bales out or was it someone else? anyway....
I was thinking it would help if we took some of the $5 fund to buy the homedepot scrap bucket paint and give the gift to Leonard next year.
Very CLEARLY mark a map and route to a location further south and away from Salvation Mountain.... and just not hype this thing as much next year.
Charlie's email is painful but he still seems open to us if we can bounce back and show respect. and for fucks sakes we have to clean up the hot springs when we go. that was just aweful.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
02.25.11 - 4:07 pm
wow, there's a lot of disappointment and frustration here. Understandably so. I know all weekend I kept looking around camp and seeing the dirtiest campsite I've ever been to. I have to say those semi-locals that made themselves at our camp certainly did maximum damage...and honestly I think we took some of the rap for them...I imagine they'll be booted from Slab City soon enough.
Even so, there were a number of things we did that were in no way un-intrusive or low-impact. I hate seeing the animosity between ridazz though, especially the ones who care.
So what I'd like to say is that if you were there this weekend and you did something shitty or stupid - trash the hot springs, stand at the top of a mountain with a megaphone at sunrise, etc. - learn to respect the space and people around you. Learn from the very sad fact that collectively these actions have gotten us kicked out of this wonderful part of THE FUCKING DESERT. Yeah, we got kicked out of the desert. Yeah, we fucked up. Even as part of the group, I was a little overwhelmed this weekend by the mess, the excessive explosions, the endless dance music. It's not about rules, it's about common sense. And it's not burning man, it's SLAB CITY. It's pretty much free for us to be there so it would have been nice if everyone who came at least paid their part in respect and gratitude. I promise it doesn't take away from the fun.
It's too late for us to undo what happened this weekend. I hope that those of you who have not engaged in the conversation above (who have demonstrated their concern and consideration) will take a lesson from this event and learn to set reasonable boundaries for yourselves before some one else has to.
I loved being out there and i loved being with everyone, because in a city as big as L.A., i never get to see any of you as often as i'd like. and damn, what a beautiful group. But there were a lot of things I didn't love.
I hope that NO ONE will pretend to be innocent, for there was plenty of opportunity to reign in a lot of the bad behavior before the weekend was over. I had conversations with a few people over the weekend about their destruction and disrespect. I stayed away from the bar because there were too many people with the wrong ideas in their head - focused on their personal party time and not the whole group. I still had an amazing time and wandered far enough from camp to find grace and solitude in the empty expanse of desert.
I'd like to say thank you to Tren Way for initiating this trip 4 yrs ago and introducing us all to the area and experience. Now let's go get better at being a CREATIVE, COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY instead of a destructive or divisive one. (everywhere, not just in the damn desert.)
I was near Kevin when he was talking with some people and he said that they don't need any more paint. But if you bought paint specifically for them that it had to be water based. He said that Leonard is getting old and doesn't have much longer so he can't get through the paint he's amassed.
Maybe people can volunteer to help build the place up more?
whats done is done and no matter how many times we apologize, I truly don't think we will be able to have the same event in the same spot "with the same attitude."
Its not about apologizing because we want to come back. It's about apologizing because that is the right thing to do.
lackflag responding to a comment by newarkhouse
02.25.11 - 4:30 pm
"Maybe people can volunteer to help build the place up more?" -neverclever
Now that would be a worth while activity for us to do. I don't care how many times sexy gives us crap about it. We'd all have to wake up at the crack of dawn and follow Leonard's instructions. We could get a lot done for him if we all cooperated responsibly. This is all here-say and we'll never know for sure if we'll follow through.
Joe Borfo responding to a comment by neverclever
02.25.11 - 4:41 pm
give me a fucking break. sounds more like locals making shit up just because they think we're weird and don't agree with the lifestyle some people in our group lead.
The human capacity for denial never ceases to astound.
PC responding to a comment by coldcut
02.25.11 - 4:51 pm
I propose we return with a small group, maybe a dozen or 20 - nothing overwhelming. Sooner than later, because it gets HOT AS FUCK in the desert. And we'd be there with no sound system, a modest fire, and the whole purpose is to do COMMUNITY SERVICE at Slab City, which means helping at the mountain, cleaning the slabs (picking up trash.) Donating tangible goods like water, gas, firewood and cash.
This is how I feel; we fucked up as a group (we, Ridazz), and we burnt bridges. We might never be completely welcome, but I love that place. The best we can do is rebuild those bridges, even if we never get to use them. No loud sound-systems, no giant bonfires, no explosives and no fireworks - done, never again.
We can still camp, enjoy the place, drink beer, and go on bike rides. Like we used to.
I'm in for that. Perhaps while we are there we can scout a better location farther away where we can still play music and have some F.U.N. without disturbing the peace of slab city....
Roadblock responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.25.11 - 5:18 pm
i didn't deny there are assholes among us who do stupid shit. i merely assumed that they (the locals who hate us) may or may not have blown things out of proportion because they don't agree with our "hedonism" and "bike orgies". repent! john 3:16 or whatever.
coldcut responding to a comment by PC
02.25.11 - 5:28 pm
It's sad that people can't respect other's people personal space, whether it's a mountain full of paint, or some hot springs out in the middle of nowhere. I sometimes wonder if people live like this at home, and sadly, I've been to a few places here and there and will say that it does ring true. I don't know maybe it's because I'm quite the germaphobe and ocd ridden... but I love keeping my shit clean and at a minimum, anyone who's ever been in my room can attest to that. I'm not too fond of all the blaming and deflection I've been reading but it's natural when something of this magnitude, regarding a place that's "holy" to us in some way or other, happens and it's out of our control.
My only concerns for the weekend were all the LED lights sprinkled on the ridge next to camp (which was very aesthetically pleasing, don't get me wrong) and the insane amount of spray cans I seen laying around.
I'm glad the locals spoke up because otherwise all we'd do would be find a new place and trash that place to oblivion as well, with a few dedicated few trying to make amends.
No one is without blame, not even myself. I could have done more than I did and I realize that. I love Midnight Ridazz... and I know we can learn and evolve from this.
"If the demand to go is high, we can have multiple weekends. I just don't want to overwhelm them with 200 raging drunks like last weekend.
Which is why I'm thinking less than 20 ridazz at a time.
I'll head up a group as soon as possible.
But any small group should go whenever they can."
As much as ridazz claim to be inclusive I sense a lot of exclusivity. I don't like this idea. But if people just want to keep on hanging with their friends, then go for it.
July responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.25.11 - 6:00 pm
I would venture to guess that tren way is no more or less exvlusive than other subgroups of the ridazz community, they're just up front about the fact that they are, so its easier to point fingers.
I'm talking about groups of people going up to do Slab City Community Service. I intend on going up, alone if I have to. But i'm sure there will be others willing to join me. I'm not talking about a party trip. This would be a straight-up go up, do work, help build, dig, pick-up trash, etc. There will be nothing F.U.N. about it, but I'd feel better about myself.
This, or another, thread is where I'll post the dates of the trip I plan to make. Not sure how, or when, but I'll let people know here ASAP. Probably make a weekend of it. (Friday/Saturday) I hope others do so on their own.
uh, on another note, I think the SSARS4 sickness is getting me, I feel like shit...
I hear ya on that SSARS4! It got the best of my last night. Been in bed all day today and would stay there if I weren't heading to Vegas in a few hours.
July responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.25.11 - 6:27 pm
The truth is that we ruffled their feathers. The best thing to do is to just put yourself in their shoes and imagine how it would feel to you if a large group of people who were doing things that didn't seem respectful. to you I have hope that we can win their favor again by making amends. I am willing to participate in that regards. But, I still stand by that if we plan another Ridazz Trip next year, that we take more consideration into our actions and how we all represent the same group and that we possibly find another location that won't impact others so negatively. I had a good time. I noticed how the large numbers might allow things to get out of hand. I feel I could have made a better effort to prevent this. Let this be a learning experience for all. On a higher note, I do feel that we honored Tomatoes memory out there. There were a lot of good rides and events. Let's acknowledge our actions as a whole and try to prevent things from falling towards disrespect and carelessness next time around. I care about this community and I hope that we continue to do trips and adventures to experience and express our bike cultures and more.
What separates Ridazz from other groups is that when we fuck up, we make amends because it's the right thing to do. What a statement it would make if we came back out and put in work for the slab city community. I'm 100% down for this.
Roadblock responding to a comment by lackflag
02.25.11 - 6:46 pm
As much as ridazz claim to be inclusive I sense a lot of exclusivity. I don't like this idea. But if people just want to keep on hanging with their friends, then go for it.
Some people richly deserve to be excluded. If they had been excluded from this trip, we wouldn't be in the situation we're in now. I don't think MR's famous "inclusivity" was ever supposed to mean anything more than refusing to exclude people for fucked up reasons like race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation etc. But godDAMN, some people have interpreted that word in a mindlessly literal way over the years...
PC responding to a comment by July
02.25.11 - 7:14 pm
This is really saddening.
I had a wonderful time this year. Maybe it was because I haven't seen anyone in so long it felt really nice to reconnect, maybe because I slept well for two days.
Either way, Salton Sea has always been really magical.
It's really meant to be taken differently. Salton Sea is kind of like a retreat. Although you can have two "free" spaces, it doesn't mean either should be approached the same way. Take BM for example. You are encouraged to do all the crazy shit you like. In Slab City, I think they take solace in the solitude and peace they have. SS2 was great for meditating.
It sucks to get home and read all of this. I knew we were walking on eggshells, but I didn't know it had gotten that bad.
I'm down to put in some labor with Leonard if he accepts our offer. I don't really have means to donate, but I have the time for labor and I hope that's better than nothing. Time to really "pay our dues."
My other favorite part of the trip was really paying tribute to Tomatoes. Thank you everyone who allowed us to do that, whether it was in the form of art, fire, books, etc.
Thank you everyone for the good times (and the bad.)
I would like to be on of the first to sign up to go back and help. Reading that email brought tears to my eyes.. That mountain has been my inspiration for a year and to think of it being disrespected like that makes me sad. I would like to do anything I can to help out. My email is in my info, im free every weekend and if im not ill cancel whatever else i have planned.
Also:
Its not about apologizing because we want to come back. It's about apologizing because that is the right thing to do.
- Lackflag
Yes yes yes a million times yes.
x
bwillowz responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.25.11 - 8:55 pm
I'm sorry PC. When I first learned the word inclusive I didn't realize there were footnotes attached to it. I had nothing but the literal sense to guide me. Gonna have to modify it I guess.
And though I understand that all it takes is one shit head to ruin the parade, I read a couple of the concerns the local wrote about and, well, one in particular kinda lead back to a specific group. Let me clarify by asking, where did the whole Megaphone idea come about? Can you remind me? Who started that? Well, now kids have run with the idea, live with it.
Also, and I'm pretty sure you read the entire thread, you noticed that I misread Dak's message so there really was no need for you to even address this unless you felt I was taking a direct jab at you guys. It's not like I've ever felt excluded from anywhere or by anyone for that matter, and the day that happens, well shit... I guess I'ma start my own godDAMN bike gang.
July responding to a comment by PC
02.25.11 - 9:22 pm
It's all our responsibility. Which is why if you guys get an expedition going out there I'd be more than willing to go out and help. I actually met quite a few locals, including pastor Morgan and the guy that we gave our trash to, and they were pretty awesome people. They weren't some of the ones that had issues with us.
PS. The ones always fucking up never come on these threads to alleviate or fix things or even to just open a line of communication as to how we can make this community that much better. They never have and they never will. It's only those who love this shit... who see this as family... who believe in this, that come on here, battle one another, and try to come up with solution after solution for their messes, which in turn become ours. We're obviously not reaching everyone.
"If they had been excluded from this trip, we wouldn't be in the situation we're in now."
oh yeah? like who? the people using megaphones? the people who built the giant bonfire? the people blasting canisters and fireworks? or just the people blasting dubstep music? or the people blasting george michael? the people who got their cars stuck in the mud?
those were all complaints outlined in the email above.... and that's why I wanted to read the entire email and not just select excerpts of it.... it was coming off as though only *some people were at fault while others were not to blame.
what I'm getting at, is that it's annoying to have people come on here and complain about other people fucking things up when it was the whole damn lot of us and our friends who were causing the ruckus as a whole group.
we shouldnt be coming down on each other chirping about other people who should be excluded... No individual from our group really did anything terribly wrong. it was that there were 100 individuals being rowdy and doing little things that add up to a lot of ruckus and we'll just have to learn to tone it down.
"it was coming off as though only *some people were at fault while others were not to blame."
Neither Dak nor I, who were the first two to discuss this, ever said ANYTHING to make it sound like that. Not one single thing. As a matter of fact, we took responsibility, and both said we felt terrible. Go back and read how the conversation started, and don't misrepresent us.
"It's funny because i'm finding it really hard to be pissed off at anyone, because i"m pretty much still glowing from the trip. It was awesome. But as it is, things will need to change if we're to do this again. Which sucks. It means rules, and no one likes rules. But if you can't apply SIMPLE FUCKING COMMON SENSE, it means you need rules. If you need rules STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME."
@Steph, when you guys become the gatekeepers of communications about the entire group from the locals and then make statements like the above it can percieved as an us vs. them situation... this statement was coming off to me as "I Dak, exercised common sense, while all you other people needed rules." as though anyone has the unique right to be pissed at everyone else while ignoring their own contributions to the grief.... megaphones, bonfire canister explosions, fireworks, loud music.... all of these grievances were detailed in the complete email and all were perpetrated by pretty much everyone including Tren Way. so maybe we ALL need rules... juss sayin'
fuck it. none of this is going to ruin my memory of the best salton sea trip yet and I love everyone here. I want to be part of the community service trip and make amends. please include me on the details and please don't do it the weekend of March 20th.
I have battery powered tools I can bring, skil saw, sawzz all drills screws, etc and mad carpentry skills. I'm down to help build new chairs for your bar too.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
02.26.11 - 1:32 pm
Like the assholes who vandalized Salvation Mountain and/or used it as a campsite. Like the idiots who pissed on people's campsites. Like every feckless waste of oxygen who left garbage all over the hot springs and Hitchhiker's Camp despite having plenty of opportunities to read up on the self-reliance and respect for the area that Ridazz camp supposedly embraces. Like every self-entitled brat who thinks the Slabs are a 7-11 parking lot. Like whoever gave me the SARS...OK, strike that last one.
Next year let's camp somewhere a lot harder to get to. That should at least screen out some of the fucks who think their mommy is going to come clean up for them on Tuesday morning. And if people want to act like obnoxious assholes, they'll at least have to do it to one another directly instead of using retardo train kids as a proxy.
PC responding to a comment by Roadblock
02.26.11 - 2:19 pm
I'm over it. but yeah, ummmmmmmmmmmmm I did pretty clearly ask for an email address, offer mine to be passed along or the forum location of where to get in touch.... I guess I'll just have to reach out when I go out there to do community service.....
Look, mr. politician. You have taken that out of context, because that was in reference to the whole disrespecting me, and burning my stuff.
Not once did I not say I will not, have not, taken responsibility for the shit that I did. Not once. But I did POINT FINGERS and express my anger at people that FUKCD UP MY SHIT. MY shit. I complained at people leaving their trash in my bar. I complained, and barely at that, that I created 1 small bag of trash, but I somehow had to pick up and pack SIX TRASH BAGS FULL OF TRASH. The only reason that you're upset at ME is because I called you out when it came to firewood, which we both disagree and see differently - so I think you're still caught up in that - which is fine. I'll get over it, so will you.
All I can hope is that you'll be going to the Slabs with me, when we go back and try make amends and do a bit of SERVICE to their COMMUNITY. I'm thinking a month or two.
I'm using this as an opportunity to reevaluate the bar, its needs and where we go with it. If I need help, I'll definitely make a shout out. It'll likely just be a decorating party, and it'll probably be when we ramp up for Burning Man.
"All I can hope is that you'll be going to the Slabs with me, when we go back and try make amends and do a bit of SERVICE to their COMMUNITY. I'm thinking a month or two. "
I will. That's a promise. Like I said I got tools and a want to make things right with the locals, just give me a heads up, don't make it the weekend of March the 20th and I'm in barring some unforeseen obligation.
Roadblock responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.26.11 - 2:38 pm
It should not be hard to find a new location farther away from salvation mountain and still close to hot springs where megaphone cacophony orchestras can be fully realized without being a local nuisance.
The monopolization/abuse of the hot springs was a big part of the problem, though. I just think that no matter what kind of good intentions people take with them, those issues will still exist. Dry lake bed fun 2012!
The closer you get to the hot springs, the closer you get to Niland, which is an actual city. Look at google maps, there are lots of areas out there, just not easily accessible by skinny tires or low cars. Face it, the only way we can camp at the Slabs again is if we're respectable to our surroundings, period. Which means nothing loud; no bombs, no sound systems, no megaphones, no vuvuzelas and no Jeffs. It also means we'll have to create clean up crews to police any place we go, because we can't seem to get a handle on litter - even at home.
Accessibility to water, stores, restaurants and bars is absolutely one of the benefits of staying at the Slabs.
But personally I love the Range, the Library and Charlie's Art Garden. Moth is rad, and Bombay Beach is rad - all things a bike ride away. For me it would be worth it if it means eliminating all the "crazy" shit (we all know I love my fire and explosions...)
i'd like to apologize for being so mean earlier. i know the locals have valid gripes, but in the heat of the moment i was angered by how they perceived our entire group. plus religion always pisses me off. anyway, i'm sorry. i'd love to come help rebuild bridges whenever you guys go.
if we ever go back there to camp as an entire group i'm all for no loud music, explosions, trashing the hot springs, etc. personally, i just enjoy seeing friends i haven't seen for a while and camping.
yeah we gotta make it a rule to do the hot springs at like 3am or something.... we just invaded the spot with people there. we didnt wait our turn and there was like 40 of us. Its all bad. and then left fucking trash! wow. we gotta change that big time or you are right.... not go back.
Roadblock responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
02.26.11 - 10:23 pm
I was responsible for placing those LED's on the ridge, and I took responsibility for them by collecting as many as I could find on Sunday night. As far as MOOP goes, they came with us, and left with us.
Personally I do not think limiting the experience by banning soundsystems, bonfires and fireworks is the right way to go. I might as well apply for a job at fucking Border Patrol.
Let's try moving out of earshot from Salvation Mountain, that is the real problem here. Let's get on the other side of a hill from residents before we start blaring megaphones and any sort of music.
And maybe when riding past Salvation Mountain we keep the hooting, hollering, music blasting and drunken behavior to a fucking minimum, or NULL. It's a religious place, not a place for partying loudly or being an ass.
Let's find our own mountain that nobody gives a sh!t about. Let's make it our side of the mountain, where we can be as loud as we fucking want without bothering a single soul (except ourselves).
Obviously trash is a big problem, but an easy one come leaving day (PICK SHIT UP). No need to quarrel endlessly about this shit.
Move the location, put a volunteer board to sign up for daily 3am hot springs cleanup, and do what ever we fucking want as long as we are being respectful to locals and ESPECIALLY the folks at Salvation Mountain.
jonnyboy responding to a comment by the reverend dak
02.27.11 - 12:24 pm
@luckypierre Unfortunately, that's not true. I can't tell you how many of them we picked up from all over the bar and around the bonfire area. I appreciate that you guys picked them up from the hill, but you should not have passed them out afterwards. They were everywhere.
After reading many of these posts, these testimonials seem to match many of the sentiments between rural-desert denizens and urban getaways/transplants as a broader whole.
Many of those who moved out to, or lived in the desert areas all their lives are used to solitude and not having to deal with many of the urban woes they either fear, or got tired of.
When the younger, rambunctious crowd from the larger, urban area come in to make their presence known, patience with the local population will always be riding that thin line.
Anywho, all of your above solutions to keeping the urban-footprint low would go a long way in easing tensions with the local populace and keeping any future resistance from nipping at the collective heels.
I hate to say it, but after seeing what massive urban influx and intervention have turned the Victor Valley and the surrounding desert into, I feel like one of the Slab City locals already.
At least those guys aren't dealing with the housing crisis and the high unemployment that plagues my current living area.
I picked up about 100 more LEDs off the hillside during the day Monday. It was pretty easy to find them this year, since they were conveniently wrapped in white postal labels. Hopefully, there aren't too many left.
Also, hey, PC, do you suppose you could post the crazy route for the Not Bombay Beach Ride? I'm really curious where we ended up riding (or, y'know, walking or whatever).
Sometimes I wish I was better at leaving Internet arguments alone.
Last time I tried to reply to this thread I got a couple pages worth, which, of course, timed out my login session (damn you Roadblock!). Let's try again, with a bit more brevity:
We are all responsible for what happened out there - I certainly had the best of intentions bringing beer, the idea being to cut down on litter...but as it was I just contributed to the drunkenness of the bad apples who fucked shit up for everybody. I stopped serving the braindead assholes (from LA and wherever those train kids came from) saturday afternoon, but plenty of damage was already done.
Watching roadblock and dak argue is just stupid - comon' guise, we're on the same side here. While we may have different ideas about how to proceed, blaming each other for the various problems this year is just silly.
From my perspective, the trip has simply gotten too large. Too many people are working at cross purposes, and the community is too striated to self-police. I know for a fact I was good three or four degrees away from most of the knuckleheads I encountered, which makes it tough to figure out how to reign them in. Some people want to explore the sights slab city has to offer and bask in the solitude of the desert. Others want to rub up on strangers to overly loud dance music.
I think the solution is obvious, and has already been stated here more than once - MR desert ravefest 2012 will take place on BLM land far, far from the slabs, and anyone who wants to visit the salton sea for it's desolate beauty can do so in smaller, more respectful groups, in a less organized fashion.
To my friends, thank you for everything - I had a completely unforgettable and largely positive experience. I'll save more specific thank-you's for facetime. To the assholes, none of whoom will ever read this forum, thanks for turning what I thought was going to be a satisfying act of generosity into a major point of shame and regret.
Lance K responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
02.27.11 - 7:29 pm
I stand corrected and do apologize for them littering the bar and any other areas. This was the largest deployment of those lights that I had ever attempted, and as such had a hard time keeping track of them all. I definitely lost some control over their final resting place after giving them out. It is something that I will take into consideration when doing large scale deployments like that in the future. Thank you.
Also, thank you for the bar! I didn't drink anything, but had a seriously marvelous time idling there to various repetitive songs.
@nathansnider
Thank you for doing that. I collected as many as I could at night but didn't take into consideration at the time that many of them probably died out in the rain. Rendering them invisible at night :)
Again, lessons for me to take into consideration for future installations.
I feel like I got bogged down a little in the negativity this thread has (necessarily, and probably appropriately) devolved into. Probably has something to do with the fact that I'm STILL SICK, ARGH! Ahem...
We did throw Tomatoes one hell of a birthday party. Getting to assist dak and frumble knock up the beginning of the effigy (ie, get in their way) after being up for over 24 hours is something I won't soon forget. Mook's installation was nothing short of perfect...I'm having trouble finding more words for it than that. While I missed most of the burn cleaning that bitch's (and my own) blood off of my face, I did take great pleasure watching her dance ever closer to all of the explosives. Pity none of them took mercy on the world and...oh dear! where did this paragraph go? I guess I'm still a little bitter than she got to take part in the festivities after what she did to me...but that's neither here nor there.
Anyhoo, as I was saying, so many good things. Dr. MakesYouSick, the I<3Dubstep guy, was just...magnifico. Matteo is truly a musical maestro. ranger kenny is surely a coffee craftsman of the capstone calibre. Nathan is indubitably a pizza prodigy. Fuzz's metalwork, both combative and memorial, was quite impressive.
Oh. Em. Gee. THANK YOU for that picture! If I didn't already have a pretty sweet shot of the Tomatoes sign as my phone desktop, this'd be it...but it's going on the phone nonetheless to show the colleagues - you can't imagine how annoying it's been trying to explain this business to everyone there...especially considering i did away with the 'hawk before my first day of work (the haircut and shiner get inappropriately conflated, as if i was simultaneously beaten and shorn in some sort of jumping-in ritual), and my friend kenny went in before me and told everyone i got beat up by a girl in the desert.
Looks like she actually knows how to hold that thing, at least...can she play it? That'd be another nice redeeming factor to quell the occasional bloodlust that bubbles up from my nether humors.
Lance K responding to a comment by Joe Borfo
02.27.11 - 10:37 pm
So other than the somewhat sociopathic ozzie...you mean...the sparkly 'bratz' sticker on the relatively nice sax, right? That definitely gave me chills.
Lance K responding to a comment by BellBeefer
02.28.11 - 12:06 am
Making shirts that say, "I survived Salton Sea Virus 2011." If you got down with this horrible fucking sickness, let me know and I'll give you a shirt!
My case of SSARSIV kicked in around Friday, and I woke up at about 5AM this morning hacking about a pint of phlegm - I feel like shit, I miss my bike, I hate this cold.
I think this is possible, but restrictive... i.e. there are places even more secluded at the Slabs, but accessibility is equally limited. Time and Place, i say. Keeping Hitchhiker Camp relatively quite, music at boom-box levels only, while megaphones and Jeff during the day only. And maybe one big party, loud as fuck until 10pm (that's how the Range does it.) with an effort to include the whole Slab City community.
Compromises, mainly. Clean-up crews, and discretion at all times - this should honestly go without saying, and should be standard practice, even at home.
Basically common courtesy that we all should have been applying from the beginning.
Basically loud, fiery, explosive and all-night rager/raver parties can happen anywhere - it just can't happen at any convenient spot in Slab City.
The only way I'd go to some hippy fest like this is if I went with Bike Scum like Los Angelopes. That would be fun, otherwise it'd be like going to Burning Man without Midnight Ridazz or Gigsville (or Fandango or Voted Best Camp.)
My Salton SARS introduced itself Wednesday night (dizzy feeling) and moved in to my sinuses sometime during the night. Not content with my head, it sought larger quarters on Friday, giving me a sore throat on the way to my lungs.
The worst part is that it's definitely Salton SARS - it parties all night and leaves me to hack up and clean up its chewy garbage in the morning.
Yeah, stand around; see that everything is fucked up and do nothing about it or at least complain about it. That's how you do it.
Sorry, not everyone is apathetic. I rather do BETTER next time, than nothing at all. It's easy to sit home and complain, and it's especially easy to complain after the fact.
Not to laud it over those of you who are still sick, but I think I'm finally kicking my salton sars...hands-down the worst illness I've ever endured. Missed a whole week of work, and was pretty sure I was going to have to be hospitalized at a couple points...that's definitely some virulent shit, don't take it lightly!
I'd like to participate in a trip to make amends for the damage we caused this year. However I don't think making amends should result in us camping there again next year as a large group.
Based on the letter from the residents and simple observation we really were very disrespectful to the people who make slab city their home.
I say we go somewhere else next year and give them a break. It sucks but i would rather miss out on slab city than ruin the perfect little place they built for themselves.
When it gets to the point where people are suggesting cleanup crews to clean up after grown-ass adults who presumably are capable of understanding and practicing self-reliance and respect for the land, it's time to start getting motherfuckin' EXCLUSIVE.
@Borfo No purchase necessary. More like a trophy shirt for really surviving this. What size shirt are you?
@lackflag I trust in you that you could survive this. But I did start writing my will Saturday night as I was thinking, "Shit, Salton Sea really is going to be the death of me."
@the reverend Yeah, the coughing up whatever that is in my system is one of the worst parts. Especially when my tonsils were swollen and any type of coughing made me gag. My favorite part of this has been going to my dance class then throwing up because I couldn't breath. Talk about graceful...
@Stephanie What size shirt are you??? I have a bedazzler and kind of want to get a bit crazy over here with these.
Irregardless, it needs to be done. Like I told the troll, stand idle isn't going to get anything done. Shit needs to be cleaned up, and someone has to take responsibility and step the fuck up. It's something I don't mind doing.
There are millions of places we can go and be our loud and obnoxious selves. Slab City worked because it was convenient, and it was an attempt to accommodate some of those that are reluctant to go camping, especially primitive camping. Accessibility is a big deal. If we were to go back (to Slab City), there simply would have to be rules, conditions and discretion. Not everyone will agree what these would be, and some are going to be real stubborn about it. And frankly some of the rules will be deal breakers. But that's the way it going to be if even consider going back, especially with a large group.
Shit needs to be cleaned up, and someone has to take responsibility and step the fuck up.
Goddamn right, someone has to take responsibility and step the fuck up. That someone is everyone. Everyone is 100% responsible for his or her MOOP. That's the deal. Now, people are human and they forget things or miss things, but as long as everybody understands and accepts the basic idea, the unavoidable mistakes aren't a problem--I pick up your beer can that you plumb forgot about, you pick up the plastic bag that I didn't weigh down enough...
No worries there, but the instant you even consider organizing goddamn cleanup crews, you are conceding the inevitability of our trips being full of spoiled selfish pieces of shit who can't or won't "take responsibility and step the fuck up." And the part I sincerely don't get is, why would you want to keep going on trips with these useless clingons anyway?
PC responding to a comment by the reverend dak
03.1.11 - 2:54 pm
"And the part I sincerely don't get is, why would you want to keep going on trips with these useless clingons anyway? "
It's better than staying home and never meeting new people.
Believe me, I understand that if there is "an official" clean-up crew, then there will be people that will take advantage of it. But if there isn't one, those same people are going to litter any way. I completely understand that. But this isn't disneyland where someone plays $80 a ticket and there are clean-up crews that run-around and pick up cigarette butts and bits of trash that fall out of peoples pockets when they pull out their wallets to pay for a Goofy button. Shit happens, and it's going to happen no matter how much we bitch, or how secluded and selective we get with friends. That fact of the matter is I choose to be part of this community, and there are assholes and pigs in this community. I will continue to yell and call out litterers when I see them, and I will continue picking other peoples trash because I fucking HATE LITTER.
In no way am I saying my solution is perfect, but it is at-least part of a solution. Saying that people need to pick up their trash isn't going to pick up their trash, telling someone to pick up their trash might work. Assholes will always be assholes, I'm not catering to them. I'm catering and setting an example to others that are capable of learning. Of fucking course some people are hopeless, and those fuckers will know I fucking hate them, and they will know not to go to anything I am part of.
What I sincerely don't get why you bother going outside at all.
I came into Salton Sea sick, and I left sicker. And some how I've only progressively managed to stay sicker as the mucus moved from my chest to my head.
I hope the next SS will be somewhere that we don't have to worry about rules and we can hold people accountable for their actions. Or we don't have to because for once everyone will be responsible.
What I sincerely don't get why you bother going outside at all.
Oh, YOU. Give your inner child a big old hug for me, will ya? :)
Believe me, I understand that if there is "an official" clean-up crew, then there will be people that will take advantage of it. But if there isn't one, those same people are going to litter any way.
Not if they don't show up, they're not.
You, me, all the people in this discussion--we are all Ridazz. We are the people who, according to our self-mythology, are overflowing with stamina and creativity and a sense of adventure...and yet we've structured our big yearly field trip in such a way as to ensure that any dullard or candyass can come on down and suck up the good times without any sense that they're supposed to be contributing something in return (other than their potty dues, if they even pay them). You know what we are now? We're fuckin' Universal Citywalk.
Yeah, that's right. I said it. Universal Citywalk. I don't want to be Universal Citywalk. Let's stop being Universal Citywalk, damn it! We have got to take MR's yearly campout to a new place, literally and philosophically. In both senses, this place needs to be in a sort of sweet spot where it inspires creative, fun, self-reliant people to say "I can't miss out on that" and makes dull assholes say "Why the fuck would I want to do THAT?" If we hit it from that angle, and we succeed, I promise you that the last thing we'll have to worry about is organizing crews to clean up after a bunch of self-indulgent brats.
We've got a year to make this happen. Why not make this happen?
PC responding to a comment by the reverend dak
03.4.11 - 5:56 am
No sir, I did NOT. I have nothing but respect for members of the Klingon community, who have enriched our culture immeasurably with their spicy food, colorful phrases, expressive clothing, and secretive "social clubs" that I'm sure have nothing to do with organized crime. I was referring to people who serve no purpose and are hard to get rid of, i.e., those who cling on. I hope this clears up any misunderstanding.
PC responding to a comment by stillline
03.4.11 - 6:02 am
We want the same things, and maybe my focus is in the wrong places. I'll admit that the whole concept of "clean-up crews" are totally reactionary to a single problem, but it's probably because I see that problem as a larger problem than others do. I'm willing to step away from that "solution", and focus on the roots if I could. But, don't see how we can create something that is both creative and inspiring and at the same time be "inclusive". I like the idea that someone, even if only one person becomes inspired, because something was "more accessible", and after that they'd be more willing to go places that are more "extreme." Salton Sea was definitely a trip that I saw as a stepping stone to even more "challenging" environments. I've seen people change in the short years I've been involved with Midnight Ridazz, and I'd like to see more of that. Salton Sea seemed like it was the right place for this, I still think it is. So that's why I am currently focused on the current problems, at least the problems as I see it.
this place needs to be in a sort of sweet spot where it inspires creative, fun, self-reliant people to say "I can't miss out on that" and makes dull assholes say "Why the fuck would I want to do THAT?"
Man, I had an idea how to possibly accomplish this during my sickness and I forgot it. Then I started writing this intending to just post about my frustration and now I remembered! It might not be as good of an idea as I originally thought. Let's see.
Basically, rather than just sending 5 bucks and a name to paypal, if you want to go to "MR Trip X" you have to submit a phone number, and you have to talk to somebody, and they tell you about stuff like trash and respecting potential neighbors and things like that. Things accomplished by that: 1) Philosophy expressed to all participants 2) Personal connections made.
There are drawbacks, I'm sure, but I'm done thinking for the moment.
Oh, you will be bedazzled like it's no body's business. Shirts should be done within the next couple of weeks. Just gotta pick up a couple more shirts, more supplies for the screen print and more sparkley stuff!
Rosiekins responding to a comment by Ms. Stephanie
03.4.11 - 6:07 pm
Basically, rather than just sending 5 bucks and a name to paypal, if you want to go to "MR Trip X" you have to submit a phone number, and you have to talk to somebody, and they tell you about stuff like trash and respecting potential neighbors and things like that. Things accomplished by that: 1) Philosophy expressed to all participants 2) Personal connections made.
Right. Like this, but moar.
I hear what Dak says about stepping stones, but we've been on the same stone now for four years in a row. Time to hop along. Worrying too much about being "inclusive," and defining the term way too broadly to include being inclusive of fucktards, is what has MR in general stuck on a stone. Hop along, hop along....
I am excited to see what we come up with.
PC responding to a comment by lackflag
03.9.11 - 3:02 pm
I like the idea of the phone number. We can set up a google voice account ask every one to make their verbal commitment to clean up after themselves AND clean up any trash you see regardless... and then give a couple sentences of why they love and respect the salton sea and the participants. We could review the messages left on the machine here on the site.. hahah that could get funny.
That might work, but what I had in mind was an actual conversation happening. It would de-anonymize things a lot, and also it would be a good opportunity to re-engage these ideas in a new awkward way for people who are already familiar.
lackflag responding to a comment by Roadblock
03.9.11 - 10:40 pm
Shirts! Slowly but surely are being made. However, Robert has (without meaning to) brought to my attention that I'm leaving out a big group of people with only making shirts for us sick folk. So, let me know if you DIDN'T get sick so I can make you a "I avoided Salton Sea virus 2011"
i'll personally carry a pee bucket around and catch those pissing on others campsites mid-stream. then i'll force them help me purify their urine into drinkable water and insist they trade a store-bought bottle for their homemade liter. of course i'll donate the store-bought bottle to the range. duh, i have my own pee to drink.
do you need that recorded?
animosity responding to a comment by Roadblock
03.17.11 - 11:23 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!
