[Bob Kuczewski]

Last weekend was busy for flying around Salton Sea (see the related topic in Tooele Hawks forum).

In addition to the Salton City fly-in, Bill (Willy) Armstrong took on the task of featuring a hang glider in the Niland California festival. The pictures say it all as Willy greeted locals and visitors alike:

IMG_1897.JPG (50.87 KiB) Viewed 3296 times

IMG_1899.JPG (49.91 KiB) Viewed 3296 times

IMG_1903.JPG (54.25 KiB) Viewed 3296 times

IMG_1906.JPG (60.9 KiB) Viewed 3296 times

IMG_1911.JPG (43.34 KiB) Viewed 3296 times

IMG_1917.JPG (64.11 KiB) Viewed 3296 times

IMG_1925.JPG (69.29 KiB) Viewed 3296 times

IMG_2100.JPG (56.69 KiB) Viewed 3296 times

IMG_2111.JPG (88.15 KiB) Viewed 3296 times

SUPER JOB WILLY!!!

[Bob Kuczewski]

Nearby Slab City presents an interesting slice of American culture.

IMG_1934.JPG (86.23 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

Billed as "The Last Free Place", it gets its name from the assortment of abandoned "slabs" from former buildings:

IMG_2045.JPG (38.37 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

IMG_2010.JPG (55.6 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

IMG_2004.JPG (46.4 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

Folks have set up an assortment of establishments on and around these slabs:

IMG_1983.JPG (106.79 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

IMG_2014.JPG (86.85 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

IMG_2033.JPG (71.49 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

IMG_2036.JPG (67.01 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

It's a place for freedom of expression and freedom of thought:

IMG_1949.JPG (51.33 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

IMG_1955.JPG (31.76 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

They even have a church, a post office, and a library:

IMG_2046.JPG (29.14 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

IMG_1987.JPG (60.99 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

While the nearby town of Niland has seen better times (evidenced by this closed down building) ...

IMG_2098.JPG (20.08 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

... there's a unique culture thriving just a short bike ride away:

IMG_2012.JPG (48.01 KiB) Viewed 3295 times

[Bob Kuczewski]

Of course, no visit to "the Slabs" would be complete without a stop at Salvation Mountain - a monument to a man's devotion and dedication:

IMG_2055.JPG (57.32 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

As far as I know, Salvation Mountain was the creation of one man named Leonard Knight. With bales of hay, twisted tree trunks, and some paint - lots of paint, Leonard created a special place in the middle of nowhere.

IMG_2062.JPG (64.39 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

IMG_2075.JPG (74.6 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

IMG_2076.JPG (46.6 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

IMG_2085.JPG (67.69 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

IMG_2091.JPG (90.57 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

Leonard is gone now, and he wasn't a boastful man. But if you look carefully you can find his name tucked away in a few places - including this 1998 "Niland Tomato and Sportsman's Festival" trophy:

IMG_2067.JPG (75.92 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

IMG_2066.JPG (54.7 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

If there is a God, Leonard is surely with him. And yet his spirit is also still with us ... at Salvation Mountain:

IMG_2080.JPG (79.4 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

IMG_2095.JPG (60.85 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

IMG_2089.JPG (118.28 KiB) Viewed 3294 times

Thanks Leonard.

[JoeF]

http://www.salvationmountain.us/history.html

Huell Howser and Leonard Knight are probably together again.
Here is a photo of Leonard with Huell while they were still earthbound:


Must-read note: http://www.salvationmountain.us/soapbox.html

Grand photo of Leonard and his art: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-leonard-mountain-20140210-story.html

------------ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvation_Mountain

[Bob Kuczewski]

I just happened to find this article in the San Diego "Reader" from May 19th, 2010 (http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2010/may/19/hill-please/):

Hill, Please
By Nathaniel Uy, May 19, 2010

Thirty-five-year hang-gliding veteran William Armstrong appeared before the San Diego City Council on May 18 to request that the council consider creating a training hill at the city-owned Glider Port in Torrey Pines.

"We don't have a training hill for hang-gliding safely anywhere in San Diego," said Armstrong. "Years ago, a small hill was constructed and people were able to learn how to fly hang-gliders from that little hill as a ground-school experience. We can no longer do that."

According to Armstrong, the lack of a training hill has restricted the ability of instructors to put together a proper curriculum to teach new students.

"Until we understand that if we don't do something about improving the site for everyone concerned...all people coming out there are going to be missing a tremendous opportunity," Armstrong added.

The hill is now gone, but we can still honor Bill "Willy" Armstrong's valiant efforts while he's still living among us.

Thanks Willy.