Places That Were

Urban Exploration Road Trip 2015 - Post #1

placesthatwere — Fri, 5 Jun 2015 03:24:00 GMT

I've always dreamed of going on a road trip with no particular destination in mind, and stopping to explore any interesting places I happen upon. When I was laid off from my office job earlier this year, I decided it was the perfect opportunity to make the dream a reality.

Instead of wandering aimlessly, I decided I'd make this trip all about urban exploration. I went through the list of abandoned places I'd been meaning to explore and plotted them out on a map. I had a 17 day window to hit as many of them as I could before I had to be back in Los Angeles.

I didn't bother planning out my days because I wanted the freedom to stop at unexpected sites without worrying about how it would affect my schedule. Instead, I had a vague sense of the winding route I'd take, starting in Southern California, heading through Arizona, New Mexico, up to Colorado, then west to Utah, maybe up to Idaho, then down to Nevada and back into California.

To save time and money, I'd sleep in my car instead of staying at motels. Fortunately my boyfriend insisted I take his Rav 4, which was much more reliable than my '99 Chevy Malibu. It also meant I could fold down the back seats and stretch out comfortably at night instead of having to sleep curled up on the back seat of my sedan.

I made a list of supplies I'd need, most of which I already had, since I go hiking and camping pretty often. I got a few other odds and ends at REI or through Amazon.com.

Here's what I brought with me:

* snacks (trail mix, fruit, Clif bars, etc)

* a case of bottled water

* 17 days worth of clothes

* several light jackets

* warm winter coat, gloves, hat

* sandals, comfortable hiking boots

* air filtration mask

* headlamp, strong LED flashlight, extra batteries

* video camera, charger

* phone charger

* about 5 pillows and half a dozen blankets for those cold nights in the mountains

* music and audio books

* backpack

* first aid kit

* toiletries

* pepper spray

A lot of people thought I was crazy for making the trip alone, but I had a few good reasons. First off, I didn't know anyone who had the free time or desire to drive around the western states exploring abandoned places. Plus I wanted the freedom to stop wherever and whenever I wanted, which would have been impossible if anyone else was with me. And I felt like I needed some time alone to unwind and get reacquainted with myself. The previous six months had been extremely busy at work. I was at the office an average of 60 hours a week, my workdays sometimes stretching to fifteen hours.

A few weeks before the trip my boyfriend and I had watched the movie Wild. It got me even more inspired and excited about my upcoming adventure. I listened to Simon and Garfunkel's "El Condor Pasa" obsessively and adopted it as my personal anthem.

I hit the road on Wednesday, February 18. It was warm and sunny, a perfect Southern California day. I drove with the windows down, savoring the warm wind and the sense of freedom and adventure.

The Salton Sea was to be my first destination, but as I drove along the 10 Freeway through Calimesa, I saw an abandoned house and decided to check it out.

The little white house stood on top of a hill in middle of a wide open plot of land. A cracked and weathered driveway led up to it from the main road. I couldn't find any information about the place or why it was abandoned. Several concrete slabs remained on the property where other buildings once stood. I'm guessing a garage and large shed or barn. The house itself was tightly boarded up, the windows and doors well sealed with plywood painted the same white as the outside walls. There were no signs of graffiti and it appeared no one had forced their way into the house yet. I took a few pictures and continued toward the Salton Sea.

Photos: My Pics

placesthatwere — Fri, 5 Jun 2015 03:18:00 GMT

My Pics

The Abandoned Beauty of Desert Center

placesthatwere — Wed, 27 May 2015 07:58:17 GMT

Along Desert Center’s main road a long-abandoned Texaco station stood amid an unpaved corner lot, Its rusty awning hanging crookedly over a row of dented gas pumps. A sign jutted out over the roof, proclaiming in faded block lettering, "24 Hour Service", oblivious to the boarded up windows and graffiti-covered walls below it.

It was strange to think the desolate town had been home to thousands of airmen and their families until the military base closed in the 1940s. Now all that remained was a post office and scores of abandoned buildings.

A few drivers pulled over to snap photos before returning to the freeway. I parked in a small patch of shade and got out of my car to give the languishing remains of Desert Center the thorough examination they deserved.

Down the road near a grove of decapitated palm trees, I spotted a school. Sunlight glinted off shards of glass that clung to rusting window frames. I sprinted across the parking lot, excited to get a closer look at the beautiful decaying structure. I imagined students of years past, trudging across the yard, dreading another day of class. They would have thought I was insane. And they would have been in good company.

When I told my friends I was taking a 17-day road trip to explore abandoned places, I was met with more than a few raised eyebrows. But I was undeterred. Urban exploration had become my greatest passion. After months of researching abandoned places, I was thrilled to finally be on the road.

I crossed the playground and a row of rusty farm machinery, including an antique tractor with a hand crank starter. Remembering the farm equipment exhibitions my dad took me to when I was a kid, I snapped a few photos to send him the next time I had internet access.

An open door led into a classroom with pieces of fallen ceiling and broken cabinetry scattered across the warped linoleum tiles. An upright piano caught my eye. Many keys were missing and panels had been removed, exposing a network of wires attached to harp-like assemblies.

A hallway led to a massive room that once served as a dining area and auditorium. Sunlight streamed in through holes in the ceiling, illuminating a little stage overflowing with stacks of tables and chairs. I took dozens of pictures, deperate to capture every beautiful detail of the place.

I could hardly wait to see what other abandoned treasures Desert Center had waiting for me. And only three days into my epic road trip, I had so much more to look forward to.