Orbits of a deluded mind

Here’s a blast from the past. In April 2008, I did several wanders into the desert around Lancaster with my kids. I recently recovered these images from a storage drive that failed.

These would be some of my last Southern California explorations before moving to the wilds of Northern Alabama. We explored 3 sites on this trip before the winds came up so strongly that they created a dust storm. The houses were all within sight of each other but not part of the same farm. In each case, they appear to have been departed in haste (foreclosed).



( Lost Horizons… [19 behind the cut] )

Bombay Beach – Long road to ruin

According to the US Census in 1990, Bombay Beach showed a little over 900 residents. By the 2000 Census that is down to 368 residents and stats further show the residents are either retirees, or low median incomes. In simple terms, they’re either to old and stubborn to leave or they’re too poor to find a way out. These are the kinds of folks that endure the smell, the toxic clouds of alkali salt stirred up by wind storms and polluted waters nearby.

As a case in point, after exploring the ruins on the lake side of the levee, we backtracked to a home complex on the “live” side of town. According to a youngster who gave me and fynoda something of a guide tour of this place, the extended family that had lived here for decades, finally found another place in Riverside and had planned to come back to get the rest of their stuff.. Several years passed and people ransacked the house. See, people don’t sell their houses/trailers here, they abandon them and deny they ever existed.



( Paradise lost? (21 behind the cut) )

As the sun was heading towards the western horizon, we saw this beautiful farm house. In fact, we actually passed it and doubled back as I wasn’t convinced it was actually abandoned. Sure enough it was and this became the gem of this trip. I think you’ll agree.



( Cozy, warm and sturdy [10 Behind the cut] )

Due to a number of circumstances, I’m just getting these images posted. In fact, this past Sunday I edited, sized and uploaded nearly 450 abandoned site photos. During this wander my kids, Brenna (persephone1313) and Chris explored a number of sites in and to the east of the cities I live and work in. During the following months badgerphone and I went on several exploring rampages around the Antelope Valley and Mojave. These explorations were some of the happiest and most creative I’ve ever gone on. More on those later...

Many places in the Antelope Valley have receded into nothing more then foundations and memories. One of the first places we found was the remains of the Jet Drive-In Theater.


Screen support bracket

( Matinee visit, hold the popcorn [14 behind the cut] )

The last complex of houses we visited before forcing ourselves away (and getting lunch) allowed perhaps for the most creativity. It was also the most telling in the transition from lived in to decayed beyond repair.



( Sit a spell, there’s cookies in the ovens [XX behind the cut] )

As we continued eastward into the Barstow area, it became increasingly apparent something odd was going on. No more than 300 yards / meters down the highway we started seeing survey stakes and markers. Within a mile of the first house, we saw two forlorn homes boarded up next to each other. Welcome to the Pigeon Homes.



( Anyone care for squab? [12 behind the cut] )

For some of you who've read this journal, the story of Felicia is something of a legend. Today we discovered that legends can end. My friend badgerphone and I went hunting for the elusive Felicia. We were stunned to find that Floyd's Place (a primary Felicia site) had been heavily damaged by an intentional arson fire. Another photographer was there when we arrived and said that she did indeed have a car and could drive off, but he didn't know what happened to her.

We drove to Bessie's place (nearby) and discovered that another intentional fire had been attempted there, but did not get out of hand. We searched in the nearby areas for signs but nothing. We'll search more tomorrow. Pictures to follow later.

EDIT:
For those who aren’t sure who Felicia is, I’m including links to previous posts about her and the places she has been discovered at. Theses links go to my LJ (easier to find) but where cross posted on “Abandonedplaces” as well.

The original articles:
Floyd’s Place (May 06)
http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/99126.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/99799.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/99898.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/100297.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/100659.html


Bessie’s Place: (September 06)
http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/125240.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/125483.html

Night Raid (Sept 06)
http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/147504.html


Trailer trash (October 06)
http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/137029.html

http://jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com/137337.html

There are more articles, but this should give you all a good start. Use the search box in my profile page to look for other Felicia posts if you feel the whim.