The conversation and photo of Elaine was well worth the granola bar and can of mango juice we had in our car. Elaine used to live on top of Salvation Mountain in her tent while Leonard Knight was still building the monument that it is today. They would sit on top of the mountain together and watch the fireworks from neighboring cities during 4th of July and New Year's Eve.

She now stays on a couch outside of "Pastor Dave's" church in Slab City, just behind the mountain. She is just waiting until the end of the month when she receives money in order to move her trailer and two dogs into Slab City.

Elaine had a very nice and welcoming demeanor. She warned us about which cities to stop at because certain ones had scorpions, "rattlers", and "sidewinders".

At the end of our conversation, she said "salamat" for the granola bar and can of mango juice (without even knowing we were Filipino).