If that is their gem and mineral show we went every year when we were crazy rockhounds. I took an early retirement and we started traveling full time as vendors. It was always fun going there. Lots to do on the one weekend each year with thousands of visitors. We mostly stayed north of the stinky lake and collected up around Ballarrat while the crowd was wading in the lake collecting mineral specimens.

 

Yes, the annual show, tour of the plant and the mineral collection by countless people, I had more fun watching all the people going crazy collecting them after the blast This was about 8-9 years ago, I don't know if they still do it..

 

Every year they said it was possibly the last year. That picture shows them pumping mud containing crystals. That was pretty mild compared to the Sunday morning pink halite trip. One of two places in world where these pink salt crystals form. You have to break a hole in the salt crust and feel underneath for the crystals. Then break out sections. All while standing in the stinky brine. Sometimes up to your waste. What some people do for fun is amazing.

 

Sounds like fun to me I'm not a big gem and mineral person but I enjoy just looking.. We did this trip for my Father in law who is a collector. Trona is always a stop for me on the way to Death Valley, but it is pretty dead

 

Pretty much like the old lumber mill towns. It is only there for the chemical plant employees.

 

Pretty interesting stuff. If anything is left deserted around here it rots away fairly quickly and gets covered with vegetation and gone!

 

Sounds like Jurassic Park...

 

There are some pretty interesting critters around here, some even drive by the house once in a while! LOL