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Does anyone dare to pick up this Wood Dale in Slab City? Watch out for Pooh Bear!  :o

Here's the video I saw it in from 2016. I'm quite sure its still there. It's at 12:40
https://youtu.be/6hpomEvt3L8

(https://i.postimg.cc/WpZbbBb8/Screenshot_2018-09-26-18-10-29.png) (https://postimages.org/)

Go get it!

Quote from: Darko on September 26, 2018, 05:46:51 PM
Go get it!

I'd have it loaded in my car.

I won't lie...kinda tempted...5.5 hours one way...

That would be quite an adventure! Someone should go get this!

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Wow!!! I would have been on that for sure.  That's some treasure hunt.


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So, a little google map investigation looks like this would actually be in an area called Bombay Beach, and it looks pretty large with a lot of streets...

Quote from: crowderjd on September 27, 2018, 09:00:42 AM
So, a little google map investigation looks like this would actually be in an area called Bombay Beach, and it looks pretty large with a lot of streets...

If you look at 8:04 to 8:10, you can see in the background there are still a lot of occupied trailers and structures. 

Wow!! That'd be a crazy find!!


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This would be an historic rescue! If the person that grabs it just wants the notoriety but not the grill I have a "bounty" on it.

boun·ty
ˈboun(t)ē/
noun

a sum paid to encourage trade.
"bounties were paid to rescuers of vintage Weber kettles"

Damn my brother in law lives out there. I just sent him the pics to see if knows where it's at.


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Any update in this case?


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My brother in law went by the Bombay Beach area and didn't see anything that looked like the pics. He also said that the people in that area shoot first and ask questions later.


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Quote from: chuckff on October 07, 2018, 08:08:57 PM
... He also said that the people in that area shoot first and ask questions later.

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Wow ... ok so that's not worth the kettle !  :-)

Quote from: chuckff on October 07, 2018, 08:08:57 PM
My brother in law went by the Bombay Beach area and didn't see anything that looked like the pics. He also said that the people in that area shoot first and ask questions later.


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what kind of area is this anyway??


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The people that live in that area are a combo of mad max and doomsday preppers. I'll be out there in a month so I'll take a look.


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@Bodhi

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2018/10/10/43712884_10155498912107504_7090289633241595904_n.jpg)

OK...so looking again, this could be a number of locations on the Salton Sea...if you look at the video and assume they are there in the morning...I wouldn't go there near sunset...I think they are looking out over the lake facing east...which would put them on the west side of the lake...I could be wrong...anyone else want to suggest other locations so people can narrow down the search?

They are definitely at Bombay Beach.  I found the old rusted crane by redirecting a NSA drone.  It's at the waters edge, about 150 yards from where Avenue H intersects 5th Street.  If you position the water at the bottom of your screen, it will be to the right of the Bombay Beach Boat Ramp, at the end of Avenue E.  As to where the kettle is, hard to tell what is abandoned and what is inhabited.  Just have to drive around looking for places that have no vehicles parked on the property.  If I was going, I would dress up like a United Nations worker and put red crosses on the sides of my vehicle.

Dam you @Bodhi . I'm spending way to much time searching for this dam boobie and now I have black SUV's pulling up outside my house.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/33.3480871,-115.7299925/33.3480805,-115.7299865/@33.3484241,-115.7269783,216a,35y,135.35h,39.52t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0

A Grill Hunter is limited mainly to EBay, Estate Sales and Craigslist. A Grill Tracker is a person who finds those lost grills that don't want to be found.

There's no way in hell I'm driving down to Bombay Beach so I'll pass along what I have found so far. 

Here is a link to the deserted house seen at 5:49 in the video. It's between Avenue D and Avenue E on 5th Street.

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.3488844,-115.7298252,3a,60y,314.17h,92.15t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZFTUBrOe3h2W2MfdOOzlPQ!2e0!7i3328!8i1664


At 11:24 when the Chestnut kettle is seen in the video, you can hear background noise.  Shortly thereafter at 11:46, the camera pans and shows a passing train which is the source of the background noise.  I believe the property with the kettle if still there, is going to be on the perimeter of 1rst Street or Avenue A.  Those two streets line up to where the train tracts would be able to be filmed. The tracks run along route 111.  Good luck to all the "Grill Trackers".  @crowderjd  @chuckff

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/33.3480871,-115.7299925/33.3480805,-115.7299865/@33.344627,-115.7327287,916a,35y,44.7t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0

WOW @Cellar2ful I tip my cap to you on the amazing recon you've done on this...if the black SUVs pick you up by tomorrow, we will make sure your legacy of good will lives on here!

@Cellar2ful You are a perfect example of a Grill Tracker! You picked up the scent and pinpointed it. Now a Grill Hunter can grab it. Great teamwork! Now somebody get on that grill!

Quote from: Cellar2ful on October 11, 2018, 11:46:46 AM
They are definitely at Bombay Beach.  I found the old rusted crane by redirecting a NSA drone.  It's at the waters edge, about 150 yards from where Avenue H intersects 5th Street.  If you position the water at the bottom of your screen, it will be to the right of the Bombay Beach Boat Ramp, at the end of Avenue E.  As to where the kettle is, hard to tell what is abandoned and what is inhabited.  Just have to drive around looking for places that have no vehicles parked on the property.  If I was going, I would dress up like a United Nations worker and put red crosses on the sides of my vehicle.

Dam you @Bodhi . I'm spending way to much time searching for this dam boobie and now I have black SUV's pulling up outside my house.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/33.3480871,-115.7299925/33.3480805,-115.7299865/@33.3484241,-115.7269783,216a,35y,135.35h,39.52t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0

Jim,

Just tell them you're an old man looking for "boobies" in the desert. They'll understand. LOL

;D

Quote from: Cellar2ful on October 11, 2018, 02:31:30 PM

There's no way in hell I'm driving down to Bombay Beach so I'll pass along what I have found so far. 

Here is a link to the deserted house seen at 5:49 in the video. It's between Avenue D and Avenue E on 5th Street.

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.3488844,-115.7298252,3a,60y,314.17h,92.15t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sZFTUBrOe3h2W2MfdOOzlPQ!2e0!7i3328!8i1664


At 11:24 when the Chestnut kettle is seen in the video, you can hear background noise.  Shortly thereafter at 11:46, the camera pans and shows a passing train which is the source of the background noise.  I believe the property with the kettle if still there, is going to be on the perimeter of 1rst Street or Avenue A.  Those two streets line up to where the train tracts would be able to be filmed. The tracks run along route 111.  Good luck to all the "Grill Trackers".  @crowderjd  @chuckff

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/33.3480871,-115.7299925/33.3480805,-115.7299865/@33.344627,-115.7327287,916a,35y,44.7t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!4m1!3e0

Wild guess.... were you possibly in law enforcement at one time?


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@randy Does a Chestnut dwell in Bombay Beach?

@randy -    Reading my post I can see why you ask.  Old habits are hard to break.  Yes, 30 years as an Alameda County Deputy Sheriff, retired for 13 years now.


@Mike in Roseville - Karen reads the Forum occasionally.  I heard her cracking up while sitting at my PC.  She liked both your old man and boobies comment. 

OK...so my AP US History students are all taking midterm exams today...so I have time to explore.  I think I found the trailer in the video at 11:26, though some things appear to have changed...

Corner of Ave. E and 2nd Street

https://www.google.com/maps/@33.3531845,-115.7295975,3a,57.3y,104.52h,75.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQPzt1wi2-5ALz0UQbymoeA!2e0!7i3328!8i1664

However, if you notice, the date stamp for Google Street View is Feb. 2008...so perhaps a lot has changed...

Yep, that's it Jason.  Nice work.  The Chestnut is probably now in a neighbors possession.

I'll be visiting my father in law the first week of November. He lives in Mecca which is about 15 minutes from Bombay beach. I'll take a field trip to that beautiful little town.


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Quote from: chuckff on October 20, 2018, 12:14:07 PM
I'll be visiting my father in law the first week of November. He lives in Mecca which is about 15 minutes from Bombay beach. I'll take a field trip to that beautiful little town.

Looking forward to seeing closure on this.  Hope your able to secure it as it would be a legendary score.

I have seen videos on youtube about this small town. Its more of a place people go to be off the grid. And from the video i watched trade is a big thing. Who ever goes to get it bring a 30 pack and maybe a replacement grill. Shit id bring them a 30 pack , 18 bag of charcoal, buns and a pack of frozen burgers lol

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My wife and I spent a little over an hour this morning driving through the streets of Bombay Beach looking for this bbq. We came up empty. Although we did receive quite a few unwelcome stares from some of the local residents.


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Dang!  I was waiting for the update on this.  Did you check the coordinates I found?  I'm glad you looked...otherwise I would have!

Quote from: crowderjd on November 17, 2018, 01:53:50 PM
Dang!  I was waiting for the update on this.  Did you check the coordinates I found?  I'm glad you looked...otherwise I would have!

yep we circled that block 3 times.


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That sucks Chuck! But you obviously gave it the ' Ol College Try! Were you able to identify the exact spot from the video?

@chuckff Kudos to your efforts. I bet it was quite the experience driving around out there.

Damn this was a cool story. Too bad the prize went unfound. At least no one was hurt in the making...


I've seen a docu. on Salton Sea- the whole thing is weird.



@Cellar2ful how many hours have you spent on the Zapruder film? :)

I'll probably take another trip out there in the future. My father lives in Mecca which is west of Bombay Beach. We visit him at least 4 times a year. If I find I'll post the pics.


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So here's a crazy random twist from the past! ...

We are currently visiting my parents in Palm Desert, and today they decided to take us out to the Salton Sea. Just as we get to the outskirts of the northern tip we pull into the little town of Bombay Beach. We then head towards the water on a gravel/sand road that passes many of the lots with old RVs, Campers and other misc stuff. EXACTLY the type of place that sets off a Kettleheads spider senses for old grills - so I'm scanning back and side yards for kettles when my heart skipped a beat or three...

I see what appears to be a wood dale chestnut lid atop a burn barrel sitting in a partially vacant lot. Of course I start losing my mind and ask my Dad to pull around the block. Sure enough, it's a legit chestnut lid! ... it was at this very moment I remembered this post and realized it was the same grill and quickly jumped onto the site. After rediscovering this thread and details I can confirm 100% this is the same lot from the video, but there is no kettle base this time and only the lid in sight.

Here's where things are a bit sketchy... the lot appears abandoned but one of the trailers has someone living in it. I didn't want to just walk up and peek inside the as the area is interesting to say the least! I then saw someone across the street who nodded at us and looked friendly so I asked if he knew the owner. He said he did, but that today was not a good day to bother him as he was having a "bad morning" ... I didn't need any other warning more than the look he gave me so I decided not to try to bother the person who was at least believed to be inside. But I couldn't resist walking around the side on the neighbouring lot that is abandoned and reached in for a few pics...  :o

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/EB9EAFB6-DCBF-459F-BF96-775DA432E333.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/h82)

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/57AF7505-9251-4588-87AF-98A6E6DBD8E5.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/h8D)

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/01A49993-77B5-438F-BA3F-1D99A0B8E7DE.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/h8H)

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/240423B4-09B1-43C0-BF57-294FD8A38F68.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/h8e)

(http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/images/2C005F6D-4EAA-4985-8126-E60BD822FD5D.md.jpg) (http://pics.weberkettleclub.com/image/h8u)

Kudos to @Cellar2ful and others who did some super sleuthing to narrow down the search on this grill originally. Jim, I'm happy to share more precise details with you privately if you want to give it a go. I would hope the kettle bottom is still around the lot somewhere as it looked to be pretty solid in the original video clip. We (respectfully) snooped around the neighbouring lots but I couldn't see it hiding around at all. Had both pieces been in view I may have been a bit more brave :)

Perhaps one day this fabled beauty will become a part of the club - until then they ARE still out there fellas! Talk about a small world!

Good luck on the hunt!

Matt

Wow. Thanks for the update Matt.   I had to go back and read this thread since it is 5 years old (2018).  Smart choice not to approach the guy living on the property if he was "having a bad day".  It would be really cool if someone did save the Boobie.....................

@crowderjd  @chuckff

Funny thing about this. I was in the area this past weekend but didn't have any spare time to look for this. My brother in law has lived in North Shore for 50 years and said that Bombay Beach is a pretty closed community so approaching someone could be iffy. He recommended stopping in at the bar and grill and buying a few drinks then show the bartender the pictures.

Wow. Great work.

A Weber Kettle Club QRF (Quick Reaction Force) has been deployed to Bombay Beach.  Details will be released once the mission is Declassified.   

A side trip on my road trip...


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I received a lot of helpful information from Matt on his last trip to the area.  From San Diego I jumped in the rental jeep and headed out to try my luck on this elusive kettle.  A couple hours latter I pulled into Bombay beach and with a few minutes I found the location and saw the lid.  I walked around the area hoping to see the owner but had no luck.  I spent the next 20ish minutes driving around the area, basically burning daylight hoping to spot the owner on one of my drives past the property.  I finally decided to visit the small market and had a nice conversation with the owner.  She told me that the owner actually lives on a different lot and that he may or may not be at home...  cue more walking and driving past the owner's home without seeing anyone.  Now it's starting to get late and with a 2 hour drive to my final destination it was about time to pack up.  I drove back to the market hoping to get my number to the kettle owner but she (market owner) gave me some more information.  It turns out the owner's mom lives down the next street and that he might be at his mom's place.  A neighbor confirmed that I was at the right place and told me to either honk or call out, just DON'T go on the property.  I honked, no answer... I called her name, no answer, I called her son's name and was told he wasn't there.  I called out one more time and got nothing.  I took the hint and climbed back in the jeep to call it a day.  I decided to drive by one more time and saw that the gate was open and the owner was walking out!  I spoke with him about the kettle and we walked over and he gave it to me.  I asked about the bowl but he didn't have any idea where it was (he said it was probably long gone).   I didn't have any issues with any of the people I saw, they were all very friendly and helpful.   The lid will get a good cleaning and I finally know what I'm going to do with the wooddale bowl that I have (the bowl is missing a handle so it will make a good partner for the lid.  Hoping to get the Salmon Sea Bombay Beach Chestnut cooking this Summer.

Here are the pics, not too bad considering the salt content not too far away.  I'm hoping Jeff can get the bowl close to the original using images from the video.


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Very cool. Congrats.

Very cool Sidney!

Neat story.... You are a brave man!


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That's an amazing kettle story!


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Congrats Sidney! Such a great history behind this kettle so super glad to see it saved after all these years. Can't wait to see the results of your restoration project.

That is an amazing kettle story!  Congrats, Sidney and to everyone involved! 

I really loved Cellar2ful's reconnaissance post including redirecting a NSA drone! 

Clean up has started...


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This one of the coolest stories I follow since years


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Slab city is a place the county sheriff does not go,
I think I would pass, I went there once in the late 90s and it was way sketchy then, I can almost image it is worse now.
if you go, bring a case or 2 of beer, if any thing throwing those out the window can by can will slow them down.
Iam amazed you made it out of there

Maybe I got lucky, maybe since it was midweek and in the afternoon I got lucky.  I didn't't have any trouble with anyone I came into contact with (they were are friendly and very helpful).

All boxed up to begin the restoration


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