No, it wasn’t a nightmare. It really happened.

A friend told me there were more* giant dinosaurs in Cabazon, California. Famous dinosaurs. These dinosaurs have been in the movies. Pee-wee Herman’s Big Adventure to be exact. That does too count!

*There are giant dinosaur statues ALL OVER the country. They are not extinct. Beware. When I began my road trip, I never realized how popular giant dinosaurs were.

After a nice stop at the Morongo Casino where I didn’t win anything, I headed to see the nearby dinosaurs.

They were running loose.

I'm tasty.

See? I told you I was eaten by a giant dinosaur. (It just occurred to me “giant dinosaur” is probably redundant.)

He looked skinnier before he ate me.

He’s “on the fence”. Obviously conflicted over whether or not I was worth the extra weight.

When I escaped (and we won’t go into how, but we’ll just say he let me go), I went to the Salton Sea Beach.

And then I walked on the millions of dead zombie fish that cover the shore. (There I go being redundant again.)

Lemme esplain… (Warning: You might not want to look at the pictures or go any farther if you’re eating lunch or would like to eat lunch again the near future.)

Ok, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

The Salton Sea Beach is on the eastern side of the Salton Sea in southern California. It’s a wonderful park and campground full of amenities. And the birdwatching is terrific.

The Salton Sea was created in 1905 when, after a heavy rain, the flooded Colorado crashed through the flood gates and began forming the sea. It is one of the world’s largest inland seas and one of the lowest spots on earth at -227 feet below sea level.

Every year when the summer temperatures reach over 100 degrees, natural chemical reactions remove oxygen from the water. Every summer millions of Talapia die. And then become zombie fish. I think the city/state/parks gave up trying to clean them all up. Or maybe they got bit and became zombies, too.

Salton Sea Beach - look closely and you'll see the dead fish.

Millions of Zombie Fish. No, it doesn't smell good.

Zombie Fish.

Beneath the Zombie Fish? That’s not sand… that’s the bones of millions of dead fish.

And that, my dear Kernutties, is your history lesson for the day. Or your new appetite suppressant. Either way, you’re welcome.