Plate G10.no5: Valley of Fire Highway – Mojave Desert Nevada (USA)*

Where would we be without roads?
There’s an inherent assumption that roads take you somewhere. Obviously…for it is the norm, and furthermore, it would be untenable to think otherwise. As such, roads re-assure, because they evidence man-made conviction: roads can be trusted, to take you to safety; the desert does not.
Consequently, and by comparison, the roads through the desert were full of promise, as full as my youthful expectations of America as gleaned from the 70s movies I used to watch. And I didn’t actually care whether they went anywhere or not – I was just thrilled to be there……
I can’t say the same for the rest of the USA – but the USA is just a name…it doesn’t own the desert. Like the road, it’s just passing through…

*Further comment can be found in: E-Books – Trek Reflections (Canyons 2018)