Dear Volks,

As some of you off-list may know, I recently took my van to Joshua Tree.
While there I picked I up at the visitor center a book entitled
'The Mojave'.  Fascinating history, lore, geology, fauna, flora, politics.
Here's a couple quotes you may appreciate:

> "As we passed the lower of the two springs, we encountered that
> indefatigable camel of the California desert -- a Volkswagen bus..."

> "...such cars have probed the length and breadth of the Mojave... extensive
> reconnaissance has also been performed in Volkswagens: for decades the
> creature at the top of he etymological food chain in arid regions..."

Love and Rockets,
DaBomb

> Sometimes, when I drive across the desert in the middle of the night, with
> no other cars around, I start imagining: What if there were no civilization
> out there? No cities, no factories, no people? And then I think: No people
> or factories? Then who made this car? And this highway? And I get so
> confused I have to stick my head out the window into the driving rain -
> unless there's lightning, because I could get struck on the head by a bolt.
>
>                                                     -- Jack Handey
>                                                        Deep Thoughts