"You guys are kidding right? There's nothing there! Sit on the toilet,
> close your eyes and you'll get the same effect (without the dust coated
> lungs of course)."

Some people aren't impressed that this entire area was once under 3000' of
"inland sea" and all these sediments were layed down over centuries of
inflow. Some people aren't impressed with the idea that much of this area
was "tipped" to the north, and that's when the canyon of the Grand Canyon
began, long before the Colorado River began running through it in the
opposite direction. Some people aren't impressed that this entire area then
"tipped" toward Mexico and the sea began draining to the south, along with
the origin of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. Some people aren't
impressed with the picture of the entire region being a solid bed of
sandstone, not marred and marked with the current eons of erosion, dependent
upon how hard or soft the sediments layed down centuries ago, were. Some
people aren't impressed with the variety of fauna (pronghorn, desert ram,
cactus wren, etc.), and evidence of prehistoric peoples and the dinosaur
tracks.

Since noone would be foolish enough to express an opinion about the mystery
and beauty of this region without this knowledge, we must simply have
different opinions about what conspires to leave us in awe of what time and
nature provides. Some of us, Vanagons or not, would rather stay at home, sit
on the toilet, and think about what might be out there, so they don't have
to get dusty.

Thanks so much for the real, rather than imagined trip report, Richard. Did
you take your porta-potty, and imagine what it was like where the rest of us
were? ;)

Got my van back this morning. don't realize how much I miss having it until
I don't have it. Looking forward to getting back out there, where it's
dusty.

My best,
Bob Stevens
'87 Westy Syncro
http://groups.msn.com/BobsPhotoShare
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tiico