a rainbow stretched across the arid desert sands. This was far more interesting to me than any slot-machine or casino. Desert ecosystems are varied, and as fascinating as their polar opposites- our wetlands. The flats of the Mojave were much different in plant and animal communities than the high plain's desert of the Sonora Desert regions.
So, for a real good time, head west from Vegas towards Death Valley, California.
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The scenery starts to look all the same, but keep a sharp eye out- this is where we found a fast flying Prairie Falcon. He must have been eking a living off of lizards and the ground squirrels. Not far from this location, Ash Meadows Wetlands- yes, a wetlands in the desert- is a National Wildlife Refuge filled with springs bubbling out of the ground onto alkaline flats. It should not come as a surprise that great rarities live in this isolated, and bizarre, ecosystem.
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And when this sign appeared just off route 95, I thought it was quite the joke. However, after Googling around a bit... I'm not laughing anymore. Yes, there are plenty of alien life form web sites promoting UFO sighting and such in the desert, which are most likely due to the testing of new top-secret air craft. But far more frightening to me is the history of radio-active bombs tested at area 51, and the proposed Yucca Mountain dump site for nuclear waste. I guess most folks don't care as long as it is not in their own backyard.
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We did see some aliens along Rt 95- as there are several area state preserves designated for wild horses and wild burros. A wild population of burros has been living in these flats since the Spaniards arrived with them a few centuries ago.
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Wild Burro, Equus asinus- I suspect even an ass could see that we humans don't use much sense when it come to despoiling our own planet.
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A sign in one of the tourist shops promoted the Native American wisdom: A frog does not drink up the pool in which he lives.
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I bet the burros agree.
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