Ghosts

The most striking features of the western US are the ghost towns. In the east, abandoned buildings decay and are quickly overgrown. In the desert west they stand, filling many smaller towns.

This is nothing new. Our route included a detour to the Gila cliff-dwellings built and abandoned by the Mimbres, with Anasazi T-shaped doorways.

Desert settlements were abandoned during droughts, when mines ran out, when railroads converted to diesel fuel, or when highway moved. Even in California's Imperial valley, farming is only possible with extensive irrigation from the Colorado.