The beauty of the Mojave Desert.

Old Woman Mountains

Late afternoon view of the Old Woman Mountains seen from near the railroad crossing at Cadiz.

Sunset scene with dark clouds and rays of sunlight shining through, silhouetted mountains in the distance.

Sunset from a remote campsite in Ward Valley.

Some animals I have been fortunate enough to have seen while traveling in the Mojave Desert.

A vast desert landscape with rocky terrain, sparse desert vegetation, and mountain ranges in the background under a clear blue sky.
An abandoned wooden house in a desert with mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
A desert landscape with a large mountain range in the background, sparse vegetation in the foreground, and a clear blue sky.

Overlooking Brown’s wash and an abandoned miner’s cabin from the Black Metal Mine.

An abandoned wooden and metal structure with wheels, partially collapsed in a desert landscape with rocky hills and sparse vegetation under a clear blue sky.
A straight set of railroad tracks extending into the distance in a desert landscape with sparse shrubbery, mountains in the background, and a partially cloudy sky.
Empty straight road stretching into distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky.
A long, cracked asphalt road with a Route 66 shield painted on it, stretching into the desert landscape with mountains in the distance and sparse desert vegetation on either side.

Historic Route 66

Desert landscape with a straight highway, Route 66 shield painted on the road, utility poles, sparse vegetation, and distant mountains.

Approaching Essex from the east.

Route 66 shield painted on the highway at Bagdad, approaching from the east.

One of the few remaining cabins in Old Danby, that was occupied in the early 1900s by Ben Benjamin. This particular cabin finally succumbed to the elements and collapsed in a windstorm in 2011.

One of the few remaining cabins in Old Danby, that was occupied in the early 1900s by Ben Benjamin. This particular cabin finally succumbed to the elements and collapsed in a windstorm in 2011.

An abandoned miner's cabin in Scanlon Gulch, Old Woman Mountains.

An abandoned miner's cabin in Scanlon Gulch, Old Woman Mountains.

A desert at sunset.

A desert at sunset.

Loading chute at the Black Metal Mine in the Old Woman Mountains. Unfortunately all of this has been dismantled and removed.

Loading chute at the Black Metal Mine in the Old Woman Mountains. Unfortunately all of this has been dismantled and removed.

Mining ruins in Scanlon Gulch in the Old Woman Mountains.

Mining ruins in Scanlon Gulch in the Old Woman Mountains.

Abandoned cabin in old Danby.

Abandoned cabin in old Danby.

Abandoned Ore Chute at the Silver Wave Mine in Scanlon Gulch; Old Woman Mountains

Abandoned Ore Chute at the Silver Wave Mine in Scanlon Gulch; Old Woman Mountains

Sunset viewed looking west from Carbonate Gulch in the Old Woman Mountains.

Sunset viewed looking west from Carbonate Gulch in the Old Woman Mountains.

The original Bagdad Cafe, between Amboy and Ludlow. Bagdad was abandoned when Interstate 40 was built in the early 1970s. All that remains today is a single salt cedar tree and remnants of asphalt marking the driveway in front of the cafe and the gas

The original Bagdad Cafe, between Amboy and Ludlow. Bagdad was abandoned when Interstate 40 was built in the early 1970s. All that remains today is a single salt cedar tree and remnants of asphalt marking the driveway in front of the cafe and the gas pumps. In its prime, the roadside facilities at Bagdad consisted of a motel, a cafe, garage and a gas station.

Photo of Route 66 looking east from Bagdad, probably taken about 1931 just before or just after the road was first paved. The Bagdad Cafe is the prominent building on the left. Notice the dim profile of Amboy crater on the right.

Photo of Route 66 looking east from Bagdad, probably taken about 1931 just before or just after the road was first paved. The Bagdad Cafe is the prominent building on the left. Notice the dim profile of Amboy crater on the right.

A black and white photo of a rural highway scene in Amboy, California, on Highway 66. The road is paved and stretches into the distance, with signs on both sides for local businesses including a garage, cafe, and truck stop.

A black and white photo of a rural highway scene in Amboy, California, on Highway 66. The road is paved and stretches into the distance, with signs on both sides for local businesses including a garage, cafe, and truck stop.

Mule team wagons that used to haul borax from Death Valley. Photo taken in Ludlow, California.

Mule team wagons that used to haul borax from Death Valley. Photo taken in Ludlow, California.

James McNeill Family, Derby, Kansas 1896. Seven boys and seven girls. The family later moved to Ludlow where all of the boys worked for the railroad.

James McNeill Family, Derby, Kansas 1896. Seven boys and seven girls. The family later moved to Ludlow where all of the boys worked for the railroad.

Oasis Lunchroom on what was formerly Main Street in Ludlow, California. None of these buildings remain today.

Oasis Lunchroom on what was formerly Main Street in Ludlow, California. None of these buildings remain today.

Roy's Cafe and Motel in Amboy, California. A Route 66 icon.

Roy's Cafe and Motel in Amboy, California. A Route 66 icon.

Mrs. J. A. McNeil and Mrs. J. Hayes dressed in their Sunday best on their front pouch with a young puppy. Bagdad 1903.

Mrs. J. A. McNeil and Mrs. J. Hayes dressed in their Sunday best on their front pouch with a young puppy. Bagdad 1903.

People standing in front of the'Chambless Store with a vintage cars and a windmill in the background.

People standing in front of the'Chambless Store with a vintage cars and a windmill in the background.

Johnny Neilson at his courthouse in Danby, 1925.

Johnny Neilson at his courthouse in Danby, 1925.

House on Danby Dry Lake and made entirely of rock salt. C. 1910.

House on Danby Dry Lake and made entirely of rock salt. C. 1910.

Foulenfont family in Amboy c. 1944 .

Foulenfont family in Amboy c. 1944 .

route 66 essex california
route 66 essex california