I almost think that Baker, California should have an International Tourist Airport. Think how convenient it would be for “Englishmen who go out into the mid-day sun,” and Australians comparing the Great Mojave Dessert with their “Outback,” and the ubiquitous U.S. National Park visitors called Germans, to bypass ‘Loss Vegas’ or the Michael Jackson LA, LA land, in their rented motorhome for a real California cultural experience at the “Gateway to Death Valley.”

Most Californians think of Baker as a wacky gas stop when driving Interstate 10 between LA and LV. Ask them the notable features and “The Mad Greek Restaurant,” “The World’s Tallest Thermometer,” and $20 for a fifth of vodka at the grocery store, that costs $5 in Barstow, comes to mind.

Ask overseas visitors their “cultural tourist” impressions and you will hear the latest in truck parking “lot lizard” fashions of girls in snakeskin high heels, long, long, bare legs, and short, shorts. And the line of radiator repair shops catering to those silly enough to drive Mountain Pass, at freeway speeds with their air conditioners going full blast. They also are glad that they read somewhere in a helpful travel publications as this that when the sun goes down, without any vegetation to retain the heat of the day, this place is bloody well cold, mate.

What I would like to point out, as a virtual web travel guide, is while Baker bills itself as the “Gateway To Death Valley,” the bigger picture worth photographing is that two “Been there, done that” national parks, and a national preserve are in reality a small part of the Mojave Dessert.

If you are truly interested enough in becoming a “Desert Rat,” for a week — at the minimum, as the Mojave is a huge place— know that scientifically the Mojave signpost is wherever the Joshua tree grows.

The adventure begins the moment you drive off of what used to be The Old National Trail, Interstate 10, at Baker, to what is left of Route 66, and the transcontinental train lunch stop at Kelso.