Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes / Death Valley

These dunes are the best known and easiest to visit in the national park located in central Death Valley near Stovepipe Wells. The highest dune rises only about 100 feet but the dunes actually cover a vast area. Midday temperatures can rise easily over 50°C during summer. Allthough it was  exhausting to hike in the dunes, including sandstorms that made it hard to breath or see, it was still and an unforgetable experience.

Camera: Canon 5d Mark 2
Lens: Canon 16-35mm 2.8

Essex / Route 66, California

Essex, a small town along historic Route 66 in California, was allegedly founded when a motorist suffered a flat tire only to discover there were no garages for miles. It was notable along Route 66 for providing free water to travelers. In 1977, Essex got television for the first time with the assistance of a  community antenna television system and a microwave link. Essex is on the verge of becoming one of many ghost town scattered throughout the Southwestern United States displaced by the creation of Interstate 40.

Camera: Canon 5d Mark 2
Lens: Canon 16-35mm 2.8