The Phoenix One Journals      Stories from the dawn of RoadTrip America

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Rogers Dry Lake on Edwards Air Force Base, California, is a terrific place to race cars and motorcycles, and we enjoyed seeing amazing vehicles like "Danny Boy," the holder of the D-gas speed record of 315 miles per hour, and "Dad's Dream," a 1928 Model A Roadster that can break 100. Hundreds of other cars, motorcycles and dune buggies turned out for the First Annual Muroc Reunion, sponsored by the Southern California Timing Association on April 27 & 28, 1996.

We had he good fortune to meet George Radnich at the Muroc Reunion. George told us how he and the other members of the SCTA board organized the first meet at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.

The Muroc Reunion was not quite as much fun for Marvin. Dry lakes are hot, dusty, and totally devoid of vegetation. A place with no bushes is, for a dog, a place with no rest rooms. Marvin had a long weekend, but fortunately he got to commiserate with Katie, a little poodle who thought Marvin was cute.

Near California City, California, we visited the Desert Tortoise Preserve. Thanks to the resident naturalist, Sonja Norstedt, we actually saw a tortoise, and learned about life in the Mojave Desert.

A new and baffling GIZMO came our way from Patrick Reidy, of Sierra Madre, California. See if you know what it is!

Next week, the Phoenix One will be heading south, to San Diego and environs. We'll be visiting an ostrich farm, a tourmeline mine, some hot springs, and whatever else looks interesting on the way. See you on the road!