Deep into the mojave

Let me tell you one thing about eastern california: it's desolate. And it has some wicked cacti growing in it. These aren't just your average spiky plant, they're freakin trees. Is there such a thing as a cactus tree? I don't have access to any more than a watered down slow version of the net right now as i ride in a car travelling from my meeting in barstow. We had to take a detour coming back on n 15because a fuel truck flipped over on the highway this morning. I heard about it when we set off this morning at 730am, i saw it for a moment at about 0930am, and now i hear that the highway won't be open until 10pm or later. We took a detour on the advice of a local guy, which took us through kelso and cima, which are even smaller and more desolate than barstow. Another interesting landmark besides the burnt out houses on the side of the road was a sign that pointed to a town called hole
in the wall. In a minute we'll be back to the 15, back to civilization. Damn the mojave is desolate.