On our map, the Algonones Dunes held such promise. The largest dunes in California were just miles away on State Route 78. In the distance we could see a long strip of solid white sand under a pastel blue sky. We were driving into an Impressionist's painting.
And then . . .
. . .as we got closer, our beautiful dunes were no more. Overrun by off-road vehicles, motorcycles and ATV's, the pristine sand was lined with tire tracks, the air smelly with fuel and the sound, I swear, we could have been at the Indy 500, it was so loud.
But then . . .
. . . it got even worse. We entered a city of RV's, many of them bigger than my house, monster trucks and small businesses all catering to a sport that damages a precious habitat for unique plants and animals, found nowhere else on earth. What are they thinking?
Fortunately, a small portion of the dunes are closed to such vehicles as part of the 1994 California Desert Protection Act, but in my opinion, much more of this ecosystem needs to be protected. I can understand the appeal of roaring up and down a 300 foot dune, but I question our right to do so.
"We live in the Age of Wretched Excess," my travel buddy said. "Future generations are going to hate us."
KEEP OFF
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