1992 | Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
I was out with a gaggle of my friend’s friends who had very different interests. Walking back from a pleasant oasis, which had featured falls and a deep-enough-to-cool-off pool, we found two routes back to the cars. I took the right fork, unknown to me. Some went ahead either way, others lagged behind, but I was unconcerned. Maintaining a downcanyon orientation would get no one lost.
I poked around with my view camera, knowing I could easily catch up with the multi-paced group, but I did not find anything worthy of a sheet of film. I gave up in the hard, high, light and headed for the trailhead and the cars, hoping for a quiet moment before all the others would get there. Somehow, I arrived last; they were all waiting for me!
I asked them to lounge around just a little longer while I set up for this picture, and they were generous and patient.
That’s a fine thing about the desert – no one is in a particular hurry; they are already there.