Music videos were so artistic in the 1980s. Some of them said as much as their associated music. The Talking Heads composed a music video for Road to Nowhere that, although it seems ridiculous now, was captivating at the time. It seemed to be about how life is dynamic with deviations from that which is expected. To me, it also seemed to be about enjoyment of being here now, or perhaps, there then. After all, it was filmed near Hi Vista in 1985, far away and long ago.

I did not experience Hi Vista in 1985, but did manage to get to Littlerock in about 1987, about two years later and thirty miles to the southwest. I am glad to have seen the region then. It has changed so much that I sort of hope to never see it again. Although I do not intend to avoid it if there is ever any reason for me to return, I would prefer to remember it how it was about thirty-seven years ago. There are plenty of other scenic regions of the Mojave Desert to tour.

While in the region, I noticed that a few interchanges on the highways that we drove on were more substantial than the highways were. They were proportionate to the urban development that was expected for the region. The portions of the highways between the interchanges were upgraded later, which is now a long time ago. So much of what I remember as rural is now suburban or urban.

That is what this landscape reminded me of. It is near my formerly rural home south of San Luis Obispo, where I lived while in college. Although this parking lot was here before I was, it has since been renovated. The area beyond was merely pasture occupied by cattle. This long and prominent crosswalk crosses the parking lot as if going somewhere important, only to terminate at this empty landing, which is surrounded by ceanothus. It certainly looks odd. Obviously, the walkway is intended to continue in some form into development that is planned for the adjacent site. I had not been here in about thirty-four years, so should not be surprised by such changes. Perhaps I am no more surprised than I am amused by this landscape and its associated road to nowhere.