After leaving the Dutch Cleanser mines, we meandered down EP15 and took an unnamed dirt road to a small mining area referred to as Bonanza. The only building left standing is the Bonanza Post Office . There's an alluvial fan deposit not far from here where people with metal detectors frequent. According to Charlie, someone recently found a one ounce gold nugget, not a shabby return (with today's gold prices) for spending a nice day in the desert sun. Here's a picture of the Group at Bonanza exploring the area. As you can see by the rocks in the foreground, this area is also steeped in volcanic history.

There were a couple of interesting women who joined us on this trip. When I see interesting people like this, I always wonder what their 'story' is, their background. But I'm fairly shy, so I will very rarely approach people. I noticed this woman out by herself, checking things out. I wonder what she was thinking? Desert Dweller .

I noticed these strange buds on the creosote bushes and thought that they were rather unusual and pretty. Flora

Next submission: Chapter 3. Bickel Camp.