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By Lloyd Kahn
In November 1972 we took a ten day trip through the Southwest, shooting photos for this book. We visited dozens of houses, domes and zomes, hundreds of people, and shot more than 50 rolls of film — mostly in New Mexico and Colorado. Heading home, we took Highway 50 through Nevada (tired of 66). It leads through a series of mountain passes that drop down into what look like prehistoric lake beds. Snow on the sand and sagebrush, clear air, sun shining, intense colors. Each time we’d drop down from a mountain pass we could see 30 miles of clear road ahead. No cars in sight.
As we came down into about the fourth lake bed somewhere around Ainz Summit we saw a lone figure ahead on the road and as we passed him, we turned to see his face. Jack said, “Uh oh, I think we…” at the same time that I was hitting the brakes. Turning around, we went back to talk to Armand Bassett. Did he want a ride?
No I don’t take rides.
Eat? Roadside trash cans. You find all sorts of things.
I just had some chocolate milk, that’s enough to fill my
tooth. Anything I get I enjoy. Do you have any peanut
butter? I really like peanut butter.
How long have you been walking?
About 10 years. A few years ago I didn’t have anything
better to do and I figured it to be about six times around
the world.
Where do you sleep? (Nights were about 20°.)
Oh, it’s pretty cold some times. Last couple nights was
pretty cold. But it’s mostly o.k….
Look at the difference in the way we travel — we’ve
got this car, sleeping bags, food, money, you’ve got
everything in that bag…
(He looked right at me).
It’s all the same. You’re on the road, I’m on the road….
Well, thanks for the peanut butter. Today’s real nice.
I’m gonna get going cause I’ve had a bad couple days
and now the sun’s out and I’m going to enjoy it….
Photo by Lloyd Kahn. Reprinted from Shelter, (c) 1973, Shelter Publications, Inc
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