Edna and Charlotte bum around Silver Lake, chasing mirages back and forth across the dry lake bed, then take a treacherous drive to Saratoga Springs with the town’s sheriff. They get tantalizingly close to their goal in Death Valley, walking when they can drive no further and learning firsthand how the heat, light, and distance of Death Valley gave the place its name.

This episode was recorded and produced by Lisa McNamara. Supplemental text is by Lisa McNamara and original text is by Edna Brush Perkins. Visit roadtrippinginamerica.com for more. 

Do you know someone who would enjoy this story but who doesn’t do podcasts? The White Heart of Mojave (Annotated), by Lisa McNamara and Edna Brush Perkins, is available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback. For the print version of the story, I dug a little deeper and found even more interesting info, like who Old Johnnie really was. You can find the print version here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XV5JGFT