There is a universe of sand in Southern California and a four-wheel weekend army to exploit it. The glare you perceive in our photographs gives just a foretaste of the rigorous atmosphere awaiting as you cross this arid land.

The boy in green with relaxed forward-sloping shoulders might be our subject. However I think we have dual protagonists here — the kid in goggles himself and the collection of his adult chaperones with their water bottles and rubber tires, steel frames and horsepower in tow. This entertainment requires investment in trucks, trailers, campers, field kitchens and specialized vehicles and is not possible without substantial cost.

The buggy riders and their spectators do not notice the inscriptions they leave in the sand. The detached observer with a camera finds the trails they lay down fascinating — at times the marks approach the condition of Disappearing Art. (Wind will eventually return the entire canvas to a pristine beauty.)

In the meantime there are arabesques and other human-engraved designs to enjoy: