The desert claims the unwary. Today was an exercise in stupidity. No shovel, no chain, no rope, no serious jack, no detailed instructions to my "backup", two-wheel drive in the sand, dying cell phone. Talk about being goal-oriented? No kidding. It was supposed to be a pleasant stroll to a neat set of ruins. Instead the truck got stuck and I spent four hours hiking along a baking hardpan road with no shade and the thermometer in the truck when I left reading 121F. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers. Random bilagaana showing up in front of their house on the county road had to throw them for a spin. Oh well, great folks. Got some tips for next time (like don't be stupid, as I read between the lines).
Think before you act indeed.