Reflections in a Dry Wash

A DRY WASH is a river or stream bed which usually is a sun-baked trough of sand and silt. Yesterday, I reached a wide and level one which had tire tracks crossing it, so I thought my car could make it, too. I entered it tentatively and timidly and got three-quarters of the way across before one of my wheels went down up to the hub. I was stuck.