“Vallecito, in Calaveras County, California” is definitely not “in the desert”. Foothills with oak trees at the lower elevations, and alpine conditions at the higher altitudes (Bear Valley Ski Resort, etc.). Born & raised in Calaveras Co..
Mysterious universe runs a podcast, they are a hoot. All their back stuff can be found on spotify for free.
One of the podcasts I wait for to put out a new program every week.
Grimerica and no agenda are likewise excellent podcasts.
One Twilight Zone episode had a space travel crew landing on a desert-like planet.
A great half-hour of TV writing skill.
PING
“Another strange case involving some sort of humanoid creature...”
Democrat cities are full of strange cases of humanoid creatures,
Give me the Hudson Valley’s Headless Horseman any day; in the fall there is no place creepier.
Back in the Old west, newspaper editors often made up stories to fill blank spaces in their newspapers when no news was happening.
Today it would be referred to as “A DEAD CAT DAY.”
When no news is happening, “You throw a dead cat in front of a politician, and print his reaction.”
Strange tales of spooks, ghosts, goblins and beasties have long been used by people who want to protect their solitude and privacy (or a gold claim) from intrusion by the curious and “trespassers”...
Then again, some folks just have a way with spinning a good yarn and telling tall tales...Especially after they have a bit o’ liquor on board...