Exploring Joshua Tree National Park

After we parted ways with Dickie and Sarah, we spent a couple days exploring the rest of the Joshua Tree National Park. We drove some out of the way dirt paths to get off the beaten path and we did some hiking to some features like the Barker Dam and The Arches. We took in a lot and felt like we did a good job seeing as much as possible in the time allotted, but admittedly we missed the 9 bighorn sheep that some of the others saw when we got to the part of the park (the highest point) where you can look down on the San Andreas Fault- which was a pretty impressive thing to do.


                                                    

The many images from our time in the park will be in our minds for a long long time. Here we share those images:

Mother's Day at Joshua Tree

Well we packed everything up a few days early and headed off to Southern California to meet up with Dickie and Sarah who were on a climbing vacation at Joshua Tree National Park. It didn't seem possible we would find hotter temps here than the 100 - 103 we had back in Brenda, but guess what- 104 - 108 here so far. Goodie! Still, the place is beautiful and may not have ever made it onto out "to do" list if it hadn't been for their choosing it for a vacation so close to us that it was impossible to pass up a visit. Last night we joined them at their campsite in the park at the base of a boulder that, once it cooled off a bit, was scrambling with climbers. It was interesting to see and learn something about what, and how, they do what they do to get up and then down those rocks and cliffs safely. And of course it is always great to see family.

We'll join them again this evening in town for a get together dinner at a funky little dinner place and then they head home and we head further into the park to see what there is to see. Here's a couple of the pics so far...

campsite at Joshua Tree

mojitos before dinner

our traveling herb/mint pot

registered Maine guide tending taters

steak headed for the grill

How'd they get up there anyhow???

Joshua Tree

first one up

scrambling up the rocks