Day 3
Well we did not sleep very well last night – who knows what causes this? Breakfast in the room, on the perch - so relaxing. Packed up and checked out by 11AM. Headed for the Hilton in Palm Springs via the Joshua Tree Nation Park – about a 5 hour detour!
On the way to the freeway we stop at Walmart so Sandra can buy a sunshade for the side window of the car. It turns out to be a Walmart “Superstore” – I think you could fit the whole of Cotati in here – Sandra has to take a picture. We find the sun shades but the only one they have is for kids and it has 2 monkeys printed in it – oh well it’s going to be on Sandra’s side of the car, so it’s fine with me.
Off we go, heading east on highway10 – as we progress it get more and more like a desert, which is good because that is exactly what it is. After about half an hour we hit the turn off for the park and head for the mountains. About 10 minutes in we get to the ranger station where we have to stop and pay the $15 entry fee and pick up a map. Back on the road we head for the heart of the park – which is a bit of a misnomer because we are starting to form the opinion that calling this place a park is a bit of a stretch! So far after about 45 minutes it’s just dry desert and big piles of rock.
Thing are look
ing up, we stop by a trail that leads through a magnificent display of weird cactus like plants called Chollas. I grab my camera and head off, Sandra ops to stay in the car. I manage to get some good shots – including a small squirrel-like animal that was running around my feet. Back on the road – more desert, and still no sign of the park namesake – maybe someone cut it down.
We come across a very strange outcrop of huge rocks and pull off the road to explore. I grab my camera and take off, Sandra stays in the car – I’m starting to get the hint!
Well we did not sleep very well last night – who knows what causes this? Breakfast in the room, on the perch - so relaxing. Packed up and checked out by 11AM. Headed for the Hilton in Palm Springs via the Joshua Tree Nation Park – about a 5 hour detour!
On the way to the freeway we stop at Walmart so Sandra can buy a sunshade for the side window of the car. It turns out to be a Walmart “Superstore” – I think you could fit the whole of Cotati in here – Sandra has to take a picture. We find the sun shades but the only one they have is for kids and it has 2 monkeys printed in it – oh well it’s going to be on Sandra’s side of the car, so it’s fine with me.
Off we go, heading east on highway10 – as we progress it get more and more like a desert, which is good because that is exactly what it is. After about half an hour we hit the turn off for the park and head for the mountains. About 10 minutes in we get to the ranger station where we have to stop and pay the $15 entry fee and pick up a map. Back on the road we head for the heart of the park – which is a bit of a misnomer because we are starting to form the opinion that calling this place a park is a bit of a stretch! So far after about 45 minutes it’s just dry desert and big piles of rock.
Thing are look
ing up, we stop by a trail that leads through a magnificent display of weird cactus like plants called Chollas. I grab my camera and head off, Sandra ops to stay in the car. I manage to get some good shots – including a small squirrel-like animal that was running around my feet. Back on the road – more desert, and still no sign of the park namesake – maybe someone cut it down.We come across a very strange outcrop of huge rocks and pull off the road to explore. I grab my camera and take off, Sandra stays in the car – I’m starting to get the hint!
We set off and now see some Joshua trees – they are a bit like a normal tree with branches but no leaves and a cactus like plant on the end of each branch.
On a bit further we find a great spot to stop and break out the picnic food from our fancy cooler.
As we head back down to civilization we see hundreds of Joshua trees – not quite a forest, but close. The rock formations are also incredible – some are really large boulders with a tiny “boulder” precariously balanced on top, this must be some kind of college prank – they couldn’t possibly be natural. The trees persist all the way back to the town of Joshua Tree – which is just as well, given its name.
We finally make it to the Hilton and check in with no problem. The room is on the ground floor, which worries us a bit – as it has a patio area that opens into the parking lot, though it is securely fenced.
Actually the room exceeds out expectations; a king-size bed set diagonally and a sofa and sitting area leading to the patio. Very nice.
We dump the bags and head straight out to the down town area, about a 3 minute hike. We are really thirsty after a long dry day, and set about hunting for a place to have cold drink. The downtown street that had been so lively when we drove around last Friday is decided quiet – we put this down to it 
being Sunday and also a bit early. We find a large Mexican place, La Terresa and decide to go in for drinks. We opt to sit in the bar area and I order a beer, Sandra has a Margarita. The obligatory chips and salsa arrive and we are pulled into the mood of the place – which is nice. We had originally planned to only have drinks in this place while we decided what to do for dinner – but a few beers later, we decide to just order a few tacos and stay where we are.
So now we are back in the room and feeling very tired – I think an early night might be in order, since we have a hard day planned for tomorrow lazing by the pool.
being Sunday and also a bit early. We find a large Mexican place, La Terresa and decide to go in for drinks. We opt to sit in the bar area and I order a beer, Sandra has a Margarita. The obligatory chips and salsa arrive and we are pulled into the mood of the place – which is nice. We had originally planned to only have drinks in this place while we decided what to do for dinner – but a few beers later, we decide to just order a few tacos and stay where we are.So now we are back in the room and feeling very tired – I think an early night might be in order, since we have a hard day planned for tomorrow lazing by the pool.
PS of course Neil declined to mention I stayed in the car after he had stopped at the 20th
rock formation (Sandra)
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