Favorite Trip # 2

We drove through the Mojave Desert a few times, seen it from the freeway only, now is the time to check it out. Joshua Tree National Park is a must see attraction on the north side of the valley and only 30 minutes from Indio. When we hear desert we think of endless sand but this desert is different. There are so many plants and animals that beat the unforgiving climate and survive the 110 F summer with no water. The Joshua tree is actually not a tree but a yucca, can grow up to 40’ tall, and has cream colored flowers in January. Even after it dies the dead tree is home to a lot of small animals. Inside the park there are 9 campgrounds, it is better to stay a day or two because there is so much to see and the park is huge. Being in the Palm Springs area next must see is the Aerial Tramway. It goes up 2.5 miles over the city into Mt. San Jacinto State Park and if you are not afraid of height, need a bit of adrenaline rush the cars are rotating while going up or down. The top of the hill reminds us of home, cold and snow; we don’t miss that and hurry back down to the desert. Little time left to visit a couple of casinos (seems to be more than palm trees in the area), stop at the Dinosaur Theme Park in Morongo and we have to go home. North of Los Angeles the weather turns ugly and doesn’t change for the next 3 months. One more reason to make it home in 2 days again. Are you asking: was it worth driving 4 days to spend 5 days in the desert? Absolutely, wouldn’t hesitate to do it again next winter it’s going to be my next favorite road trip.


Lots of convoys are meeting here before headed further south to Mexico.


Sometimes they spend a few days at the casinos while waiting for members of the convoy to arrive.


Shop at the entrance of Joshua Tree National Park.


Ocotillo cactus grows so tall in the desert.


One of the nice campgrounds inside the park.

Favorite Trip (published in a local paper)

Somebody asked me: what was your favorite road trip? Always the most recent one with an exemption: the next one. I have been to 38 countries so far but planning the next trip is still exiting. And then sometimes it just hits you: you got to go! Last year we moved out of town and then winter came with 2-3 feet of fresh snow. It’s beautiful but not if you live on a dead end road in the middle of the bush. We have been warned on the radio: have 2-3 days of supplies at home because you probably won’t be able to get out. We have been waiting six days for the first snow plow, did not lose power, and had everything from food to booze but getting more and more desperate for a little bit of SUN. Missed a few days of work, a new training has been cancelled, all of a sudden another few unexpected days off. I use to be in California in 2 days when I was driving for a living, why wouldn’t we give it a try? Very tempting when you look out of the window and see nothing but snow. We had to dig out the motor home from the snow, pack it and ready for take off. The Runway still had a lot of snow but the major highways were bare and exactly 46 hours later the thermometer on the motor home showed 27 C in the California desert. Easy to understand why lots of people spend the winter in the Palm Springs area.


We had to do some digging before we could leave, our first winter in the bush.


Enjoying the sunshine and the orange fields 46 hrs later south of Indio, California.


Even the Wal Mart parking lot is full of palm trees.


Date sampling just south of Indio in a famous shop.


Wife is just relaxing on January 6th in the parking lot of the casino in Coachella, California. Nothing but snow at home and here we do not have enough T shirts. More next week.