Our Joshua Tree National Park Adventure

I don't know how many times Sharon and I have passed the exit off of I-10 that would have taken us to Joshua Tree and said to one another, "we have to go there some day." And, then, when Murray and Shelle McDole agreed to meet us in 29 Palms and lead us into the desert, we couldn't pass it up. This spring, we visited the park and what a wonderful experience it was for us. Love it when a plan comes together.


So, what follows is a bunch of photos that tell the story much better than I ever could.



We arrived a day early, spending the night at the 29 Palms Elks Lodge RV Park, and waited for the McDoles to join us on Sunday. Together, we drove the Gila Mobile down into the park's Belle Campground and were so very fortunate to snag a couple of sites right next to one another. The campground was full for all five days we were there. These two camp sites are the about the only two that allow two large rigs to be together.

We spent most every evening sitting at this table playing Tri-Ominos and yep, Pappy Wise was the big winner. Luck has its advantages but playing during a happy hour has its disadvantages. Can you say "Duck Farts?"

If you look closely, you can see the ropes hanging from the top of the rock that was used by many a climber. It was interesting to watch these young (very young) people climbing this big ol' rock. Oh, to be that young again!

Murray and Shelle had visited the park prior to our visit and acted as hosts to us, showing the green horns all of the sights. This view of the mountains through the limbs of the towering Joshua Trees was amazing.

I had never seen chuckwallas before and these were fun to find. Murray first spotted them from a long distance and we moved in to photograph these lizards. Murray named the one on the left Cary Grant because we saw it sitting on a big piece of granite and he thought the lizard exhibited a certain Cary Grant kind of sophistication. I think the one on the right has a meaner demeanor and named it James Cagney. Regardless, they are two great desert residents.

Are you looking at me, bud?

Two fans of the desert. Oh, Murray is the wrinkled one in the background.

Each morning, we would leave about 9:30 for our daily adventure and our visit to the Key's ranch was a definite high point. The Keys family lived out in this desert for more than 50 years and was the region's only successful ranch. He was a rancher and a miner (and a gunfighter that spent a few years in San Quentin prison for shooting another rancher - he was innocent). The effort involved in taking this ranger led tour was worth every dime. Take the tour if you have the time.

Spring time in the desert included the peach trees on the ranch that were in bloom.

Keys never threw away anything. His "junk yard" was amazing. Does this look like a good place to live? Even in July and August?

The large rocks in the park are amazing and the geology involved is very interesting but more complicated than I want to explain. That is the Gila Mobile in the background. These rocks are big!

Our little hikes included a short walk to visit the Arch and the situation called for a photo. Looks like all four of us are having a good time - we were.

The McDoles on their first visit dubbed this rock "Breaching Whale" and we couldn't see any reason to change that label.

One of the things that I like about the desert is the dichotomy of the fragile and the vicious and these little flowers hiding in the pencil chollas typifies that sense.

The lavendar plants were in bloom and very fragrant.

We have visited a lot of Arizona and I don't recall being in a thicker grouping of chollas - teddy bear and silver. It was an amazing sight.

Why so many yellow flowers in the desert? I don't know but they sure do delight the eye of the springtime desert visitor.

One of Sharon's favorite desert plants is the ocotillo and there is a patch of them in the park. I've never stood by such a massive ocotillo plant, 20 feet tall. This plant was a little ahead of the others in the blooming category. In a couple weeks, all of these plants will be in bloom and it will be a sight to behold.

The hillsides were covered in wild flowers and these called out to Murray and I to photograph them in all their glory. Can the desert in spring be beat?

Beaver tail or prickly pear? This is a beaver tail version of the prickly pear and so many were in bloom.

This week's contest concerns this "cocoon" that was all over the desert. Identify the creature that creates this thing and you will be well rewarded. The little catapillers were just starting to escape.

Our Alaska buddy, Kacee Kile was in the Seattle airport talking to an older couple and they identified these guys as "tent worms (or caterpillers)" which build this tent to live in while eating and waiting to spin their cocoons. They can be a bit of a problem. So, Kacee, congratulations on listening to old people.

Night after night, we waited for the skies to show us their magic and finally, on our final day, we had some clouds and they helped to show off the sunsets color - wonderful.