K: We have emerged from Joshua Tree National Park and finally have cell/data coverage. I diverge to rant just a bit.... I have been to the developing world in Central America, South America, SE Asia, including rice paddies and deep in the Vietnamese jungle. And I have always had cell/data coverage. It does make one wonder about the good 'ol US of A. Outside urban cities, there is little quality cell service in this country and none in national parks. Ok, now that I have that off my chest.......
Joshua Tree National Park was magical, mystical, surreal and ... hot. Yesterday, we hiked a trail that took us through the heart of the May 2009 forest fire in the Lost Horse Mine section. Wow. It was so interesting to see how the desert can recover from such an event. The Joshua Tree (or yucca) is native only to the Mojave Desert and western CA. It does not seem to cross the path into the Sonoran desert, which is so interesting - the Joshua Tree vs. the Saguaro Cactus.
Wildlife has been most interesting. We did a second hike yesterday late afternoon and saw TWO tarantulas. They were clearly out for a stroll in the evening hours. They were big as a fist and slightly furry. Fortunately, they didn't visit our campsite. And, then, the more interesting creatures.... the Mormons. When a group of boys and male adults showed up at the two campsites next to ours, I assumed it was a boy scout troop, or something like that. The first clue was the fireside gathering and the readings from the book of Revelations. The second clue was the reading from the other "books" that to my knowledge were not books from the bible. So far the world is not ending so I think I will stick to my own reading list rather than Revelations!
V: The gist of the 'sermon' next to our campsite was "Satan and the War in Heaven'. It was an interesting campfire tale, indeed.
The unexpected encounter on the trail of the furry long-legged ones prompted me to wonder do Tarantulas dance the Tarantella? (I have no idea why I pondered that.)
The New Age vibe is strong in Joshua Tree, and, in that spirit, I burned/sacrificed my black convertible shorts, ones that had been with me for many a year, indeed, at least one decade, on many a kayak paddle, on many a hike. But, alas, too many holes and rips to repair led to no other alternative. I had purchased a new pair of outdoor shorts at a store in the town of Joshua Tree, so, if something comes in, something must go out.
Oh, and it was resourceful to use the desert heat to dry out, thoroughly, some hand-washed items we needed to do, as you can see in one of the photos.
On to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon tonite.
Desert Playlist: A note, for my buddy Juan, in particular, is that our playlist in the desert rambles has included such stellar albums as Patti Smith's "Twelve" and a healthy dose of U2's "Joshua Tree", of course, and a fine Norwegian musical group that must be discovered by others--Madrugada, and their exquisite debut album "Industrial Silence", in particular. Check them out!
Highlights:
Sips: Finally, red wine from a bottle and not a box since we were camping in the same spot for more than one night.
Bites: Yummy meal of grilled chicken and pasilla chile peppers with lentil curry sauce and Karen's perfectly cooked spuds from the campfire.
Sites: Wonderful two nites camping in Joshua Tree National Park -- exploring the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert, and enjoying the beauty of the Mojave Yucca and the Cholla Cactus. Camping on Wednesday eve in Red Rock Canyon State Park, in southern California, which was the westernmost point of our trek.
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