Sunday, 23 September 2007

Joshua Tree

Well the clouds well and truly opened up. I felt like Lukas during the monsoon!! Headed east through the driving rain, visibility down to a couple of metres.



Two hours outside of LA and headed off the 10 up towards Joashu Tree, passed the Palm Springs wind-turbines.





Found this general store which I though Lilo would like - cow this time on the roof. Very authentic, run by Indians, alas not from the Sioux or Iroquois but from the Punjab.



Great little playhouse in Joshua Tree - could so see a vaudeville act on here - So Grace if you are reading it would be right up your street.



In to the park - it was beautiful. All mountains, desert and sky, breathtaking. Went hiking round some of the key sites. There is great camping within the park and air quality is very good and ideal for star gazing...So Julia when you are next out, we will pull out the tent and spend a few nights under the stars. Only drawback I encountered was the little known fact that there appear to be tarantulas in the park. Not good.




The climbing looks amazing here...




...as does the mountain biking. Think Michael and Ted would like the park for biking in.



OK so U2 got here first, none the less....




....you have to give the situation your own slant.



Indian petroglyphs.



A local inhabitant.



Fantastic to be out of the concrete and back fresh air. Could feel the last few weeks drop off and my head clear. Pleanty of time to think over a number of script projects. Could feel the old cogs in the brain ticking over and firing up.







Found a great little motel - the Joshua Tree Inn - which is famous for being where Gram Parsons died. It was really laid back and quaint. Run by Kim, who was from LA and Hong Kong. Very chilled. Spent the evening writing and then watched 'Soylent Green'.




Up early. Gassed with the family on Skype whilst sitting on the veranda drinking coffee staring out over the desert mountains. Then off to explore the south eastern part of the park.









The park is composed of two deserts. The northern part where the Joshua Tree is abundant is part of the Mojave desert. Southern part is the Colorado desert, which is at a lower altitude with a distinctly different fauna and flora much less vegetation and markedly hotter.



Left the park and drove home via Salton Sea.



Went home via Chino where I dropped into the 'Planes of Fame' air museum. Julia will definitely be very envious - don't worry I can always go back with you!




Spotted this Mac farm....



...and a state correctional facility.....



...before hitting sunday evening traffic.



Phenomenal weekend. Will definitely be going back to Joshua Tree.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Notice how similar the feedlot and the prison look from a distance.

I wonder if Karma distinguishes where you are reincarnated to, as well as what you are reincarnated as. If I were to come back as cattle, I'd want to be an Indian sacred cow, or a bison on the prarie - I wouldn't want to be a steer on a feedlot.