California Road Trip - Part 3 - Joshua Tree and The Mojave Desert

I hardly slept - nothing unusual about that - and I was on the road at just after 8am. I stopped for a traditional american breakfast of eggs and pancakes and left the diner feeling bloated...

Thankfully - I'd parked right outside Starbucks, and so with coffee in hand, I pulled out of Palm Springs on my way to Joshua Tree National Park.

Monster Wind Farm just outside of Palm Springs:



There was hardly any traffic, and the temperature started to soar as I headed along what I could only describe as the quintessential American highway. It was exactly like being in a movie - and I was half expecting to be pulled over and shot by a rogue sheriff, or a truck to run me off the road just for entertainment.

Luckily - none of those things happened, so I drove with the window down and enjoyed the view:



A quick turn left off the highway, and I was soon in Joshua Tree National Park:



Everyone had told me that I was in for a treat. What is normally a dry desert was in full bloom, and the snow on the mountains just added to the amazing views:



The car - waiting for me - at an unofficial comfort break:



And the amazing scenery at the southern end of the park:



After a quick stop at the ranger station, where I got some excellent information about the park (but no stamp - I forgot to ask), I set off to hit the highlights, and enjoy driving through what is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world:





It's not long before the rock formations appear - made famous by a thousand climbing videos:





But always calling - the highway:











While my time was limited - I really wanted to see the best that the park had to offer, and one of the highlights was the climb up Ryan Mountain.

It took me an hour to make it the three miles to the top and back and 1000 feet of accent - with amazing views the whole way. Here's the sign at the top:



...and the view:





The landscape really begins to change as the road winds north, and the famous Joshua trees suddenly appear:



It's really breathtaking:



The light was perfect for photo's, and I managed to get this one near the top of the park:



It was almost 4pm by the time I got out of the park...and I decided to just keep driving, rather than stop as I'd originally planned. So I drove, and drove, and drove...here's some pics:

The highway at the north of the park:



A lake in the middle of the Mojave desert on the Kelbaker Road - part of what used to be Route 66:



It's amazing how the scenery changes as you head into the Mojave - it becomes more rugged some how - it's amazing to think that not so long ago people lived off the land here:







Dusk in the Mojave desert:





It was dark when I pulled into Baker - and I got a room at a total dump in town - it wasn't even that cheap - but still - it was a place to stay.

I had to put on a few extra layers because it was really incredibly cold - and I headed along the single road that makes up what is really just a truck and gas stop on the road to Vegas.

Baker has little to recommend it - except for an exceptional Mexican restaurant where I had an amazing burrito...and then it was back to the room to try and get some sleep.

California Road Trip - Part 2 - Palm Springs

I'd gotten to know LA pretty well - and so I already knew my way out of town. It's really not that hard once you know where the main freeways go. So I headed to the 134 and then onto the 210, which would eventually become the 10 for an over night stop in Palm Springs.

LA Friday afternoon traffic:



Although it soon cleared:



On the road:



And the view:



Thankfully, Diane had told me about a Starbucks on the way, and so after an hour or so I pulled off at Campus Drive and stopped for coffee and a slice of Z Pizza. And then it was back on the road heading for Palm Springs with an amazing sunset :



I pulled into Palm Springs around 8pm having made pretty good time, only to find that everywhere was busy and rooms were in short supply. Luckily for me, I managed to get the last room at Motel 8 and dumped my stuff off and headed to downtown Palm Springs for some food.

The strip is pretty good fun - although it seemed really quiet to say that all the hotel rooms were full. I ended up eating at a great Mexican place, and as usual in America - there was enough food to feed three people. All I can say is - I did my best and ended up leaving feeling way too full.

On the way back to the motel, I stopped in to buy a beer and some snacks and they were playing Yes on the radio...I ended up browsing a little longer than usual to hear the end of the track...