B & D's USA Hideout: Joshua Tree National Park, CA

"From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere"

Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)

A Joshua tree is, in fact, not a tree but a species of Yucca and part of the Agave family. They can grow up to 40 feet and look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. Joshua Tree National Park is made up of two interesting desert ecosystems. The Colorado Desert is the low desert with lower elevation and higher temperatures and home to the creosote bush and ocotillos. The western part of the park turns into the high desert which is higher in elevation, wetter and cooler in temperatures. This section is part of the Mojave Desert and also hosts the special habitat of the infamous Joshua tree.

We parked the camper at Black Rock campground at a big site in between the Joshua trees. There were great hiking trails starting right from the campground. This is the last National Park we are visiting on this leg of the road trip so we took time to relax, hike and enjoy our last few days of alone time together. Our favorite hike was a 7 mile loop called the panoramic loop. It was a slow and steady climb on a sandy trail to the prettiest desert view I've ever seen. We saw quail and horny toads, two snakes, lizards and bunny rabbits. We caught a glimpse of the last few cactus blooms and admired the enormity of certain Joshua trees. The sun was shining and the temperature was just right. We ate peanut butter sandwiches with my Gram's homemade grape jelly at the peak and then enjoyed the easier way down the sandy trail.

We are moving on to our final stop, San Diego, on Friday. My sister is getting married on May 24th at a very nice winery in Temecula, CA. We are looking forward to spending time with her and her fiancé, Rick, and touring around San Diego.