joshua tree

Wednesday 29th July 2015.

joshua tree national park
greg is back!!

First day in the states and we are off tripping around the desert.  Today we decided to do the Joshua Tree National Park.  Today Greg would also make his debut in the US for the second time.  We drove from Palm Springs towards the park stopping for and early lunch at Yucca Valley.  Entered the park through the west entrance.  It was a nice leisurely drive through the park stopping at some lookouts on the way.  It was quite beautiful and picturesque.  We did 3 walks in total.  Two just over a mile long and one that was about three miles.  We should have brought water as it was basically 40 degrees and sunny.  Hidden Valley was beautiful with all the trees and flowers hidden away between the rocks.  The Wall Street Gold Mine was also interesting.  There were old trucks that had been left behind just slowly rusting away.  We ended up leaving via the north entrance at Twentynine Palms (I wanted to stop and count them) making our way back to Palm Springs.  Back at the Motel and it was swim time before dinner.  Off for dinner at Denny's and then back for a late night swim.  Tomorrow we are headings for the mountains via the Aerial Tramway.

hidden valley walk

cute chipmunk

barker dam

mountain goat was checking us out

wall street mill gold mine

things as they were left

i can get this going

dead tree in hidden valley

joshua tree in hidden valley

wall street mill mine

old remains near mine

one of the walks

greg loves his vacation

lots of joshua trees

looking before crossing. wait, i
should be looking the other way.

skull rock

huge wind farms near palm springs

view from keys lookout.
palm springs is on the right