To whoever is not listening to the sea

Location: Palm Desert, CA 

Yes, they are riding in a golf cart while walking their dog.  Only in Palm Springs?  In other news, it was 82F in Palm Springs today, we were actually happy to come back to a more temperate 65 in Yucca. 

Location: BlackRock Campground, Yucca Valley, CA

Lost again! This photo shows where it went wrong. We followed the left cairn instead of the right 'arrow', which we only figured out was an arrow on the way back.  It took some doing, but we figured out where we were (Bigfoot Trail), and where we went wrong (not staying on California Hiking and Riding Trail). We did see bighorn sheep tracks, and hear coyotes yapping in the distance for our trouble though! We'll try again in two weeks - the trail we were supposed to hike on has the largest & densest Joshua Trees in the park!

Location: Yucca Valley, CA

We are working to the sounds of Earth, Wind & Fire today, in honor of the late Maurice White.  We are great admirers of the band and its founder Maurice -- not only for their skill as musicians and performers, but also their relentless dedication to positivity.  We saw EWF play when we lived in the Richmond, VA,  sadly still in many ways a racially segregated city.  The outdoor concert was packed with a wildly enthusiastic and incredibly diverse crowd of all ages, races and incomes.  It was powerful -- thank you, Maurice!

Location: Panorama Loop Trail, Black Rock Canyon Campground, Yucca Valley, CA

It's been in the 40's this week and this hike had whipping winds that reminded us - it's still winter! Great views, and due to the higher elevations - really big Joshua Trees. The tree pictured was the biggest one we've seen  to date!

Location:  Landers, CA

We enjoyed our sound bath today at the Integratron. 

Photo Location:  Highway 86 - outside of Salton City, CA

It's a good thing both of us are interested in photography.  More and more we are both very willing to stop and turnaround to get a shot of something. This is a great example.  It's street art on the side of an abandoned market along Highway 86 A generous instagram poster filled us in on the artists - see more of their work here and here. 

Location: Salvation Mountain -- Niland, CA

This week we'll be working a lot and will use the opportunity to share some photos from our road trip this past weekend. This photo is of Salvation Mountain - a folk art monument to God just outside of Slab City.  This picture reflects the dissonance of our visit to the area.  A strange mix of people who want to live outside the norm, and people coming to watch them do it...and use it as a backdrop for their personal photo shoot.  Women in floppy hats and floral garb were as plentiful as quotes from scripture. 

Location: Yucca Valley, CA

We returned from 36 hours in the desert to weather in the 40's, rainy and windy!  Yikes!  That's ok - yesterday it was 80 and we had that "baked" feeling you get from sun and sand.  Plus, we have about 500+ photos to go through from the weekend.  

Location: Galletta Meadows - Borrego Springs, CA

We left Anza-Borrego State Park this morning and took the short-side trip to visit this "sculpture" safari.  These were commissioned by Dennis Avery, the heir to the Avery label fortune - who knew? We thoroughly enjoyed this entire area, and look forward to sharing more about it in future blog posts. 

Location: Highway 86, California

We were no where near the border, although we had recently left Slab City, which claims to be an alternate reality. I can't say we were really clear on the purpose of the stop:   "Are you American citizens?"  " Yes, sir!"  On we went. Thankfully, Curt resisted his inner-comedian and did not tell them that Wendy is Syrian.  We had places to be!

Location: Yucca Valley, CA Community Center 

At 13 years old, Rufus rarely runs. But the sunshine put some pep in her step today.  We got up to 70 degrees before some clouds rolled in and it got a bit cooler. Still, we'll take it.. it's ONLY January.  Most of today focused on preparing the Vanagon and ourselves for our trip to the Salton Sea tomorrow. It's one of the lowest places on earth!

Location: Joshua Tree National Park 

We did this hike last week, and missed the North View portion, and missed the Window Rock portion.  Take 2!  We rather enjoyed the full loop, as it provided great views (North View), let you wander in the midst of big rocks (Maze), and finished off with a bit of a optical illusion (Window Rock).  Plus, we it was clear and sunny the whole way. Quite a difference from hiking in the Pacific Northwest...even when it is sunny, you generally hike in shade of tall trees until you reach the top, where you get 15 minutes of sun and a snack, before you head back down in the dark again! 

Location: Joshua Tree National Park, CA

We missed this when we hiked this trail last week. Look at the top of the highest rocky peak, you'll see an opening in the rocks.  From this angle it looks like a Thunderbird...as you keep walking it just looks like a square window. 

Location: Joshua Tree National Park; 49 Palms Oasis Trail 

This trail had no Joshua Trees!  It offered cactus and a palm oasis by a watering hole - which is also used by bighorn sheep.  For that reason, the trail is for day-use only, so that the sheep can take water in peace (!) in the evenings.  

Location: Joshua Tree National Park; 49 Palms Oasis Trail 

Curt has been very excited about the possibility of seeing sheep - so when Wendy yelled "Curt, look, the sheep...the sheep!", he was pretty sure she was lying.  Nope! We got really lucky!

Location: Yucca Valley, CA

We walk with Rufus past this creation everyday; it's in our neighbor's front yard.  After conferring for days, we still can't figure out what it is.  It has a roof, windows, a front door, a BALCONY, even a little placard out front.   Chipmunk's house? 

Location:  Yucca Valley, CA 

Location: Yucca Valley, CA 

What better to do on a Sunday afternoon than take advantage of $10 tickets to the Ramos Bros, one-ring circus.  It was a nice reminder that silly things make people laugh and people like to buy stuff for their kids.  (The animals were kept right out front for all to see - perhaps in response to numerous complaints from PETA over the years.)  

Location: Yucca Valley, CA

Children!  You have only three minutes left to buy your lighted ornaments! Three minutes!

Location: Warren Peak, Black Rock Canyon Campground

Our Warren Peak hike this morning was our favorite to date!  You can see the wind farm located by Palm Springs from the peak, as well as all of Yucca Valley and beyond.  We had the trail all to ourselves, until close to the end when we ran into two groups of 10-15 people. We got lucky!

Location:  Palm Desert, CA 

On our way into Palm Springs tonight we caught the most beautiful sunset!

Location: Warren Peak, Black Rock Canyon Campground

Location: Yucca Valley, CA public library

The great thing about library is it's an open resources for everyone. The wireless at the library is good and free, so I go their often.  It's also good for distractions.  Like this guy, who a)brought his dog INTO the library with him and b)stood over the person who had the paper he wanted until the guy left c)ripped stuff out of the newspaper while reading it!  Although we figure that just about anything goes in Yucca - the library staff did put a stop to the decimation of the newspaper...they said nothing about the dog!

Location: Maze Trail, Joshua Tree National Park 

In a happy accident, we ended up only doing 5 miles of a 7 mile hike. We started on a short-cut, but didn't realize it...until the end. Anyway, we enjoyed jumping around on rocks and capturing some plant life on camera.  After all that, we had quite an appetite, so we hit Natural Sister's Cafe and had lunch courtesy of Wendy's former colleagues who got us a gift certificate!  Not a bad day!  

Location: Yucca Valley, CA

We only got a sliver of a major storm that hit just northwest of us. About 10 minutes of light drizzle at the end of the day, not bad! Otherwise, it was 60F and partly cloudy!

Location: Yucca Valley, CA

We got a visit from an emergency response volunteer. They are working hard to ensure folks are prepared for El Nino!  The desert doesn't absorb water very well, especially in fire damaged areas.  Not much for us to do, except put together emergency water and food (check!), sign up for sms alerts (check!), and know our route in case they order an evacuation (check!)    

Location: Yucca Valley Community Center

Rufus is having a tough time with her boots in the sand...so we found her some more familiar ground. She's being really good because she thinks there's a treat in it for her.  (She was right!)

Location: West Side Loop,  Black Rock Canyon Campground, Joshua Tree National Park 

Distance: 5 miles

This trail was at its best in the middle - a roller coaster with views of the mountains in the distance. The beginning and the end were long, slow ascents...which necessitated more than a few breaks.  Altitude here is 4000 ft, which compared with Seattle at 187-500ft may also have been part of the issue!

Location: Willow Hole Trail, Joshua Tree National Park.  

Distance: 7.2 miles

About 3 miles in, the Willow Hole Trail surrounds you with huge rock formations.  It's not called the Wonderland of Rocks for nothin'!  

Location: Black Rock Canyon Campground - South Loop Hike

We are bumbling our way through ISO and f-stop, tripods and Go Pros.  It continues to be a humbling experience...but we ARE learning. 

Location:  Yucca Valley, CA

We took Rufus into Palm Springs to enjoy a long-walk on the sidewalk (she's a city gal) and to get some Ruffwear boots... in the hopes that we'll be able to walk her closer to home without so much damage to her paws.

She's slowly getting used to them....she's had A LOT of treats!

Location: Black Rock Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park

Today was full of lessons!  From, it's hard to find the trail head in the dark, to... it's hard to find the trail head in the light!  We are committed to working on our sunrise/sunset pictures until we get them right. Today's photos were a great indication that we have a long (but certainly worthwhile) journey ahead. 

Location: Black Rock Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park

Location: Short Loop Trail, Black Rock Campground, Joshua Tree National Park

Short does not equal easy when you are marching through sand, among the many lessons we learned today!

Location:  Ma Rouge Cafe, Yucca Valley, CA

Today was a work day, but there was time for a walk to the coffee shop - and a quick photo!

Location:  Ace Alternators; Yucca Valley, CA

Surprisingly, it was the Honda, not the VW that had the issues!

Location: Indio, CA

Shield's Date Farm, a roadside attraction for over 90 years, with date shakes, tons of tchotchkes...and a biblical garden!

Location: Indio, CA

For a place with a biblical garden, there was a surprising amount of sexual innuendo in the gift shop. 

Location: Shield's Date Farm - Indio, CA

Long story short, a couple in Canada wanted to retire and close their biblical garden...but what to do with all their statues?  Move them to Shield's Date Farm in Indio, CA! 

Here, we see Jesus looking a lot like a young, California skater kid who has gotten himself in some trouble. 

Photo Location: Yucca Valley Public Library

Listening to David Bowie...

'Cause love's such an old-fashioned word
And love dares you to care for the people on the edge of the night
And love dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves
This is our last dance...This is our last dance
This is ourselves....Under pressure

Location: Joshua Tree Nat'l Park; Geology Tour Road

Location: Joshua Tree Nat'l Park. California Hiking and Riding Trail

Temp: CHILLY 30's!  Took 3 miles to warm up, but worth it. 

Location: Joshua Tree Nat'l Park; California Riding and Hiking Trail

Photo Location: Joshua Tree National Park,  Barker Dam

Daily Itinerary:  Find a dog park for Rufus, figure out general delivery at post office, try out our new photography equipment at the park!

Discoveries: Joshua Tree National Park is HUGE!

Today was all about playing with our new camera equipment. Curt recently got a GoPro Hero Silver 4 and Wendy got a wide-angle lens.  

Photo Location: Yucca Valley Dog Park

We are struggling a bit to walk Rufus around our place, due to all the desert prickly-ness on the ground.  Until we get her some boots (she's gonna hate 'em) the dog park is a great find!

Photo location: 58 E - Rest stop outisde of Barstow, CA  

Photo Location: 58 E Outside of Lucerne Valley - Mojave Desert

Photo location:  58 E Outside of Bakersfield

Photo: 58 E - outside of Tehachapi

Somewhere between Fresno and Bakersfield...

Photo Location: Bakersfield, CA

Planned Departure: 8:00am

Actual Departure: 7:50 am

Planned Destination: Yucca Valley, CA

Actual Destination: Bakersfield, CA

Experience:  Vineyards! Traffic! Sun! Fog! Repeat!  I-5 was a big snooze, so we punted...because, well,we can.  Bakersfield gave us a gift of a double rainbow.  Tomorrow Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree!

Location:  South of Coos Bay, Oregon

PHOTO: DEL NORTE COAST REDWOODS

STARTING LOCATION: EUGENE, OR

PLANNED DEPARTURE: 7:00 AM

ACTUAL DEPARTURE: 7:21 AM

DESTINATION: UKIAH, CA

ARRIVAL TIME: 7:30PM

EXPERIENCE: WINTER STORM WARNING ON THE PASS - SO WE TOOK TO THE COAST.  BEAUTIFUL!   COULD HAVE LIVED WITHOUT NIGHT DRIVING THROUGH FOGGY REDWOODS, THOUGH.

Planned Departure Time: 9:00 am

Actual Departure Time: 9:32am (Not Bad) 

Destination: Eugene, OR

Arrival Time: 3:30pm 

Experience: Uneventful.  Highlights - finally found good radio (101.5) outside of Eugene! 

Equipment:

1989 Vanagon hauling 9 small rubbermaid bins; 2 large bins; 2 bikes, a gear box, snacks (!) and 1 man. 

2003 Honda Civic hauling 3 bins, 1 bag clothes (large!), 2 backpacks, 1 dog and 1 woman. 

Last day in Seattle!