Joshua Tree to Grand Canyon (Day 5)

 Sunrise at Joshua Tree was a little bit magical. All of a sudden being at the perfect tree and having the right angle, didn't matter. Silouettes and gentle colors made up for all the other things I didn't or couldn't do correctly.

The park was quiet... except birdsong. Hallelujah!

By 9:30am I was headed for the South Entrance. Accidentally making a stop at the (closed) Cholla Cactus Garden. 

Did you know the South Entrance is a good 30 miles from the last place they offer you up a bathroom? Keep that in mind! It's not a quick 30 miles either, FYI.

The drive to Grand Canyon National Park was 5.5 hours, give or take. And by that I mean plus at least an hour of stopping for photos and such.  (I think I stopped at least every 20 mins!) The driving was easy though. Cruise control easy.  And while you might think my camera is full of beautiful landscapes captured along the way, the truth is I take pictures an array of subjects... and today I added "old shoes on a fence" to that collection.

What is going on with the shoe graveyard? I dunno. But it has been going on a while!

There was relief of all kinds when I finally arrived just after 4pm.  (Remember, I lost another hour to father time when I crossed into Arizona and Mountain Standard Time kicked in again.) If you don't remember my last trip out this way, then you'll also have trouble understanding the appreciation I have for how much less complicated telling time is here, when Daylight Time doesn't monkey with things. 

(The Timewarp in Buckskin Gulch)

Following sunset, I sat in the car at the Grand Canyon and spontaneously booked myself a very nice hotel not far away. A six mile drive to get back here for sunrise at dark-o'clock seemed the least I could offer myself as a thank you gift for such a long and well executed day!

It did not go unnoticed when I patted myself on the back...

Soon enough, I was cozy, clean and had even done a little somethin' somethin' with my hair. There IS a lady hiding under the dust of not one but two national parks! She drank wine and ate Lindor truffles while perusing pictures tonight. :-)

Joshua Trees! (Day 4)

 Joshua Tree National Park. Wonder in every direction yet difficult for me to make a good composition.

It's a crazy beautiful landscape of smooth and interesting rocks, small trees that are well spaced and bits and bobs of bushes. The ground is dusty and the birds are skittish. There are "prone to flooding" signs in (apparently not) random places and like Death Valley, that kinda boggles the mind.

Life here is different - trees grow in weird shapes from the inside, out. Even the people living here seem to have adapted. 

Did I just see my very first roadrunner?! Yes. Yes I did! And run he did, when the area suddenly filled with boisterous visitors... who wondered outloud why he up'd and left!  

Note to self; Joshua Tree with its yellow-green leaves and yellow-brown rocks, loses something in the harsh flat light of midday. It loses color and contrast. It's awesomeness carefully camouflaged - like the animals - when the sun is high and hot.

Plan B was to be scouting, looking around on foot, just to get steps - and then come back in the golden hour, having prayed beforehand that something can be captured on camera.

I took the afternoon to slow down, get groceries and to refuel me and Beast. 

Final word for today: YES! I knew it was there. Sunset pics... the kind where the sun isnt the focus but the wavelengths it bathes the subjects in, the long shadows and deep blue or orange backgrounds, makes me go "Wow!" I'm glad I'm here. 

For sunset, I found myself late to the party, but at the highest point in Joshua Tree National Park as the light faded over southern California. It definitely wow'd... but it also only took a second to realize that sunsets this vibrant come at the cost of air quality and tonight, Los Angeles first responders were still fighting devastating fires. Large communities were reeling from incredible loss - and the danger was not over yet.

Death Valley to Joshua Tree (Day 3)

 The musing this morning was "what will be my last meal?"  How will I fill my belly and soul with final views, experiences and thoughts of this most beautifully unforgiving place?

Dante's View - my pick for sunrise. Death Valley's highest place and with it, a long 80 minute drive in the pre-sunrise darkness.  At at elevation over 5000' and with a wind of 50-60 mph, it was nothing short of frigid. 

I tottered out onto the spit, high over valley, my tripod tucked under my arm and found a spot where I could wedge myself between rocks and hug my camera close. Even with ALL of my winter gear on, it was a mental game to stay the course and enjoy watching the environment light up. 

In the parking lot, I watched a dozen little birds darn near fight over a tiny puddle of water on the asphalt. I hadn't seen fresh water ANYWHERE so the struggle was real. I tipped a bit out of my water bottle onto the ground for them and watched their delight and gratitude... 

Mosaic Canyon - A good place to stretch ones legs and there may have been a picture or two but it really was more about the walk! (And still no animals.)  This is technically a slot canyon... but fast forward to my post around Day 11 and slot canyon takes on a whole new, much more claustrophobic feel!

And then there was driving out through Panamint Springs... SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! I did not leave enough time today (or in a lifetime) to do justice to the glorious drive. 

Majestic scenery, beautifully smooth roads that are perfectly cambered and really, hardly anyone sharing it with me!

Beast and I were very happy to let slow campervans pass us, to stop willy-nilly and to breathe the last of our delicious Death Valley air - a gusty warm wind with no hint of smoke. Long may it last. 

At Father Crowley overlook to Rainbow Canyon there were no daring fly-boys practicing low canyon maneuvers in hyper-expensive military jets. Windy. Way too windy today. So windy in fact, that the metal barrier was singing like a Himalayan meditation bowl!

Google was routing me to southern California along roads that were not part of the original plan... keeping me safe from raging wildfires and unhealthy air quality. It was a long drive and I was simultaneously pleased to arrive at Joshua Tree and get out of the car. Most grateful for the cute and friendly hotel that I had landed at. 

Due to the wind event, the hotel had no power; no lights, no wifi or tv and no hot water. The owner greeted me from reception under flashlight conditions. His computer was down but he found my reservation on his phone!  He was happy to light tea-candles in my room and reassure me that power would come back on soon - But admitted it had been off 10 hours already. I, in turn, reassured him that me and my bottle of wine would be just fine in the dark room! What would be, would be. 

I booked a second night with him after realizing that cleaning and laundry were among the things that were most stressing him out. In return, he let me park in the disabled parking space nearest my room for easy unloading the dark as my room door remained open... because I didn't have a room key-card yet. 

I was grateful for a warm, comfortable, safe space. A clean bed. A friendly face and kind conversation. 

The power did come back on eventually. :-)