JOSHUA TREE: A one-tank-of-gas trek during grandkids’ spring break.
Finding a campsite at any of the Joshua Tree Campgrounds can be a challenge. Jumbo Rocks is usually your best bet. Either get there early in the day, or watch for people vacating camp. Many people use the campsites to rock climb and then leave. Jumbo Rocks has sites big enough for RVs. There is no water in the campgrounds.
The rocks beckon and the kids
climb their hearts out!
Frustration is watching the kids climb and climb, and you can’t keep up. Fortunately they were all sure-footed.
Standing at the foot of these giant rocks teaches us something about how small we are.
With some direction from the local spelunker the kids learn the art of chimneying.
A favorite hike located outside of Hidden Valley Campground is the trek to Barker Dam. A little over one mile round trip, it takes us into the area’s history.
The dam.
A pipe from the dam delivered water to the trough for the livestock to drink.
WHAT A THRILL TO FIND A CAVE WITH INDIAN PICTOGRAPHS
Wildflowers were spotty, but we did find fields bursting in color.
.
The chia was not only beautiful, but the fragrance was sweet.
Lots of yellow!
When the sun went down, the cold set in!
AND ON TO ANZA BORREGO STATE PARK, A SHORT TREK AWAY:
The statues in Galetta Meadows are amazing, as are the wildflowers in the spring:
:
Laker colors!
We camped with The Desert Explorers for the Club’s Annual Rendezvous. On Sunday we led a caravan to the Tapiado Mud Caves. After traveling through the beautiful Blair Valley, past Aqua Caliente Campground, we turned on a dirt road and before we reached the Tapiado Arroyo, we fell upon a strange sight:
My my! Why is there a Hollywood and Vine sign here in the middle of nowhere? Let’s go check it out!
Well, the sign is very strange, but there
seems to be something else up here.
What could this be?
OMG! It’s a geocache!
On a little further we turn into Tapiado Arroyo, trek 3.5 miles on a sandy road until we reach the caves There are over 20 mud caves in the area, and we explored three of them. Some have open skylights and sections that are slot canyons. They are easy to negotiate. You do need a good source of light.
And back to Anza Borrego we find the last statue of the Galleta Meadows collection: