The journey begins. We filled our "new to us" xterra with our survival gear and made our way up the mountain.
We opted for the roomy 4-man tent my dad gave to us. We slept in car camping style- air mattress, three quilts, a double sleeping bag and real bed sheets. We were roughin' it!
We all know by now what a wonderful cook Katie is. And when she teams up with Jody and Rae great things happen. Dinner friday night- tri tip and meatball skewers with peppers, onions, pineapple and mushrooms over a bed of some kind of awesome rice.
Meal time is a group event.
Below, Brian makes sure the morning coffee is up to par while Jeff cuts the onions, Rae manages the eggs and Katie makes sure everyone is doing what they should. Haha
Our hammock square was not only a great resting spot but also gave us an idea as to which way the wind was blowing. It blew the whole weekend!
Breakfast Saturday- Egg, sausage, bacon burritos with guacamole, shredded cheese, green peppers, onions, and fresh pico de gallo.
After breakfast we hiked 3+ miles up to a summit for a nice view and lunch.
I was amused when I saw this rock formation. We called it "Butt Crack" Rock.
At the summit. A clear day!
We stopped for lunch on our way back down the mountain. A downed tree and minimal wind made for a good spot.
With no one to take the photo we ended up with this crooked pic. That's ok. I kinda like it.
Our last gourmet meal consisted of chicken sausages covered in Katie's homemade chili, topped with shredded cheddar/pepperjack cheese all held together by a whole wheat hogie bun.
I never thought I would be in southern california at the end of May standing in snow. This is what we woke up to Sunday morning. Our gear was tossed quickly and carelessly into our trucks with numb hands. It was the perfect excuse for a Starbucks hot spiced apple cider before heading to breakfast two hours earlier than planned.
We ate at Old Mountain Inn. We approached our table and I made eye contact with some of the victims that had to sit next to us. They were about to experience a loud group.
Breakfast was great but the extra time we spent chatting meant extra snow on the roads. Our waitress warned that we should leave soon cause they could close the mountain.(I'm sure she wanted us to go.) I had already forgot my homework on the trip so I was the first one out of my chair.
Kate and I saw the humor in the sign that flashed: "Warning! Chains Required." As if the two inches of snow that did fall was going to do a lot of damage. We blew by the sign and smiled when we saw people pulled to the side of the road staring at their chains without a clue where to start. As you can see the roads were clear.
What a delight it is to have visitors. My parents are visiting from the great state of OH-IO for a week and we are out to do it all. We couldn't believe the flowers at Joshua Tree were still in bloom. We drove the 1.5 hours to the park for a visit that just had to happen. The past couple times we've visited with the parents have been devoted to National Parks. Joshua Tree was our latest.
The desert changes monthly so I never get tired of visiting. One hike reveals a completely different set of flowers than the last.
Barker Dam Lake. Mid June and still had about 50% of it's water.
Some hope to see a coyote, rattlesnake, or big horn sheep. Guess who found a frog in the desert? I can't imagine there is an abundance of wildlife in the pond at Barker Dam.
Petroglyfics (sp?) from Indians indigenous to Joshua Tree.
This picture could get me kicked out of the park cause I'm off the trail.
Cholla (choy-a) or "teddy bear" bushes are in a remote part of the park. The short drive was worth it cause some were in bloom.
They weren't kidding when the said to avoid touching them. Leave it to dad to bump into one. He barely brushed it and look at the effort it took to pull the needle out.
Tonight, Friday night, we enjoyed a well deserved Porterhouse steak, with roasted rosemary potatoes, grilled vegatables, and salad with fetta/Parmesan, tomatoes, cucumbers and a different kind of crouton.
Tomorrow we head to Temecula for Cafe Bravo and then on to San Diego for an adventure in the Wild Animal Park. Maybe dinner in the Gas Lamp District to close out the day.
