Joshua Tree National Monument

We finally were cleared to leave Quartzsite with our new wheels.  I am a bit edgy on the highway, but semis passing me do not cause a bit of sway with this rig like they did with the travel trailer.  It's good to be back in a 5th wheel.    It may take a little while, but I'm getting my nerve back behind the wheel.

We headed to Joshua Tree National Monument in southeastern California for a little time in the wilderness.  Being in the wild restores my soul—just us, nature and God.  That is Don down there in the wash.

The Sonoran Desert that we have been in throughout southern Arizona with its saguaro, cholla cactus, dry ocotillo, creosote bushes, and green-bark palo verde trees gives way here as we cross into the Mohave Desert of southern California. 

Ocotilla gets green leaves up to five times a year when it rains.  This is the first time we saw one with leaves.

Teddy bear cholla—that fuzz is really sharp spines.

The Mohave at this higher, somewhat moister, elevation has juniper, yucca and especially the strange, beautiful Joshua tree.  Mormon pioneers were reminded of Joshua, arms upraised, leading the Hebrews.  It is actually a large yucca that branches when touched by a hard frost.  It can get to nearly 40 feet tall.

The park also has fantastical blocky formations of ancient granite.

From Keyes View mountain, we saw the San Andreas fault far below.  This range shifts several inches a year to the southeast compared to the Santa Rosa Mountains across the valley.  The fault is just in front of the low hills in the middle of the picture.

The Tundra is officially totaled.  Insurance check is on the way for the camper. Our new truck is a mean-driving machine, but all luxury inside.