"If seeds waited for the perfect conditions to grow, there would be no plants in the desert." - Matshonda Dhilwayo
I was excited to visit Joshua Tree. I had heard about it and was interested in experiencing it, but I had no idea the profound impact it would have on me.
The drive from Bakersfield to Joshua Tree filled my mountain-loving soul, and I traveled Interstate 5, most of the nearly 250 miles.
I'll always be drawn to majestic mountain ranges. It is as if they are guiding me along my path and continuing to remind me how small and insignificant some of my worries are in this world.
Not bad for an out-the-window, while-driving shot... lol
Roughly thirty minutes from Bakersfield is Wheelers Ridge. The Wheeler Ridge Interchange is a central hub that splits the northbound traffic from Los Angeles to the San Joaquin Valley area. These pictures don't show it, but it was a busy area with many trucks and a steep incline.
And just like that... The temperatures plummeted, and it began to snow and sleet!
This is one of the things I have loved most about my trip... The unexpected treasures I find along the way. Roughly thirty miles from the snowstorm in the earlier picture, I come upon this incredible lake just off the Interstate.
Welcome to spectacular Pyramid Lake. It is 15 miles long, 11 miles wide, and 350 feet deep. It is widely known to be North America's most beautiful desert lake. Pyramid Lake is a world-class fishery, and its claim to fame is that it is the only habitat in the world for the Cui-ui fish, which has been around for over 2 million years. Though it is beautiful, the information I found suggests that it's unsafe to swim around the shoreline because of the high algae levels.
Imagine driving along admiring the San Gorgonio mountain range and coming upon this! Again, I lived in Oklahoma and am used to seeing wind turbines, but this wind farm is the next level.
The San Gorgonio wind farm stretches from the east side of the San Gorgonio pass to North Palm Springs. It is home to more than 2,700 wind turbines. Built in the 1980s, it is the oldest wind farm in the United States and the third largest in California. BP Wind Energy owns it. The states with the most wind turbines are 1. Texas 2. Iowa 3. Oklahoma 4. Kansas
This is the home stretch to Joshua Tree.
We finally arrived ❤️
Fern and I stayed at the Joshua Tree Lake, RV & Campground, a few miles from town. I was undoubtedly in the desert, but it was a nice campground with everything I needed to be comfortable. The wind blew a lot here; (Lots of sand), but I didn't notice it as much in the park.
These are the famous Joshua Trees.
I find Joshua Tree challenging to put into words, and it is most certainly an overwhelming feeling. This is my first trip to the desert, and I have just now been drawn to it and seen its undeniable beauty. The moment I drove into the park, I felt a sense of peacefulness flood over me like I had not felt anywhere else on my trip. I have had many emotions in other places, but the peace I felt here was palpable.
I watched the sunset among these unique Joshua Trees. Mormon settlers initially named them because of their outreached branches. Some versions are that Joshua, with his outstretched arms from the Bible, guided the Israelites, though I thought it was Moses who did that.🤷♀️
Though I didn't get a picture of it, the sky is so incredibly dark at night. It has some of darkest skies in Southern California and is considered an International Dark Sky Park. You'll catch a glimpse of the Milky Way if you're lucky. The darkest campground in Joshua Tree is Cottonwood Campground, and the most popular area to stargaze is The Ocotillo Patch which is also my favorite place to watch the sunrise. The park is in the High Desert, 3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level and miles away from a major city or light pollution, making it perfect for stargazing. 💫
These magnificent rock formations occur mainly from water and wind slowly eating away the rocks, and Joshua Tree also has numerous cracks where the movement has occurred. They were everywhere throughout the park, and each one was uniquely beautiful.
I could envision that Marvel's inspiration for Rock Man came from these rock formations in the park.
Everyone was so quiet and reverent as they walked and drove through the park. I imagined everyone having their own unique spiritual experience similar to what I was having. It would be a completely different experience in the summer, so I'm grateful to have visited when I did.
Some people believe that Joshua Tree neutralizes and helps balance their energy. There are said to be multiple energy vortices in the area, and they magnify what we bring to it on an emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental level.
Whatever you believe, we can agree that the Joshua Tree's ability to grow and thrive in such harsh conditions can symbolize thriving amidst adversity.
I woke up around 5:00 the following day to get to the Cholla Cactus Garden. It was about a 40-minute drive from the campsite, and I had read so much about this location that I wanted to take advantage of my opportunity. It certainly didn't disappoint and ranks on the list of top experiences of my trip—indeed, some of my favorite pictures.
Everyone else was looking at the horizon where the sun was about to appear, but I saw this pink-painted sky just behind us. It was just so beautiful.
"The desert, when the sun came up. I couldn't tell where heaven stopped and the earth began." - Tom Hanks
This sunrise gets me every time I see this picture. There were a few people here, but they were all spread out and quietly taking in the experience reverently, just as I was. It couldn't have been more perfect. I hope I never forget this morning, this sunrise, and how peaceful and fulfilled I felt at this moment.
The Cholla Cactus is nicknamed the teddy bear, but don't let the name fool you. They are not soft and cuddly. Seeing the park full of them and watching the sun dance off was beautiful.
I only had time to spend one night here, but the imprint it left will last a lifetime. I hope to return and spend more time. Next time I will stay in the park. I can't imagine a more peaceful and fulfilling experience.
Next stop... Phoenix and Scottsdale 🌵
Stay Wild 🌿
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