Today is a federal public holiday in the US, Martin Luther King Day. Not that we noticed much difference from any other day, but we decided to shuffle around our remaining hikes and do a lesser known hike today and the Park's most popular hike tomorrow. Just in case of crowds.
Well, we didn't have to worry about for our selected hike. Today's hike was a combination of smaller hikes as per yesterday's recommendation from the Park volunteers. And we saw nobody all the way.
First the North View Trail, then part of the Maze trail and then the Window Trail. The start of the trails is just inside the western entrance to the park, so we didn't need to drive that far. The trails are not signposted along the main road, and there is parking only for about 4 cars, which means that only people in the know would do this set of trails.
The North View Trail climbs slowly and steadily upwards and here we are with the view to the north.
Di is checking out the territory.
Hans is having a break.
It was all flat between the ranges, except for this little range coming out of the ground. Like a long and narrow Uluru, perhaps.
Did we mention that Hans likes Joshua Trees? His fondness for them has now developed further. Has he become a tree hugger at old age?
Why does he like them so much? No 2 trees are the same. They have real character.
We are not quite sure what the snowcapped mountain in the background is, but given its approximate position south west of Joshua Tree National Park, we thought it was San Jacinto near Palm Springs. We later learned that it is San Gorgonio, southern California's tallest mountain some 11,000 feet above sea level.
Fantastic barren and rocky landscape. We just couldn't get enough of it.
We finished our walk by taking the wrong turn and had to backtrack the last 2 km along the main road. Oh well, that happens. The hike ended up at 12.2 km over 4 hours and 12 minutes, you can't proceed quickly over alternatively loose rocks and stones and sand in dry riverbeds.
Back to the ranch for a shower and change of clothes, and then we decided to go for a drive and seek out some coffee and cake. We drove east on the 29 Palms Highway to... 29 Palms. Yep, that's the name of the next town, some 30000 inhabitants.
We needed to get some more cash, so we drove up to the Drive In Bank...
29 Palms is a marine town, which is evident through tattoo shops, massages, marine barber shops and nail parlours for the fiancees. We particularly liked this one. Note that it doubles as a night club.
We found Carousel Cafe on the highway, clearly a joint where the marines go as there were a few of them inside. The cafe's ventilation system was very substandard as the place was filled with smoke which smelt strongly from food. Anyway, Di ordered a cheese cake and and ice tea and Hans had a apple pie and black coffee. No espresso in this Cafe. The cakes were both very nice.
The waiter was quite a character. When he heard us speak, he asked whether we came from.... New Jersey!!?? He was telling stories about how good looking Australians were, about him moving up from San Diego to help his parents and that it was his second biggest mistake. To Hans, that sounded like a set-up, but Hans jumped in and asked whether he was also married. That made him crack up big time, and ended up shaking Hans hand 3 times.
When the check arrived, only Hans items were included. No charge for Di. We asked whether it was a mistake, and he insisted that it wasn't!?! On the way back, Hans just couldn't stop laughing...a fun guy and place.
Here is Di at the Carousel Cafe.
Back to Safari Inn Motel for a break before dinner, a trip to Yucca Valley 10 miles to the west in the highway. All you can eat salad bar, pasta and dessert, but this being Southern California, Mexican food is thrown in. All good and we left pretty full.
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