Joshua Tree NP, Sunday, 2/15

 

Sometimes things work out just right despite the seeming odds and today was one such day.  Let's face it, only fools would choose to visit a national park on a Sunday in the middle of a three-day weekend! (Presidents' Day)  Think it might be crowded, perhaps a long line of vehicles to even get to the entrance gate?  Short answer:  Yes and yes.  And yes, but with rainy weather in the upcoming forecast, maybe today was THE only day to go.

We parked Smartie at the first available parking spot when we saw a trailhead marker.  It didn't matter which trail; we knew most of the crowd would be going to the heart of the park.  Turns out we were on the Creosote trail which led to Big Foot trail, woohoo, and a good choice as we encountered very few people.  We wandered for four delightful miles, stopping frequently to admire, point, study, sniff and smell, shake our heads at the crazy rock jumbles, gaze at clouds and generally wonder at nature's gifts.  We can be poky, too, not caring about our "steps" or counting miles.  What a blessing to just be present!

A nice young couple saw us ogling the Joshua tree blossoms and asked if we wanted our picture taken together.  Sure, we said.  That was the beginning of a terrific afternoon (on a partly cloudy and cool day).  For once, we were dressed just right.

Could this be goofy or silly?  Or simply fun?

Jimmy being swallowed by a cholla and me being crushed by a boulder.

How old might this Juniper have been when it gave up?

Even in death, it's remarkable.

Like the other trails we've been on, this one was also a wildflower hit.  Clockwise, top left is Desert Bluebell, next is Wright's deervetch (lots of these).  Bottom right is the absolute smallest, cute and tiny Mojave Desert Parsley -- you see the tip of my dusty shoe in the pic.  Middle is TINY Fremont's phacelia and the tip of my index finger (oooh, which of the two is smallest?), followed by a Smooth Desert Dandelion.  So cool to see all these different blooms.

Rock art 😊

Da guy! 💖

Cactuses!  My fav is California Red Barrel which most of you already know, top left.  Next, man, look at those killer spikes!  Bottom, left to right are Hedgehog, Cholla, and Beavertail.  They're all lethal if you touch 'em!

We had to do some climbing and downhill scrambling on Big Foot.  I'm not as agile as I used to be, since I'm no longer a youngster, so I'm being very careful where I place my feet.  Jimmy ripped those old limbs apart -- nah, not really.  This is a great place to hike if you like rocks, and we do.  Also, we like everything else (except spiders, that would be me).

The rocks behind me are full of doodads and colors and splits.  If you enlarge the pic you can see them.  Kind of like the two small pics at right.  The one at the bottom reminded me of a piano, and -- again -- there's my dusty shoe to show size.

Isn't this a gorgeous Joshua tree blossom?  I couldn't get my nose close enough to check out its scent without getting stabbed by one of those dagger-like "leaves."

Harmonious would be the way to describe today's Joshua Tree visit.  Plus, we made it back in time for a sweet dip in the pool.  Once the incoming weather clears, we plan to return to this fantastic national park.

Yup, we really do know how fortunate we are.

Life is Good -- through Feb 14th, 2026

 

We've been two weeks in the desert, and those weeks have flown by as if they were being paid double time.  Jimmy is now four-plus weeks post-op and doing famously, no issues.  The weather here has been superb, couldn't ask for better ... but it's about to change, with rain forecast for several days next week (same as in Nevada City).  We've mixed our hiking with other fun things, as you will see.

Sunday the 8th, we hiked 5 miles on the Mission Creek Trail, similar to what we did last year, but the Preserve changed the route some, all to our good.  Very enjoyable hike.  The four stone cottages, now used as picnic venues, remain unchanged.

In his book California Desert Trails, Joseph Chase wrote about cholla thus:  "It's an ugly object three or four feet high, with stubby arms standing out like amputated stumps. The Indians say that they jump at you: this sounds like an exaggeration, but upon my word I don't know.  Often when I have felt sure that I passed clear of a certain cholla I found he had me after all."  Kinda harsh, but maybe true?

With the little bridge we were able to cross the creek and continue our hike on t'other side.  Looking north toward Mt San Gorgonio.  Haha, nobody fell in or got a soaker.

Looking south toward Desert Hot Springs.

Two wildlfowers I've never seen before, which is always a treat for me -- top left is Chia Sage (Salvia columbariae) annual native California herb, and bottom right, this translucent beauty is Sand Blazing Star (Mentzelia-involucrata).  It looks so delicate.  Top right is Rose Desert Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua var. rosacea), and bottom left is Apricot Desert globemallow.

We tried to hike to the Whitewater overlook, but it was another couple of miles, so we quit along about this spot.  This yucca is flowering!  Can you see Jimmy?

On the 6th we brought our own folding chairs to a music special in the pavilion here at Catalina from 1-3, put on by musically-inclined local folks, great fun to listen to toe-tapping tunes.  On the 7th our friends, Sue and Mo, who hail from Grants Pass OR, served up a mighty fine Copper River salmon dinner for the four of us.  Yum! Forgot to take photos!

Here's Jimmy on the Willis trail (part of the Coachella Valley Preserve) which we tackled on Monday the 9th.  We kinda got lost deep in the palms for a bit, haha, and had to search for a way out!  Because of a late start, we melted on the trail in full sun.  The surface was finely crushed granite (sand) and it was like walking in hikers on soft beach sand; we only covered 1.5 miles, which was enough.  Ah, I relished stepping into the pool on our return.

One of the more nondescript bush/shrubs ever, it was covered in stunning tiny midnight blue/purple flowers (inset) with bees all 'round.  I wondered, looked it up.  Indigo Bush  (Psorothamnus).  We saw quite a few on this trail.

Look! I was here! These native California Fan Palms burned in 2010, no thanks to mean-hearted vandals, but many recovered, as you see.  The fire burned the palm fronds and skirts where bats, birds and other animals have their nests.  Doesn't this make your blood boil?

I look like I'm peddling fruit juice!

We had our friends to dinner at our place on the 10th and started a round of Yahtzee, which continued on the following night.  Not sure if there was an overall winner, but I know who the overall loser was, boo-hoo.  We laughed and giggled and laughed some more.  Oh, we had a ton o' fun.  Mo, Jimmy and me.

This is a good pic of Sue, left, and Mo in our place.  You should see the outtakes.  We couldn't keep a straight face with all the laughing.  They departed Catalina Spa and RV Resort Thursday morning, wanting to get home before the bad weather strikes the west coast.  We'll miss them.

For a change of pace, Jimmy and I went to see Hamnet at Mary Pickford is D'Place in Cathedral City.  For 15 bucks, Jimmy and I could watch a movie and each get a box of popcorn on Wednesday Senior's Day, woohoo, such a deal.  The movie?  Oh my, Academy Award performances.

And every day we're in the pools and loving every minute. 💖

On the 12th, we returned to Coachella Valley Preserve to hike the Pushawalla Palms loop trail, another repeat from last year.  And after hiking this "moderate to difficult" 5-mile trail, we've decided we don't need to ever do it again!  Hey there's Smartie way down there parked under the Red X.

Up up up on a slim ridge, then down and up and repeat 20 times or so.  A tough slog.  But ... we did it!  Jimmy says he was younger last year when we did this. 

Yup, Smartie's down there somewhere.  You see the ridge line we've been on.  Mt San Gorgonio in the distance, dead center.

These beautiful palms are our reward for a grueling hike.

California Fan Palms. They're magnificent.

I heard an owl! Really!  In the daytime, here!  I looked and looked but couldn't find it.  He/she had an answering companion further away.  Since I couldn't locate it (forgot my binocs), I took random shots with my point 'n shoot, then peered at each on the computer.  On the last pic, I found it!  Right at the tippety top of this hill (or whatever you call it) is a bird.  Not easy to make out, but if you enlarge the photo, you can see it.  Google and Merlin tell me Great Grey Owls live in the desert.

THIS is the way out of the riparian palms area.  To the top.  Yikes.

Ugh.  2/3rds of the way up.

At the top.  Red checkmark is where we were.

A couple more flower pics for you!  Left is Littleleaf Rhatany (purple heather) and right is Notch-leaved Phacelia.  The purple heather is another new one for me.  Something of note is Desert Sunflowers and the Phacelia and other wildflowers decorated the trailside much of the way, which made it more enjoyable.

Tergel and Smartie in a pink cloud! 😊

Out of sight is a gorgeous technicolor sunset.

Finally, on Friday the 13th, Jimmy and I betook ourselves to Sherman's Deli in Palm Springs for a late lunch.  Look at those plates!  My Oasis Salad has mixed greens, cabbage, dates, avocado, feta cheese, corn, chicken, tomato and cornbread croutons in a creamy citrus vinaigrette.  This is the best salad I've ever tasted.  I had it last year and knew it was on MY menu this year.  Jimmy's burger was good, too.  We ate half and brought half home and finished it "for supper."

What we were also after was a Valentine's dessert.  We hit the jackpot.  Check out this massive slab of Black Forest Cake ... for two.  As my sister would say, Oink Oink!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Out and About to 2/6/26

Greetings from Catalina Spa and RV Resort in Desert Hot Springs, CA.  Jimmy and I left our home in Nevada City, roughly 600 miles north, on Friday, 1/30, making our usual overnight stop at Minter Field Air Museum, a Harvest Host site, in Shafter.  Our original arrival date was a week earlier, but Jimmy's hernia flared up again before Christmas (remember Madeira two years ago?), and he needed surgery. The surgeon's first opening (heh, sorry) wasn't till Jan 14th.  So, he's been on the "sick list" for a while, and what could be better than recovering in the desert with those wonderful mineral swimming pools?

Since he's been healing from not one, but two hernia incisions, we've been taking life easier than usual. Taking easy walks and spending quality time in the pools.  He's now three-plus weeks post-op, and Nurse Ratched (me) is officially declaring him on the "almost as good as new" list.

This will be our home for the month of February.

We are snug-as-bugs in our site. 

Our friends, Sue and "Mo" from Oregon are also here at the RV park, fun for all of us.  On Wednesday the 4th, we tried a new-to-us Mexican restaurant in Desert Hot Springs (DHS from now on) named Delicias, which we all enjoyed.  Thursday, they wanted to drive down to Anza Borrego St Pk, roughly 80 miles south, "to see the spring wildflowers," and we joined them (in separate cars).  By gum, we scored, too!

In 2009, Jimmy and I hiked the Palm Canyon Trail, remembered it fondly, and decided to do it again today.  Sue and Mo went off on their own, and we'd meet up later.  Above, you see Jimmy on the trail.

Brittlebush was the prize winner for its sheer numbers -- great blocks of yellow flowers.  Nice photo mix with Beavertail Cactus, above.

We encountered several large bushes with The. Most. Fragrant. Flowers., each alive with buzzing bees.  Lo and behold, they were Desert Lavender, left.  Spotted a couple of (also large) Chuparosas covered with their red tubular flowers, top, and the spectacular Desert Sand Verbena, bottom, with a Dune Evening Primrose plopped in the middle.  Did you know the Spanish word for hummingbird is Chuparosa?  Now you do.

If a person got tired of eyeballing flowers, they could gaze at interesting rock formations.  Like Joshua Tree Nat'l Pk, Anza Borrego has rocks.  Lots and lots.  Check out the angled rocks, above.

Now, you know I'm going to find a barrel cactus if possible!  See the red x, above?  A cute li'l barrel cactus has found a foothold.  That's it in the inset.

How many flower pictures are too many?  How many did I take?  Way more than I'll post.  Clockwise from top left:  Bigelow's Monkey Flower, Pigmy Gold Poppy, Desert Sunflower, and Desert Chicory.  Each was a beauty.

Here we found and crossed Borrego Palm Canyon Creek -- a perennial shallow stream which originates from springs in the canyon and which, in turn, creates a lush oasis for/of native California fan palms.  The stream also disappears as the water flows downstream.

Here the stream makes a shallow pool.

More and more and more, oh lucky me!  Clockwise from top left:  Dune Evening Primrose, close up of a Desert Sand Verbena flower, Brown-eyed Primrose, and a critter on a Desert Sunflower.  All in great numbers.  I think my identifications are correct, but don't sue me if I'm wrong.

The rocky trail is three miles R/T, with an elevation gain of about 700 feet.  We found it to be a bit more strenuous this time around, can't imagine why. 😄. The palm grove oasis (yellow x) is closed until further notice due to a fire in January 2020 -- a grove of roughly 60 mature California Fan Palms went up in a fiery ball of flame, but ecologists say the trees will regrow.  Anyhoot, the 1.5-mile trail leads to an overlook, above, where you can see the post-fire recovery of the palms.

Oh sure, we saw many of these ant hills. Harvester Ants march out on warm days to collect seeds from nearby wildflowers and bushes which they bring back to the nest and hull. They then discard the seed chaff outside their hole, building a crater. These ants act as gardeners, planting seeds across the desert. I gave each hill plenty of room.

Datura.  Beautiful. 💕

I remember seeing these animals back in 2009, wondering who? why? and so on.  They're still here, more have been added, and they're remarkable to see.  We didn't get out of the car to show you size, but believe me, they are very large!

Sue and Mo were waiting for us at Coyote Canyon.  We would pile into their car (4x4) and see how far we could go on this rocky, sandy trail before getting stopped by a water crossing.  Lots of wildflowers on this drive, plenty of cholla cactus and ocotillos, etc.  I looked it up to see how long this "trail" is -- 18.3 out-and-back, but some upper sections have vehicle restrictions.  We were glad we didn't take Smartie!  Sue, above, is testing the Second Crossing, and it was deemed too deep for their Tracker car. We turned around at this point.  

Aglow with Desert Dandelions.

Finally, we parted, they needed an RV part in Indio, and Jimmy and I would drive along Henderson Canyon Rd on our way out of the park.  Henderson Canyon is a premier location for wildflowers.  We were awed by the display of primarily Desert Sunflowers, Desert Sand Verbena and Dune Evening Primrose.

Purple and white as far as the eye can see.  Wow!

And this -- THIS is Jimmy's contribution.  No, neither of us knows what it is, except it's tiny.  Jimmy!  You're not supposed to pick the ... flowers?

Yup, it was a long day, but we had a grand time.  Jimmy drove us to Anza Borrego and I drove us home.  We made it back by 5pm, Sue and Mo got caught in Indio traffic and were an hour behind us.

One more thing -- the pools, odorless, mineral hot springs are still heavenly.