Roadtrip 2025 Fall: Yakima - Bend - Reno - Mammoth Lakes - Hurricane - Sedona - Yucca Valley - Paso Robles - St. Helena - Brookings - Newport - Seaside


Day 51 - Joshua Tree Nat Park

We started the day with a gameplan to visit all of the famous places in Joshua Tree that we have always avoided because dogs are not allowed there. We found all those places so overrun with tourists squabbling over real-estate for selfies and lined up 10 deep for the pit latrines, that we have developed a new Permanent Roadtrip Policy: Never, Ever go anywhere where dogs are not permitted. Finally, here we are at serene and beautiful Stirrup Tank, a place we have visited many times, and it is always almost completely empty of other hominids. Could be the sand road in. Could be the low thrumming sound coming out of the rocks. Today, it was Plan D, and it saved the day.

The smilin' grumpfaces of Stirrup Tank.

Looks like a tumbleweed way up there - but it is actually attached and very much alive.

Ain't nobody here but us.

Truck angrily waits for another opportunity to play in the sand.

The vortexes seem to have followed us to Cali.

it would soon be Thanksgiving - and didn't you know - the faces were stacked up - all in a row .....

The Renewed Topographics: Stirrup Tank 2025

The grass plants are as fine as sewing thread.

A J tree fits right into it's space while the moon looks on.

Nature designs a multi faceted sculpture with ease.

The canyon wizard keeps a close eye and approves all sculpture designs.

The old timer lower rock averts her eyes as the two youngsters above her sneak a kiss.

Boulders, sunset and contrail.

HIghly textured desert squash leaves run across a rock with a very motley pattern. Together they make your eyes go a bit crazy.

Just one squash.

The Giant Moai oversees everything.

We find a petrified proto-shark in amongst the rocks.

The giant Moai takes pride in being able to shift into many animal forms.

We saw way too much of this today. People everywhere - mostly in a hurry - selfie aware only - yelling and yammering at each other - and in spots where we have never seen mass overflow before. Yikes. J Tree may be a lost cause.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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Russel Kwan and Wendy Kwan
Vancouver BC Canada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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