GET OUTSIDE & SEE COOL STUFF IS AN ONGOING TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES. THESE COLLECTIONS SHOW YOU VIGNETTES INTO PLACES I HAVE BEEN AND SEEN ON VARIOUS ADVENTURES WHILE I WANDER AROUND OUTSIDE WITH MY CAMERA.
Per usual whenever I get going on a road trip always seem to leave later than I was wanting and the drive takes longer than anticipated. This trip was no different. The Jeep was stuffed full—small fortune of my camera gear packed tightly in the passenger seat, all the camping goodies, few days of food, more than enough water and, of course, the big blue cooler packed to the brim with ice and red white and blue cans. From Phoenix took Highway 60 over to Wickenburg, picked up Highway 72 in Hope, then over to see the Colorado River in Parker and catch California Highway 62 over to the Joshua Tree area. CA 62 is one of those roads you’re definitely not going to forget.
This area is where the Sonoran Desert and Mojave Desert meet. While I think the desert is pretty darn awesome, CA 62 would not be known for renowned beauty nor would it appear on any ‘Scenic Drive’ top ten list. Known as the loneliest road in California, what is unique about this stretch of road is the sheer weight of relentless isolation. Have driven quite a bit across the country and while areas in Nebraska, Kansas and especially West Texas win awards for boring-ass drives, CA 62 is the blue ribbon winner. Thankfully the sun had gone down, was just me and the Jeep sailing through the inky black darkness on a desert highway at night.
Arrived to campsite at Indian Cove in Joshua Tree well after dark. Setting up a tent with only a headlamp is not a task I recommend or wish upon anyone. Small campfire, few ice cold cans of golden goodness and after a solid night’s sleep headed into the park early the next morning.
I have a great love for our National Parks, National Monuments and Wilderness Reserves. Appreciation and preservation of our public lands is something near and dear to me and Joshua Tree is no exception from that list. Like many of the Parks is like visiting another planet. Crazy rock formations over 100 million years old and of course star of the show, the Joshua Tree. Member of the Yucca family, the trees are straight out of a Dr. Seuss book.
Many other notable places to visit in the park but one in particular is quite fascinating which is the Cholla Cactus Garden. For seemingly no reason at all a gigantic patch of cholla are all hanging out in this one area.
Along CA 62 are several small towns one after another like a giant strip mall, each maybe 10 to 15 blocks square. Lonely and weathered homes hide behind the chain restaurants and local shops along the main drag. Some kitschy cool stops like The Station in in Joshua Tree and for the adventurous folks not afraid of taking a sketchy sand and dirt road into the real life version of Blaine County (if you know, you know), a drive out into the Mojave can find some interesting stuff like this sculpture literally in the middle of nowhere.
After wandering around in the desert for a bit too long headed east and stopped off for a date shake and check out the famous Cabazon dinosaurs which you may remember from the movie Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. I visited shortly after Paul Rubens passed and the t-rex was painted in homage to P.W. Herman.
Grab A PDF copy of my printed brochure and share with colleagues on your team. Makes an excellent Gift for the Art DiRector and Designer on your list!
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