After an enjoyable morning chatting with Bill we hopped on the bicycles for a ride around – there’s a convenient loop just a block away so we were able to do some ~2 mile laps. A bit of a hill on one side, though, and we’re definitely out of practice riding on hills!
After finishing our ride we unloaded the motorcycle and headed out on a recommended route east toward the moutains. “Wine Country” is an aptly named area – vineyard after vineyard after winery after winery. Beautiful scenery and we greatly enjoyed our ride through and on past.
Stopped at the city park in Hemet for our picnic lunch. Hemet has a Christmas Tree lot and might be an option for next year – it’s close enough that we could come and visit pretty regularly during the work season so that would be pretty amazing. We didn’t quite figure out where the lot would have been but at least we’ve seen part of town now.
On our way back I spotted a historic marker for The “Hemet Maze Stone” and we detoured back on a side road to see what that might be. The road dead-ended at a park of some sort, which we opted not to explore on foot. Beautiful back road, though we didn’t happen to find the stone. (Upon a quick search online later, we discovered that it’s a prehistoric petroglyph – a maze carved into a stone.)
Back on the route we stopped at Monte De Oro. Perched on a hill, we thought it would have a good view and we just wanted to sit out, look around, and enjoy a drink. We certainly enjoyed the view out across the vineyards and on to the mountains in the distance. A bottle of wine was cheaper than two glasses so we picked up a bottle.
A quick stop at the grocery store for some supper ingredients and on home to cook. Pulled out a recipe from Ireland for a Guiness beef stew. Bill and Carol made it home after a bit of a late evening and we enjoyed the stew (delicious!) and we sat about chatting for the remainder of the evening.
It’s awfully windy this morning, rocking the RV back and forth. Apparently there was a 4.0 earthquake north of us (about 77 miles) – and so we can say that we’ve experienced a (little) earthquake in California. Of course, we didn’t realize it until we saw it on the news that evening. 😀
We unloaded the mountain bikes for a quick ride down the road before packing everything up for the road. We stopped at a Target for a coffee break (Ashley got a 2016 planner) and we used their wifi for a bit.
On to Temecula! The GPS took us directly through the mountains – it was a beautiful trip, vibrant, green, with some fabulous views! And on the motorcycle it would have been a splendid way to pass the afternoon. While the RV made it just fine, it was a twisty mountain road and we pulled over frequently to let the built-up cars pass by us.
Arriving in town we were met by Bill as soon as we stepped out onto the sidewalk – he spotted us pulling up. We had a fabulous evening/night chatting with Bill and Carol and were then joined by Dan, Michelle, and their girls. The kiddos were quiet and shy at first (we were a mute button) but warmed up to us and were soon their rambunctious selves. Carol made a delicious supper.
We settled into the guest bedroom, feel more than welcomed and are absolutely thrilled to be here!
What a great day! After breakfast we hopped on the motorcycle and headed in through the park to explore the portion that we bypassed yesterday.
Our first stop was Split Rock – it’s a picnic area with a hiking trail. We scrambled up a big rock that had a sheer face down to the sand below. It looked like a popular climbing spot, hinted at with the bolts installed in the top of the rock next to us.
Then, basically across the street, was the Jumbo Rocks stop and the Skull Rock trail. We strolled down the trail, reading the signs and learning more about the desert flora and fauna around us. We thought the trail was a loop, but it stopped at a nearby campground. We turned around and headed back to check out Skull Rock before moseying along the road.
The big hike of the day was the 3 miles up to the peak of Ryan Mountain. We climbed about 1400 feet, so it was a bit strenuous – we aren’t used to being back up around the 5000 mark anymore – but not bad. And definitely worth it! We had a fabulous view of the mountains around us and across the desert. We enjoyed said view while eating lunch on a rocky outcropping just off the main peak.
Our next stop was a quick overlook at Keys View. We could see the Salton Sea and Signal Mountain (in Mexico). Definitely worth the drive up to the point.
On the way back down from the point we stopped to admire the Joshua Trees growing among the boulders.
On to Hidden Valley. Inside a ring of boulders is a little micro ecosystem. It’s lush, for a desert, filled with plants. It’s also a climbing hot-bed. We saw at least 4 groups of climbers in different areas. Kind of interesting how such an intensely individual sport is also so public. It seems that everyone who climbs in an easily accessible public area is guaranteed to be watched, photographed, and frequently called out to. It wasn’t our intention to explore the trail through the valley, but it was just too interesting and pretty not to keep following our way around the whole loop!
After hiking we headed down to the picnic area and snagged a table tucked under the rocks and trees for an afternoon coffee. We just finished a few miles on the motorcycle and after this it’s going to be a long ride back to the RV and coffee will be a nice warm treat before a chilly trip.
Once the coffee’s finished we head into the town of Joshua Tree, over to Twentynine Palms for a gas fill-up, and then back into the park for our trek down to the south entrance where home currently is. We’re both pretty disappointed with the sunset. It’s dusk as we enter the park and, based on the last few nights the sunset should at least be decent and we’ll get to enjoy that color change set behind the mountains as we head through the park. Alas, it merely turns dark – no color change that we noticed at all. The road is pretty empty and we zip along fairly quickly, but it’s still a bit late when we get home.
While supper is cooking we have a delightful chat with Mom and Gary, make plans for the next few days and our foray back into civilization to visit Bill and Carol, and look at other trail options just inside the entrance to the park for tomorrow’s fun.
After breakfast we unloaded the motorcycle and headed back down the freeway a few miles to top off the gas before heading into the park. It’s 47 miles to the other side and the next gas station (which is about half the comfortable range of the bike). While there we realized that we forgot to grab our National Parks pass, so we stopped back at the RV to get it. After looking through, as far as we can tell, every nook and cranny where it might possibly be, we still couldn’t find the pass. Our fear is two-fold – it’s either tucked somewhere unusual and we’ll find it just after we buy a second one, or it’s lost forever – probably pulled out of a pocket when removing a map and lies on the ground somewhere in Saguaro, still good for another 6 months but languishing away in a rock pile along a trail.
Giving up our search we head on into the park and pick up a new pass. It’s a new year and so a new picture on the pass. We definitely got our money’s worth out of the old one, but it was good for 6 more months so that’s certainly a shame.
Pass, map, and park newsletter safely tucked away we head on into the park, stopping at about every third exhibit area along the way to learn as we go. Joshua Tree covers two different deserts, the Colorado and the Sonoran, so we get to watch as the landscape changes from low desert to high desert. Unfortunately, the weather changes as well – the temperature steadily dropping as we climb higher and higher.
Ashley’s dressed for hiking, not for biking, since the forecast called for 70 degrees. I have an extra layer on that she doesn’t and I still got cold… glad I’m blocking as much of the wind from her as I am.
We stopped at a rock outcropping for a picnic lunch. Who’d have thought that we’d be seeking a sunny spot to sit in while in the desert! Amazing views, though, and quite varied – especially as we cover some distance.
Of course, we stopped and saw the Joshua Trees up close and personal (not too personal, after that first one… the points on their leaves aren’t just decoration!) It’s easy to see why the yucca and the JT’s are easily confused – I think I can tell the difference now but am not positive. Maybe after seeing a few hundred more…
On through to the other side of the park, to the northern visitors center. Then a gas stop and on down the road a few miles to the 49 Palms Oasis trail. We hiked about 2/3 of the way in before turning around – it was about to descend down into a valley, we could see the palms from the peak, and we are racing the sun.
Took about an hour to get home. I dropped Ashley off, went and topped off the gas for tomorrow’s venture, and the sun set shortly after I returned home.
Leftovers for supper, exercise for the day, and then bed time. The change in time zone has thrown us off. The sun rises when I’m getting up at my early time and sets mid-afternoon. It’s been gone for a few hours before bed time so we’re sleepy early.
After breakfast we began winding our way to Joshua Tree National Park. Stopped back at the La Paz County park to empty our tanks and refill our water reservoirs. Then at the WalMart in Parker for a grocery run – still crazy busy – the parking lot was full of RVs! Safeway was much less crowded (no parking for RVs to start with) for the few last items we didn’t pick up already. Then across the bridge and into California.
We were stopped by the Agriculture Waystation. They asked if we had any live plants or… something. I told him just the mostly alive Aloe plant sitting in our console cup holder. He asked if it stayed in the house and when I told him “always” he said that was the right answer and to have a great trip. So we moseyed on our way – pondering what the second part of the question was. If it was fruit, we had just picked up our usual stash from the grocery store. If it was something else, we probably don’t have it. -shrugs- Either way, we’re here now.
On down the road until we hit I-10 and then it was only a few miles to the exit for Joshua Tree. There was plenty of boondocking available just outside the park entrance, so we pulled in and, after a false start at a spot we just couldn’t get level at, found a nice little spot that was easily leveled and here we are!
Made tortillas to go with tacos for supper and then called it an early night. Tiring day, for no reason.
Pulled our mountain bikes off the rack to head up the trail behind the RV. It quickly turned into loose sand/gravel (sand in the desert, whoda thunk it!) so we turned around and went down to the main road. Just across Hwy 95 is a parking area for a scenic view. You can spot the Colorado River/Havasu Lake in between the hills. We thought we’d hike down and see what it looks like up close.
The hike was much longer than anticipated! But sooo worth it! We stumbled on a little beach area – it looked like a tropical beach, tucked into the desert! Who would have imagined! It was really beautiful. Ashley waded into the water for a few moments, before the cold ran her back out.
Woke up to the alarm today and quickly got ready for a trip into town. Before leaving we could see some hot air balloons above the hills, so we weren’t early enough to catch the mass ascension.
As we headed into town more balloons came into view. There were dozens! We weren’t entirely sure where to buy admission tickets (they actually had a separate ticket office) and so we planned on stopping somewhere with a good view over the lake where the balloons were launching from while looking for directions. We found a crowd on Mulberry Street, gathered in an empty stretch of property with a fabulous view. So we pulled in and watched the balloons flying around.
They were heading from the lake generally toward us. Some were skimming over the lake, dipping their basket just into the water on occasion. Others were really high in the air. One really “jumped” straight up in the air, rising quickly for a couple hundred feet.
Tobey called and we chatted for just a moment or two before one came very close to us, less than 100 feet away. They yelled “catch the balloon!” and we thought they were joking. But they repeated it a few times so Ashley, myself, and a couple of others headed down the hill to catch them. I told Tobey that I had to go catch a balloon and we hung up. They were landing before heading into the city and their powerlines and wanted some help. We held them down so that they weren’t scooted across the ground by the slight breeze. Then the pilot lightened the balloon so we could move them out into an open area for the take-down process.
So we stayed and helped hold the balloon in place while her crew made their way to our location, then helped to disassemble everything. So we had plenty of time to look into the basket, up inside the balloon (that flame provides plenty of warmth when it’s going!) and chat with the pilot, Elaine. She was very personable.
There were 50 balloons at the event, they actually had to turn people away because there wasn’t enough room for them all. She’s been piloting for 25 years now. She and her husband crewed for someone else and then decided to get a balloon of their own for him to pilot. They ended up getting a sports car and the balloon in the same year so their kids said, “Dad’s going Bananas” and thus they named the balloon “I’m Bananas.” Eventually she got her own balloon, the one we helped with, and named it “I’m Bananas2”. How fun!
There was an educated owl balloon (made Ashley think of the tootsie roll pop owl, 1…2…3…crunch!), a firetruck, a balloon with a chinese dragon wrapped around it, and some others that we didn’t get a good look at. We also saw a ReMax balloon – made me wonder if that’s someone’s job, to go around to the different balloon festivals and fly their balloon.
Once the crew arrived we helped them deflate and lay out the balloon. Then they “milked” the air out of it and we helped to fold the balloon into a big canvas bag for transport. Once back in the bag we headed back to the motorcycle. By now most of the balloons had landed, or they were off on the far side of the city.
Next we headed onto the island (riding across the London Bridge) and parked in the free parking area. We walked in to the entrance to the festival. On the way we passed the skydiving landing pad, just as some divers were touching down. It seems like they come in awfully fast, and it’s surprising how loud the wind in their ‘chute is!
At the entrance we looked at the festival food trucks that we could see, glanced at the tops of the carnival rides, and generally decided that we weren’t intrigued enough to buy the passes to get into the park. We got to see the balloons flying en masse and got to help land one! That’s better than we had expected already. The only other thing we really want is to fly in one, but that’s $200 each, so we’ll be waiting on that particular experience. They did have tethered rides, flying up for about 50 feet in a balloon that is tied to the ground, but that isn’t quite the same.
So we moseyed back along to the motorcycle and then toured around town, exploring the northern half that we had yet to visit. Found a Yamaha dealership and stopped in to check on the cost of a new set of front blinkers – way too pricey! So I’ll be ordering a set online somewhere in the future. Visited what we thought was a book store, but it had music, instruments, video games, movie rentals, etc. Plus books! I saw the Nerd Fitness book on the shelf, but they were asking full price and it’s about 45% off online so I’ll be waiting to pick that up. Exciting to see, though!
On we went to the coffee shop. Ashley wanted to update the website with a new about page and I’ve been wanting to add a landing page for some time. So today’s the day. She started writing while I called Tobey back. Had a delightful chat! I listened to some Cousin Curtis music online, a one-man band who is half of a couple about our age who is wandering about the country in their home-made trailer for a year – great music! Then we worked on the website together – updated about page, new what we’re doing page, new how we’re doing it page, and added a landing page that introduces everyone to our current quest. Looks a lot better now and is hopefully more approachable. Took quite some time, though, so we actually stayed until the coffee shop was closed. (Since we were there through lunch we split their Mufaletta sandwich – it was fabulous!)
Back home we baked some potatoes over which to pour some left over chili, exercised for the day, and hiked up the hill to see the view.
