Best Western Garden Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms

... also very very expensive!). Once at the top there is a limited amount of stuff to do as it is somewhere between summer and winter activities. No matter though the view down to the Coachella valley below – all the way to the Salton Sea was incredible.

I went for a gentle wander along the valley behind the tram station which was 5 inches deep in snow and delightfully crisp and calm. Had I been up early ...

... whole lot of creosote bush scrub and some curious cacti gardens. Further in the scenery transitions to the Mojave Desert. The temperature falls, granite outcroppings pierce the Pinto Gneiss and of course the tree-sized Yuccas that are the Joshua Trees appear then get bigger and more abundant.

After walking through cacti, clambering over rocks and resisting the urge to hug a Joshua tree I drove up the look out at Mt Ryan and watched the sun go down over the San Jacinto ...

... head and take a look but Zooey is a whole level above all of these – I would watch her read the yellow pages (but it would be better if she sang it as she had a lovely voice – check out She and Him Vol 1)

What I listened to: The Dylan-a-thon continues to continue but I did have a diversion into Writers Block by Peter Bjorn and John on my N86. A great album most known for Young Folks but with many more and better tracks.

After a long couple months of grueling school, it was nice to take a little vacay with the family to palm springs. The Marriott desert springs is a gorgeous hotel on the golf course with ample room space and stunning views of the mountains. It's the 5th day of our trip and so far it's been very nice and relaxing. We've gone shopping quite a bit that I'm a little worried about how I'm going to bring everything ...

... br>


Apres avoir visite un endroit comme Death Valley, nous croyions que plus rien ne nous etonnerait mais quel spectacle que Joshua Tree. Ces amoncellements d'enormes pierres granitiques et les fameux joshua trees (une espece yucca) forment un environnement des plus inusite aux silhouettes dramatiques.

Nous aurons eu deux campements ici. Le premier etait niche au creux ...

... Peak at 10,834 feet. The sunrise has no sign of coming and the waning quarter moon is casting its silver light upon a slope of granite boulders. Mars is on the horizon adding an celestial element to the desert's potent stillness.
-So far this morning we shared the trail with three women hikers who started out ahead of us. We passed them (of course) because they were slow chatty ladies, but they passed us because we were men and got lost by taking a wrong ...

... The added feature of the whole Hallowed-Fest experience was the first ever all acoustic set. Needless to say the music was amazing.

The promoters built this giant castle-snake-overlook in the middle of the firelds. You could walk all the way around and be at a rotunda at the top and look out to see the whole venue. A very cool feature. Highlight was the glowstick battles on either side with the people on top ...

... or river or some form of natural source of water. However, an RV Park is best described as a large parking lot, with electric and water points, and public facilities. RV Parks are quite popular in the US, and hence the facilities can be very modern. For example, this particular RV Park has a golf course, an indoor swimming pool, spa ...

... cowboy holding up the ATM instead... We hit the road for more roller coaster style dips that Route 66 is so famous for. A desert fox runs to the roadside to beg for food - talk about cunning! We have to join back up with the Interstate 40 for a short way to Needles where we cross back into California. Back onto 66 to Goffs on the edge of the Mojave Nature Preserve. Not much out here but more freight trains ...

Currently on the brink of hitting Mexico......one night in San Diego and tomorrow i cross the border. And then the real journey begins. Four years ago I visited Mexico and I knew I had to go back for a longer visit. But before all that let me bring you up to date with my tour of the Pacific Rim....... After being let into the US reluctantly by the customs officer because I did not have a flight out of the country - I took a bumpy night train to Seattle ...