april 7, 2005

WE DID mess up our trip a bit by setting off later than we wanted to. Despite two wake-up calls from mum at 7.30am, neither of us could be arsed to get out of bed until an hour later, and it wasn't until 10ish that we actually left Long Beach. I did the checklist - camera, batteries, tripod, water, cigarettes, lighter and we were off. I drove to Joshua Tree, which is something I now regret as I could have got some great pics as we passed through shitkicker central on our way to the park. Nevertheless, Ev did a great job taking these on the way.

If you want to skip the getting-there pics and go straight onto the park pictures, go to the bottom of the page...

It's hard to believe that it was 85 degrees where we were and yet there was still snow on the mountain tops. Also, note the amazing lack of traffic (I think this one was taken when we were on the 57).

OK, this was a classic cock-up. We're both starving by now and in need of a break, so we pulled off the highway at a sign saying "food and drink ahead". Someone was lying to us as there was no food and drink ahead, just a crappy road running parallel to the 57. I can well imagine people on the highway wondering what we were doing, and thinking it was because we're special. Short-bus special, that is.

You can tell we're entering an area no one gives a toss about because there's wind generators as far as the eye can see.

The route we were taking also goes to Glamis, which is dune-buggy central for Southern California. This guy was obviously on his way to a weekend of sand, sun and no sleep. Ev also managed to get picture herself in the mirror.

This must be the clearest Southern California road I've seen in 15 months of living here. Seriously, it's like the A470 on a Sunday. And the best bit is there are no speed traps. Stitch that, South Wales Police!

We're entering windy-road country here as we get closer to the park. The sky had clouded over a bit and it was cooling down, which meant I could turn the air-conditioning off and actually make it up the hill.

Ooohhhh yes. I love vans like this - Mike and I see loads of them on our drive to work and we discuss the relative merits of metallic paint, flared wheel arches and roofbeds. This is a pretty classic example and there's a copy sitting in Mike's inbox for when he gets back from the Grand Canyon.

Blue skies, palm trees, snow and junk food - Southern California summed up in a single photo.

I can work out what most of these signs are for, but what's the one below the blue sign mean? "If you've just teleported into the road you can go left or straight on."

Bloody hippies get everywhere. To see pics of Joshua Tree, click below. Go on, you know you want to!