Just Deserts

I'm a big fan of mountains and I think I've mentioned a few times that I'm pretty fond of lakes too. My previous trips to California have included plenty of mountains and a few lakes, but this time I got to experience quite a different landscape: the desert. We traveled to Palm Springs, which just happens to be in the middle of the desert, and Joshua Tree National Park, which is made up of two different deserts, the Mojave and the Colorado.

Though Palm Springs is in the middle of the desert, it doesn't really count because it is so populated and full of irrigation. Although I did get to experience heaven in the shape of The Blue Coyote Mexican restaurant, I didn't get to experience the true desert.The vastness of the true desert was astounding and a bit scary... we had to make sure to have a full tank of gas and plenty of water before entering Joshua Tree. There was nothing but sand, dirt, rocks, and scrub brush for as far as the eye could see. As boring as that may seem, it really was beautiful.

I was also amazed at the difference between the two deserts. We entered Joshua Tree through the southern entrance and drove up through the Colorado desert. We saw the sand, dirt, rocks, and a few cacti, but not one Joshua Tree. Once we reached the Mojave, we started to see huge Joshua Trees, gigantic rock formations, and grasslands.

I'm not sure I'm ready to give up lakes for the desert... I could never imagine living there... but it sure was beautiful to visit.

Colorado DesertMojave Desert