Joshua Tree National Park

Four days in Joshua Tree coming to an end.  Joshua tree is an interesting juxtaposition of desert scrub and vast collections of boulders, some small and some massive, seemingly dumped in random piles across the landscape.  People come from all over to climb the faces of the piles, which jut from the flat scrub in formations from pyramids to vertical walls; something for everyone. I enjoyed climbing the less vertical rocks and jumping from boulder to boulder. Noted I don't have the spring I used to have and that I'm more careful on the rocks when I'm alone, especially after reading about the guy who cut off his arm when he was trapped hiking by himself.  I seldom see anyone on my rambles, and have learned to carry basics like a loud whistle, a flashlight, a sweatshirt, protein bars, and water.  Just in case.

Tuesday I went on a four mile run up and down desert trails, an exercise made more interesting by virtue of the fact all the trails are made of decomposed granite.  Like running uphill and downhill at the beach.  Wednesday was an 8 mile hike almost to the top of Eureka Peak.  Same granite paths.  Today, a seventeen
 mile bike ride; the way back was uphill and into a stiff cold wind.  I get absorbed into the fierceness of the outdoors--it concentrates the mind.

                            

I ran into a young photographer with an interesting solar setup.  It's three panels mounted on what is essentially a lightweight sawhorse, attached to an inverter and then to the posts on the coach batteries.  He said it generates enough power that he almost never uses his generator.  I'm picking one up on the way to LA tomorrow.  The whole system is under $300, which is spectacular if it does what he promises.  His rig is much smaller than mine but his batteries are the same.  We'll see next week.

Next: staying with the Zakarins in LA.  Demanding a cameo role in the Upstairs Girls videos Scott produces.