Joshua Tree, CA (USA)

Nicky and I had some free time today, so we decided to drive into the desert on the other side of the mountains. Left the house at 1030L and took I-8 to the east. [Got off interstate in El Centro (?) and then took CA-86 north (?)] We drove along the west side of the Salton Sea - amazing to be there, since I had only seen it from the air before today. We continued driving towards the Chocolate Mountains until we reached I-10. Our goal was Joshua Tree National Park (recently upgraded from a Monument), but we drove east again until we reached a point (Chiriaco Summit) where we could look out over the whole Imperial Valley. It was a great view! After enjoying the scenery, we got gas (1415L) and then made a short visit to the nearby General Patton Memorial. Drove (back) to the entrance to the National Park and explored along the main park road (going north). It was an interesting place, with lots of barren rocks and tons of scrub brush (pretty Joshua Trees, though...). We saw lots of people climbing on the rocks - they seemed to be able to stake out any they wanted, since there were plenty of them. We left the park on the north side (Twenty Nine Palms) and briefly looked at the Marine Corps Base there. Drove west, through the Yucca Valley (CA-62). Made it back to I-10 and realized we were in a place where we could retrace our steps - who does that, anyway? ;-) - or take I-10 towards Los Angeles. We chose the latter (of course). It was a fortuitous decision, since it took us by the Cabazon Dinosaurs. I'd first seen these in 1977 - and Nicky remembered them from when she went on a trip with her Dad once. We spent some time climbing around there before heading back to San Diego. [Used I-10 to I-215 to I-15 (?)] - home late. It was a nice day!