Have you slept in a wigwam lately?
Trip Start
Sep 16, 2011
1
32
290
Trip End
Nov 20, 2011
Where I stayed
San Bernardino, California
Sunday, October 16, 2011
We chat to Andrea, Lee, Isla-Bear, Charlie and Henry on skype. Elwood was super happy to see Isla-Bear and we are all so happy to see them we could chat all day. And they bring in a surprise guest, The Mothership, hooray! We chat with mum and do our best to give her some outfit planning tips. See you on Friday Mothership!
Elwood and I kick about at the hotel whilst Noah does sensible things like: get fuel and check the oil, water and tyres. We saw enough desert on yesterday's journey to know that we are not going to mess with the desert.
We drive through Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree and Twenty Nine Palms and arrive in Joshua Tree National Park Just in time to catch the hottest part of the day. And folks, it is very hot.
So we stick to the main road in Joshua Tree National Park and turn off at the first spot which catches our fancy. Well, it was amazing. It is easily the most beautiful place I have ever been to. It is beautiful and quiet and prehistoric. The rocks are amazing, they are massive and smoothe, and see to nestle together in a way which makes the landscape even more beautiful.
And those rocks were just made for climbing, just ask Elwood. He loved it and did not know where to start. He climbs so fast if you turn your back for a minute he is atop something quite dangerous. But he treads so carefully and he seems really considered in where he stands. He loves getting to the top and standing with his belly out and his hands on his hips. He also strikes some very 'Zoolander’ poses when he is on top of the rocks. We do not understand this and do not even attempt to. Noah and I are much more relaxed than we were at the Grand Canyon. But it is still difficult to breathe when Elwood is up on a rock!
I could have stayed all day at this spot quite happily but I can feel the sun burning my neck, my legs and my feet. Elwood is smothered in sunscreen and zinc and is wearing a hat. But it is boiling. Even when we just get out the car for a quick leg stretch we take water and soft drink.
We continue our journey and pass skull rock and jumbo rocks. We stop at Jumbo rocks for more refreshments at a table shaded by the Jumbo rock. There are some children eating their lunch high up on a rock, and their parents are climbing up to take them their food. Elwood looks on in awe – that is the dream. We realise too late, that somewhere called Jumbo rocks is not the best place to take a 3 year old climbing enthusiast. So we wander around trying to find some less Jumbo rocks. We find some and Elwood happily climbs and explores. He enjoy giving a commentary when he is climbing to explain what rescue mission he is on this time. He could do that all day!
We get back in the car and drive to Hidden Valley. This is amazing. You can imagine dinosaurs here. It is just like how they depict the landscape when in dinosaur days . We could look at this forever. There are massive rocks as well as vast dry flat plains dotted with Joshua Trees. There are rock climbers for Elwood to take inspiration from. There is a small track and Elwood leads us through it – delighted to be exploring. When we head back to the car, even Elwood does not moan. We are baking hot.
We continue our journey through the most amazing rocks. Even standing in front of them, you cannot get your head around the size. And the colour of the rocks, the colour of sky, combined with the brightness of the sun is something the behold. Noah and I cannot believe that a place like this exists and that we are here. We are regularly speechless and just soak up the surroundings .
We stop at a campsite and discuss whether or not we would camp here. It would be so dark and so quite at night but the stars would be phenomenal, as would be the sunrise. It would also be freezing by night we think. We also can’t imagine how hot it gets in the summer, given how hot it is in the autumn. We both say we would love to come here again – in fact we would come just to see Joshua Tree National Park again. It is something else. Although the Grand Canyon is on a much, much bigger scale – we just stayed on the rim and walked and look at it. For us, it would not be possible to do any more than that with Woody. With Joshua Tree we have managed to really get stuck into it, even with a little one. I have felt much more a part of it, than at the Grand Canyon. It must be one of the most amazing landscapes in the world and to be surrounded by it feels like an absolute privilege.
We drive back through Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley and stop for much needed ice lollies.
We then drive towards LA. We drive through a spectacular wind farm (?)- I am not sure what you the correct term is for loads and loads of windmills. The traffic starts to get heavier as we get closer to the coast. And then we see huge mountain ranges, and turns out we are staying pretty much at the foot of them, in San Bernardino.
Thanks to a fab leaving present from Joycee’s 1-2-3-4-5 we are staying in a wigwam tonight. It is part of a well known Route 66 chain of wigwam hotels. They began in 1949. I think there are 20 wigwams (with 2 x beds, a tv, and a bathroom so perhaps not the most authentic wigwam!) and they just circle around a grassed area , picnic table and pool. It is really lovely and has a nice family feel. The view is also exceptional. Thank you Joycees
We grab a pizza for dinner and then that is the end of me and Elwood. We conk out and Noah stays up and admires he his beautiful photos.
A big wigwam good night to you all.
