Posted by My family flew to Southern California to attend a wedding last weekend. Besides catching up with our relatives and spending some time with them, we also took the opportunity to visit a place that we have not been to before – the Joshua Tree National Park.
As its name implied, the park was full of Joshua trees. It was said that this tree was named by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. The tree’s unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer.
It brought to mind the poem “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer. Here’s a portion of that poem:
“I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree….
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray.”
We started the day early and left the place that we rented at Yucca Valley before sunrise (photo above). After a short drive we entered the park.
Our first stop was the Cholla Cactus Garden. We arrived there just after the sun rose above the horizon and we walked among the cacti. It was neat to see the sun rays reflecting on the cacti needles (photo below).
The cactus gives us a good life lesson that you want to be close enough to appreciate their beauty but still maintaining proper distance as those needles can prick you. The same is true to many things in life, like your in-laws. I’m kidding.
We then proceeded to do some not-so-serious hiking. Photo below is called the “Heart Rock.” I could say that I left my heart there.
Next trek was to the “Arch Rock.” On this hike, we needed to scamper up some boulders to get to this spot.
I wonder if we could set up camp here and experience living under a rock, literally, and be unaware of the cares from the outside world.
We finished our hike just before the sun ascended up too high in the sky, and just before the temperature rose into the 90’s or even above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Or else we would get fried in that desert.
From Joshua Tree National Park,
Pinoytransplant.
(*some photos were taken by my wife)
Beautiful pictures! Especially those taken by the wife, hahah just joking. But true. No seriously, I enjoyed reading this post. I’ve never been to this part of California but I’ve heard good things about it. I would love to go there one day. Oh, this reminded me of U2’s The Joshua Tree concert. 🙂
I like U2; in fact I was singing their songs in my head while hiking there. Though unlike their song, I have already found what I’m looking for. 😀
Beautiful pictures along with thoughtful narrative, thanks. The desert offers many surprises to treasure.
Thank you. The desert indeed is a wonderful place to explore.