On THE "10" to Joshua Tree NP and then Quartzite

First, for all of you non-southern Californians; the proper colloquialism for the Interstates are "on the 8" or "10", or whatever the number is.  And we've been on the 10.  Now let's get down to details.....{PS thanks Ron & Judi for keeping us up on local speech}

Joshua Tree National Park, on the surface looks like just some desert scrub and low mountains.  We set up camp at Cottonwoods, and then took the hike to Lost Palms Oasis.  What unfolded is a surreal trail through wierd rock formations, desert washes, an incredible number of plants (with only 6 inches of rain per year), and the jaw dropping Oasis at the end of the hike.  What a good stop for lunch before heading back to complete the 10 miles.



The day before this hike we took a drive up to Cholla Gardens with a walk through the cactus, and then stopped at Granite Arch and lots of really cool rock formations.

Tonight we're camped in a gravel parking lot in Quartzite after walking the annual RV and Stuff show.  Draws over 150,000 people.  This is the part of the country where all of the old RVs go and camp in a BLM desert free site.  Interesting.