National Park Adventures: Joshua Tree

Disclaimer: This was written several months back, but was never posted. So now I bring you the original post:

I visited a National Park I had never been to before: Joshua Tree National Park.

I have for a while now, wanted to visit this National Park. When I was in High School our youth group would go rock climbing there. Being the girly girl--and not really the athletic type, that did not appeal to me and so I'd never go. It was after High School that I began to fall in love with the parks, and really that love has grown over the last few years having discovered my love of camping.

A friend of mine wanted to go to Joshua Tree to see the meteor shower a few weekends ago. I do not do well in heat, so the idea of camping in the desert was not first on my to-do list. Yet it was with a friend, whom I love dearly, and we were going to see the meteor shower. So I packed up my stuff and away we went!

I cannot describe the excitement I felt when we pulled up to the gate--which, by the way, you get to by driving through a neighborhood--WEIRD. I know that people romanticize the national parks, but there really is something so beautiful about a piece of our land, set aside, not for resources or for profit, but to just enjoy the beauty, AND at an affordable price that anyone can pay. God Bless the USA.

Our tent in a great spot!

Sunset from our viewing spot. 

When we got to the campground we had to find a spot--it was first come, first serve, and I think we found a pretty good one. The only downside to our camping site was that we were at a campground with no running water. There's only a few sites with running water and those fill up fast. I was the only girl on the trip, and guess who was the expert in putting up the tent? That's right, ME! After the tent was put up we found a great spot high on a nearby hill to set up our camping chairs for the meteor shower.

I went to the top of the hill and started journaling with a glass of wine in my hand. Such a peaceful place. Watching the sunset happen all around was a wonderful, peaceful time, which I had been craving.

Overall we had a great time and the sky was beautiful. We didn't stay up ALL night, because well we were tired, or at least I was. Saw many meteors but wished I had seen more. Isn't that always the way?

Beautiful Cactus with the mountains in the background.

The worst part of the trip, for me, was the next morning. I so badly wanted to make breakfast burritos for the guys, but I woke up with a terrible headache. So we packed up early and drove through the park and saw wonderful sites. There was a cactus garden, old mining sites and great rock formations. I was the encyclopedia in the back seat reading about everything as we were driving by it. It's really a very beautiful National Park. I was awestruck by how many colors there are in a desert. Truly a wonderful sight everyone should see.

Next time I go, I will try to go in the winter when it's not so hot and when I can really enjoy the park and go rock climbing. And I will be staying at a campsite with running water... that's a must next time for SURE!!