The Desert and Vegas

I've heard people say they love the desert for the spiritual feeling they get while there, and I have to say, they are right. I don't know if it is the heat, or the quiet, or the darkness at night, or the lack of green vegetation denying vital oxygen to ones lungs and brain. I am not sure, but I do know that I absolutely loved it. There was a freedom, a peacefulness, and a delirious feeling that helped to center us, especially from all the busyness and overabundance of the west coast. We felt as though our trip had finally begun. Being in a place we had never been before. We were heading "over there."

We left San Diego and headed for Joshua Tree National Park. We crossed over mountains that strangely (for us) had very little vegetation, just big huge dry rock mountains. As we continued through them we were shocked when peaking out from the other side, far below us, was the Palm Desert/ Palm Springs area. A huge community that appeared to us as an oasis. It was fun to imagine what travelers on horse or foot may have thought when they came over these mountains to find plant life and water. Of course in our day and age we found much more, huge shopping centers, golf courses and big fancy houses everywhere. "Okay," we thought, "this is beautiful and sunny, I can see why someone might want to live out here." We had arrived in Palm Desert at about 6pm. The next day we decided they were crazy or sun and heat zealots. Here it was March and the next day the sun beamed down on us with an extreme heat of 91 degrees! We thought, 'If this is the spring, what is the summer like here?' People told us well over 100. (last we checked at the end of May it was 107!) We just couldn't take the heat, and decided to head off for our camping destination of Joshua Tree National Forest. It is at a higher elevation and was predicted to have a cooler temperature than the desert floor. As we drove through each small desert town, we felt the solitude of the homes, with their dirt yards and harsh environment not allowing much green life to sprout and grow. Children's toys in the yard, nothing soft underfoot, no trees to climb, only cacti to avoid.

We began to see the Joshua Trees a few miles outside the park. Then there were more, and more and more and more. The town of Joshua Tree seemed very fun with bright colored buildings and interesting stores and restaurants, but it was late and we had to move forward to put up camp for what was to be one night. We stopped at the information center only to find out that they weren't sure if any sites were available. It was first come, first serve and it was the beginning of spring break season. We felt extremely discouraged, but were told to try our luck if we wanted to and we may get lucky. So we did. We drove to the first campground, which is a few miles inside the park. It is then that you realize you are surrounded by joshua trees, which is unbelievable and beautiful. We drove past one full campsite after another, with our disappointment growing until we went to the Jumbo Rock campground, which is the biggest campground in the park. We found a beautiful spot with the giant granite mounded rocks protecting us from the sun. We found out from a neighbor that the folks in that spot had just left, so we were really lucky. At $10 per day, we decided to kick up our heels and stay for awhile. Here is something I wrote down while I was watching the sunrise:

What can I say? Just breathtaking, unexplainable, calming beauty. The first thing we noticed was the almost deafening silence. We stayed in the park at the Jumbo Rock Campground and the amazing formations of these rocks - mountainous rocks - are mystical and surreal. I sit here and watch the tangerine strips emerge on the turquoise sky as the sun gently peeks it's head. I hear a few birds and wonder how hard it must be to survive here. Right now the weather is 80 degrees during the day and 60 at night. The Ranger told us this is the busiest time of year as summers range from 100-110 degrees. The kids are loving their first real rock climbing experience. They climbed up, came back for what they wanted to fill their backpacks with (such as compasses, magnifying glasses, art supplies, swords and flashlights), climbed up again, came back for dinner, so we packed them some sandwiches and they were off again thrilled at the idea they could eat their dinner on a giant rock. When it got too dark, I called them back and I haven't heard whining like that (at least that didn't include some kind of sugary treat or electronic device.) Hearing their whining to stay on their nature journey, was pleasing to us. We smiled a each other and promised the boys they could rock climb tomorrow allowing them to settle down enough to go to sleep.
Our one night stay has been extended.

The next morning, they immediately got dressed for climbing and again went up into their rock fort. Husband and I enjoyed the quiet of the beautiful morning. As the day went on, we decided to explore more of the park and went on a fantastic rock climbing hike. We stayed until we began to run out of water and headed back to camp. Remembering to drink water is so important in the desert, and as much as you drink, you never feel your quench very long. We enjoyed this park so much, we highly recommend it, however, the new drying heat environment got to us and after 3 days, we decided we had to head for cooler temperatures, against the cries from our boys, who never wanted to leave their rock climbing paradise.

Our next big destination was the Grand Canyon, and we found ourselves driving on old route 66. We drove until we saw the vegetation line completely end and there was nothing but sand. The next place we saw was a dried up lake which created salt flats. Miles of cracking ground where the salt lie on top like snow. Well, we had to try it for ourselves and got out and tasted it. Yep, salt. Crazy cool. We were closer and closer to reaching the California-Arizona border, and then my husband got an itch. An itch to visit Sin City. He was looking at the map, looked at me and said, "Do you want to go to Vegas?" Now I have been to Las Vegas, and since I don't gamble, I have always felt "been there, done that." No need to go again, and my husband, who also doesn't gamble, has always known this. But you see, he had this look in his eye. A look of excitement and wonder. It was too late, he had the Glitz and Glamour Fever. "Sure," I said. So right before we were in Arizona, we turned North for Vegas.

We arrived shortly thereafter and I was absolutely amazed at how the city had grown, of course, the last time I was there was in '93, but they have had a crazy residential home surge. We decided the first thing we needed to do was buy some Vegas clothes. Afterall, we were not planning for many fancy nightlife nights, and most of our things were very campy. After a hit to TJ Maxx, we all donned our new threads and headed to our hotel, which was just a couple of blocks off the strip. We were told to plan to see a couple of free shows, one outside of Treasure Island, where there is a pirate show, and the exploding volcano at the Mirage. After being rested, fed and dressed, we headed into the night. We immediately went to see the pirate show. The crowd was unbelievable and this was a weekday! We squeezed our way into the crowd until we could no longer move, put the kids on our shoulders, and then it started. It started with half dressed "Sirens" luring the pirates to join them with their dance. Husband and I looked at each other and decided, this was probably not a great show for a 5 and an 8 year old. So we tried to squeeze our way out, but as it took so long, the big excitement of a fiery explosion from the pirate ship caught the boys attention and they were not about to leave. So, we decided to stay, trying to focus our boys on the pirates, not the showgirls (especially my husband). Luckily, the volcano was a lot more exciting, without any showgirls. It was late and we decided after a quick drive down the strip, we would head back and put the kids to bed. But as we walked toward our van, something seemed wrong. Yep, a flat tire. A flat tire at 11:15pm in a town we didn't know. Before we had a chance to panic, we immediately called AAA. They told us it would take an hour before the tow truck would show, but he was there in 15 minutes. He was so nice and quick, and told us where to get the tire fixed (it was just a nail) at a 24 hour tire repair shop. At 11:45 we were on the way to the 24-hour tire place (which we couldn't believe actually existed) and by midnight we were on our way back to the strip with kids asleep in the back seat. Found and Fixed within an hour in the middle of the night? Only in Vegas. The sights and lights on the strip were satisfying to my husband and admittedly to myself and we set off to bed.

The next morning, we explored Caesar's Palace, enjoyed the hotel's pool and without spending one nickel gambling, we decided to head out once more towards the Grand Canyon.