The Backroads to Joshua Tree and Indio

A Joshua Tree

Many things make us happy, but bike riding or driving on an undiscovered backroad road is a special delight.  Our new discovery was the East Sierra Nevada Scenic Byway, which runs from Carson City, NV to about Ridgecrest on Highway 395. 

Actually, when pulling a trailer, we find that most backroads are more relaxing and enjoyable than freeways.  This was especially fun, as a Sirius Radio station was broadcasting from the first weekend of the ‘Oldchella’ concert, playing songs from the groups and adding color commentary.

Hwy 395 south of Bishop, CA

Breakfast view at Bridgeport, CA

At our first night camping on the banks of the Metolius River, we smelled fumes and noticed a drip under the engine.  We had to add a quart of oil enroute, and thought it was just a little excess burning off.  The gauge said everything was fine so we continued on to Susanville for our second night.  On Monday, we decided to stop by the VW dealership in Reno to buy another couple of quarts of oil just in case.  Good thing, as they discovered a leak in a fuel injector and the fumes we were smelling were actually fuel, which, they warned us, could ignite and explode at any time. 

View from Conway Summit,elevation 8900'

But even in our bad luck, we are lucky.  They had the $42 part in stock, three hours later we were on the road again, and he fume smells were gone.  We found a beautiful campground at sunset near Bridgeport, CA populated by very sociable  hunters.

Morning at Indian Cove Campground, JT NP

After a 400+ mile day

The east side of Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada Mountains were stunning, and the traffic was light for the first 275 miles.  Such a stark contrast to the massive freeways and urbanization just 50-100 miles to the west.  The last 125 were not fun or very scenic, but it was worth the effort to make it to Joshua Tree National Park.  We found a secluded campsite among gigantic boulders and a vista of the plains below, with nearly a full moon.

Joshua Tree NP is north of Palm Springs and Indio, and east of Redlands.  It's hard to imagine this much wilderness so close to the LA area.  The park is where the Mojave and the Colorado deserts meet, and the two are very unique in appearance and vegetation.This is the most primitive and laid back national park we have ever experienced.  It’s huge, but without tour busses, traffic, gift shops, and mobs of visitors with selfie sticks.  There is no water, except at the four entrances.  The restrooms are pit toilets.     

Inside Hidden Valley, JT NP

Joshua Tree

Joshua trees are the park’s namesake, but in our mind, the key attractions are the rock formations and vast desert vistas.  The trees are relatives of the yucca plant.  They don’t have rings like typical trees, but botanists estimate them be up to 150 years old.  We spent a very pleasant day hiking among the trees, desert plants, and the rocks in 80+ degree weather. 

Not all trees are Joshuas. 

Cacti in the Colorado Desert portion of JTNP

As we listen to the crickets on a nearly full moon and gaze at the surreal moonlit rocks in our campground, we still don’t know fully know what to expect for the Desert Trip experience, but we do know that it will be a stark contrast to the remote serenity of Joshua Tree NP.