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12 February 2010

any of y'all been to Joshua Tree?

The boys are out of school next week. We are going camping with bikes someplace. We've never been to Joshua Tree, but it looks neat. Anyone have the skinny?

14 comments:

Juancho said...

Been there years ago. It's incredible. I'm not too sure about riding opportunities. go for the stars and amazing rocks to scramble on.

houvenagle said...

...what he said...rock o' fun.

Lord Hayden said...

We got a book recently called "Bicycling America's National Parks: California: The Best Road and Trail Rides from Joshua Tree to Redwoods NP". Haven't read it much yet, I can loan it to you if you want it. Not that your brand of cycling is by-the-book.

reverend dick said...

Fellas...I don't want to take mushrooms and dig the crazy star scene.

I want to ride bikes with children, drink beers and dig the crazy star scene.

Juancho said...

same dif

houvenagle said...

children love mushrooms...and cigarettes.

Patch Kit Guy said...

Outstanding scenery, the only problem is proximity to LA. My worst camping experience to date.

First night: idiotic LA teenagers (ok, redundant, I know) listening to Dark Side of the Moon until 2am, when they wander off into the desert, and I finally fall asleep. Until 4am, that is, when they return, and literally stumble over us in our sleeping bags. "Sorry dude, uhhhh..."

Second night: campers next door arrive at ALL hours of the night, and then setting off their own car alarms, and then being unable to make the alarms cease. This happened several times that night. Who sets their fucking car alarm when they're camping RIGHT NEXT to their car?

Third night: Orange County Jimmy Buffet Fan Club (OCJBFC). That should suffice for the explanation but let me elucidate: They bring their RV's (complete with huge OCJBFC banner), sit INSIDE all night long, and proceed to get drunk and listen to the SAME JB audio tape over and over again, and then pass out while said audio tape plays endlessly. They could have done the same exact thing in their driveways.

Summation: you will run into the lamest people that the LA basin has to offer. And they will pick the spot immediately adjacent to your own.

JLB said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JLB said...

Delete Comment From: Church of the Sweet Ride

Blogger Bluepastures said...

Have spent mucho time at Josh- very special, a very special place. One of the great spots on the planet, and no matter whatsobloodyever LA madness: it's still there for you. Specifics: Find Hidden Valley Campground, find the back loop at Hidden Valley Campground, find a site, settle in, and slow right down. Check out the ridge of rock behind your campsite- cool caves for kids. Dawn over the rocks is real good, there's a heap of dirt roads to ride your bike down, there's a million mazes of astonishing rock to play in, on, and around, and kids love the place. Can be surprisingly chilly- I've been snowed off climbs there several times- so take warm gear, good food, and whatever libations turn your crank. Recommended: finding the Iron Door boulder, wandering around the Wonderland of Rocks, and buying a climbing guidebook: even if you have no intention of climbing, the maps in the climbing guides are the best. As someone who gen'rally disdains maps, &c, can understand trepidation about this, but Josh is mighty easy to get lost in, and a map can point you to some splendid locations.

Enjoy, man, enjoy.

Patch Kit Guy said...

True, I did pick a bad time of year to visit (Labor Day weekend if I recall).

reverend dick said...

Done.

I'm giving the boys a hefty batch of mushrooms, jamming a Jimmy Buffet/Lionel Ritchie mix tape in the dash and busting off the knob, and hanging it all out there.

Anonymous said...

Dont forget the cigs, bro.

Juancho said...

or the fireworks!

Anonymous said...

Here is a link to the park website that outlines biking trails in the park:

http://www.joshua.tree.national-park.com/sights.htm