Desert dreams

No, not dessert dreams. I've had enough of that and not enough working out. But I must say that Denny's makes a good vanilla shake. Which can be hard to find.

I made all the Yosemite photos too small, so making this extra large. Joshua tree. Sunset. Beauty.


There's not a ton to say. Ok, wait, maybe there is. I'll work backwards.

Monday we started way too late to go for a short hike. At 7:00am the weather is great. But if you don't get out until 9:30 and then get lost finding the start of the trail, it's 95+ degrees out and no time to start a hike, at least for me. I can get overheated quickly. So we went to Indian Cove to look at the climbs there - I've never been. We walked around a little, and stumbled upon a Gambel's Quail and two young chicks? quailettes? qualings? We found out they can fly short distances to get away from danger. Not that we were trying to be dangerous...

So, we thought we'd go a short ways up Rattlesnake Canyon. And it turned out to be a very short ways. Not only was it damn hot (and apparently according to one shop employee - humid), but also...
After about 5 minutes of walking I had both soles off. I didn't realize that after that stuff would continue to come off. So every time I touched a rock, black crap came off. I felt like a leper. And alas, I couldn't get it all up - so I was a litterer! Guess those boots get thrown away...

The other interesting time was Saturday night. Went to Pappy and Harriet's, heard some nice bluegrass, ate a great dinner, and sat outside watching the sun set. We decided to walk through Pioneertown - read more at the link, but used to be a set for many many westerns. We heard loud music, which sounded like a bar, and headed towards it. Turned out to be a vintage bowling alley and bar, and it was like stepping into a Twilight Zone episode because we played - neither one of us having played in forever and not really know how to score. But so so odd and amazing being the only ones there, in an old 5 lane bowling alley with vintage furniture and everything. And great music on the jukebox. And a proprietress who spouted historical facts given any chance. And a 150 year old player piano/band that played for a quarter. Oh, do go there if you ever have a chance.

It was nice to relax.