After spending the night in Los Angeles visiting with my sister and her family, a great breakfast and a quick goodbye we finally got a late start on the road. Heading out of Los Angeles along 5 south followed by 10 east we pushed along southern California on our way to Joshua Tree National Park. On entering the desolate landscape we were greeted by an early desert spring. Flowers bloomed along the road and later the head trail to Lost Palms Oasis in the Cottonwood Spring section of the park. Joshua Tree is more than 558,000 acres of wilderness that stretches east from the San Bernardino Mountains and covers a cross section of the Mojave and Colorado deserts. After catching sunset along the trail we pushed north through the park at twilight and are resting our heads in Twentynine Palms. Tomorrow we head back into the park before moving east along historic Route 66.
Theadora Mabika looks at herself in a mirror at her home in North Hollywood, California on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Theadora Mabika looks at herself in a mirror at her home in North Hollywood, California on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Theadora Mabika starts to throw a temper tantrum at her home in North Hollywood, California on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Cottonwood Spring in Joshua Tree National Park keeps some of the vegetation in bloom on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Palms shade the area above Cottonwood Spring in Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Palms shade the area above Cottonwood Spring in Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
A desert bell, phacelia campanularia, blossoms in the Colorado Desert section of Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Mojave yucca plants grow along the head trail to Lost Palms Oasis inside Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
The sun sets on a Mojave yucca plant in Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
The sun sets on a Mojave yucca plant in Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
The sun sets on a Mojave yucca plant in Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
The sun sets over Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
A desert bell, phacelia campanularia, blossoms in the Colorado Desert section of Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
The sun starts to set over Joshua Tree National Park near Cottonwood Spring on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Needles on cholla cacti glisten in the waning sun at Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Bursts of yellow and green mark scrub oak, juniper and smoketree bushes in the Colorado Desert section of Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Joshua Tree National Park near Cottonwood Spring on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Joshua Tree National Park is the meeting point for the Colorado and Mojave deserts.
The sun sets over Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Needles on cholla cacti glisten in the waning sun at Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Mojave yucca plants dot the landscape across Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Rock formations along the head trail for Lost Palms Oasis at Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Rock formations along the head trail for Lost Palms Oasis at Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
The sun sets over Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
A LeConte's thrasher perches on a tree next to Majove yucca plants at Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Joshua Tree National Park consists of more than 558,000 acres of wilderness spreading east from the San Bernardino Mountain in California.
Joshua Tree National Park consists of more than 558,000 acres of wilderness spreading east from the San Bernardino Mountain in California.
A LeConte's thrasher perches on a Mojave yucca plant at Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Brittlebush blooms on the desert floor inside Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
The sun sets over Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
The sun sets behind Mojave yucca plants inside Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Flowers bloom inside Joshua Tree National Park as the sun sets on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
The sun sets over Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.
Twilight over Joshua Tree National Park on Sunday, February 26, 2012.