Joshua Tree

Today Sara and I went to Joshua Tree National Park to do some hiking.  We invited Bill, but he was busy.  We were disappointed because we were hoping he'd use his Until the End of Time National Park Pass to get us in.  Since we didn't have him, we bought our own annual pass and now we can go back whenever we want.   Chaddie had let me borrow a book about hiking in the deserts of California and we had planned out several short and designated easy trails to do, but I misunderstood where we were entering the park and we ended up doing a hike called Lost Horse Mine recommended by the lady at the Visitor's Center.  The lady must have thought we looked like a couple of pretty sporty ladies because the trail was not easy.  Chaddie's book rated it as moderately strenuous.  In fact I was glad Sara had brought her hiking pole along.  I haven't bought my hiking poles yet because I didn't think I was anywhere near ready to be doing anything that would require hiking poles.  This trail proved otherwise.    I started walking up a hill and I didn't stop for two hours.  I surprised myself.  I don't want to sound like I am tooting my own horn, but I would just like to shout a huge "YEA ME!" because this trail was difficult.  It was two miles up and two miles back and difficult and I did it.  The trailhead said this hike would take 2-3 hours and Sara and I completed it in two and we stopped to take pictures.  It's because we're awesome.  I'm tired right now, but not in pain.  This was a very big step forward in my recovery.  After we came home and Jessica had dinner waiting for us.  Pretty awesome day indeedy.

See off to the right?  That's the trail and I went up it.

Yep, I walked from the BOTTOM of the picture and then some.

Burned tree

Not sure, but I liked it.

See where you can't even see the trail anymore?  Yep, I walked up that too.

The mine at the top.  I did not go to the very top to look down.  I had to draw the line somewhere.

Another tree.

Sara spotted this bird.  I know the picture's blurry, but it shows his bright color well.  

Skull rock.

Oasis.  .5 mile extra walk we did because that's how we roll.

Some kind of bird with a mohawk.