A Memorial and Quarantine Camping: Anza Borrego State Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Amboy Crater

January 11-14, 2022

    Last week, I drove the Dodge Van to El Centro to attend my amazing Aunt Ruth’s memorial. She was always there for me, so going to her memorial was an honor. 
    As it is still the time of Covid, though Marilyn very much wanted to accompany me to the memorial, I went solo in the van and camped. We discussed protocols and decided I would test before leaving (negative), not visit anyone on my way down, and isolate after the memorial for three days before arriving home and taking a test at our clinic. 
    I arrived at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground in Anza Borrego State Park just before sunset.

The skies at Anza Borrego were just amazing.

But first, just before dropping down to the desert, I bought an apple pie at the Julian Pie Company in Santa Ysabel. Breakfast for 4 days. 

I actually managed to leave some apple pie to take to Marilyn.

    At Aunt Ruth's memorial, I had time with my amazing cousins. 

Tahne and Gretchen, my wonderful cousins. A thorn between two roses. 

I also enjoyed my time with my brother, a very special time. Unfortunately we forgot to get a pic so….

Brother Steve (on the left) and me.

    After the memorial I began my quarantine. Since I had to avoid others, I "had" to camp. So off for Joshua Tree National Park, the first night on BLM land at the south end of the park.

BLM camping at south end of Joshua Tree.

Joshua Tree is very special even though it has been discovered. It is now the 10th most popular national park.

Yet there are so many places where you see only the vistas. 

The second night I was amazed to find a site at our favorite campground, White Tank.

My White Tank site was actually the same one Marilyn and I had on our spring trip.

New cholla cactus with dead one behind.

    

    I woke up to an amazing sunrise. Once outside I realized I was not alone. 

Note the second photographer down the road.

The reason we were out looking east. 

Looking west, the sky changed as the sun rose. 

A favorite rock. Note the horizontal strata and the vertical crack. Nature is amazing. 

    I am often asked why I like the desert. Here are just a few of the many pictures I have to attempt to explain. 

    In the morning, I simply pulled out the back drawer and slid the cover to the front, an instant table for everything I needed to make coffee. 

Morning coffee. The back drawer cook stove makes it so easy.

    Leaving Joshua Tree, I stopped in Twentynine Palms to get gas. Across the street was this building. I promptly sent the pic to my son, the Marine now civilian. 

    After WWII, the government gave 5 acres of land southeast of Twentynine Palms to anyone who would homestead the land. This required that a "home" be built. Now as you drive you see little abandoned buildings on the horizon. 

"Home" on a 5-acre homestead.

    Next stop, Roy’s Cafe on Route 66 in Amboy. This was originally a busy area and well-known until Highway 40 was built about 10 miles to the north. 

Rumor has it a new owner is determined to restore the area. 

Cabins are being restored--now, will people come?

    Route 66 opened in November 1926. After WWII, it became known as the Main Street of America because of all the small towns it wound through on its way from Chicago to Los Angeles.

Route 66, aka Main Street of America, aka Will Rogers Highway, aka National Trails Highway, aka the Mother Road.

Across from Roy's sits a Buddha, origin unknown.

In its heyday, Amboy even had a school which sat next to Roy's.

     Five miles west of Roy's on Route 66 is Amboy Crater. 

A few years ago, Marilyn and I hiked to the crater, down through it and up the other side, intending to return to the trail back to the parking lot via the rim. After literally being knocked down on the rim by the wind, we thought better of our plan and descended back through the crater's center to the trail.

Amboy Crater on the horizon

I thought to hike to the crater this time, but it's 4 miles round trip, and it was already late in the afternoon.

 

I so enjoyed how the desert changed as the sun went down.

    At the crater’s parking lot I noticed movement next to the van.

A kangaroo rat had found a small light on the ground and was mesmerized.

I had not seen one in years, as they are mainly nocturnal. They do well in the desert if their habitat is not bothered as they derive most of their water from what they eat.

    My final campsite, on my third day of quarantine, was a bit further west. 

Note my neighbor, the train, at my last night's campsite. 

    Soon the three days of quarantine came to an end, and I headed home.

My 4-day quarantine trip took me 1,120.5 miles. 

    The van was perfect, the trip grand, and once home I took a covid test and soon learned I had flunked--yes, it was negative. Life is good.
                                                --Doug