Day 39 - Mojave Desert & Joshua Tree National Park

It goes from Mojave National Preserve across the entire Mojave Desert to Joshua Tree National Park (from one desert to another desert to the next desert - that's the motto of this day).

The Mojave National Preserve is part of the (quite large) Mojave Desert, where Joshua Tree National Park is also located (and borders the Colorado Desert). However, the part in between is rougher, rockier, and hotter. Still, great views.

You always meet Germans in the middle of the desert. The whole desert has a strange fascination for me - even though it's not so good for humans and you often don't have network coverage and you don't want to know what happens if you get a flat tire, I think it's great and I always stop (We simply don't have that in Germany).

I'm slowly understanding the concept of national parks: each park contains a great (or small) wonder of nature that is preserved.

Joshua Tree National Park is the last park on my journey - I'm camping again.

Before that, I will do some activities in the park: Cactus Garden, Hidden Valley (here you think the dinosaurs will come by soon) and Ryan Mountain at sunset.

In the afternoon, the (sweaty) 300-400 meters of elevation gain would be reckless, because you should drink about 1 liter of water per hour in the heat and eat salty things. You just have to drive with the air conditioning at full blast between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Joshua Tree Park is also supposed to be very good for climbing, but it's not busy due to the heat.

After the park, I'm heading back to the coast and in the evening, under the starry sky, I reflect on the truly amazing time.