Tag 252: Joshua Tree National Park

Crow of roosters, barking of dogs, 7 o'clock. The night was tough. Nothing happened as usual, but my imagination haunted me last night. I light a cigarette, sit on the bench, and gaze into the desert. It's warm, bright, and dusty. In the distance, someone is practicing shooting. We leave this dirty, eerie place behind, thank the man, and drive to the 'Joshua Tree National Park'. Breakfast first. Strengthened and satisfied, we continue driving. According to the map, the park consists of a long road that leads from one entrance to another, with some hiking trails on the left and right. The landscape is extraordinary. Numerous famous Joshua Trees share this beige, dusty wasteland with small green bushes and some huge, bizarre-looking rock formations. We are curious about what else the park has to offer and stop to visit an old dam on foot. Sunglasses, sunscreen, headgear, and a bottle of water. We follow the dry hiking trail until we suddenly come across an incredibly blue oasis. This is the dam. Beautiful. We enjoy the sight for a moment and finish the tour. We make a few more stops at scenic viewpoints and continue driving. From the monotonous dusty desert, we climb up into the mountains. It doesn't take long and we reach the quaint 'Big Bear Lake'. The change in vegetation is unimaginable. Green fir trees, mountains where skiing takes place in winter, and a large lake in the city center. From cowboy to lumberjack in two hours. We search for one of those free campsites and venture onto dirt roads. It's dark, our nerves are at a minimum, and the road gets worse and worse. We give up, park the car, and set up our tent. We are now somewhere in the forest. As much as I wish to encounter a bear, I hope it doesn't happen tonight.