Two down one to go

 We are now through the passes that we wondered about after reading that I5 was closed around Mt Shasta due to a whiteout two days before we left but it was clear sailing through both Shasta and Grant's Passes. We expect rain, possibly some snow tomorrow as we travel though the top of Oregon and Washington but expect no problems.

Then cross the border and the adventure will be over. 

Left over snow from the whiteout two days ago

The unusual Black Butte - a series of volcanic peaks laid one on top of another

The spectacular Mt Shasta

FInal Views of a green and blooming southern California

 The previous trips we've made to Southern California have made us aware of the drought that has plagued the state for more than a decade. This year was very different. The 16 atmospheric rivers that have hit the coast has resulted in a very different landscape.  It is a green and pleasant land! 

These pictures were all shot while the car was moving down the highway. My camera is pretty great, eh?

Wind warning as we left town - it is blowing again in Coachella Valley

We left the wind behind and the sky cleared for a short while.
The desert dandelions carpeted the ground under the windmills.

Finally the Joshua Trees are blooming.
 I kept clicking until I got one in my viewfinder

Even the brown desert hills have some colour

A mysterious pink flower was everywhere.

More mysterious blooms - orange this time.

The hills That have always been brown for us are now green and beautiful.

The beavertail are blooming!

 We've waited for two months watching the little buds colour and swell and were rewarded on our last visit to Santa Rosa Mounument. There they were - blooming beavertails!

This is one of our favourite hikes - only fifteen minutes away. We can head out when it is still cool and spend the morning enjoying the desert life - flowers, birds and lizards! 

Steps leading up to the trail

City in background of Santa Rosa Monument

And now the cactus of the hour!

We estimate forty blooms in the waiting. 

Joshua Tree Blooming 2

 

Barrel Cactus have bright red thorns that show up for miles.  
Hedgehog cactus like to burrow alongside other plants.

Canterbury Bells

Yucca in bud

Yucca blooms forming

A desert bouquet: desert dandelion, chia and canterbury bells

Arizona aster - just starting to appear

Hedgehog cactus

Canterbury bells

Desert poppy

Chia 

Last visit to blooming' Joshua Tree

 We made our last visit to Joshua Tree Park today. Desert super blooms are rare because they require consistent, well-timed rain. So our three months of cooler weather with more rain and wind than normal has paid off!! 

Every time we return, we find more flowers - the previously few canterbury bells are now everywhere and we found a few new varieties. The day was cool - 14 degrees (60 F) which are perfect for hiking. We walked about two miles starting from the Cottonwood Oasis and talked to many fellow hikers comparing beautiful sights.

Fan palms in the Cottonwood Oasis

The oasis with cottonwood trees in bud

Storm clouds move over and around us creating atmosphere

The distinctive geology of Joshua Tree

Will they miss us when they're gone?

One unexpected highlight of going to the light show at the Living Desert was a chance to see the animals at night. What a treat! My favourites were the first stop of course. And there they were. All the bald little wrinkled, and toothy creatures jumbled up and sleeping soundly. You can see the odd toothy face and a few little fat fingers but lots of faces are buried under the snoring pink sausages. I will miss them! 

A midnight snack of sweet potato in reserve

The next surprise was the giraffes - all but one silently sitting in the dark. They were not asleep, just resting. Giraffes only sleep about 30 minutes a day and that is normally standing. The zoo attendant told us that occasionally then they bend their necks and rest their heads on their backs. Giraffes rarely sit in the wild - they are too vulnerable. Getting down and then later struggling to get up is a comedy of long legs, knees (actually ankles), necks and the bodies of fellow giraffes. While we stood there, the peaceful creatures held up their heavy heads and stared off in the distance. 

Well, other than Harold who took forever to figure out how to get himself down. He kept bending first one leg, then trying another, then standing quietly trying to regain his dignity. Kind of like me in the garden! 

Finally Harold made it down although one back leg still wasn't perfect. He'd subtly move it now and then but seemed unwilling to just grunt and shuffle and readjust like a human would do.

More lantern pictures