CALIFORNIA!!!

I woke early again on Sunday the 24th. Today was going to be the last day in my big cross country adventure. I planned a few stops along the way, but my final destination was the city of angels. My little cousin whom turned 5 while I was visiting them in Vail earlier was finally getting his big DANCE birthday party!

Again, like most of the days that I was in Northern Arizona/New Mexico/Oklahoma it was snowing and COLD when I woke up. Remembering what I had experienced the day before in the Grand Canyon...I was ready to change my elevation!!! I needed heat! I drove due south towards Phoenix, I did not stop, but I did wave on my way by. I dropped a good 6k feet in elevation, you should have seen the gas mileage! I was beginning to feel the warmth. It must have been 60 degrees by lunch time which of course was at In N Out Burger. The best of the fast food burger places in the United States if not the world. Bold statement I know, but don't knock it until you have tried it. It is that good.

Before lunch I wanted to make sure I made a stop at Joshua Tree National Park. Little things that I would like to check off my list. I mostly drove through it, but I did stop at the Ranger station and did walk around a few of the main sites just off the road. I will have to admit this was not a necessarily planned excursion. I was not even sure what a Joshua tree was, but soon learned. My first impressions of the National Park was why should you get out of the car? It honestly just looked like a desert. The same desert that you see of either side of the highway coming in. A few more turns into the National Park and I saw why.. There are huge rock formations some of which are breath taking and the actual Joshua Tree Cacti were amazing! It was well worth the stop, but next time I am coming back for the music festival.

Well I had to hurry my way towards Los Angeles for my little cousins fifth birthday party. At that point I could use a familiar face. Traveling a lone well to say the least is lonely. I traveled west after Joshua Tree National Park and drove through Palm Springs, wholly wind farm! I have never seen so many wind turbines in my life. Must have been 500 of them. California, as poorly managed and in debt a state as it is, I have to admit is trying. I almost drove off the road looking at all of the turbines it was amazing! I arrived to my aunt and uncles place a little after 5 pm. I had missed the festivities, but made it just in time for the Oscars..party part two. Everyone was excited to see me and I them. Though some of them I may have scared with my out of control beard:) I caught up with my grand parents and family. It was a grand ol time. The journey was not over yet my final final destination was Newport Beach, CA. I made it safely..

This concludes my cross country adventure.. stay tuned for my three weeks in California, a week in Hawaii and finally Perth!