California Adventure day 4

The California National Park Road Trip continues . . .

It was a later than normal wake up today which was perfect!  We grabbed a quick, light breakfast from the inn and headed out to explore . . . I am again so excited as Joshua Tree National Park has been on my to do list for years . . . many, many years!

We stopped by the Visitor's Center for a park map and a Junior Ranger Book . . . poor Colin can not escape the learning.  I will be honest; I love the Junior Ranger Program.  We work on it together (mainly me) and he turns it in.  I had a list of places that I wanted to visit so off we went.  First stop was at Skull Rock . . .

I really wasn't expecting so many big boulders in the park . . . Colin was thrilled beyond words while my heart beat a little harder!  Back to the car for the short drive to Hidden Valley . . .

FINALLY we started seeing all the trees . . .

Then on to Barker Dam . . . I could not keep him off the rocks . . .

Finally found the dam . . .

and more trees . . .

and the petroglyphs . . .

I could not stop taking photos of the Joshua Trees . . .

I don't care to reveal just how many but they are all so unique and addicting to snap a photo.  Next stop was Key View to see the St Andreas Fault . . .

Okay so you don't really see it but here is a good photo diagram . . .

Colin loved the rocks so much that I promised another stop so he could get rid of his energy before we started the last drive of the day.  I decided to join him this time.  I have a fear of heights . . . go figure . . . we got to a point that we were heading back towards the car but our path took us to a point that was a little to high for me.  Colin just slid right down . . .

. . . but I could not do it.

I was afraid of falling and hitting my head and there he would be all alone in Joshua Tree National Park.  Yes, my mind works in weird ways some times.

So you see that small hole on the left above the bush?  I figured it was my only way down.  Colin tried to climb up the hole but could not fit.  I told him that I was going to try and managed to wedge my body through the very small opening . . . yes that small opening above that sticker bush . . .  

I managed to cut my knee, but I was off the rocks.  These rocks all look smooth but in reality they are not . . .

. . . they feel like really rough sandpaper with rough rocks.  They hurt!  Once I was down I quickly proclaimed that I was d-o-n-e.  Colin headed out for more adventure . . .

. . . while I just stood watching him in the distance.  The park is large and a lot of driving which seems to be a theme on this trip . . .

Back on the road to the Cholla Cactus Garden . . .

A quick stop to turn in the Junior Ranger Book.  I could not figure out a couple of the answers and Colin wasn't going to turn in the book.  I told him no badge . . . no electronics.  He was not too happy with me but went back inside alone to turn it in.  It really bothers me when we have a disagreement.  He came out looking like this . . .

. . . I laughed and knew all was well.  We said good-bye to Joshua Tree National Park and headed towards Palm Springs.  We were both starving since it was almost dinner and we had not eaten since breakfast.  I was thrilled to find In-N-Out Burger . . .

We checked into our hotel and enjoyed doing nothing.  We fly back to Texas tomorrow to spend Thanksgiving with family but wish we were staying here longer!  So many places we could have visited, but Colin really enjoys being with family so home we go.