We are happy to be out of Quartzsite. We drove to 2 different dump stations with over 1 hour waits before finding one that had only a 15 min. wait to dump and fill the water tank. One line had 16 RV's waiting for 2 dump stations!
We found a nice spot in the Belle Campground at Joshua Tree N.P. A desert trail goes right past the campground that is 16 miles long -- I don't think we'll walk that far! We built a roaring fire after supper and then as we were enjoying it, we saw 4 bright yellow lights hanging on the northern horizon! They didn't move up or down and they didn't get any closer. We could hear no noise from that direction. Then, one by one, they blinked out. UFOs!!! Maybe or maybe something from the military base north of here!
Today, we hiked up Ryan Mountain. The summit is at 5,500 ft but I'm not sure where we started -- maybe around 3,000 ft. It was a moderately strenuous climb with an awesome view of the valleys surrounding us. We picnicked at Hidden Valley then drove a 4-wheel road across Pleasant Valley and partially into the Little San Bernardino Mountains. This area is full of Joshua Trees which are actually Yucca trees, a member of the agave family. They grow straight until it blooms and then it grows a branch where the bloom was located. Scientist think that the tree only blooms after the tip has been frozen.
The night sky is so full of stars that is almost takes your breath away. I found the big dipper and Orion's belt but that is all I know of constellations. We looked at the sky through binoculars and saw even more stars than can be seen with the naked eye! God has created a most wondrous universe!
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