{window wake up}
{not quite camping}
{joshua tree}
{exploring}
{succulent greenhouse}
{awning}
{simplicity}
{lounging}
We tossed a pile of blankets and pillows in the back of the car and got to Joshua Tree at 11:30 on Friday night. Predictably, all the campsites were full. I was so exhausted that I overcame my deep fear of being yelled at by park rangers and told D just to park in one of the little pullouts for a trail head and we all curled up in the back of the car (we have a hatchback, which is almost, but not quite, comfortable for car camping). It was worth it when we woke up to the desert.
We meandered over to Palm Springs in the morning, stopping in no less than three vintage shops and the dig your own cactus store.
The reason for the trip was checking out the vintage travel trailer show going on as part of modernism week. We have a project up our collective sleeves (I could try to be vague here, but what other way is there to interpret that? We are crazy so we're planning to buy, gut and redo a vintage trailer in the next three months). I loved seeing what people have done with their tiny spaces and Circe loved being a dog model for everyone who had trailer themed dog wares.
We were back on the road to LA just about 20 hours after leaving in the first place and it means we didn't get any laundry or standard weekend chores done but I feel oddly refreshed. Who needs clean pants anyways?
How does the "dig your own cactus store" work? What are the costs?
ReplyDeleteHa! It is more a novelty than anything else! I was really curious because we pass the sign so often and never go in. The "dig your own" part is really just a small table with tiny cacti that you can pull out with kitchen tongs and put in a box. Not really digging. They have a great selection of pre-potted cacti and succulents, though! I should have included the link to the store in my post - here it is!
DeleteOh, and the teeny tiny dig your own guys are 59 cents each. The potted plants are pretty standard prices, I think $9ish for 6" pots, increasing from there.
DeleteThanks for the reply! I totally get the novelty :) That's pretty much the same price you can get for little potted succulents in the Fashion District in LA.
DeleteThat is so cool about redoing a vintage trailer -- and so you! (Like how I say that like I know you?)
ReplyDeleteRe-doing a vintage trailer sounds fascinating! I can't wait to see the project progress :)
ReplyDelete100% agree!
DeleteSo many trailer questions, but I'm sure they will be answered in a future post! What will be your main use for it?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try to keep good track of the progress so I can share! For the next couple years it will be a creative housing solution for a family member. We figure it's better than building an addition because we'll have the option of re-selling it or using it for actual camping once it's no longer needed for the original purpose.
DeleteSounds like a fun trip! Don't worry about the laundry. I haven't had an in-unit washing/drying machine for nearly 5 years now. And thus, I haven't done laundry on a weekly basis for 5 years.
ReplyDeleteYES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
ReplyDeletexo.
I am so excited to see the trailer remodel!!!
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend has always wanted to go to Joshua Tree and I think we will get to go at the end of June :). Any suggestions or recommendations? We aren't sure which campsite would be the best or which trails to explore. Any help would be appreciated!
ReplyDeleteOoooh ... I've never been in June, but as long as you're prepared for some heat (highs around 100, it sounds like) you should have fun! Do you mind terribly if I give you a bunch of links here instead of my own inexpert advice? We have been going to JTree for years, but usually as part of a climbing group, so I rarely have had to make the arrangements myself (and obvs, my attempt on Friday was something of a failure!).
DeleteLove this website that gives you a concise rundown of the merits of the various campsites!
Good thread with recommendations for hikes, etc, at that specific time of year.
Official Joshua Tree website with links to reservations (reservations probably aren't as critical in late June because it isn't the big season, but if you're basing a trip around it I'd either get there midweek, when you could be reasonably sure of getting a spot, or I'd make a reservation well in advance)
And just to get you prepared - average highs and lows for JTree throughout the year.
I always want to take my dog on camping road trips, but I can't figure out where to leave him when we want to eat somewhere! Any hints or ideas on what you do with Circe when she's not welcome somewhere?
ReplyDeleteSadly, no! This is the first year we've had Circe and we knew it wouldn't be an issue on this trip. We did eat breakfast out, but we picked a place with a patio so she could sit with us (and we knew that the weather was cool enough in the morning that we could have left her in the car for long enough to eat if we needed to do that).
DeleteCirce LOVES hanging out in the car, even alone, so as long as the weather is nice we tend to take her out a lot when we run errands and we just find a good parking space where it's okay to leave her. She has a whole set up in the backseat with a comforter to nest in and portable food and water containers. Yes, we are totally crazy. I'm kind of dreading the warmer weather because I know she won't understand why we're having to leave her at home more often. : (
In the past when I've gone camping with dogs it's always been a situation where we aren't really eating out at all, other than maybe grabbing dinner on the way back (at which point it's cool enough for them to stay in the car).
Frances has a sleeping back in the back of our car .... it's her favorite place IN THE WORLD.
DeleteClean pants are overrated. YAY for a (short) weekend away!
ReplyDeleteWay to conquer a fear AND do something productive, fun & just for you guys. Well done! I couldn't agree with you or the others, clean pants are very overrated.
ReplyDelete