Thursday, February 11, 2010

Things I Learned in Joshua Tree National Park - Part 2

3. It rains in the desert.

Yes, it rains in the desert. In Joshua Tree, it's only 4 inches a year. During our time in Joshua Tree, we got to enjoy one day of torrential-raining-sideways-kind-of-rain with winds gusting up to 40mph. I think all 4 inches fell. Everything flooded. It was seriously crazy. We just ran through it. After all, we're hardcore. I put on my high-desert-fashion $1 rain poncho and ran. This is my best "I'm Taking Shelter Under This Boulder In The Rain Trembling Lower Lip Pout."

Here, Meghan has perfected The Pout: especially when she's quasi-hypothermic and is forced to run in her down coat just to keep warm.


The great thing about desert storms, is you get the calm after the storm:

O.K, it wasn't exactly calm and the wind almost blew me and my stylin' poncho away. But at least the rain had stopped!



4. The desert is colorful.

The desert is colorful and has texture. When you least expect it, you will come around a corner of the trail and there will be a splash of color in the monochromatic desert world. It's a beautiful thing. My favorite living thing in the desert, was the hot pink Barrel Cactus. They reminded me of Tribbles or Sea Urchins.
Tribbles on my Head

Where desert meets rain storm meets Joshua trees, the world becomes a colorful place! As crazy as it was, running around in the rain and wind was a exhilarating, beautiful thing. Yes?


19 comments:

  1. That looks awesome. The rainbows must have been spectacular.

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  2. The desert IS so colorful and beautiful! I liked your stylin' poncho - at first glance you made me think of a bumble bee! Go figure ...
    Glad you had fun!
    Kathleen

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  3. Hi!

    Oh the pouts, the hypothermic, wet pouts! There I am, running on my frozen peg legs! However, the rainy day ended with a most supreme hot coffee and then hour's run under a setting sun and into an oasis of palms. All is well that end's well.

    The desert gets colorful and textured just when you think you've seen it all. There, around the next corner is something new and different and ohmygosh!

    Be well and, wow, what a journey we had! ;) Hugs!

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  4. You always have the best adventures! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Bee-you-tee-full! I have a poncho just like yours! You have excellent fashion sense.

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  6. Wow, those are beautiful pictures. I would have been a little scared with the rain being so cold.

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  7. Good dispatch and this enter helped me alot in my college assignement. Thank you for your information.

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  8. Sounds like my kind of desert trip! Glad you had fun. Fantastic photos!

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  9. Glad you had a great time - could do with some sun myself.
    Poncho's fab - you look the veritable tourist on hol!
    Great pics - love the chilly mate in down jacket - the desert is an extreme place - and the colourful land urchins!
    Kaz

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  10. Phew. Back from a busy weekend!
    That Danni Girrrrrl came to visitand kept me busy!

    Glad you like the stylin' poncho K and Michelle. There's ALWAYS one in my hydration pack in summertime! It actually worked like a charm in the desert and kept my dry. I just had to watch out for prickly things that snagged holes in it...

    Hi Meghan! Thanks for a super FUN holiday and some quality girly time. I'll go Adventuring with you any time!

    hi Lily, hope all is well in your universe!

    Hey Jo Lynn! Hope you and Boomer are busy gettin' out there...

    Hi Jill - we've been going non-stop since you were here. I feel like a need a day-off from the good-life, you know what I mean?!?

    Hi Deanna, how's winter in Vermont? Give hugs to those sweet puppy dogs of yours...

    Hi Kaz, loved the urchins obsessed with the desert. Also on the list: Zion Canyon National Park, Canyonlands NP, Death Valley NP and a return to the Grand Canyon.

    ...and welcome to Susan...

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  11. I've been secretly enjoying your blog for months now, but those tree impersonations were so inspired I just had to come out! Thanks for the entertaining blog and especially all those beautiful photos!

    Sue

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