Ironically, we experienced our highest temperatures this trip while driving north. We hit Palm Springs region during a heat wave, with one day registering 35 degrees!
The whole canyon from Indio to Palm Springs runs southeast to northwest and is trippy beyond belief. From dry scrub desert to the most lush green golf course resorts, from funky retro architecture and posh stores to beautiful natural areas.
We enjoyed a nice mix of all the region has to offer. The highlight being an overnight visit with our friend Christine Pinette and her family at their amazingly redone 1960s Palm Canyon rancher, previously owned by Jimmy Pattinson. What a tranquil oasis!
Continuing north we stopped at a favourite watering hole, the Joshua Tree Saloon, but were disappointed that they no longer offered a rueben sandwich on the menu. Back in 2015, it was the best we’d ever tasted. But nothing a few cold brews and patty melt couldn’t fix!
That night we stayed on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land, basically just open dust fields for free boondocking. The next day on Hwy 247 we noticed several other BLM sites. Many Americans and Canadians spend their winters roaming through these sites in very large fifth wheels and “toys” such as ATVs and dirtbikes.
As we climbed in elevation towards Bakersfield, the scenery started to look much more familiar. In fact we could have sworn we were in the Okanagan. Tonight at Tehachapi Mountain Park, we are back amongst pines and wearing light jackets over our Ts.
For the past month, we’ve noticed sporadic evidence of mice in the truck. We once found a bunch of fluff from torn tissues in the glove box, and the dog food bag chewed through, and one night Coco went nuts barking at the truck engine.
Even after we removed all food stores from the truck, last night something chewed through a boxed wine carton (no judgement - boxed wine is great for travel!), spilling some of it and probably getting drunk in the process.
Today Andrew finally decided to put a mouse trap in the passenger side footwell and within an hour we had our culprit! Amazing to think this little critter may have been hitchhiking with us from Baja.
We’re both suckers for all living creatures, and seeing this little fuzzball squished in the trap was a sad sight. Andrew gingerly opened the trap and set the mouse on the picnic table. Then after a minute, like something out of a cartoon, the tiny body “reinflated” and it came back to life!
He was a cute little desert mouse and was probably wondering where the heck he was. Andrew moved him to a place far from our campsite while I held Coco at bay, and we sprinkled some dog kibble nearby so the mouse would have something to gnaw on and be less likely to take up residence back in the truck.
Speedy Gonzales is now an American!
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