A couple of weeks ago, on a last minute "do or die" type of decision, we decided to take a trip to California to visit some lovely people we know. After an exhaustive 21 hour drive, over a couple of days, we arrived in lovely, sunny Palm Springs, where the roads are calm, the trees are palm, and the air is balm(y). It's not really, it's quite dry being the desert and all.
But you try rhyming three 'alms' buddy.
It was a wonderful few days of enjoying some sunshine, seeing some desert crazy, and having leisurely coffee sessions that lasted all morning, while the palm trees waved most soothingly in the breeze and I got to let my pale, pasty white feet out for the first time this year.
What did you see, Veg? you probably didn't ask, but I'm going to tell you regardless. In photos. Because this is me and that's the way the Veg do.
Ready? Sorry if you saw these on Instagram already.
One of the things I did was a day trip to Joshua Tree National park, that I loved last time I was in the area and was dying to see some more little spiky not-quite-cacti-not-quite-trees again, Mojave style. It's impossible to take a hideous photo at Joshua Tree I think. I dare you to try.
See? Impossible.
I could go on but I won't bore you
Just kidding.
Would it be me without a road pic? It would not.
Anyway, I amused myself wandering around trails like the one above, happily enjoying just being in the desert again. Does wonders for the mind. And my mind needs wonders.
OMG how did I take this picture!
As well as Joshua Tree, I spent a day out at the Salton Sea. People told me to expect it to smell nasty, but it wasn't that bad. I mean it had a whiff about it, but I think I was lucky with the wind that day...
It was pretty, look!
The highlight of my trip though, was Salvation Mountain. Some hippy gentleman, who really loves Jesus, made Salvation Mountain out of desert and paint and adobe and turned it into a big old colour assault on the senses. I loved it! I mean I'm the least religious person on Earth probably, if there was a scale for these things, but it was just so cool to see. Like living inside the Beatles "Yellow Submarine" only....you know...with Jesus.
Look!
Let me get closer!
This place was MENTAL. In a good way. Mostly.
Really? NEVER? Need I mention Donald Trump?
Old trucks all painted up with religious stuff
No idea what "epent" is either. :)
That truck looks like it might have been around the same time Jesus was.
So much colour. And stuff. Awesome.
It took him years to build
Follow the yellow brick road
He incorporated branches, mud, straw, and paint
And glass panels
Love is all you need
People donate paint to the project for touch ups. They made features out of the cans
Crazy huh?
If you're ever out in that area, go see it, it's amazing. Near Mecca, 30 miles or so north of Calexico.
You DON'T have a boot tree? You DON'T eat souls?
Anyhoo...
What else did I do? Oh yes, I saw some dude's home where he has made a giant display of WTF in his yard. It's called Robolights and looks fantastic although it was closed the day I went so I just wandered around the block taking pics over his fence. Heh. Look!
Oh hai! Just a guy with a girlgun for an arm. (c)dogimo
This guy (or 'guys' as I think maybe a bunch of artists contribute to it) makes things out of junk. Giant robots in particular. Those were my favourite! Look at them!
This guy was my favourite. Look at his feet!
Wow this is getting long. Suffice to say, I did a lot of stuff, and lazed around a lot drinking coffee and coke and having a generally great time. I won't bore you further with those pics! Because you know I took thousands.
I'll end with a nice view of Mount Shasta in Northern Cali, in the side view mirror as is traditional on road trips. The mirror shot I mean not Mount Shasta, I mean it can't be everywhere.
We also passed through the self professed State of Jefferson which...if you don't know about it, google it because I'm too lazy to tell you about it. I took a pic.
At 70mph on the Interstate.
There's more to the "state" than a barn, I believe.
And that's about it! I've run out of steam. I'll end with this pretty pic of a rainbow seen on the way out of Palm Springs, early morning.
You're welcome!
