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Today we left Needles. After having a breakfast at the motel we went on. The first part of today’s route led over I-40, and then we left it to take our way over another part of the historic Route 66. That again led straight on for ages, and it brought us some special impressions – from time to time there were trees at roadside, decorated with shoes, caps or underwear. Who knows what it should mean… Furthermore there was some Route 66 logos at the street which sometimes forced today’s driver to full braking so that our “camera crew” got their money’s worth.

Then we turned to the left towards 29 Palms. There we filled up again before entering the Joshua Tree National Park. More than 3 hours we stayed there, saw many of those cute trees (ok, some were a little bigger), a lot of different plants, and took some small hiking tours throughout the park. The temperatures kept below 30°C – all above that would have been almost unbearable. At the end of our visit we stopped at the Cactus Cholla Garden where the cute looking, but risky cholla cacti can be looked at. A lot of them! And to be fortunate a lot of the chollas were blooming. Finally this park visit was worth it again.

Then we went on for today’s destination, Indio, a city next to Palm Springs. For one of us the growling of the stomach wasn’t to ignore anymore, and the others agreed. So we decided to go for dinner immediately after reaching the motel. When we found it, a Super 8, we got a little fright – it was scaffold all over… At the lobby we got to know that the motel is extended currently. But because it’s Sunday there is at least no construction noise today. The rooms were ok, the internet access very fast.

Before the dinner we looked for an ATM – even here one needs cash sometimes. Then the decision: where to go to? The motel is in the middle of the restaurant district so the choice wasn’t too easy… Finally we decided for a Chinese restaurant, the Pak Inn. They had even beer, and first of all tasty and opulent food. What led to the result that the bellies were filled up completely…

After dinner we were looking for some shopping facility because shopping is possible here on Sunday’s, too. We found a K-Mart which however is not a grocery supermarket – those play only a secondary role herein. But at least we found something to drink and some sweets.

Then we went back to the motel where we had an easy evening, what wasn’t too long because we all were tired.

Route 66
Route 66

Clearly to see where we are here

Route 66
Route 66

The road is going straightforward for ages...

Route 66
Route 66

One of the oddly decorated trees at roadside

Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park

View onto the San Andreas fault

Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua trees anywhere

Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park

...Joshua trees as far as the eye can see

Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park

Fortunately Jennifer was with us, otherwise we would have not been able to pass here

Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park

We also got to see beautifully blooming cacti again

Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park

A hummingbird looking for food

Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park

Cholla Cactus Garden, full of these cute looking cacti

Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park

The blossom of a cholla