2021 Road Trip

Crossing the United States land border wasn’t difficult. They didn’t ask about my COVID-19 vacation status. Instead, they asked about the things I brought along (like will I be leaving anything behind).

Went to downtown to grab a Mexican takeout dinner.

Arrived into town in the early afternoon. Unpacked and searched for restaurants while waiting for a friend to arrive. Very excited about going to Joshua Tree National Park.

Started at Black Rock Canyon Campground Burnt Hill Trail Black Rock Canyon Trail Panorama Loop Trail Warren Peak Trail Morongo View Trail Warren Peak Trail. Yay!!! Warren Peak!

After lunch we went off-trail. We set a target to a trail that goes north toward Twentynine Palms Highway. With that, we followed a ridge to this unnamed trail. Once we got close to some roads we saw a trail going east toward the campground. Then we took West Side Loop Tail back Black Rock Canyon Campground.

Started just south of Cottonwood Campground. From there we took Mastodon Mine Loop Trail Lost Palms Oasis Trail. We went pass the Lost Palms Oasis to the end of the trail. A nice view to the south end of the park.

After lunch, we headed back to Lost Palms Oasis. Then we turned to Mastodon Mine Loop Trail. Somehow we missed Mastodon Mine on our way up / out to Mastodon Peak. As we wrap around the peak, we spotted a sign to the mine. Yay! Found it!!! After a short visit, we continued on Mastodon Mine Loop Trail to get back to the trailhead.

On our way out, we stopped at a number of spots along Pinto Basin Road. We timed it so we would arrive at Cholla Cactus Garden close to sunset.

Started at Barren of Bountiful off Park Boulevard Creosote Trail Bigfoot Trail Samuelson Rocks.

Hidden Valley Trail – short loop before lunch.

Barker Dam Loop Trail Wall Street Mill Trail.

A few sunset photos on our way out of the park.

Salton Sea State Recreation Area.

Ryan Mountain via Ryan Mountain Trail off Park Boulevard.

Skull Rock off Park Boulevard.

Contact Mine via Contact Mine Trail off Park Boulevard.

Fortynine Palms Oasis via Fortynine Palms Trail off Fortynine Palms Canyon Road.

Revisited Skull Rock.

Contact Mine Trailhead. Could not resist the beautiful colours.

Sorry, no photos.

Fruit trees at a friend’s house.

Sorry, no photos.

Failed attempt to bike up Mount Umunhum.

Friend’s house.

Rode around San Jose.

Ran along Los Gatos Creek.

Sorry, no photos.

Ran around Campbell.

Biked out to Cupertino, CA. Had a flat tire out at Rancho San Antonio County Park & Open Space Preserve.

Sorry, no photos.

Ran the trails in Wilder Ranch State Park, Santa Cruz, CA.

Sorry, no photos.

Biked out to check out Infinity Loop, Cupertino, CA.

Morning after a storm.

Ramen dinner at Ippudo Ramen in Cupertino, CA.

Rest stop on I-5 before reaching the snow storm ahead.

Forced to install snow chains by California’s DOT.

Crossing back into Canada was not fun. I was put into a secondary / physical search. The problem was because I picked up some packages for a friend in Blaine, WA (just before the border crossing) and I didn’t know what was inside. If I had open them, I would have been fine (as I was told).