Saturday, February 15, 2025
Ok, we didn’t run out of gas. Keith never thought we were going to, but I did. Of course. Because I believe driving in the desert = running out of gas. We left Las Vegas on a highway. Our first stop was the Seven Mountains art installations. It is seven stacks of big, big painted rocks out in the middle of nowhere (about 30 minutes outside the city). There were people around taking pictures and we figured out we were supposed to pretend to hold the stacks. We had to try several times – you’d be surprised how old it is keeping your hands looking flat while tucking your elbows in close. Once we decided I didn’t have to hold two stacks next to each other, it was easier. I like the one growing out of my head.
Keith suggested he hold one like an ice cream cone. It didn’t occur to me to move backward (oh my goodness, what is wrong with me. DUH) to get him holding ALL the scoops. He looked at the picture and laughed so hard at my fail that we absolutely couldn’t do a better one.
We left the highway to see the stacks, then continued down the little road when we left. When we got down a couple miles there was an onramp to the highway, but we were told by the map lady to keep going. Okay. We kept going. At the intersection there was a gas station and bathroom. We could have used both, but no…we’ll just wait for the next one. We drove away, away, away into the nothingness of flat scrubby desert with far away mountains. I asked Keith if we were going to be in the nowhere for long. He admitted that he had only checked the directions in the oh-yes-it-says-there-is-a-road-to-there kind of way. The depth of our stupid seems boundless.
We do not plan the same. I seem unable to learn that. When I was a kid, and we traveled by car to California in 1972, I remember my dad reading the map at night in the hotel room. I somehow think Keith is reading a map sometime when I am not with him (when? When would that even be?) and he has a plan. He does not have plans.
So, we were apparently going to drive 3 hours to Joshua Tree through the Mohave Desert on a two lane without another car in sight…without having filled up the gas tank, or gone to the bathroom. Sure. Not worried. Much. He did not tell me there is a dealie on the car that says 368 miles to empty or that this rental has the largest gas tank he’s seen in 30 years (put in 16 gallons with it still reading over a 1/4 full) until much later.
It was beautiful. It really was. We were so alone and that added to the beauty. I wasn’t worried too much about the gas. I enjoyed the drive. I did look to see if there were any towns. There were a few names that looked like were going to be towns, but when I pinched and zoomed, the just disappeared. It made me laugh so much. We went by one (Cima). It was a building. I was unable to judge if it was people friendly or not.
After an hour, there was suddenly a rest stop. We stopped. There were six cars. Where did they come from? We are always on the road alone and then there are a bunch of people bunched up somewhere. We were at Kelso, the former WWII era train depot. There was the depot (closed, but renovated at some point), a house (?), the remains of a Post Office, and a couple actual multi-people mailboxes. And a self-standing jail. Huh.
The map told us there was no gas until we got to 29 Palms, the town by Joshua Tree National Park. That’s when Keith confessed that we really were not going to run out of gas. There was lots more desert to drive through.
We ate at John’s for a late lunch in 29 Palms. It was hoppin’!! The town isn’t that small and there were lots of choices for lunch, but at 2:30 in the afternoon this place was full. Keith has an awesome burger and chocolate shake, and I had country fried steak and eggs.
We went to the Joshua Tree Cultural Center after lunch. We read a lot about local tribes. It was very interesting.
Our motel is great, but the definition of being a motel. I love just walking straight from the car to the room. When we unpacked and I opened the back door, the lettuce made me laugh.
I came in and never went out again, so I don’t have an outside picture. Tomorrow…
We took a nap when we got to the room. I have to have covers. Keith thought my improvisation was funny. I do what I have to.
