Camping at Joshua Tree

We've gone camping at Joshua Tree in the 'true desert' since we've been here, both times with some combination of people from work. The Jumbo Rock area where these shots were taken had a lot of huge weathered boulders that were fun for clambering on. The first time we went several people were rock climbing, so I tried it out! Elliott also tried, but since he couldn't fit in anyone else's climbing shoes, he didn't get quite as far...

Incidentally....

...you can click on the photos for larger versions of them. Something I only just realized....

Forest Falls Trip (September 05 sometime)

So, here I start recapping some of the highlights of our time in California - at least the few trips that we captured with the camera, anyway. Joanna came and visited us in Redlands, and we went off to a nearby hiking area. It was relaxing (and not nearly as impressive a hike as Mt Baldy, which we went up soon after arriving here) and we enjoyed it.

One of the neat things about living in a semi-desert is that almost all waterways are ephemeral, so we walked most of the way in a partially-dry river bed.

Also, you can see in the picture the longest that my hair has ever been! Elliott cut it into a bob a few weeks later, and I had it cut short again last week.

Tragically, due to my ineptitude, all of the photos that involved Elliott were too dark to display, so he gets jipped in this installment.
There's two of Joanna and I, though!