Twentynine Palms

Yes that is a town in California.    We drove south from Baker today accross the Mojave Desert Preserve.  We actually drove through a Joshua Tree forest - how neat is that.    We encountered some wind and stopped at Kelso - a one time railway depot with the most magnificent railway depot - in the exact middle of no where (otherwise known as the Mojave Desert).  

Kelso - Mojave National Preserve

Inside the depot is a Visitors Center and a great Cafe (too bad it was 9 AM and not a great time for lunch or breakfast).   The Ranger on duty told us that a wind advisory had just been published for the area - to last 12 hours from 10 am to 10 pm.   Gusts up to 70 mph sufficient to overturn an RV.   He advised that we not try camping in the preserve but to head south to Twenty nine Palms and Joshua Tree NP.    We took him up on his advice and headed south.   On our way we encountered more and blustery winds.   At one point looking across a dried up lake we saw the dust rising and increasing to the east until in engulfed a mountain.  Fortunately very little traffic but lots of jostling as the wind hit the RV from various angles.

By lunch we were in Twenty nine Palms and had found an RV park with on again off again internet access - thus this post.   Its an RV resort with its own golf course and all the fixings.  

We used the bike to visit the Joshua Tree NP visiting center and hike to Mara Oasis (an easy 1/2 mile).   Withe the laundry done we are ready for an extended stay in the park dry camping and hiking.   Fortunately we have 5 days of continuous clear and warm forecasts.