Bill, Kendra and I spent Boxing Day in Joshua National Park, about an hours drive from where we were staying in Desert Hot Springs, We took Caper and a picnic lunch and made a day of it, watching the rock climbers and doing some hiking. Because Caper cannot be on any of the trails, in fact no further than 100 metres from a parking lot, Bill and I took turns staying with him in the car. It was such a beautiful day that rock climbers abounded...the very sight of that sport scares the life from me as I dislike heights intensely.
This young man is using pinions, placing them in the crevasse of this sheer incline so that he has a handhold and a place to put his feet when climbing. He makes it look so easy, BUT, I will not be lining up to try it. A great way to spend Boxing Day! Beats the shopping crowds!
Here we are, enjoying a picnic. Little did I know, I was included! Caper is showing his age(10), but he sure loves to be out and about with his family. A great day! Life is good!
The newest member of the family, Cowboy is a nine and half year old diabetic rescue from Moses Lake, Washington. He is a Lhasa Apso and Shih Tzu cross, but really acts more like a cat than a dog. He and Caper have become good friends as Cowboy adjusts to our routines. He loves his food! A rattle of the package and he is at our feet! He has a moppet of a tail that rides on his back when it is not wagging! What a delight to have an already trained little man. It is funny to ask the "boys" to be good when we have always had girl dogs. Life is good for everyone!
Affixed to a window in the next door neighbour's motorhome is this construction, a shaded cage for a beautiful white cat. We think she slept out there guarding her domain and ours, overnight. Nice to have a watch-cat in the neighbourhood!
Looking down at me, as I was looking up at him, is this beauty, sitting in this tree just down three sites from our motorhome. Isn't he gorgeous? His markings are so beautiful. As I moved, so did his eyes, not his head. WOW! Truly a Kodak moment!
We quite enjoyed the trail; there is another 2 mile section that might have been a little flatter added to the loop for a longer 6 mile hike, but 4 was long enough. Amazing, too, was the evidence of a waterpipe leading back to the mine, buried partially in the ground. We are not sure where it originated, but it was constructed well before its time. A beauty day!
This young man is using pinions, placing them in the crevasse of this sheer incline so that he has a handhold and a place to put his feet when climbing. He makes it look so easy, BUT, I will not be lining up to try it. A great way to spend Boxing Day! Beats the shopping crowds!
