Rubber_Side_Down: an update
Oops. Sorry for the lengthy delay - being unemployed is a lot busier than I thought.
I last wrote that I was planning a motorcycle camping journey to Joshua Tree National Park, and I accomplished that about a month ago.
It included a stay at the luxurious Motel 6 in scenic Mojave, two nights of camping in the park, another night in Mojave and back home. I was actually planning three nights of camping, but I miscalculated the night temperatures at Joshua Tree. The first night was perfect, and the second night my shivering registered 4.8 on the earthquake scale. So I retreated to my palatial suite at the Motel 6 in Mojave a day early.
Having been born and raised in northern Illinois and schooled in Minnesota, I would have thought I was acclimated to such temperatures, but the tent, sleeping bag and several layers of clothes weren't enough to get comfortable.
That didn't detract from the fun of the trip, however. Joshua Tree is spectacular, a blending of two distinct deserts, with lots of exotic plant life, strange rock formations and lots of birds, lizards and such that I couldn't identify, but liked just the same.
I had the park and campground pretty much to myself the first night, because it was Thursday. The rock climbers arrived on Friday, and I met a delightful couple of gents who were taking their teenagers on a camping and climbing expedition. They shared their campfire with me, and we enjoyed wine, scotch and cigars late into the evening.
The scotch should have been a better anti-freeze than it turned out to be...
In addition to the desert flora and fauna, I discovered a museum to General Patton outside the southern entrance to the park, along I-10. Apparently the general used the desert as a training ground for the North Africa battles he anticipated. Several WW II era tanks and other vehicles are on display, along with a statue of the general and his dog. He looks remarkably like George C. Scott...
Despite the urging of several motorcycling friends, I took a straight and boring route down and back, down 99 and over the Tehachapis. I considered several more interesting routes, down Highway 33 and back up through Lake Isabella and the Sierra foothills. But I ultimately decided I shouldn't take that much time.
As I mentioned, being unemployed is surprisingly busy...
I'll post pictures if I can figure out how.
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I'm flagging this post as offensive....
No, I'm not - just kidding.
What are you doin' there Timmy?
On the offense
I'm doing some volunteer work, applying for jobs, and doing a little freelance writing, along with getting at projects around the house that have been neglected for, oh, the past decade or so.
I've also spent some quality time trying to figure out how to post pictures in the new Hive format, so far unsuccessfully. The web site seems to want to take the pictures from my computer rather than from a picture hosting site, but it says my pictures are too high resolution. I guess I have to figure out how to copy them in a lower resolution. Or go back to using a typewriter and a Speed Graphic camera....
Size - file size - area of the picture....
Only your avatar is allowed to be uploaded the rest you have to use either a website hosting, or facebook album or photobucket -
Email me and I will send you the code and show you how to align it on the screen. I tried to do that for adam, but he refused saying that he had some nasty things to write about me and didn't want me to get mad (not really).
stanford@kcnwebdesign.com
I will put the code in a text file and send it to you with a couple of instructions.
Listening to Obama's speech made me think of you.
He wants us in itty bitty cars which made me think about motorcycles which made me wonder if y'all made it back safe from Joshua Tree. Sounds beautiful!
Where is that General Patton Museum? I love Patton!
Thanks for posting and we sure hope the unemployment stint is short!
(S4M! Please give all of us the photo posting instructions! Pleeeeze! Abs explained it but it didn't work for me.)
MtnMom/RSD. I transfer all my pics to photo-bucket and post from
there to the Hive. If I have avatar or whatever it's called (those little boxes) I copy the photo out of photo-bucket on the second line down. If I don't have an avatar or whatever it's called, I copy the photo out of photo-bucket on the third line down.
It's pretty easy that way. And there may be other ways to do it too and I just don't know of them.
Here, I'll try two.
Thanks!
I'm gonna work on it when I have access to high speed. We finally have access to the neighbors T1 (bunch of us went in on the deal) BUT my computer's wire less card isn't working. It's like having a brand new Ford F350 in the driveway but no keys to it. Grrrrrrrrrrr!
Well, a blog about motorcycles ends up discussing photos, and then I talk about internet and pickup trucks.
Ok. I guess I'm gunna get flagged for off topic. ADD - I'll blame that. Is that still hip?
Back on topic. I do want to know where that Patton Museum is!
the general
The museum is on I-10 near the top of the pass just east of the Joshua Tree southern entrance. There's a restaurant/gas station complex there, but I can't remember the name - the museum is part of the commercial complex there. It's hard to miss, look for a bunch of military tanks on the north side of the highway....
an address and phone number
2 Chiriaco Summit Road
Chiriaco Summit, CA 92201
(760) 227-3483.
I believe the Chiriaco family developed the commercial site in the 1930s or 40s, and added the museum later - the museum building looks very modern.
"Shoot that mule."
Thanks! Had to throw in "Patton" quote for kicks. That's a family favorite when circumstances require aggressive measures in removing obstacles in life. Like cutting up credit cards.
Shoot that mule
oh that needs to be on a bumper sticker....and I am so glad you got back safe and sound!