Coast to Coast

Bryce Canyon--> Joshua Tree--> San Diego

Friday, June 1st, 2012

The thickness of silence in the desert made my ears ring. After departing from Bryce I drove a whole day in order to reach Joshua Tree. I had planned on going to Death Valley, but considering that I could barely stand the heat in Las Vegas, I'm glad that I skipped it. I was also planning on swinging by the Hoover Dam, but the traffic was backed up for 10 miles leading to it, so I made a u-turn.

I really already needed a shower and to wash some clothes yesterday, but the only campground providing both of those services near Joshua Tree did not in turn provide any shade. In the 100 degree heat I was wilting, even getting slightly delirious. I decided to skip both shower and laundry and proceeded into the park both low on water and on gas. I camped out at Jumbo Rocks and realized that I might not be thinking clearly as the sun set and the air cooled.

This morning I woke up to people rustling about my tent at 3am, on some nighttime hike. I held my mace close and it took me awhile to fall back to sleep. Finally I awoke at daylight, determined to escape the desert. As I drove south through the park, I was reluctant to miss the beauty there, but also heart set on reaching the familiarity of the ocean. I drove on, through more heat freight trains on route 66 until I reached the lush hilly country of Julian, CA. At last! I felt that I head crossed into the land of milk and honey.

I didn't stop driving until I saw the pacific, and even then, as I exited my car I kept walking toward the coast dropping my backpack and towel on the sand until my toes finally met the foamy bliss of cool saltwater. I must be a water creature. There is no reason behind my discomfort of being without a water source other than that my soul simply needs it. The sky is overcast unlike how I idealized my reunion with the sea, but I don't care. I am free.