Last Day in the Mojave Desert..Dawn 6am

I took these photos this morning  as the sun came up, over the Joshua Tree National Monument ( Park). I am now back in a very warm 80f Los Angeles..enjoy the photos..

Twilight and a light dinner..Joshua Tree wild Tortoise preserve

It has been a wonderful day bright winter sunshine and good times.
 I have just returned from a walk in an untamed wilderness, desert tortoise preserve, and walked the paths taken by coyotes for 1000's of years.
150,000,000 year ago this area was under an ocean that stretched as far as Russia!
I have  prepared a light supper of pumpkin seed pesto ( my own grown basil from LA) with steamed spaghetti squash and fingerling potatoes, and the cabbage & parsley salad with the addition of fresh organic tomatoes with  a dressing of extra virgin olive oil and Organic Ume plum vinegar (this is the brine from the pickled ume plums and shiso beefsteak leaf) the flavors vary from tangy to salty.
A delicious meal after a traditional Thanksgiving dinner last night at a friend's house..enjoy the photos of the meal prep and the hike.


Eden Foods 19204 5oz Ume Plum Vinegar (Google Affiliate Ad) 
Eden Foods 19224 Ume Pickled Plum Paste (Google Affiliate Ad) 

Steamed spaghetti squash & steamed fingerling potatoes

White turnips "sauteing" in pesto and water

raw pumpkin seeds for the pesto

Raw fingerling and small reds

The cabbage with Ume plum vinegar..marinate for 30 mins

The pumpkin seed basil pesto ( no cheese)

The completed salad

the completed squash and fingerlings with pesto

Served for the vegans before adding the salad

served with cheese for the vegetarians

Joshua Trees, member of the lily family

remains of an old juniper bush

quartz feature in granite boulder

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree (young)

moon rising

Sun setting

GREAT MOTEL in Joshua Tree..family owned and run

Spin and Margie's  Desert Hide-A-Way

off  Highway 62 in Joshua Tree..this is a fantastic "hidden Gem" of the high desert.

Tucked away for prying eyes, this a truly "high end" motel.

Family owned and run for over 20yrs this is a well known place to stay for a fantastic motel experience.
Clean, well appointed rooms with tiled floors and personal care and attention that goes far beyond the "norm".
This is Not a national operated and owned motel this is one where care has been taken with the fixtures and fittings.

You will be made to feel very welcome by the owner/operators Mindy & Drew.
Please check out the link to their site..and make Joshua Tree your home away from it all..

www.deserthideaway.com