Joshua Tree National Park visit

So, yesterday morning, hubby and I headed out to Joshua Tree National Park. He wanted to begin at the Cottonwood Springs entrance, which is 25 miles south of Indio. Then, you drive a couple of miles into the park and down a side road to Cottonwood Springs. Cottonwoods are always a sign of water here in our desert and these were growing among the California fan palms. The San Andreas Fault runs right through this area, which is why the palms and cottonwoods are growing there! Their deep roots snake down through the rocks to the undergound water. We walked around this area and took some pics, then checked in at the national park office (we were there so early they hadn't opened when we first arrived), paid our fee, and continued up the road to the ocotillo wash. There were many ocotillos there in bloom, and the sky was a beautiful deep blue! Then, on to the Hall of Horrors, a rocky formation, then to Barker Dam, and Keyes Point. By that time, it was early afternoon and we were hungry and tired. We did the 1 mile loop hike at Barker Dam, which we had never visited before. There were a couple of groups of school children visiting, but they were leaving and eating lunch by the time we arrived. We always enjoy visiting Joshua Tree and may go back Sunday morning. I'm off to see the horses today and this afternoon I'll be meeting my cousin Valerie, who will show me the road to another oasis in the desert.