This is part two of a three-part series about a recent day trip to Joshua Tree. In case you missed part one, be sure to read that first here. Our family happens to own a cabin in Joshua Tree, so we wanted to check out how it was doing. I’d never been to the property site nor to the Joshua Tree National Park, but I was ready for an adventure with little to no internet, on rugged terrain, and with lots of time spent in the car with my aunt, uncle, dad, and grandpa.
Dear Adventure Avenue,
We pulled into a slip that constituted something like the side of the road and a curb and exited the car. The desert air nipped my face, but as I breathed in the cold air, it was clear.
We walked up the drive to the cabin site. Tire tracks marked the would-be driveway illustrating that while we may not have been here lately, someone else had been, and it became apparent as to what they had been doing.
Our cabin site was the apparent garbage dump for all the bulk items that people didn’t want anymore. There were all sorts of things – everything from a baby doll to a couch. If you are in need of some tires, I know a place you can get a bunch for free. Granted, I would say these tires are a bit worse for wear having been discarded here in the first place, but as my aunt and I discussed, we could easily turn the tires into a beautiful tire, rock, and succulent garden.
Now the cabin, if you can even call it that, was in shambles. The roof was blown off, creating a lean-to. It was clearly no longer a cabin, but a pile of debris, rusted nails, and a foundation (which we learned from the local real estate office that we probably couldn’t even build on because it most likely wasn’t poured with rebar).
The highlight of the property though was a lone Joshua Tree. Despite being in the town named Joshua Tree, there weren’t many Joshua Trees around.
After everyone had their fill of the surroundings and the dilapidated homestead, we headed back to civilization in search of a good place to eat. There is one long paved street in Joshua, complete with stop lights.
Lunch at Crossroads Cafe
Inside the Crossroads Cafe, it was as if we were transported back in time. The rustic interior was homey and pieces of the past jumped out at us. The light fixtures were antique kerosene lamps, retrofitted with electricity. The walls were covered with pictures and new articles.
For lunch, I had eggs, pancakes, and fruit. My aunt loved her chili and tacos, my uncle his corned beef hash, and my dad and grandpa split the burger. The diner food was delicious and prepared us for the next step in our journey: hiking the Joshua Tree National Park.
To be continued,
A
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