We stopped at one of the BLM areas just south of Joshua Tree National Park. Due mainly to a limit in most of their campgrounds of 25 foot units.
After getting the unit situated we took the van and drove through the park and out the north side. This is a very interesting park as you drive up the mountains to quite high altitudes. You make the transition from the Colorado Desert to the Mojave Desert. You do not see any Joshua trees in the Colorado Desert and you do not see many Greaswood bushes up north in the Mojave Desert.
There are several old mines in the area that are not in operation, however they produces a lot of gold and some after the gold ran out they mined lead and then copper. One of the mines you could see the mine shafts openings high near the top of the mountain. You would think that they would be down near the bottom, but someone found gold way up there.

We say the Cholla Catcus Garden. Apparently they do not know of any use for them, but there they are. As soon as you get into the transition area, there are not any Cholla at all, Just in the one area are they plentiful.
There are nice campgrounds mostly nestled in among big rocks, or should I say huge rocks. The mountains appear to be mostly jagged stone and they you come into an area where there are gigantic smooth rounded rocks. Some appear to be 50 feet or more high and then there may be a small round one just setting on top. It looks like if you could get to it, you could just push it over.
We toured most of the campgrounds and they were all very nice, however primitive with no hookups. All had a fire ring and picnic table but a beautiful setting in among the huge rocks.
We went out the north end of the park and west on sr62 around the west end of the park and down the mountain into Palm Springs, Desert Palms and a bunch of little towns all nestled at the foot of the mountains. Lots of snow in the upper elevation of the mountains, but quite warm down below.
We spent the night at the BLM as it was near dark when we returned.
Thursday we traveled the short distance to Indo, CA and the Shadow Hills RV Resort. We needed to get the laundry caught up as it had been two weeks since we had taken care of that little chore. This is a quite posh gated rv resort with a pool, spa exercise room and a nice gathering area near the pool. They were having a pizza party, so we signed up, had some delicious pizza and met some very nice people. One couple we met was from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He had been a wheat farmer all his life. He said that they left on Dec. 28 and the wind chill was -32 degrees Celsius. I asked if they were not a bit late in getting away and she said, well you know how it is with several grandchildren. I think I would just call them and wish them a Merry Christmas. We did go out and get a prescription filled and the van washed as it was quite dirty from the trip through Joshua Tree NP as it rained lightly at the higher altitudes.
Friday we moved a few miles to Palm Springs to the location of the hamfest. This is on an estate of 35 acres with a nice house and a huge garage, 50X50 with 17' ceilings, a 15' door and a 12' door and a 20X20 hamshack with lots of radios and equipment and a nice big office. We are within a few feet of the base of the mountain with a beautiful view to the north across the valley.