We are at our first stop

We left this morning at about 8 am, as planned. it was so freaking cold I couldn't wait to get to a warmer part of the country. HA! BIG FAT CHANCE THERE. I fell asleep around Fresno for a while, then woke up again in Bakersfield. Now that is an exciting place to see. NOT. I waited to see any new scenery for a while, but when it did finally arrive, it was well worth the wait.

I need to let you all know something that you may not know. As you are traveling down Hwy 99, smack in the middle of California, are two very tall palm trees. These trees were planted I don't know how many years ago to designate this location. Just thought I would let you know this.

We traveled for a few hundred it seems like miles. It was only really a few hours. We started seeing these little cactus trees. I know that is a strange description, but that is what they look like. I think these are called Joshua Trees. I don't know where the name came from. When I heard this name before, I thought they were big trees like Redwoods or very large pines. These tree's are very small and really do look like small cactus or palm trees. I will have to tr ya and find a pic. Actually, i have one on my camera, but it isn't downloaded yet.

So we drove some more and the greenery started to change shape. as we got closer to 29 Palms, they plant life was actually small palm desert palm trees. They just grow straight up, but not very tall, mostly just a few feet tall. After that, the cactus tree's looked like they had White dreads sticking out of them. they weren't very tall either. This was all in the Mojave desert. I have never been here before and it is so beautiful. It is so hard to believe this is still California. it looks so different from our home town.

I will post some pics when we get to OK so I can empty my card. John wanted me to tell you there was snow on the TahatchapeesMountains. TThiasas another beautiful sight. Actually, after we left Boring Bakersfield, everything was worth seeing.

Shortly after we enenterdArizona, we started seeing the tabletop mountains. I wish I could show them to you. I know you have seen Aarizonaartwork, where it shows the different layers of the mountains, well, you can aaCTUALLYSEE THE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF THE MOUNTAINS. oops. I am ddraggin on, but I have to try and let you see waht i was so privilaged to see today in my own home state. My most used word latley, AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, BREATHTAKING. Why leave the coountryuntil you have seen all the beauty in our own.