Our first stop heading east from the Pacific Coast was Joshua Tree National Park.
We nervously hooked up Prufrock and drove away, after taking some photos with our new RV friends Anne and Linda, who were so helpful with our novice ways.
Man the traffic on the highways in Southern California suck. Seriously, it sucks.
On Google maps, it was yellow or red the entire way to Riverside, which we made our lunch stop. It took nearly 3 hours, about double what it would take without traffic.
When we stopped, I immediately saw my first RV mistake: I had let the 7-pin electrical connection cord drag with too much slack, rather than wrapping it tighter, as we were told. The cord was frayed through. Two of the seven wires had come apart. The right side lights weren’t working.
We got in touch with Happier Camper, and they told me how easy it was to repair. We were buying a few things in WalMart anyway, so I grabbed a new knife, some electrical connectors and a couple of tools – and was eager for my first do-it-yourself repair.
We got to our Joshua Tree campground – Black Rock Canyon – at about 6 p.m. It was an odd approach, through neighborhoods, and barely anyone there.
A young woman in the site next to us was on a video call with someone when we approached. She talked for a while, then crawled in her station wagon to sleep. No tent. No conversation. Just solo camping in a beautiful spot.
We ate charcuterie and watched the stars come out. We even saw a rocket launch – could spot it from the contrails and the angle and light of the projectile.
We awoke for a trail run on paths near the campground, and then I repaired the frayed cord. Everything worked great. We later headed into the park for some more walking and a sunset viewing spot. The stark scenery is wonderful.
We ate dinner at Pappy + Harriets in Pioneertown, a recommendation of our LA relatives. A great meal with a great band playing on the stage, and fun people-watching. The next morning, we ran 10 miles on the Boy Scout Trail inside the park, then headed out for a trek out of California and along Route 66.
