finally we arrived - after yet another detour - at joshua tree state park.
this is a paradise for rock climbers who find every level of difficulty there as well as a beautiful landscape in the middle of nowhere.
there aren't too many scorpions, so people needn't be afraid.

joshua tree state park is called so because of a funny little tree which supposedly looks like the biblical joshua when he led the israelites through the desert: arms raised up to the skies in a praying motion, it is said that the view of the tree gave the first settlers hope when they had to cross the desert to get to the rich and blooming californian coast.
BTW: in the background of this picture you can see palm springs where we went after joshua tree to relax from our desert adventures.

unfortunately we had no climbing gear with us, but it would have been too hot for extensive sports activities anyway...
so we only walked through the desert enjoying ourselves in silence about the vastness and mindboggling greatness of the place.

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