Joshua Tree, Day 1
I got up a earliesh to walk around Juanitas compound and take come pictures. Heres a quick and dirty panorama (click for a larger version) 
She had bought this place several years ago with the intention of eventually retiring here and spent a sabbatical year warring with inept contractors trying to get her vision for it realized. To hear her talk about it, it sounds like it was not an easy process, but the result is pretty stunning. The property is up on a hill with expansive views of the desert and is surrounded by a steel fence which has oxidized to a pretty orange color. 
The fence also makes low booming noises as the panels heat up in the morning sun. At the NorthEast corner, she has built a 2500 sft prefab studio with a great bathroom, two kilns (she is a ceramicist) and a forklift, among other things.
It is seriously cool, and has given us some ideas for something similar up in alta. The only problem I can think of is its stability under snow -- particularly the fiberglass windows. I can't remember who sold the kit, but it had the word "steel" in it and the pieces were made in Canada. I found a few other companies that do similar things here here here and here
Inside the main house, she has a full professional kitchen and windows facing south which let light in all day long.
After breakfast we headed into the park, which now costs $15 to get into. We bought a national parks pass for $80 to try to motivate ourselves to go on more trips in the next year.
We hadn't been to Joshua Tree since grad school, and it felt good to be back. There's something about that place which makes you feel like you are barely even on Earth anymore.
We headed for the boulders near Real Hidden Valley, and man or man did I get shut down. Happily, chloe did really well and it looks like her recovery is going to be fast! Here we are staring down some problems
The hardest thing I managed to drag my fat ass up was the Yabo Roof, so it looks like its time to start cutting some serious weight, or take up sumo.
Zoe slept the entire time, with a few breaks for diaper changes and scoring some milk from Milkmaster 2000 (jut kidding CZ!!!).
After finishing bouldering, I scrambled up one of the chosspiles to take in the beauty of roads that have been widened to accomodate giant RVs, SUVs and Hummers -- our tax dollars at work!
We left the park with sore backs, creaking fingers and aching feet and stopped at the Mad Rock tent sale that was being held across from Nomad. I got a few weird looks as I perused the gear with ZZN in full bunnysuit regalia thrown over my back. From Nomad, we headed back to Juanita's for another amazing meal. I wandered around and snapped a few more shots of the compound
