California USA, 3 October 2016

(Click on any image for a larger view).

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Today we left Salton City and the Salton Sea, and headed north and slightly west to the Joshua Tree National Park.

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We are still on the way there here.  The Salton Sea is in the background to the south and this is a farming area where they are irrigating the desert, using water ultimately from the Colorado River.

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Definitely desert, but also the lines of irrigation sprays.

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This is nearby, the opposite side of the road facing north, not quite in Joshua Tree National Park as yet.

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Now in Joshua Tree National Park, this is Cottonwood Springs, a strategic watering place for travellers in the nineteenth century.

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I think this is probably the Great Basin Fence lizard.

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You can see how large the California Palms are by the walker at bottom left.  You may need to click to a larger image to see that properly.

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Desert views inside Joshua Tree National Park.

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An Ocotillo.

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We stopped at a place near the road where many Teddy-bear Chollas (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) were growing.

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Teddy-bear Chollas.  Nice cuddy plants to curl up in bed with.

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(More from Joshua Tree National Park in the next post).

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