Salvation Mountain - Joshua Tree - Los Angeles

From Salvation Mountain, to the Desert with the funny trees, to a visit with close friends, to the wildest cluster of cities I've ever been, and everything in between.

Hello California

Salvation Mountain and Slab City
- Salvation Mountain
  - You have to see it
  - A great moment to stand under a monument that was so key to the growth of a woman that means so much to me.
  - Leonard Knight had a lot of love to give
- Slab City is a group of Trailer livin' folk sticking it to the man
  - A community of people living for free just outside of Niland, CA
  - Nobody really bothers them out there (except for maybe each other) and they have free concerts on Saturdays at The Range where they sell hot dogs and play music.
  - Check out East Jesus!
Joshua Tree National Park
- It was pretty great to see this place. My wonderful mother would've named me Joshua if she could have (Joshua Jozwiak sounds a little funny, and I'm not cool with JJ), and these little funny shaped trees are the reason.
- I was born here, and I haven't been back since I was 8 months old
  - It's pretty great to be back
- We camped 3 nights
- Kristen and I slept without the rainfly all three nights for an unobstructed view of the stars.
  - I snagged a peek of the view every time I woke up from rolling over the other side of an uncomfortable rock that was wedged underneath my back. Well worth it.
- The weather is that of a desert
  - So hot during the day
  - So cold during the night
- Fires every night and veggies were roasted
- Our favorite eating spot was Natural Sisters Cafe
- We attended the weekend Farmers Market
  - Brussel sprouts and some colorful potatoes were purchased to wrap in some foil and toss in the fire.
- No showers at this site, but we found a nice cave to rinse down after the long day
- Josh and I climbed, and we hung in our hammocks, and then we climbed some more
- On our last night we attended our friend Ali Beletic's art show
  - Cool to meet the local Joshua Tree folk
- The colorful sunsets in Joshua Tree, and all 4 days spent were a great way to relax before the craziness known as LA
Los Angeles
- Once a possible destination for Kristen and I to lay our roots
  - It quickly became a place to leave
- LA is an amazing place, and as hard as it was to like it (with all of it's traffic and haze), the people we spent our time with made it well worth it:
  - Brooke and Kyle - Thank you so much! For your hospitality, and sharing your home with us dirty road kids.
    - The family meals and Cinco De Mayo festivities left me full and satisfied
    - A fire and smores at the Huntington Beach Pier
    - Showers!
  - A short stay at our friend's Hermosa Beach bungalow - courtesy of Kolbi
    - A delicious meal and plentiful drinks
    - Cards against humanity (look it up)
    - A very very comfortable bed
  - Coffee with a new friend Josh Soskin
  - Headed to the Rock Pools of Malibu Creek State Park for some bouldering with new friends Kate Rentz and Isaac Rentz
- Excited to head north where it is green, and you can see further than 5 miles.

Back to nature - back to camping - back to inspiration

See y'all somewhere!

Matt