February 23, 2026
A solid trip to California - Between San Diego and San Clemente, we got to enjoy some lovely sunsets (featuring a stoic fisherman), observe a rogue lobster, visit a zoo AND an aquarium, and share a delicious home cooked meal with my wife, my cousin, and his fiance. The air was sweet and fresh along the coast, and it was a much needed refresh.
We got into Joshua tree a bit late into the night as we were stuck in a parade of cars along the side of a mountain. But, waking up and finally getting to see the landscape, I felt like I had stepped into Sandy Shores from GTA V. Thankfully Trevor didn't show up to ruin my day.
Joshua Tree itself was so alien - the mounds of rocks that seemed to spring up from the ground, and the forest of yuccas was unlike anything I had seen before. I couldn't imagine trying to hike any stretch of closer to summer; it was hot enough as it stood in February! Still, many beautiful sights in the park and the neighboring towns.