After spending last spring break in Vancouver, BC, we resumed our desert adventures and camped in Joshua Tree National Park for 5 days at the Blackrock campground near Yucca Valley. (For prior desert adventure, check out Death Valley - my personal favorite.)

Despite some very windy nights (up to 50 mph) we again lucked out on the weather. There had been rain so we enjoyed wildflowers and blooming cacti everywhere we went. It never got too hot. Matter of fact, it wasn't hot enough. Might have peaked at 82 degrees and I'm good up to 104.

I just got a new camera for the trip - a Panasonic Lumix FZ 150 - which is a departure from my Canon habit. Joshua Tree is a remarkable place to break in a new camera!

The boys had a great time. They especially love climbing around on all of the huge rocks. We saw a lot of the park... we are huge fans of our National Parks system and are on a mission to visit all of the National Parks in the west. During the drive home we even managed to reserve a campsite in King's Canyon in July.