July 7
As we had skipped going to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, AZ, we had arrived in Joshua Tree a day early. We also left one day early and continued on to Death Valley National Park, CA. The route took us through Mojave National Preserve, CA. After about 110 miles and 2 ¾ hours we made a quick stop at the Kelso Depot Visitor Center. Kelso Depot was an important location for the Union Pacific railroad in their quest for a rail line between Los Angeles, CA and Salt Lake City, UT. The road we wanted to take out of the park on our way to Death Valley had been made impassable by recent storms. We had to take a significant detour. Instead of a quick stop at a cinder cone and a lava tube, we drove through the world’s biggest forest of joshua trees.
The Davids' Cross-Country Trip 