Rain in Joshua Tree

Rain in Joshua Tree?

We had winter like weather the last week of 2014.  And since then, it has felt more like Spring in the desert. Almost thought I was going to have to shave my legs so I could wear shorts out in public once again.

And then Monday morning I woke up and let the dogs out only to discover that the ground was wet.  Looked around just to make sure a water pipe hadn’t burst overnight.  Nope, the wet stuff was from the storm clouds overhead.  Guess I won’t be shaving my legs today.

Went to run some errands in town, I kept one eye on the road and one eye on the skies above.  Those storm clouds, they were calling out to me.  Sadly, I did not have my Canon on me.  So I had to settle for this cell phone image I captured.  Got back to my home office and I just couldn’t concentrate on work.  Those storm clouds, they were calling out to me. 

Right then and there I made the spontaneous decision to just grab my gear (made sure the Canon was charged up) and headed south to Joshua Tree National Park.

Drove around a bit before settling myself to hike along Boy Scout Trail.  In the distance I could see a break in the clouds.  Thought perhaps if I stuck around long enough I might be able to capture a sunset. 

Mother Nature had other plans.

About a mile into my hike the clouds let loose. Fortunately, there were some rock formations nearby and I was able to find some temporary shelter until the downpour gave way to a gentle misting.  It seemed that all the vegetation came to life (their normally drab colors became saturated with color) with the much needed rain.  Oh and the smell of the desert when it’s wet, there are no words to adequately describe it.  I just wish I could bottle it for year round use.

I have to say that this is the first time it has every rained on me while hiking.  As I was walking back to the parking lot (a little wet and cold) my thoughts turned to Cheryl Strayed, who walked the Pacific Crest Trail in 1995 and all that she endured during her 94 days on the trail.  I just recently read her book Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail which I thoroughly enjoyed. Can’t wait to see the movie which came out last month.  I mention this because a few years ago my husband told me of one of his dreams which is to hike the Appalachian Trail.  Perhaps someday once the kids are all grown up and its just the two of us.

As soon as I got home, I grabbed a hot shower, heated up some homemade Chicken & Rice Soup and then sat down at my computer to upload the images from my hike.  Now I usually edit my images to bring out the vivid colors I see through my rose colored glasses, but on this rainy Monday afternoon, there was no brilliant blue sky to compliment the vibrant hues of the desert landscape.  As I played around with the settings in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5, I let the image direct me on how best to process these images.  Guess you could say I tapped into my inner Ansel Adams (but with a touch more sepia sharpness to them).

Well I hoped you enjoyed the slideshow of my adventures with Rain in Joshua Tree.  How’s the winter weather where you are? Any East Coasters in the house snowed in?

[full_width_color bg_color=”#0697cc” color=”#ffffff”]xoxo, Patricia[/full_width_color]

Available now in The Art Shop