How do I get stress relief the last days of summer?
By grabbing my gear and heading into Joshua Tree National Park, where the streets have no name. Oh yes, and I have U2’s Joshua Tree album playing as well.
That’s exactly what I did earlier this week. I was extremely frustrated with my computer and Microsoft’s Windows 8 updates for bringing me an unrelenting supply of blue screens and I just needed to get away. No need to take a flight on one of Southwest Airlines many planes when I live but a few miles from Joshua Tree National Park. So I grabbed my gear, kissed my family “see ya later” and took off in my 4Runner.
And this is exactly what I needed. Just me, the 4Runner, my gear and some of U2’s older and much loved tunes blaring through my speakers. Within minutes of rolling into Joshua Tree National Park, I could feel the stress slipping away as I admired the desert landscape of joshua trees and the puffy clouds overhead. I stopped several times along the boulevard, as I made my way deeper into the park.
Found this really cool old fallen down joshua tree that captured my attention for several minutes. I’ve probably have passed it dozens of times before but never really noticed it until this week. As I walked around all sides of this downed ancient, I discovered that most of the base of the tree was still intact. Like the dried up shallow roots could no longer grasp the desert floor. Probably a result of the severe drought that is gripping the southwest as of late.
Then I made my way to Hidden Valley because I was drawn to Ryan Mountain in the distance and how the sun and clouds were playing together to create some amazing light on the mountain side. The golden hour of light was a reminder though that I should probably be heading back home because I had neglected to give my husband directions for dinner.
And that’s when I found the magic.
Slowly making my way back towards the west entrance, I look over to my left and the sun is peaking through the clouds, casting it warm light on the joshua tree nearest the road. Without even thinking, I pulled over and came to a stop in the small parking well on the opposite side of the road. The tourist taking pictures with their iPad, momentarily stopped in their tracks to see what I was doing. I quickly grab my camera and tripod and set up on the side of the road. Not the right angle because a limb of the joshua tree is crossing over into the rocks behind it. Quickly release my camera from the tripod and lay down on the asphalt. Thankful that its near the end of the day and the road is not scorching hot. But even if it was, it would have been so worth it because of the image I was able to create.
So, what do you do to relieve stress? How are you spending your last days of summer?