Looking for a Lost Horse in a desert with a name.

Hi one and all. We have been here now for just over 2 weeks and it sure is nice. I find myself thinking about our friends as we do different things. The hikes are great and I think of Mike and Dan from work. Most people are up before the crack of dawn so that they can fit everything in and I think of Don Highsted. Even he couldn't keep up with it all.  Some of the hikers went on a 45 km bike ride through Joshua Tree National park and John comes to mind. I think he would enjoy the biking and running down here. Oh yeah I forgot about the shopping and the pool time I'm sure Lynn wouldn't mind that a bit.  There is a 9 hole par 32 golf course here that costs $19 around(cheaper if you buy a punch card or yearly) and I think the Brooks/Zoziaks would kind of like that. The weather has been as good as anyone can remember, the daytime highs 27-30 but the humidity is only 15-20% so it doesn't wipe you out.
Anyway Saturday was trivia night and we won a whole $4.00 but it was for the fun of it. Sunday found us at the Pickle Ball court for a couple of hours then the pool. Sunday night Kelly channeled his inner Reid and won the big prize at Texas Holdem night winning $120.00. Not bad for 2 hours of card playing.

Monday brought us out on another hike. This time to Lost Horse Mining Loop in Joshua Tree National Park. It is a 7.0 mile hike that we completed in a little over 3.5 hours.

The mine ran from 1893 to 1936. By 1936 the gold was long gone and the national park was founded.

This little guy was the only inhabitant we could see.

The trail took us through incredible views. There was a fire that came through a few years ago and at times the terrain would fight right into a "B" rate apocalyptic movie.

The hike continued for another 2.5 miles till we came to an old homestead. The only thing left was the chimney and and the springs from an old bed.

When we came to the end of the trail some of the others didn't have enough workout(losers) so we went for another mile hike through "Hidden Valley".

When we got there it looked like "Fred Flintstone" should  walk out from behind the next boulder.

We climbed to the top of this one.

By the time we got back it was a toss up between lunch,sleep or hot tub for the muscles. Lunch won with the hot tub a close secound.

Yes he has his suit on

Well that's all for now I hope all is reasonable with each of you.

Junkel