Across the mountains we fled, from the scorching desert to cool, breezy weather in San Diego. On one side of the mountain range it was nearly 110ºF, and by the time we disembarked from our truck in Bonita, California, it was a refreshing 75º! We stayed at Sweetwater Summit Park Campground in the middle of Bonita. It was surprisingly quiet, and in a very natural setting, despite being surrounded by the city.

Our first full day there was spent visiting the USS Midway. After having already toured the USS Alabama, I wasn’t particularly keen about another tour of a Navy vessel. At the end of the day, though, I was really glad to have had the opportunity. There were docents throughout the ship, giving explanations about the various sections and duty stations aboard. We were able to meet and speak to a World War II gunner, pilot, and a naval captain. Included in the price of admission was a very informative and entertaining audio tour, which we all enjoyed. If you ever go, plan on spending all day there if you want to see and do everything. We felt a bit rushed towards the end, despite having arrived shortly after opening!

Unfortunately, more vehicle problems left the kids and me in the city alone for the next few days, while Randy took the Crushinator back to Tucson for repairs. We got a rental car though, and were able to continue exploring. La Jolla Beach was, of course, fantastic. We spent a couple of hours watching the sea lions playing and wandering along the shore. The other days were spent visiting the Cabrillo National Monument on the Point Loma Peninsula and the beaches and tide pools around Ocean Beach. It was a lovely little vacation, after multiple weeks of camping in the desert.

Getting to our next stop in California meant driving back out into the desert. I wasn’t thrilled to be dry camping in up to 100º+ weather again, but how could we not stop at the famous Joshua Tree National Park?! It seems like every time we think we’ve seen it all, we’re faced with more new unique landscapes. Desert is desert, right?? No! The cacti and geological formations in Joshua Tree were completely different from what we’d already seen in Big Bend, TX, the high desert in New Mexico, or in Organ Pipe Cactus, NM. Piles of huge smooth boulders dominated sections of the park, eventually giving way to flat areas full of spiky Joshua trees, which were much larger than I’d imagined. Once again, I found myself amazed at the diversity of our beautiful United States of America.

View from Sweetwater Summit Park looking down on the lake and dry rolling hills toward the mountains
Sweetwater Summit Park views.

Lucy sitting on a wall beside the statue of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, looking out over San Diego Bay
Lucy enjoying the incredible view of San Diego from Cabrillo NM.

A California burrito held in a hand on a rocky beach with a long pier reaching into the ocean behind
A California burrito on the beach.

A man in a white shirt and sunglasses crouching playfully on a rock in front of a wall with a carved portrait
This animated guy showed us that someone had carved his portrait in the rock. “I come here like every day, and one day I showed up and see this!”

La Jolla beach with waves rolling onto the sand, palm trees along the cliffs and houses on the hill under a blue sky
La Jolla

Purple sea lavender wildflowers blooming along a cliffside path overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean at La Jolla

Sea lions sunbathing on a rocky ledge while waves crash around it at La Jolla, one swimming in the turquoise water

A dark dog swimming in the shallow surf at the edge of a sandy beach while gulls wander the shoreline
This pup kept coming to check out the seagulls.

A girl and a boy posing in front of a colorful square mosaic wall in San Diego

A dead Joshua tree standing alone in the desert at Joshua Tree National Park under a clear blue sky

Three boys climbing on large smooth boulders in the desert at Joshua Tree National Park with the wide landscape beyond

Remnants of an old mine at Joshua Tree National Park with rusted corrugated metal, wooden planks and a collapsed tile roof
Reminants of an old mine in Joshua Tree NP.

A family standing in the doorway of an old stone and wood mine structure at Joshua Tree National Park

A girl walking a sandy trail between giant boulders and desert scrub at Joshua Tree National Park with two boys behind

Teddy bear cholla cacti covering the desert floor at Joshua Tree National Park with mountains in the background
Teddy Bear cholla garden.

A spiny cholla cactus stands among a field of desert plants beneath blue skies in California.

Two Joshua trees stand among desert boulders under a wide blue California sky.

A young girl balances atop a smooth desert boulder against a bright blue sky in California.
The “Lucy” pose.

A lone Joshua tree stands in a dry California desert with distant hills under a warm sunset.

A young girl stands in a dry California desert scattered with Joshua trees.

Two children hold hands while walking through a sunlit California desert dotted with Joshua trees.

Two children leap high through the air in a sunlit California desert dotted with Joshua trees.

Two people hug a towering Joshua tree beside a road in the California desert.

A tall Joshua tree rises beside a winding road across the California desert under a pale sky.

A boy points across a vast California desert while two children sit on boulders.
We could see the San Andreas Fault line from the Keys View overlook.

Two people stand on a desert ridge beside a Joshua tree as the sun sets over mountains.

A star-filled night sky glows above dark California desert hills and a distant power line tower.
The interstate from our camping spot.