Joshua Tree

On Wednesday I continued to explore South California by trip to desert. Joshua tree park is easy ride from L.A. by route No 210 and 10 and I was there within couple of hours. I wanted to visit park as well since I learned the entrance is free due to the Goverment shutdown. It is some special think about America, I do not understand how you can shut down goverment... anyway when I got there Fees were on I decided rather to explore the town and needed to charge batteries in mobile which I use for taking pictures at the gas station anyway. Or by the way , purchasing gas is different than in Europe, you have to prepay amount and then you pump gas in. This way the prevent that someone would run away from gas station without paying the gas.

While the Joshua Tree area has been inhabited by humans for at least 5,000 years, by the late 1920s the development of new roads into the desert had brought an influx of land developers and cactus poachers. Minerva Hoyt, a Pasadena resident who was extremely fond of desert plants, became concerned about the removal of cacti and other plants to the gardens of Los Angeles. Her tireless efforts to protect this area culminated in 825,000 acres being set aside as Joshua Tree National Monument in 1936.

The monument was administered by the superintendent of Yosemite National Park until James Cole was appointed as the first superintendent in 1940. The eastern portion of the historic Oasis of Mara was deeded to the National Park Service by the Twentynine Palms Corporation in 1950. That same year the monument's size was reduced by 265,000 acres to exclude some mining property. As part of the Desert Protection Bill, Joshua Tree National Monument was elevated to park status on October 31, 1994. The bill also added 234,000 acres. The new park boundary follows natural features and includes complete ecological units such as entire mountain ranges. Previous boundaries divided these ranges along survey lines. The additions provide better resource protection with easier boundary identification and monitoring and important habitat for desert bighorn sheep. Elevations in the park range from a low of 536 feet to a high of 5,814 feet at Quail Mountain. https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/photosmultimedia/natureminute.htm

On my way to next entrance of Joshua tree park I was driving by police car at the intersection and stopped two meters from the line on the red. Because I was not passing her fastly enough she got suspicious. That was the reason for police officer (it was older lady) to stop me and waist 90 minutes of my valuable time. I cannot believe it. She took off higly respected licence plate on the bike as well and reccommended to me to ride without it. So I continue without licence plate just having some small paper in my pocket that it can be done by US police. I discussed it with Oliver and he told me she was wrong and did not have a right to take it off. Strange...

I had non profit organization with motorcycle club patch (Outdoor riders) for couple of years , I cannot think why lady police officer should be acting like that. I am nice easygoing guy avoiding any troubles with police and I helped wheelchair users together with my ex wife to share happinnes from motorcycle riding (2008 – 2013) and it was appreciated by Willie G. as well. https://mcoutdoors.webnode.cz/mc-outdoors-riders/historie/