Days 13 - 15 - Tucson, AZ; Saguaro National Park, AZ; Joshua Tree National Park, CA

jeannietamburo
Apr 17, 2025
3 min read

We headed out of NM making our way to our Harvest Host spot in Tucson, AZ – Zen Flow Pilates. Harvest Hosts is like Airbnb for RVs, but with a twist. Instead of staying at people's houses, you get to park your RV at cool places like wineries, farms, and even yoga studios for a small fee. Thanks to Steve's brilliant planning, we got to crash next to a house with a pilates/yoga studio for the night.

The next day, I treated myself to a much-needed pilates class bright and early the next morning (Steve opted out). Tammy, our powerhouse instructor, led the class while her furry assistant, Daisy the dog, kept the energy high. It was the ideal way to kick off our day!

Post-pilates session, we hit the road towards our next destination – Saguaro National Park. This park is famous for its towering Saguaro cacti that can reach heights of up to 50 feet. We took our time driving through the park, stopping at various spots to soak in the stunning scenery. Those cacti sure know how to make a statement!

We were cruising through Tucson, eyeing up the sights, but we had a date with Joshua Tree National Park that we couldn't miss. Rolling into the Cottonwood side of Joshua Tree off I-10, we ventured through the lower lands until we hit those majestic mountains. The drive through Joshua Tree was a sight to behold, with ancient granite rocks shaped by nature's touch over millions of years.Our campsite at Jumbo Rocks was a dream come true, nestled right next to those impressive boulders. It was easily the coolest campground we've ever stayed in! As the sun began its descent, Steve got the grill going just in time for our camping feast. Sunset never tasted so good.

The following day, we embarked on a guided tour with a ranger at Key’s Ranch. Established by the Key’s family as a result of President Lincoln’s Homestead Act, the ranch was a hub for mining and ranching activities, unearthing some precious gold and silver. The National Park took ownership of the land in the 1960s, preserving it just as the Key’s family left it. Our ranger was awesome and kept us all engaged as we explored the area.

On our way back to Jumbo Rocks campground, we were met with an unpleasant surprise - our camping chairs had mysteriously disappeared. Maybe the culprit thought we had abandoned them, given our minimal camping setup. It was a bummer, considering our limited camping experience (mostly with my brother Mark and his family), where leaving a few items behind seemed acceptable.

Trying to stay positive, we opted to trek from our camp to Skull Rock. We meandered through the massive boulders until we reached the elusive rock formation. One look at the photo and you'll get why it's named Skull Rock. Our plans for more hiking were crushed by the scorching 90+ degree heat, leaving us feeling a tad defeated and envious of those with chairs. 🪑

< - - - How cool is this rock formation? 💀

Seeking solace, we hightailed it to the nearby town of Twentynine Palms and stumbled upon a quirky eatery dubbed "Kitchen in the Desert". With a concise yet enticing menu and groovy tunes, we savored our meal under the twinkling stars. Taking advantage of cell service, we also snatched up duplicates of the chairs we lost online and promptly ordered them for pickup in Bakersfield, CA.