The High Desert

Fire Damage in Pioneertown

We drove into Yucca Valley after our visit to Disneyland on Friday night. We checked into our motel and had a light coffee shop dinner and went to sleep. In the morning we drove out to Pioneertown to see how the recent fires had ravaged the town. It was astonishing. At this time of the year, the desert is usually dry and brown, but to see so many Joshua Trees with blackened, burnt limbs and brittle, cracked straw-like puffs of leaves was heartbreaking. Many of the homes in the area are gone. Luckily, the buildings at historic Pioneertown are OK. We headed out of the area after snapping a few photos.
The thrift shops and antique stores on Highway 62 are plentiful. I've been coming out to this area for about 20 years. There's always some treasure to be found. Mr. Larry and I scoured a few shops, visited the Sky Village Swap Meet at the Drive-In and then had lunch at the Crossroads Cafe

Thrift Shop Painting

Thrift Shop Afghans

Muffler Man at the Swap Meet

Mr. Larry and Mr. Swap Meet

Western Town at Swap Meet

Swap Meet Egg Cups

The Pink Panther is selling his tractor

It's Windy in Yucca Valley

Later, we made our way back to Pioneertown to Pappy and Harriet's Pioneertown Palace for dinner and a performance by John "Juke" Logan and his band. Juke is my former radio partner and he was celebrating his 60th birthday. It was a great show. Juke's band was stellar. The band consisted of Kid Ramos on lead guitar, Jeff Turmes on bass, Don Heffington on drums and Mike Tempo on percussion. Juke plays harmonica and keyboards.

Mike, Don, Juke, Kid and Jeff (front)

Kid Ramos was Smokin'!!!

Many of our old friends were in attendance too. We had a really wonderful time.
Sunday morning we did a little more sightseeing and car photography at the scenic Antone Martin's Desert Christ Park before heading over to Juke's house in Joshua Tree for an informal get-together.

Antone Martin's Desert Christ Park

Ellen's Latest Purchase

Cynthia, Juke, Steve @ El Rancho Juko Loco

Larry, Stringing his Thrift Shop Guitar
We headed back to Los Angeles at around 5pm. It was a fun-filled weekend.