The Joshua Tree National Park has been closed because of the govt shut down. We kinda thought we could just roll up and in because Park Blvd is kind’ve a through street- although it takes you through 100 miles into Blythe. We pulled up to the park with weird articles of clothing and palm fronds as props and were met by a hot park ranger at the entrance and off to the left, a photoshoot for an asian couple’s wedding where the bride wore a bright red wedding gown and to the right, a few picnickers and an older white truck with a heavily bearded Rick Rubenesque guy inside smoking cigarettes and acting aloof.

Sexy park ranger is sorry but can’t let us enter the park and suggests a nearby trail that could be cool for our photoshoot. Me, being often drawn to older heavily bearded Rick Rubenesque men, started up a conversation with the guy in the truck who had his long hair in one huge sun lightened at the bottom unidread. He also has palm fronds and the like in his truck bed. We invited him to come to the Onaga trail for our photoshoot with us and he said why not and followed us and in the car on the way pray that he’s not some weird mass murderer. Or maybe he’s Clutchy Hopkins?  

Onaga trail is littered with abandoned camper trailers, shacks and miscellaneous desert structures like something that perhaps was a well at one point and some evidence of teens or vagrants. Random socks and blouses and beer cans etc. We got some good shots.  

Our bearded friend is named Malibu Matt and he has remained a friend to me over the years and always make it a point to meet up with him when in SoCal. He took these pictures of us and sent them to his friend Val Kilmer.

We had dinner at the Joshua Tree Saloon and talked about eating acid later. We parted with Matt and headed back to my house and prepared for our trip…