Subject: U2 Joshua Tree.
In the autumn of 2007 Paulette and I searched many hours for this item without success. At April's urging we were back recently, but shifted the search west about four miles due to clues seen in various photographs. I didn't find a single web post that disclosed accurate GPS coordinates, I think because they figure if someone is interested there are enough clues out there to be able to locate the tree, albeit with difficulty the first time. I've decided to observe the same protocol to keep the area from being overrun, lest the authorities close it. Hey, the detective work and chase make the find all the more satisfying. Why would I want to deny anyone else that satisfaction by making it easy. On various web sites some think the tree from the album is in Joshua Tree NP (for obvious reasons). Others say it is on Death Valley NP. The tree from the album is in neither place. (Should I say... where the streets have no name?) We isolated the area by matching the mountains (sort of a visual triangulation) from various posted pictures taken by visitors. A few other buggistas came along for the adventure. Most had no interest, but Wendy, the gal next to Paulette in the second picture, actually owns the Joshua Tree album and was all jazzed by the find. The location area is closed to vehicular traffic. All but two of us turned back after trekking on foot a while. I'm glad Richard (left in 2nd picture) and I persisted. Obviously the tree is not prominent now that it has died, apparently of natural causes. There is no easy silhouette and the various colorful momentos were stored out of view as well. If one has about thirteen hours round trip the site is reachable from Mentone. Here are a few more pix. Click on each pix to enlarge it. ENJOY (especially April and Adam)!!! Also, the large white pipe looking container contains an entry book for visitors, and various items left by admirers.
p.s. I wanted to have "Still haven't found what I'm looking for" play in the background but can't figure out how to do it. Can anyone offer help?
April: I walked away singing "April Come She Will." For real! (for the rest of you it's a private joke.)
6 comments:
Very cool, almost like searching for a needle in a haystack...
dad...this is so great! i love love love it!
so cool... i think you made april's day!!
Very cool! I don't think they have near as many cool things to do with a buggy in Alaska, though. ;0)
Nov, 17, 1987 April and I went to this concert. A day I will never forget Bepo.:)
E: One of the things I'd like to do in AK is take the Dalton Hwy by buggy. DH is the dirt road that follows the pipeline from approx Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay, about 425 miles. But the window of opportunity is relatively small. Summer up there is short. So it would be "cool."
Post a Comment