- 2nd State: California -
Mojave National Preserve:
Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000-year history of human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert.
Waking up on our second morning of our Road trip, was magical. The night before we had gotten into the Hole-in-the-wall campground in the Mojave National Preserve when it was quite dark. We did not get to see our beautiful surroundings, the mountains, the desert, etc. So, waking up in our tent, secluded from the entire world, in the middle of the desert was the best start to our second day.
Camping sites are first come, first serve. $12 per night, payable in-person at kiosk.
Unlike day 1, we did not have to wake up at 4 AM to head to the airport.
Instead, we had ourselves a slow morning, with breakfast and some really bad instant coffee. It was incredible, the experience lol not the coffee. Knowing what I know now, I wish I had imprinted every single second of that morning into my brain.
If you are ever planning to visit the Mojave National Preserve, know that there is so much to do here. The glorious hikes such as the Kelso Dunes and Barber Peak are must-see sights. There are also other options such as 4-wheel drive excursions and hunting.
This day, only the second day of our trip, would prove to be one of the most special days of my life. However, I had no idea what was to come. As far as I knew, Justin and I were just two people, getting cooked out of our tent by the 98°F sun at 8 AM in the morning. Our plan for the day was quite simple.
First, we had to pack up our tent, because just as fast as we arrived, we were packing up for our next destination. Then, we headed out for our first hike of the trip.
The reason we had spent the previous night in the Mojave National Preserve, instead of just driving straight to our next destination, was because of one very specific hike both Justin and I wanted to experience.
The Lava Tube Trail:
Distance: 0.5 miles.
Type of Trail: Out & Back.
Difficulty: Easy.
Elevation Gain: 62 ft.
This experience was quite extraordinary. This hike can be reached by driving to the trailhead and then walking about 0.5 miles to the opening of what looks just like a “hole in the floor”. The road to the trailhead however is not maintained and quite rocky. Vehicles that are low to the ground are not recommended to make this journey.
While the hike itself up to the entrance does not seem like much, once you descend down the ladder into the cave, you are transformed into, what seems to be another dimension.
It is said that the best time to visit the lava tube is around midday. Believe me! This is definitely accurate.
Once you walk into the cave, you will see an opening in the ‘roof’, where light shines through. At noon each day, the light shines through at such an angle that it creates a beam that closely resembles a spotlight.
This makes for beautiful pictures!
- This is where it happened! -
The reason why I wish I ingrained every single second of our morning!
Justin and I ate lunch down in the cave, we sat down and chatted about our upcoming trip and Justin asked me what part I am looking forward to most. After lunch we started taking pictures. Justin helped me test the light and soon we were snapping away at the most beautiful pictures with light beams shining down on us. Justin then asked me if I could put the phone on video so that we would not have to walk back and forth between pictures and get it done quicker. This is where I should have known!
I did just that. When I returned to Justin in the beam of the sun, we took some couple shots. I got on his back, and we took some silly shots as well.
Then, Justin turned to me, and hugged me tightly. I felt his heartbeat against my chest and totally oblivious to everything, I asked; “Are you okay, your heart is beating really fast?”. To which this man replied, “Oh, I’m okay, you were just heavy when you were on my back”!!!!!
(I tell this part of the story to everyone!)
Before I could put two and two together, Justin went down on one knee and pulled out the most beautiful ring and asked me to marry him.
To this day, he makes fun of me for taking, what was in his opinion, so long to say "YES". In that moment, I was so shocked and at a loss for words. I am normally great at figuring out surprises. How this man, managed to get a ring, get the right size, and sneak that ring into our shared luggage all the way from Maryland to Las Vegas is beyond me. It was the best surprise. I was ENGAGED!
The remainder of our second day was filled with lots of driving and even more of me saying “Pretty pretty ring!” and “I’M ENGAGED!”. Our next driving stretch was around five and a half hours to the next destination. Here we made dinner and camped for the night, but that, my friend, is a story for another time…
So many things have already happened on this road trip, and yet we are only on Day 2 of 12.
So special!!!! Wow!
Awwwww 🥹🥹🥹