Yikes.  This is not the best weather for hiking the ridges on the north side of Joshua Tree at Black Rock but we head off that way hoping things will settle a little or will be protected somewhat over there.  No such luck!  By the time we get to Black Rock the wind is still howling, it is in the 50s, and it is spitting rain.  We wait a while at the trailhead hoping things will blow through but it just isn’t going to happen.  Neither of us is fond of being cold and damp so we scrap the idea of a hike and take one last scenic drive through the park.    

We stopped at the Joshua Tree (town) farmers market while we were on the north side.  The wind was nearly carrying the venders away but they had some great stuff.   We left with beautiful (and deliciously sweet) strawberries, field ripe oranges, locally roasted organic coffee beans, a loaf of rye/pumpernickel swirl bread and a couple yummy muffins.  That stop would have made the trip worthwhile all by itself.