Oh damn, I've had this experience, and have learned never to try to find a new address in the Morongo Basin in the dark. If i'm going to arrive after dark, I stay in a motel in town and find my AirBnB in the daylight.
That is definitely what I'll do next time! We also made the mistake of following the airbnb instructions instead of Google Maps, because the airbnb listing said the maps don't work so well out there. But the airbnb instructions were very elaborate and confusing, ending with, "You will crest a small hill, after which you will see three telephone polls. Turn between the second and third telephone polls." But the dirt road had several small hills and many telephone polls!
Would love to read the second part of this story. Being lost in the desert is not fun!
Thank you for the reminder, Marguerite! I got buried in deadlines and have been neglecting The Wandering Writer. More soon!
Found your Substack while looking you up - our book club is reading No One You Know. I am enjoying the book for the second time.
Oh, thank you for reading No One You Know with your book club! ❤️
Oh damn, I've had this experience, and have learned never to try to find a new address in the Morongo Basin in the dark. If i'm going to arrive after dark, I stay in a motel in town and find my AirBnB in the daylight.
That is definitely what I'll do next time! We also made the mistake of following the airbnb instructions instead of Google Maps, because the airbnb listing said the maps don't work so well out there. But the airbnb instructions were very elaborate and confusing, ending with, "You will crest a small hill, after which you will see three telephone polls. Turn between the second and third telephone polls." But the dirt road had several small hills and many telephone polls!
I love Joshua Tree and the desert. Beautiful writing, beautiful, haunting trip.
Thank you!