Joshua Tree National Park, CA

I’m setting my Joshua Tree National Park iPhone app to free for Father’s Day.  Thanks to all the dads out there who helped foster a love of the outdoors in their kids.

Get your free app here –> iJoshuaTree

My first iPhone app is available in the iTunes App Store!  A few screen shots of iJoshuaTree:

Check out iJoshuaTree in the app store:

iJoshuaTree

Now all I need to do is 57 more to represent the rest of the National Parks … or 390 more to represent the entire National Park Service system.  Add that to my day job, trying to keep up this blog, have a life, etc.  It ain’t easy being an indie developer.

Check out my other website (currently under-construction, of course!) for more iPhone apps down the road:

www.iGreenEarth.com

A year ago I celebrated the new year by jumping in a hole in the ice of a frozen lake in Minnesota.  The year that followed pretty much mirrored the experience.  2009 was filled with rushes of adrenaline followed by just trying to keep my head above water while swimming to the other side.

I raced around the country, completed my goal of road tripping all the lower 48 states, saved sea turtles while camping on the beach of Padre Island, hiked the Grand Canyon, went flying over the San Juan Islands, and much more that I have not blogged about.  While doing all of this the past year I have not lived anywhere for more than two months.  Until now.

January 2010 marks my third month of living in Berkeley.  The transition from living a nomadic lifestyle to becoming a Californian with no plans of leaving has been difficult to say the least — a bit like struggling to keep my head above water in a frozen lake in Minnesota.

I have finally emerged on the other side – climbed out of the hole in the ice and landed in “sunny” California.  And after all of the struggle I don’t know what to do with myself.  I feel like a fish out of water and can’t quite find my sea legs.

This year I rang in the new year in Tahoe and managed to capture a couple crappy photos on my iPhone before nearly being trampled by a drunken mob.

In the middle of drunken mob life is totally out of your control.  The only way out is to go with the flow and eventually emerge safely on the street.

If the pattern holds and this year mirrors the way I rang in the new year, 2010 will be the year of going with the flow and emerging from the pack.  Here’s to letting go and riding the wave in 2010.  Surfs up.

iPhone Dev @ home in Berkeley CA

I haven’t posted to my blog much lately because I have been spending way too much time sitting in front of my computer teaching myself how to develop iPhone apps.  I have a lot to say about the past few months — too much — to the point that I don’t even know where to start.

I have learned a ton in the past few months not only about how to code iPhone apps but also about Silicon Valley, start-ups, and recession economics.  And while I was on the road, I met numerous people that were budget traveling because it was cheaper and better for their spirits than paying high rents and getting depressed about not being able to find a job.

I have no plans of hitting the road and moving from California in the foreseeable future.  So in the spirit of the recession, I’m going to be sharing on my blog everything I learn about starting up an iPhone dev business and other experiments I have done in the past on location independent sources of income.

And, of course, I’ll still throw in some of my usual travel style posts about what makes California a great place not only to visit but to live, such as:

Exploring the lighthouse at Point Reyes National Seashore,

hiking with pelicans along the coastal cliffs near Santa Cruz

and imagining a brighter future on a bench along West Cliff in Santa Cruz.

That may seem like a weird wish but of all the photos I have I get the most compliments on the ones of my feet.  So by popular demand here is a speed road trip across America with my feet in pictures:

Kayaking 1 of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes

Olympic National Park in Washington

Kayaking with alligators at Everglades National Park in Florida

Walking along the beach in Naples, Florida

Watching the sunset at the beach in Naples, Florida

Arches National Park in Utah

Camping on the beach at Padre Island National Seashore in Texas

I have worn this pair of Keen sandals in 47 states. I love my well worn Keen sandals and couldn't let them go to heaven at Padre Island National Seashore in Texas.

I got my kicks on Route 66 at Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona

Taking a break and enjoying the view while hiking the Grand Canyon in Arizona

Foolishly wearing sandals among the cactus at Joshua Tree National Park in California

Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California

Mount Tampais overlooking San Francisco Bay Area in California

Hood River in Oregon

Who hikes 4 miles up Mount Si in Washington wearing Tevas? Sue, that's who.

Kelp beds at Deception Pass State Park in Washington

Looking for whales at Lime Kiln Point State Park - San Juan Island in Washington

Muir Beach in Marin County, California

Out of my tent and off on the next adventure in California.

I wonder where my feet will take me next.

And then I realized that I’m in California not Washington so I should stop trying to locate Mount Rainier on the horizon.  It has been a little over a week since I left Seattle for the Bay area but sometimes I still forget where I am.  Hopefully, soon I’ll stop looking for the Space Needle to orient myself in the city.

I am confused.

I left my heart in San Francisco.

Location:  Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco, CA

Padre Island National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore has 70 miles of beach available for camping right next to the Gulf so you never have to worry about not being able to find a place to camp.  Just drive your car or RV onto the beach and set up camp at the base of the sand dunes.  If you want to drive the entire 70 miles of beach you’ll need a 4 wheel drive.  But a 2 wheel drive vehicle will get you about 5 miles down the beach leaving plenty of space between you and your nearest neighbors.

Pros

• Camping on the beach right next to the water.
• Sunrise over the Gulf and sunset over the Laguna Madre.
• Fresh fish – cast your net out near the southern barrier of North Beach for an easy net full of a variety of fish.
• Windsurfing on the Laguna Madre.

Cons

• Extreme winds at times – good for wind surfing and keeping the fog away but you’ll have fine powdery sand in your food and belongings.  Bring long sand stakes and a sturdy tent if you plan on tenting.
• Garbage – due to the convergence of currents a lot of garbage washes ashore.  Also be on the lookout for the stinging Portuguese Man o’ War.
• Salt – if you stay for an extended time your vehicle and gear need to be washed regularly to prevent rust.
• The beach is a Texas public highway – watch out for traffic.  On the upside, there is a 5 mile closed beach near the visitor’s center with no traffic except for the occasional ranger on patrol.

Amenities

• Pit toilets at South beach.  Flush toilets and cold showers at visitor’s center.
• Gift and snack shops at visitor’s center.
• Windsurfing and kayak rentals.

Directions

Padre Island National Seashore is about a 20 minute drive from Corpus Christi, Texas.  From Corpus Christi, head east on Highway 358.  After crossing the causeway, Highway 358 changes to Park Road 22.  Follow Park Road 22 until it turns into beach.  Park anywhere on the beach and set up camp.

For more info, visit Padre Island National Seashore.

Grand Canyon National Park

Visit one of the seven wonders of the natural world and camp for free in Kaibab National Forest.  The campgrounds are only about a 10 minute drive to the south rim of the Grand Canyon.  For an easy day hike, walk the Rim Trail and experience the breathtaking inner canyon overlooks along the way.  Free shuttle buses are also available along the Rim Trail.  For a more strenuous day hike, descend down into the canyon on the South Kaibab Trail.  Pack a lunch and eat at Cedar Ridge or hike down further to Skeleton Point for lunch overlooking the Colorado River.

Pros

• Shaded campsites.  A few sites have fire pits.
• The town of Tusayan is nearby for picking up supplies.

Cons

• There are no toilets, showers, or water available at the campgrounds.  Pay showers are available inside the park at Mather campground – $2 for 8 minutes.  Laundry services are also available at Mather campground.

Amenities

• None.  You’ll have to drive to Tusayan or into the park for everything.

Directions

The Kaibab National Forest free campgrounds at the South Rim of  the Grand Canyon are on Highway 180 about 10 minutes south of the park.  There are several turnoffs into the Kaibab Forest along Highway 180 near Tusayan.  There are no designated sites.  Camp anywhere at least a quarter-mile from paved roads and water.  Some sites have fire rings.  You can also camp for free in Kaibab Forest on the North Rim of the canyon for a quieter, less tourist-filled trip to the Grand Canyon.

For more info, visit Grand Canyon National Park and Kaibab National Forest.

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park feels a little bit Dr. Seuss and a little bit Flintstones.  You can check out the Joshua Trees, do some bouldering or rock climbing, walk through a cholla cactus garden, and camp for free just outside the park on BLM land.  Joshua Tree is one of my favorite National Parks – especially delightful to visit in Spring when the desert wildflowers are in bloom.

Pros

• If you like sleeping on a dry lakebed, peeing outside, and watching the sunrise over the desert mountains this is paradise.

Cons

• No bathrooms, showers, or water available at the campgrounds.

Amenities

• None.  The campground north of the park is near the town of Joshua Tree for supplies.  The campground south of the park is near Cottonwood visitor center where flush toilets and water are available.

Directions

There are free campgrounds on BLM land to the north and south of Joshua Tree National Park.  For a map of the free campgrounds click here.

For more info, visit Joshua Tree National Park.

The winding road in the header photo of Road Schooled was taken at Joshua Tree National Park.

Location:  Joshua Tree National Park – Twentynine Palms, CA

I hiked up this waterfall

and looked down the edge of the falls despite being afraid of heights.  It was totally worth it.

Location:  Vernal Fall at Yosemite National Park, CA