This afternoon around 2:45pm I fired up the FJR and headed for Amboy. I arrived there just as the sun was setting; perfect timing.
I bought a root beer and a snack and waited for the sky to get just a bit darker. While paying for the beverage, I mentioned to the attendant that I'd heard about the sign being restored and that I had ridden up from Palm Springs to see it. He said he was headed out in a moment to flip the switch. He did, and it was really cool to see...note the full moon rising just above the ridge line to the east.
I waited around a bit longer and got this shot with the glow on the horizon:
Having seen what I came to see, I saddled up and headed back south. The full moon really throws a lot of light when you're out in the middle of nowhere on Amboy Road. Instead on taking 62 through Yucca Valley and down to I10, I entered Joshua Tree NP from the northeast entrance. I turned south on Pinto Basin Road towards the south Park exit. I stopped a couple of times and shut off the lights to take in the utter silence and desolation. But the desert was brightly lit under the full moon. I saw two other vehicles the whole time I was in the Park. I passed the south exit, joined I10 and slabbed it back towards Palm Springs, pulling into the garage just after 8pm. It was only a 250 mile ride, but I got to see a really cool neon sign!
