You know there is a just superior Chinese restaurant in 29 Palms? I've been through Joshua Tree a number of times. The roads around Joshua Tree are often part of my "stay out of HellA" strategy :) I'll probably go that way this summer when I head north. Right now I'm planning to go via Sequoia and Kings Canyon NPs. Current plan is to spend a couple days in KC. John Muir said that was a 'more fair' valley than Yosemite...