I finished work by noon out at the Morongo Resort. I was told to just hang tight in the area and wait for further instructions. I've always hated casinos and I was feeling kind of restless, for some reason my thoughts turned to Joshua Tree National Park.

There is a vague, tequila based ritual that is often performed out there, I was only 30 miles away...I'd never have another chance like this so...Come on wheels take this boy away

First stop was The Joshua Tree Inn, the place where Gram Parsons passed away in 1973. Passed away in Room number 8 with tequila and opiate in his veins and ice cubes up his ass. Nowadays the inn is pretty much a working shrine to Parsons' memory. I asked the friendly innkeeper if a could stroll around and take some pictures. "Just don't open any doors and take any pictures indoors OK?" she asked.

It's a nice funky old place. I liked the back patio in particular.

I could see myself sitting under the eaves in front of room number 8 with some cold drinks a warm guitar on a lazy afternoon. Not a bad place to die at all.

But back to the ritual, the ritual shouldn't be performed at the inn.