Sorry - got into this thread too late. Next time anyone does this trip, let me know. I live in the Palm Springs are and can give some more advice on this area.
We did see the Hat and Cactus Show. Pulled off into an area that had a base pile and some broken concrete and asphalt piled up. Saw a cactus and took some pictures as a hat flew in landed on cactus and then flew off again. Waited around for 10 mins nothing else happened so jumped back into the Pickup and headed towards Phoenix.
Well not so steady actually, and the 220 film that I loaded got a lot of egde burn from the bright light, it happen to me before with 220 but forgot the changing bag.