We came to California without our trailer, leaving it in Phoenix for repairs. My sister, Val, and her husband, Pete took us into their lovely home in Rancho Mirage. We figured that staying at a hotel for the duration of the repairs would be too expensive and we were right...it took over 2 weeks for the repairs to be completed, with the time mostly eaten up by the shop waiting for parts! So, we stayed with Val and Pete for 2 wonderful weeks, visiting with them and other family members who drove out to the desert to see us.
Jim drove back to Phoenix to get the trailer by himself. When he got back we moved into the Sands RV and Golf Resort in Desert Hot Springs and stayed there for another 2 weeks. The rental fees in this area in March are very expensive. After all, the winter is high season for the desert resorts. We sure have great timing!
While we were here, we found some great places to hike, visiting Joshua Tree National Park several times, which was about an hour away. (Joshua trees are relatives of the of the Yucca plant.) Driving through the park, we would stop and watch rock climbers or trek around the big rock formations, marveling at their shapes and sizes.
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| Jim and the Joshua Tree |
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| Close up of an Ocotillo plant |
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| Joshua Tree blossom |
Not too many wildflowers yet. I think we were here too early. We did see some beautiful flora and fauna at the Living Desert Museum, which we visited our first weekend here. If you get a chance, it is so interesting to explore and see what makes the desert tick....all the animals, plants, trees....lots of Native American history as well.
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| Young rock climber in the park |
(LINK TO MORE PHOTOS)
Don't get sucked into hiking into the Fortynine Palms Oasis! Unless you really just want a grueling hike about 3 miles long, gaining and losing 350 feet altitude both ways, the oasis itself is a bust. The hike was an experience. My calf muscles were sore for at least 4 days!
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| Jim at the Oasis |
(The Oasis is located between the two entrances to Joshua Tree National Park on Highway 62, for all you who will not be warned away!) Now, the trail in Big Morongo Canyon Preserve was easy. Rather tame actually. But a nice way to spend a few hours. (and easy on the calves......)
Another day we took a ride over the Palm to Pines Highway to see the other side of the mountains, driving through Hemet, Warner Springs and Julian, and came back via the highway along the Salton Sea. Long day. We took a lot of drives while we were here.
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| Palm to Pines Highway overlook |
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| Wildflower in Mecca |
Going south on the I-10, we took the Mecca offramp and wandered among the rock formations and desert canyons. Stark beauty.
Twice our relatives from Orange County came to visit and once we drove into Orange County for Jim to see his clients while I visited with my friends, Debi and Cheryl.
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| Debi and Cheryl |
After lunch at the Lazy Dog in Irvine, the 3 of us walked around Balboa Island and spent the time together reminiscing and catching up with each other's lives. Then out to dinner with friends, P.J. and Roberta. Nice day.
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| Windmill Farm |
During the course of our stay here, I had the pleasure of picking up my brother, Marty, at the Palm Springs International Airport. He came down from Oregon for a short stay so he could be with all of us while Jim and I were here. It was a mini-reunion of all the living siblings. Fun times.
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| T: Mary, Pete, Val, Jim, Jack, Marty B: Liz, Bob, Jeri |
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| T: Mary, Val, Marty B: Liz, Jeri The siblings |
(LINKS TO MORE FAMILY PHOTOS #1)
(LINKS TO MORE FAMILY PHOTOS #2)
Though we were sad to bid adieu to our family in the desert, Jim and I were more than ready to hit the road again.
Next stop, Bishop, California and the surrounding Eastern Sierra mountains.
(Click on the pictures to enlarge)
