Pushawalla Palms hike in Coachella Valley Preserve

hiking the Coachella Valley Pushawalla palms trail ( 6 miles)

Dec 29 Monday
Another hike day a big one today the Pushawalla Palms in the Coachella Valley preserve. Dina waited at the visitors center She does the 3 mile McCallum trail
on her own as we did a ridge walk first and it was very steep and straight down. Our hike is 6 miles another first trail for me.

Clark and a cholla

Dec 28 Sunday
Clark,Sheila and I meet Hudson and Dina at the Santa Rosa Preserve. We do the Henderson trail a 3 mile distance. A perfect day for hiking not too hot or too cold and no wind. 65 (18)

beach barnacles, washing palms dates and dead tilapia remember to double click on picture to enlarge

The Salton Sea is the largest inland surface water body in California. It is the Pacific flyaway stop . More then 350 species frequent the Sea. The Salton Sea is approx. 98 years old and lies 228' below sea level. The sea contains great numbers of tilapia ( an Africian perch).

Dec 26 Friday
Another bad day. Clark Sheila and me go for a hike to La Quinta cove. Sheila removes her overshirt and puts down her wallet from around her neck and forget to put it back. Yep it is left behind. We check closely on our return but no luck.
Dec 27 Saturday
Today 6 of us go to the Salton Sea (Hudson and Dina Clark and Sheila and both of us. A ranger leads us on a bird walk scope and all, very interesting. Latter we go on a hike on the Ironwood trail to Mecca RV camp on the beach of the Salton Sea. We meet someone there that used to belong to the Center Bay yatch club. Small world. When we return Clark gets a phone call someone has found Sheila's wallet. She had already canceled some stuff. But was glad to get keys and other stuff back.

Dec 24 Wednesday
Another good computer class. Tonight we go next door to Clark and Sheila's for a delicious dinner.
Dec 25 Thursday Christmas Day
We have 8 for a turkey dinner. Everyone brings something and a grand feast was had. Weather was sunny but only got up to 64'(17) not really complaining as Vancouver is covered with snow.

Bills Xmas decorations outside

Sherri email this picture from her back porch in Surrey BC

Dec 23 Tuesday
We go and buy the turkey today for Christmas. We bought a cell phone from Wal-mark for while I go hiking. Another beautiful day. 65 (18) during the day and 45 (7) at night. So nothing to complain about.

climbing mecca Hills

note me and danny standing near cliff really shows the size

climbing the ladders at Mecca hills

Dec 22 Monday
Another hike today at Mecca Hills. 7 of us go ,we climb 7 ladders and squeeze through slots great fun. We are back by 2:30 after stopping to get a free date shake (Danny had coupons for all of us.) My interim or tempory drivers licence arrives today. Hudson and Dina come over after supper with our mail. Clark ans Sheila come over too . We have a good visit.

Dec 21 Sunday
Sunny again today. I walk to the shopping and back only 15min away. Clark and Sheila arrive by noon. They are parked next door. We have a great visit. Shelia and I play games in their rig . Bill put Xmas light up outside. Hudson and Dina arrive in Palm Springs

Dec 20 Saturday
Today we have breakfast -burritos and cinnamon bun at the RV park. I walk to Old Town Indio( 1 mile) Bill picks me up and we go to Old Town in La Quinta they are having a xmas affair santa and all. We have a coffee and muffin. Vancouver is having it's coldest winter since 1969 -15 C or 5'F .Sherri phones to say Carter is now 10lbs 3 oz. She had to have a bump on his forehead looked at. The doctor figures it was a blood vessel but is sending them to a specialist.

Dec 19 Friday
We get e-mail from Shannon. They arrives in Rio today. And the Brazilian government screwed up again and they can't get dock age until Monday . The Brazilian girl they hired might be quitting and Shannon is thinking of letting the Vancouver (Richmond ) girl go too. I go hiking to the Cochilla valley Thousand Palms preserve with Danny our leader from the RV park.

Dec18 Thursday
Sunny today Bill drives me to Santa Rosa visitors center where 5 of us go on a 4 mile hike another new hike for me. We hiked to Carrizo Canyon in Palm Desert. We hike up to a waterfall. This trail will close in January as it is the birthing area for the big horn sheep. We do not see any. It was beautiful out with lots of fresh snow on the surrounding mountains. Bill waits for me. Sure will be glad when a copy of my drivers license arrives. 2.30 the park has a managers meeting. They are selling sites in the park . They think they have 5 sites sold already. 35-45 th.

Dec 16 Tuesday
Sunny today. After a good computer class in the morning we go shopping-Trader Joes, Wal-mart and Stater bros ( a grocery store). Bill has a major tragedy opening our truck door a large bottle of scotch drops to the ground.Yep it breaks. Bill is just about in tears. Sherri skypes the twins tonight. Carter is now 10 lbs and Madison 91/2.

click on picture to enlarge

desert lavender blooming way too early

dec 15 Monday
Yes we get good news from Shannon they can continue on to Rio De Janerio. They will fuel up and hope to be in Rio in 3 days. I went on a 5 mile hike today with 3 others we went to La Quinta Cove a new place for me. We got back just in time as its starts to rain and continues to do so all day. We go and visit Bill's cousin Ken and Linda ( our wine makers).

finally able to post do not know what i did but it is working now enjoy click on pic to enlarge