November 30 Tuesday 2010 Desert Hot Springs

Today we get everything ready to move tomorrow to Yuma. Water is back on so Bill does a laundry. I get to skype with Carter and Madison

REMEMBER-Life is hard but after life is harder

skyping Tuesday

November 29 Monday 2010 Desert Hot Springs

We drive to Indian Waters to tell the activity director what hikes and stuff I am will to do for them when we arrive Dec 15 so it can go in the news letter only to learn they have a new director and she is not in on Mondays so I have to write stuff down and leave it with a phone number as we leave for Yuma Wednesday. Shannon phones she will be in Sarong Indonesia for Christmas

REMEMBER-If you can't sleep try counting your blessings.

November28 Sunday 2010 Desert Hot Springs

nothing much happening today. There is no water in the park and they do not think it will be on until latter tomorrow. I spent the morning helping someone with computer stuff then the afternoon helping someone else.

REMEMBER- You are stuck with debt if you can't budge it.

2010 Christmas party-not very happy

we stopped at the preserve but they didn't know how the fire started yet.

November 27 Saturday Desert Hot Springs

A very busy day. First a very big surprise as we pass the Willis Palm parking lot we see that the palm grove has burnt to the ground. We just hiked it the day before . What a shame. First we go to the Collage of the Desert COD and buy stuff. Then return stuff to the palm desert library from Desert pools. ( a nice option like Vancouvers' library inter change. 99 cent only store, fresh and easy and Traders Joes. Bill gets the latest Palm springs map from the AAA. Have lunch at Carls Junior and stater brothers for more groceries.

REMEMBER- The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.

Big Morango preserve

November 26 Friday 2010 Desert hot Springs

Today we go to Big Morango Canyon preserve. It is a beautiful cold morning but we warm up quickly hiking. We do several trails with a total of about 4 miles in a circle. The Morango fault runs through 5 trails systems that interlock the canyon. The San Gorgonio at 11,503 'can be seen. The preserve is between the Mojave and the Sonaran desert. We find an interesting plant- yerba santa. It was used by natives in the treatment of lung conditions, saliva production and to stop bleeding in minor cuts. New leaves were used as chewing gum. Torn leaves smell like bubblegum. It can be dries,mashed,smoked,chewed or turned into a tea. We also see a paperbag plant. Home by noon only to find out we are invaded bt tiny ants. Bill discouvers that they are coming in via the water hose. He makes quick work of them

REMEMBER-When a clock is hungry it goes back for seconds.

Sherri sent some winter fun pictures

willis trail

Willis trail

November 25 Thursday 2010 Happy American Thanksgiving

Today I take 3 people on the Willis palms trail in the Coachella Valley- Preserve-4 miles rated moderate. Weather is perfect for hiking not too windy and not to cold. . Willis trail has a view of Mt. San Gorgonio. It is a natural palm grove which sits on the San Andreas fault line. We see a caterpillar sitting on a milk weed so it is a monarch butterfly, Wow. Everyone is surprised when we came to the area where mud oozed out of the mountainside. We get side tracked for awhile but quickly find the trail again. We get back by noon time to prepar for the big dinner.

Coachella perserve thousand palms

November21 Sunday 2010 Desert Hot springs

An unbelievable day First I go and sign up for a hike with Ron. (8am)He is going to Indian Palms I have not been there before. It is only a very short hike but I get to see things I never saw before- witches hair or dodder. It is a parasite that does not kill its host. It is sometimes called strangle weed and likes to live on a smoke tree. I see a big jackrabbit , they sure have big ears. We are back at the preserve by 9am too early to stop so I continue on down the McCallum trail and onto Moon country. Now it is very windy so much so that I have to wear sunglasses to keep the sand flying into my eyes. I go against the wind on the ridge but am pushed along in the wash on return . I am back at the Rv by 11;45. We have invited Ken and Linda over for turkey dinner. Nap then a shower then put the turkey in the convection. Forgot how to set it up fiddle with it for some time and then I cannot find my poultry seasoning, so go to 5 Rv's before I find some. The turkey does get done in time. I forget to serve the cranberries and the gravey. Nobody mentioned it.

REMEMBER- Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like banana.

November 20 Saturday 2010 Desert Hot springs

Our Park leads a tour to Cabot's Pueblo. This is a 4 story Hopi-style Pueblo (1941). It has 35 rooms,150 windows and more than 60 doors. Many of the building's features and fixtures were collected and adapted by Yerxa during his travels throughout the region. We were not allowed to take pictures inside.We see alive tarantula. They have a trading post and Gallery and beautiful gardens ,one with a 43' tall carving- Waokiye. Artist Peter Toth carved it from a single redwood log. The group was going to Pioneer Town an movie set next . We didn't go as we went last year. We went grocery shopping . I bought a turkey for $5.42-35 cents a pound . Unbelievable.Next we had our flue shots at Rite Aid drug store. as they ran out at home. I hate to say this but it is 4:30 and it has started to rain at least it is not snow like in Vancouver.

REMEMBER-A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

November 19 Friday 2010 Desert Hot Springs

I hike with Paul at the Coachella Valley preserve. The second -largest palm oasis in California. It also sits squarely atop the San Andreas Fault. He takes 2 hours to go one mile. A real talker as he describes every plant on the way to the pond. The wind starts up around 2pm. Larry and lin come over for happy hour. (our Powell River friends.

REMEMBER-one thing you can give and keep is your word.

Carrizo Canyon

November 18 Wednesday 2010 Desert Hot Springs

Today is the first desert hike of the season. ( 4 miles)Bill drives me to Santa Rosa where a guide leads us to Carrizo Canyon with the hope of seeing some bighorn sheep. Not to be. We walk up a sandy wash before entering the canyon itself. We take the right branch first to a seasonal waterfall very little water is coming down . We go back and take the other branch to get a view of the waterfall from above. Bill picks me up at 11.30 and we go to Ken and Linda's to deliver the lemon pepper they asked me to get from Desert Hot Springs. In the evening I help a lady with her computer and Picasa.

REMEMBER-the heaviest thing you can carry is a grudge.

November 17 Wednesday 2010 Desert Hot Springs

Today I start out with a computer class in the park. Lunch then trip to Desert Hot Springs seniors center and library. I have been talked into giving a class on Picasa next Wednesday.( a photo enhancing program). I also said I would lead a tag-a-long to 5 thrift stores in Palm Desert next Tuesday.

REMEMBER-the happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.

November 16 Tuesday 2010 Desert Hot Springs

A very busy day-First we go visit Ken and Linda( Bills cousins) They were in the middle of renovations. Next we go to Shermans for lunch. Our first time there and not our last- very good. The visitors center in Palm Desert next then the 99c store for veg and fruit. Santa Rosa visitors center for hike schedule . All the way to Indio and Indian Waters to make sure they will hold our mail from Grand Circle as we do not get there until December 15. I use the free phone and phone friends in Canada. Wal-mart next where Bill gets a net 10 phone and I get a haircut . I buy a roasted chicken and a few other ends. We do not get back until 5pm. A very busy day.

REMEMBER-the best vitamin for making friends is B1