 |
Leaving One Desert For Another |
We can now say we have been to Palm Springs. Or should I say Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Desert Hot Springs or Indio. All these separate communities make up the Palm Springs area and are nestled up to the San Jacinto Mountains and the Mountains and on the north and east by the Little San Bernardino Mountains. The San Andreas Fault crosses the valley is easily visible along its northern length as a strip of greenery against an otherwise bare mountain.
I don’t know what I expected but there were a lot less old people than I had envisioned. Maybe that’s because I experienced a birthday when I was there and older folks are starting to look a lot younger to me.
We stayed in Palm Springs proper. Our five-night stay was at on North Indian Canyon Drive at the 7 Springs Inn and Suites. Our first night out was to Lulu’s on the main strip. We were joined by old friends Barry and Jan and had a great evening catching up.
Day two was some pool time for the boys while Deborah and Kathy hit the consignment stores looking for the “high-end” fashion bargains they had heard so much about. After a great day hunting they came up empty handed but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
We joined Barry and Jan at their complex for some pool time in the afternoon. Barry prepared a dinner of baked ham and scalloped potatoes. Jan’s cousin Marvin and wife Ann joined us, as well as other Edmonton retires Lee and Sonia. We ended the night with a game of Millionaire (and of course the men won).
 |
Barry's Boat |
 |
Haven't Changed Much since High school???? |
Sunday was market day at the College of the Desert. It wasn’t your normal flea market crowd and nor were the vendors, pretty high-end stuff. After a quick stop at the driving range it was off to the Polo match in Indio.
Polo is a tough sport to figure out. We watched the two teams score six goals in two thirds of a game. The confusing part was four of the goals were scored at the end we were sitting beside. Each team scored twice through the same goal posts. I never did figure it out but there is certain majesty to specially breed highly athletic horses and their riders able to hit a small ball with a nine-foot croquet stick.
Monday was a day for golf. The ladies and men split into two threesomes and we played the short course at Cimarron in Cathedral City. The golf wasn’t great but the company was good and we had a good time.
We ended the day with dinner at Sammy G’s Tuscan Grill for my birthday dinner. As usual we ate far too much. I don’t know that it is about Palm Springs but all the restaurants conspire to over serve all patrons in the food volume department. Some say we could have left some on the plate but that would be simply bad manners.
Tuesday was a day for a bicycle ride to burn off a few calories. Palm Springs is not like Phoenix. It is not set up well for biking. There are wide shoulders on the road but no designated lanes. Not everyone enjoyed the ride but I liked the 20 km of exercise before stopping for lunch at “A bit of Country”.
More pool time and then joined Barry and Jan once again for dinner but this time it was for ribs in chipotle sauce at Trio.
Wednesday was a travel day. We left the air, hot air of the Sonoran Desert for the days drive to the Pacific at San Simeon. The last hour’s drive was fantastic. The region is chalk a block full of vineyards and wineries. We stopped at the Niner, tasted the wares and made purchases to enjoy in the future.
 |
The Niner Winery |
Tomorrow calls for a visit to the Hearst Castle here in Sam Simeon and then a leisurely drive up Big Sur to San Francisco.
