Part 7 - Hike almost a washout

The hike called the 'Never Ending Canyon' will have to wait as today when we attempted to hike the trail and found out that 'Box Canyon Road' does end.  Washed out to be exact so it will be a few weeks before we can hike in the Mecca Hills. 

Five years ago there was another big rain storm and the road was washed out so we headed north toward Palm Springs and hiked into the Coffee Bean Canyon. 

As you can tell by the colour of the hills you are entering the world of Coffee Bean Canyon... actually I lie because to go into the actual canyon you have to hike down the trail another couple of miles.  I said to my hiking partner "This looks just like the CB Canyon lets check this one out."

The first indication we were in a similar spot was the nodules of mud and rock.

These nodules roll off the surrounding hills and pack so tight that the water that washed them down through the valleys don't break them apart.  I tried to break this one open and it took quite a few tries to break it apart.

I am showing this photo so you get the idea how the hills zig-zag downward.  We continues up this line of hills going right and then left until it got too difficult for the dogs and us to walk in the runoff trench.

As you may see in this photo someone thought it would be fun to use an upturned iron board to slide down the slope.  I think that finding the board halfway up the slope would indicate that the attempt to participate in the extreme sport of iron board sledding was a failure.

 The dogs tried to walk up on the side of the hills but the aggregate of mud, sand and rock would not support their weight.

Bryan, Shiraz and Chip are humouring me with a pose just after we decided we should turn back. 

Chip is investigating a water channel that is about 100 feet long.  It is amazing the water's ability to find a path through all the rock and mud.  We could tell that there were no animals using this tunnel as Chip showed no interest in searching any further.

On the way back to the truck we walked along the top of the Coachella Canal.  The canal extends from just north of the US-Mexican border where it tees off of the All-American Canal and ends in Indio.



Part 6 - Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and hope everyone is enjoying their company and surroundings.  My sister and brother's families had a visit before Christmas and sent photos that made me wish I was there with them.  So here are a couple of photos of Lin and I and it may make all of you wish you were at our place this morning.

This is a tradition we have every Christmas morning... Waffles, strawberries, whip cream.  We had problems finding enough strawberries this year so added some blackberries.  If you look carefully there is waffle under all that...

Have a great day celebrating Christ's birth!

Part 5 1/2 - The sky opened

This isn't the worst flooding we have seen but Chip figured he had to swim to go on his morning walk.  The water level in the photo had actually gone down about 4 inches.  I know this because as a good neighbour I chased down a 'welcome' mat that was floating past the front of our trailer.

Chip wasn't happy but he had his front legs moving.  The water is all gone this morning and the sun is out but yesterday was certainly dark, wet and windy.  We had a day of last minute shopping and just getting out of the trailer.  On our way to the wool shop we had to drive over the Wash.  On the map it is called the Whitewater River and usually it is very dry and you wonder if it was a waste to put such a huge waterway through the center of the city.  Then when the rains come you find out why it is so big.

A number of golf courses use this area for their driving ranges and many places are just planted with grass but you can just bet there won't be many golfers practicing their swings for a few months.

Part 5 - It does rain in the desert

I took the photo a few days ago and they were saying that it was going to rain.  When the meteorologists say chance of rain they aren't too serious down here in the desert.  We have some rain shadows of the San Jacinto mountains to the south and west and smaller ranges to the north.

These conditions can lull you into a sense of false security because if you look off into the hills you see all the deep scars carved into the sand, mud and rock.  It had to be some serious water flowing to make that kind of character. 

Today we had rain off and on throughout the day and we are to get some heavy rain tonight and tomorrow.  No problem you say especially if you are from the Wet Coast of BC but our day of hiking could be a great washout.  You can be walking up these slot canyons and find yourself washed out through the bottom. 

In the photo above I hope to show how smooth the concrete looks and really when you add a little water you can skate on the surface.  Someone told me the sand blowing around polishes the surface but I think they start off being finished with too smooth a finish.  Either way you could see people shuffling around like were wearing wool socks on a polished floor.

In the interests of keeping the trailer a bit cleaner and dryer we put Chip's raincoat on him.  You would think he would be a bit more cheerful having gone for a walk but as you can see he is not impressed with the rain.

Hope this is all behind us by Thursday and I can share another hike.

Part 4 - Shopping at the Street Fair

The Street Fair is held every Saturday and Sunday throughout the year.  During tourist season (that's us) they have up to 340 stalls and at the peak 20,000 shoppers each weekend.  We were very fortunate this Saturday as the crowds were down. 

Quite a few vendors have similar merchandise so they all have things that they try to draw you in.  One place that was selling ladies nightshirts was also trying to sell a bubble blowing machine.  So while Lin was shopping for her nightshirt the little boy in me was playing with the bubble machine... Lin bought a shirt but I resisted buying the bubbler even though the sales guy pointed out it had lights that flashed and it looked really neat at night.

I think the term 'there's everthing from soup to nuts' came from this place.



Dried flowers were very colourful and creatively arranged




These guys are trying to  attract Marylou or anyone that remembers the song.




The rows of vendor does spread out farther than the eye can see



There is food, live music and always lots of interesting people to watch.  Dogs aren't allowed but it certainly isn't a hard and fast rule.  The artwork is really exceptional at some of these places but as with all markets there is the odd piece of rubbish.



George and his breakfast burrito, mexican sausage and egg. I have over 2/3's of it eaten in this photo...Burp!




As I said interesting people and pooches




These guys are the Aztec Kings, great music




Wanted to buy one of the cactus but it wouldn't fit in the decor back at Parksville

 Our dog Chip is so spoiled we let him open his Christmas present early.



A workout T-shirt from Gold's Gym

 

Part 3 - A Living Nativity

Lin and I are the only people that travel 2000 km to go see a portrayal of Jesus when we could go about 3 km from home and see a wonderful presentation.

Last night we went to the 2nd annual presentation located at Vintage Nursery about 10 minutes from the RV park.  Local churches and the nursery have set up a virtual holy land experience; acting out Jesus life starting at the prophecy from Isaiah; immaculate conception;  travel to Bethlehem; Herod's decree and ending with Crucifixion and rising from the grave.



Isaiah's prophecy





Mary with Angel Gabriel



Along the way Roman soldiers were out collecting taxes



Look there isn't any room at the inn!




The angels appeared to the shepherds out in the fields





The wise men visit. They came by camel



The wise men offered gifts to baby Jesus.



After His crucifixion Christ rose on the third day



Part 2 - Coachella Valley Preserve

Wednesday Dec. 15th our small hiking group headed northwest to the Coachella Valley Preserve.  I remember reading that the oasis here was used for ranching and gardening.  In the Early years before irrigation this would be one of the places water could be found year round.  Their website under 'History' provides more photos: http://coachellavalleypreserve.org/

There is a small visitor center that has information about the history, flora and fauna.  They even have a collection of little and big insects pinned out on a board.  The preserve sits directly above the San Andreas Fault but I didn't feel the earth move the day we were there.  Someone told me that whenever you find palm trees growing naturally, they are probably on in a fault zone.

As you see from the photos that the presence of pools of water really are beautiful and miraculous in this harsh environment.

 These pools have small pup fish and crayfish.  We saw some traps in the water that were being used in a study of the pond life.

The palm trees have there fronds draped down as they die and only high winds seem to disturb them.  We saw evidence that animals crawl up inside these skirts and nest.  I always thought they were those neatly trimmed tall trees that you found a resorts.  There are many varieties.  I think this type here is a Californian Fan Palm.   

 

The two photos below are of Willis Palms.  The charred remains were of a fire about 3 weeks ago.  If you can imagine the intense heat given off by the burning palm fronds... the flames and smoke could be seen throughout the valley. 

The bottom photo is from last years hike into the Willis Palms.  If you look carefully you can see burn marks on the trees.  This grove looked like the same as above in 1983 when fire first struck.  So you are looking at a 27 years of growth.  Like our evergreen trees these larger trees will survive but the younger, shorter trees will die due to the intense heat.



Part 1 - Snowbirds 2010 - 2011

This is my first attempt at a blog it should be a steep learning curve.  I guess not talking about the weather will severely limit my discussion and work against my topics. 

Lin and I have been coming to the desert and particularly Palm Springs area since January 2004.  We have really enjoyed this area for the warm, dry air and the dramatically different scenery.  I hope that this post will be interesting. 

This year we arrived on the 17th of November about a month earlier than we normally do.  This year we avoided any weather systems that make the drive down unpleasant.  We were into our shorts and T-shirts just after arriving in Red Bluff CA. 

We knew that with snow on Mount Arrowsmith we must leave soon and it was a day after this shot was taken we were on the road. 

November 11th seemed like a good day to travel but the waits at the US/Canada border were 3 hrs at Peace Arch and 90 min. at the Truck crossing.  Because we are a large RV we were through the truck crossing in 40 min.

As I mentioned above we had pleasant weather so our plan was to take 7  days and enjoy the trip as apposed to 4 days of hard driving and feeling very tired when you arrive.  What's the rush, there was no snow in any of the passes.

We arrived on Nov 17th in beautiful Coachella Valley and were greeted by warm winds and sunny skies.

Shadow Hills RV Resort is billed as a small family friendly park and it is certainly quieter than most resorts along I-10.  It is set back from the highway and the rail line just beside the road.

The views of the surrounding mountains and hills is great especially during sunrise and sunset.  The colours on the hills continually changes as the sun rises and sets.

We also appreciate the closeness to shopping and dining.  I was going to say nightlife instead of dining but when you get to a restaurant in time for Early Bird specials you have to get honest with yourself. 



Wide enough for a foot on each side of your shoulders



Another reason to keep coming back to the Valley is to take in all the great hikes.  The first hike on Nov. 23rd was off to the southeast of Indio, Ladders and Painted Canyon.  These canyons are located in the Mecca Hills.  You climb through very narrow slot canyons using ladders to get through the difficult stretches arriving at the top of the ridge to enjoy a view of the Salton Sea and surrounding mountains. 



One of the better ladders



Painted Canyon

The painted canyons have layers of rock and sediment that has been laid down horizontal and also you can see patterns of the earth being thrust in all directions.  Erosion of all the areas also adds it's own special touch.  As you see in the photo to the left the vegetation also thrives in this environment. 

The whole hike was about 5.4 miles and was rated easy/moderate.