Haboob!

March 6, 2012

Borega Springs, CA

Today we explore the Galleta Meadows Sky Art Sites.  We were driving down the road last night and all of a sudden saw an elephant!  What the heck?  This thing was huge!  I remembered the gal at the visitors center saying that there were sculptures around town.  We just found them!

These sculptures are along three different roads around town.  Kinda random and really take you by surprise when you drive by.

Ride-em cowboy!

These could be used in a Japanese monster movie!

I was just minding my own business and this grasshopper tried to bite my arm off!

Picking grapes with the locals.....

Momma sloth and it's baby.

What is that in the distance?  Looks like the lochness monster going under the road.

Or maybe it is the "Tremors" monster.

Or a chinese dragon.

Local monk walking his dog.

Mark is lending a hand to one of the locals that got stuck.

After the sculpture gallon we were off to the local golf course.  Mark is getting ready for "battle" on the first tee.

It is beautiful here.  This is the front view from my seat in the golf cart.

This is the rear view.  Hurry up, Honey!

Yikes!  The wind just came up.  High winds were predicted today but we were not sure when.  Now we know.  The skies are turning brown all of a sudden and only one word is screaming in my head.......HABOOB!  Run for the clubhouse.!

Notes in a Palm Tree

March 5, 2012
Borega Springs, CA

Today we are exploring Anza Borega State Park.  It is the largest state park in California and completely surrounds the town of Borega Springs.

First night is in the state park.  One night only, then we move because the park is reserved.

Yes, we gotta get outa here!  There are critters crawling around here that could be poisonous!

Our first jeep trip is out to Font's Point.  Amazing view.  I bought a new hat to  match my shirt.  Gotta be stylish while touring the park.

Mark is looking for potential illegals trying to cross into the US.

Our next jeep trail leads us to 5 Palms.  This is the view behind the jeep as we drive up the wash.

This is the view as we go around the last corner and whallah!  There is the 5 Palms oasis.

We were told at the visitors center that Palms need 200 gallons of water a day to survive.  These guys must have really deeeeeeeeeep roots, because as you can see, there is nothing growing around these trees for miles.

This is the jeep sitting at the bottom of the hill.  As Theresa would say, "God-Forsaken Place"!

Then we drive down the road to 12 Palms.  There is a history to this oasis.  Travelers would stop here for water, shade, and rest.  People that had extra water would leave it at the bottom of a palm, sometimes with a note on it for anyone that comes after.  Mark is now on the search for a bottle of water and/or notes.

This hole has water at the bottom of it!

Mark finally found some bottles and notes.  On the ground under this small barrel are a pile of water bottles, each with water.  This barrel was filled with notebooks signed by people that had stopped at the oasis.  We, of course, signed one of the notebooks for posterity.  If you want to know what we said, you will have to visit 12 palms in Anza Borega State Park!

Tried to Leave Palm Springs for Borega Springs

March 3, 2012
Palm Springs, CA

Well, it's time for goodbye to Bob and Judy.  We had such a good time.  Our last morning was out to breakfast with them and then a long good bye.

Mark, Judy and Bob

Mark, Judy and Angie

Well, we didn't make it far.  On our way out of town, I wanted to stop at Fantasy Casino so I could play my "revolver" slot machine again for an hour or so.....
We ended up calling Bob and Judy and letting them know that we were staying one more night in the area and they came down and met us for one more session of Bingo.  Sad to say, nobody was able to call bingo, again.  We went to three sessions with no bingo.  Sad, Sad, Sad.
Anyway, the shot above is a mobile RV Washing business here in the casino lot.  We see them normally in rv parks.  Anywhere there is a gathering of more than five RV's these guys show up and offer to wash the RV, even in the casino parking lot.  Industrious workers.

This is our beautiful clubhouse patiently waiting for momma to get out of the casino.....:)

Skyway to Heaven

March 2, 2012
Palm Springs

Today we ride the Rotating Tram up to the top of the mountain right next to Palm Springs.

This tram is the largest rotating tram in the US.   The ascent is so steep that you cross five ecological areas, starting with desert and ending with alpine forest.  It was amazing.

This is a shot of the tram above us, coming down toward us.  The total ride is 12 minutes, going over a mile up the mountain.

We are at the top, looking down on Palm Springs and surrounding area.

Yes, I was really here.  Had to remove my hat cuz the wind was blowing so hard up here that I was afraid of losing it.

Coming down the mountain.  Notice the snow.  28 deg. on top with snow. People were coming up with sleds and snow gear.  Down below it was 75 deg.

Another shot as we descended.

You Ladies are How Old??????

Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Palm Springs

Tonight we went to the Palm Springs Follies.  It started 20 years ago and is a Las Vegas style show with showgirls with huge headdresses and the whole bit.  Sorry I couldn't get pictures of them.  I could only get pictures before the show started.  Anyway, nobody in the show was under 55 years old!  The gals ages started at 62 and went up to 79.  These gals were mostly retired Las Vegas showgirls or Radio City Music Hall in New York.  They were gorgeous and could dance.  The guys were aged from 58 on up to about 82.  It was amazing.  It was humbling.

We went to Maracas Mexican Restaurant across the street for dinner before the show.  Mark got a "small" coke!  We followed it up with shots of tequila but those were not quite as large.

Before the show they had old commercials and shows.  They were so funny.  This guy was selling Kodak cameras.

On to cartoons with bugs bunny.  Great show, highly recommended.  This show runs from November til April, Wednesday through Sunday, matinee show and night time show.  That is 10 shows a week.  Another reason I am so impressed with these older folks.  That is a tough schedule for youngsters.  I slept 9 hours last night.  Watching all that singing and dancing made me tired........

I Can Fly This Plane

February 25, 2012
Palm Springs, CA


We toured an oasis called 1000 Palms.  The most interesting thing about this place is that it has the San Andreas Fault running underneath it.  Makes you want to step a few yards to the east, just in case.....

The next day we went to McCormacks Antique Care Auction in Palm Springs.  It was quite cool to see all these antique cars.  Mark and I picked the hummer for Kyle.

The Porche for ourselves.

I had such a strong inclination to bid.  There was an older Rolls Royce that I could have hooked up behind the motorhome.  We would be the talk of the RV parks.

Monday found us at the air museum in Palm Springs.  This ejector seat could easily be converted and installed in the motorhome.

Mark has flown this SBD bomber over the Pacific Theatre.

Mark has landed this F6 on the USS Essex many times.  Crashed a few times also.

My favorite part of the museum was the nose art.  This little bunny was painted on a P51 that the Tuskegee Red Tail Airman flew.  They were a squad of black pilots in WWII.  Flew in Europe mostly.  That is where Grandpa Russell Johnson was stationed in WWII.  Italy, specifically.

This "Rosie the Riveter" is a little different than you usually see.  I love the muscles!

English Spitfire and a Ukrainian Smartass.....

We toured the wind farms today.  Over 3000 wind turbines in this area.  So, this place is as windy as the Columbia Gorge.  Just doesn't have as much water......