Bewley's are here...Ladder Hike 3-30-12

Donna and Dave arrived on Wednesday...and we have "Camp Eckle" in full swing.  Since Donna has a knee problem, only Hiker Dave was available to go on our first adventure into the desert.   Went to our favorite spot out at the Mecca Hills to the Painted Canyons and the "Ladder Hike".

Off to an early morning start to avoid the sun...without Miss Donna.  (She's babysitting Sooki.)

The start of the hike...a little rock scrambling.  One has to know where the hike starts.  This makes our 4th time hiking here...I feel like we can be hike leaders now.

A series of ladders one has to climb to get into the slot canyons...Dave felt this was awesome.  He doesn't get this on the PCT.

Allan and Dave just waiting for me to come on up....no ladder assist here...just deciding where to place your foot and grab a rock to pull you on up makes it a challenge.

In the slots...Dave said it makes him think about flash flooding...and hopes that it doesn't rain here.  But we have only had 3/4" of rain since July 1st last year.  Don't think we need to worry about that.

Sometimes it can be a little tight...what topography, though.

Allan can't pass up making a cairn....it's the engineer in him.

A great time to hike...flowers were bloomin'...here's the ocotillo...my favorite desert plant.

And look what I captured in this shot...oh, I'm getting so artistic.

Heading out of the canyons...here's a Pale Verde tree in full bloom.  (Have one of these in our back yard.)  How in the world does it bloom without water.

Janet heading out...last time we hiked this there were no ladders and we had to repel down this section with the rope that you see to the right.  Always makes for an interesting exit.

Dave starting his descent...is a little tricky trying to get onto the ladder.

Allan made it....there's a smile on his face?

Best part of all...sipping a "brew" at the end of our 3-hour adventure. 

There was only 1 car in the parking lot when we started, and 10 there when we returned 3 hours later, but we only saw 2 people on the whole hike...don't know where they were.

Sooki relaxin' and more...

She just loves stretching her arms out...this is her favorite pose.

Allan's latest project.....

The before...took out the old medicine chest in the guest bathroom.

And...the after.  Tiled the back wall then framed it out in wood.  Looks pretty good, huh?

And, have been busy eating...

Lunch at Eila's with some of our tennis group. 

Eila's dog dying to get out to join us...she wants to socialize, too.  Eila has turned her backyard into a garden oasis...has all kinds of vegetables planted.  Her lunch was all from her garden...and the plus was we got to take lots of veggies home with us.

Jerry, Kerry and Gail @ Eila's...

And drinking...

And, more partying.  All of the Canadians are heading home...so lots of good-bye Happy Hours have been going on.  Here I am with Leona, Lucille and Beate...all Canadians and my tennis buddies.

Within 5 days...we had 4 Happy Hours or dinners...it all started at our house with a Happy Hour last Friday.  Then on Saturday, Lucille invited us to dinner with 2 other couples.  Sunday...it was Happy Hour out with Gail and her husband.  Monday we took a break to dry out (finally)...then on Tuesday Beate invited us to her house for a final Tapa Party before they headed back. 

Great friends...and we all can't wait to see each other next season.

Cove to Lake Hike - 3-21-12

Another Senior Center hike which started at the top of the LaQuinta Cove and ended at Lake Cahuilla (named after the Indian tribe).  Was a 6 mile hike round-trip...supposedly Easy again, but Allan rated it as an "8" on his hiking scale of 1-10...10 being the hardest. 

We're off hiking through the desert.  Was a beautiful day...one of the warmest for hiking...was in the 80's.  Love it!

Once we got to the wash...you could go high over the hill (which I did)...while others (Allan) stayed low and walked through the wash.   I think it is much harder to walk in the wash...it's sandy and loose...I like a hard rocky surface.  Plus it is cooler up top.

Great views from up here...looking across the valley to a beautiful golf course.

Met up with Allan once we got to the lake.

The Lake Cahuilla park is a man-made lake run by Riverside County.  Has a great outside swimming pool, picnic tables...and fishing in the lake, too.  Our tennis group is having a picnic here next week.

(A Diane shot)...this is what a palm tree looks like up close.  In case you've ever wondered.

Our hiking group...everyone made it this time...no injuries or falls.

Leaving the lake and hiking back to the Cove.

Don't know what the "Danger" was...other than 2 elder men looking a little suspicious there.

I went high again...and came upon this bronze statue of a horse...don't know how it got there or why...but it sure was pretty.

Interesting mountain...what a sharp peak.  Glad we didn't have to climb that.

The octotillo was in bloom....just love this plant.

I made it back to the parking lot about 10 minutes before Allan...he should have gone high.  Here's Valerie consoling him that "it wasn't that bad."

The pooped hiker....but was another interesting hike in the desert.

Latest House Project -- no more mowing lawn

Here's the before... (what Allan did while I was at the tennis tournament)

And, the after...barrel cacti and an octotillo on the mound.  Need a new mailbox now.

The before...another angle

And the after...only plant here...a kangaroo paw  (has a red flower on it).

Another view of the dry wash.  Allan drew up the design...but we had a company do the work...didn't want to put him in the hospital again.

Here they are taking out the sod...that took one day.  We took out the lantana on the side wall near the courtyard...dug them up and planted them in the back yard.  Allan did all of the sprinklers (moved them where they needed to be) and planted the new plants.  Then they were back again Monday to put down the decomposed granite and the river rock. 

Yeah...no more lawn.

What a day for tennis -- the Semis

My last day of volunteering...was lucky to get the best day...semi-finals.

Was waiting for the crowd to come in...and there was Federer warming up on the Stadium court.  He wasn't playing until the 2nd match.  His warm-up partner was left-handed...guess he wanted to make sure he was ready for Nadal.  And, I guess he was.

Was a sold-out crowd...and this was THE match to watch...Djokovic vs. Isner.  Most thought Djokovic would cream Isner...and all were waiting for the Federer/Nadal match.  How quickly the crowd ended up staying.  My stomach was in knots throughout the match...the crowd was wild.

And, when Isner won...they gave him a standing ovation.  Everyone was screening...me, too.  I felt like I had seen history in the making.  GO USA!

Since Federer won against Nadal...Isner may win this thing.  (That's the talk of the tourney).  You won't be able to get me out of here in March anymore.

Allan on his 65th Birthday

At the tennis tournament...eating potato chips and watching his favorite female player...Kirilenko get beat by Sharapova.

A great night of tennis

Just got in from tonight's matches...saw some great tennis again.  Worked the South Reserved section of Stadium 2...had a real seat to sit in this time...not just a bleacher.  Yeah!  Made for a very comfortable evening of watching.

First match...Tsonga (France) vs. Nalbandian (Argentina)...I was cheering for Tsonga, but he lost.

Kind of looks like my serve...right?

Nalbandian, in case you didn't know what he looked like.

Next match...Ryan Harrison (USA) vs. Gilles Simon (France)...went 3 sets. Ryan lost. Ryan had a hard time controlling himself...broke his racket and threw his racket several times.

Last match of the evening...Nadal/Lopez vs. Paes/Stepanek (doubles).   Fabulous match.

Nadal/Lopez won.

See how close I was.

More tomorrow...in Stadium 1...the big one.