Still going strong in May

May has turned into the Party Month...

Here's my exercise group...Susan (in blue) had us all over for a good-bye party for the Canadians.  Elise (in the center) is our instructor...she works us way too hard.

Then neighbors, Sally & Alan, had us over for a Cinco de Mayo party...

Neighbors were there...and Sally had quite the spread, as usual.  We arrived and were given printed menu for drinks and another for the dinner...don't expect that from me.  The food was yummy!

Then at our house...another good-bye party for Lee (in blue), our neighbor who is moving after 27 years of living here.  We'll miss her.

Had other neighbors from Oregon over for Happy Hour last night...too much champagne...only have 2 1/2 cases left to bring home.

Then one day I talked Allan into going to see the new Rodin exhibit at the Palm Desert Art Museum However, this was Allan's favorite.

Mine was Picasso's Pregnant Lady. 

We're still playing tennis M,W & Sa mornings, but at 7 a.m. now.  Actually was quite pleasant this a.m. even though it is supposed to get to 106 today. 

Our Day at Joshua Tree National Park - 5-08-12

Since it was going to be in the high 90's in the valley, we decided to head out to the high desert and visit Joshua Tree National Park where it was about 20 degrees cooler.  An all day adventure!  Took lunch and our hiking gear to spend the day exploring.

Drove in through the eastern part of the park which is part of the Colorado Desert, and is below 3,000 feet above sea level.  We came upon this Cholla Cactus Gardens.  Decided not to hike through these since they are called Jumping chollas...they like to attach to anything that touches them.

The wildflowers were still blooming (can't find these in my flower book)

Couldn't pass up climbing these rocks...fascinating topography!

and more flowers (or these)

Stopped for lunch at White Tank camp ground...heading into the western half of the park, with elevations above 3,000 feet...which is part of the Mojave Desert.

...and then decided to explore this area. 

Looks like someone just piled up all those rocks, but it was a result of volcanic activity eons ago.

Trails just meander through the boulders....

...and my game was coming up with names for the rock formations...this one I named "Whale Rock".  Found some that looked like Dopey of Snow White; another that looked like a seal, another that resembled a manatee, and I went on and on.  Allan wasn't as excited about my name game as I was...especially after naming about 15 rocks.   I have such an imagination!

A hedgehog cactus....

Drove back to this area to check out "Split Rock"...and

...this is what we found.

...and more flowers...a Mojave Aster

Decided to get off the main road and drive back to the Barker Dam trailhead ...just a mile loop trail.  Allan was intrigued...wondering how they got the materials out there to build the dam...definitely no roads.  Barker Dam was built around 1900 to hold water for cattle and mining

Found this red cactus hiding under a rock at Barker Dam...haven't seen that one before.

As we were leaving the Barker Dam trail came upon the blooming Mojave Yuccas...their blossoms are huge.

Just in case you didn't know what a Joshua Tree looked like...

Once we left the park, we headed over to Pioneertown just outside Yucca Valley...read about it in the paper...lots of concerts go on out there.  I heard that some western movies were filmed here.

And...this is how I ended the day!

Suicide Rock Hike in Idyllwild 5-02-12

Our last hike of the season (Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock) with the Seniors to Idyllwild, about an hours drive from Indio.  Drove through this quaint alpine village...reminded us of Tahoe.  Much cooler up here than down in the valley.  A great place to hike during our 90+ degree days now.

Fifteen of us hikers...and after I took this picture...realized that I was the only "girl". 

 I'm such a trooper!

Resting as we're heading up...have to climb 1800 feet to get to the Rock.  Lots of ponderosa pines and granite formations.

Stopping for a break...one hiker turned around already...decided it was going to be too difficult for him.  We've come 3 miles so far....and it's all UP!

 

Only another mile to go...we're still smilin'.

Some water falls on Strawberry Creek...yep...looks like Tahoe.

Only wildlife that I saw was this little mouse...caught a picture of him as he came running down a tree.

We made it to the top and was supposed to enjoy a 360-degree view of Garner Valley below and the Santa Ana Mountains on the horizon, but the fog had come in...yep...looks like Tahoe. 

(Kind of reminded me of the infamous Rifle Peak hike)

This was Allan's vantage point to look down (he's afraid of heights). 

 (Also reminded me of Yosemite.)

I went out a little farther...decided not to climb up on that rock behind me, though.

However, some of the guys decided to show off a little bit.

And our group on top...

In the clouds...had to take one last picture here before we headed down.

An interesting branch...a perfect spot for a picture, don't you think?

Heading down...Allan and I were the last on the trail...my knees were hurting.  Allan said, "turn around, Janet"...that's a grimace on my face.  I told our hike leader that I have renamed this hike "Suicide Knees".  Thank goodness for hiking poles!

Only blooms were the manzanitas...no desert flowers up here.

Needless to say, we were exhausted by the time we got back to Indio...was an all day affair.  But we hiked 8 miles with an 1800 foot elevation gain...glad this was the last one of the season.  Once we got home, we immediately put on our bathing suits and headed for the jacuzzi and pool...oh, how our muscles needed that!