A busy week in the desert...2-10-13

Lots planned on the Eckle calendar this week.   

 Started off with "Sunday Sounds" on 2-10...our favorite entertainer, Bob Allen, who plays Rock 'n Roll Oldies.  What a piano techie!    He has every gizmo there is that hooks up to his electric keyboards. Can't believe how one man can put out so much music. He pushes a button and there are "strings", then "horns", then "guitars".  He plays at one of our favorite restaurants in LaQuinta...the Lavendar Bistro. 

Was a beautiful morning (2-12) in the desert. Had arranged to meet up with Ken, our friend from Tahoe, for a hike in Palm Desert.  Met him behind the Target...and headed up the hill.  Realized that we were on the "Bump & Grind" trail...one of the most popular "exercise" hikes in the desert.

 

That white dot (in the middle) on the trail is Allan...he decided not to continue to the top.  Was an up, up, up...an 800 foot elevation gain and 2 miles up.  My knees held out coming down, too.

 

Here are Ken and I at the top...great views of the Coachella Valley from up here.

 

Carolyn, my hiking buddy, went with us.  

 Afterwards, a stop at Five Guys for a burger really hit the spot. 

 

 

Picked Allan up on the way down...Carolyn got to him first...

can see almost to Indio from here.

Got back home...and immediately went to the jacuzzi...had played 2 hours of tennis that morning before the hike...my legs were a little tired.

 

 

Headed off to the Living Desert on 2-13...just love the giraffes.  But we walked around the whole park...and all of the "cats" were out...saw the cheetahs, leopards, jaguars, bob cats, and servals...they weren't sleeping like they usually do.

 

Another "Heatwave" concert at Pete Carlson's on Valelntine's eve...yes, we're groupies.  The Boys & Girls Club Jazz Band performed a Valentine concert...all songs had "love" in it. 

Then, on Valentine's Day, played tennis with the girls...then we headed to Palm Springs for a matinee performance of "SUDS, the Rocking 60's Soap Opera".    If you like 60's music...this is the show to see...we were all rockin' and rollin' in our seats. 

 

Then it was home for crab legs...Allan surprised me with a fabulous Valentine dinner. 

  

To the Riverside County Fair and International Date Festival on opening day (2-15)...only a mile walk from our house.  An annual event for us...after corn dogs and date milk shakes, we were ready to come home.

 Then it was off to El Paseo in Palm Desert for their bi-monthly Car Cruise...Allan's wanting to put the Corvette in it, but it's not ready yet.  

That evening we headed to the Indio Performing Arts Center for "The Johnny Cash Story:  The Man, The Music, The Memory".  Thought we were listening to 'ole Johnny himself.  

 

No tennis Saturday a.m., as we were watching Pascual climb the ladder to trim our palm trees.  Allan and I were holding our breath as he proceeded up & up.  I noticed that he crossed himself several times before heading up the ladder.  I would, too, if I had to climb up there. 

This is not one of the trimming tasks we're taking on.

 

Now he's up in the tree...see him?  His sons did the clean-up...guess they haven't learned to climb the ladder yet.  This part took all morning...

 

And he spent the afternoon cleaning off the bottom BY HAND with a sharp knife.  Only had time to go up 6 feet, but looks good now.  Allan says he's getting me a knife for my birthday, so I can start trimming now...yeah, right!

 

Was a busy week...birthday week coming up!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "Big Split Rock" Slot Canyon Hike - 02-06-13

Off again to the Painted Canyons out at Mecca with the Seniors...35 of us this time due to the fact that the hike was listed as an "Easy".  (I never believe the book.) 

Hiking in on the large open wash bottom...like walking on a sandy beach.  Gets tiring after awhile.

 

Lots of interesting rock formations like this one I called "Iguana Rock".

 

Several canyons to explore out here...we're searching for the "Big Split Rock".

 Our guide, Paul, warned us all to bring gloves and wear long sleeves...that we'd be navigating some very narrow slots.  You'll see.

 

Some more great shots of the upper canyon.

 

As we proceed, the canyon narrows, as a slot canyon does.  That's Allan with the red pack.

 

And narrows...

 

Didn't want to stand under that boulder very long...quite a few had fallen into the narrow slots, hopefully many years ago.

 

Not as difficult as some previous hikes, but had to be helped up in a few places. 

No ladders here.

 

Haven't put my gloves on yet...but it's narrowing down.

 

Oops, another boulder that has fallen.  I'm always looking up.

 

Now we're getting back into it...gloves on.  Claustrophobic?  Wondering what's ahead.

 

Here comes Allan...navigating under a boulder.  And, he IS claustrophobic.

 

Ended up at this tall, rocky, dry fall...and had to turn around. 

Only one brave soul climbed up to see if we could make it...said it was too steep and too rough.

No "Big Split Rock" yet.

 

We're heading out...this was tricky as we had to walk along the canyon wall to get out...if you slipped...ouch!  Had to watch your footing...and we all gave each other plenty of room to maneuver.

 

After the 'wall walk', we stopped for a break. 

Needed a little refreshment here...only water, of course.

 

Off to another canyon...and more pinnacles.

I can't tell you what the girls named this one!

 

And slots...at least we're standing up.

 

And more sculptured rock formations.

 

Back in the main canyon...this was on the right...

 

...and this was on the left.  You can see why they call it the Painted Canyons!

Another adventure with the Seniors...never ceases to amaze me!

And...we didn't see the "Big Split"...which was supposed to be obvious. 

Maybe its in another canyon...

 

Got back to the parking lot...and some other hikers had gotten their car stuck in the sand, so our Seniors helped them out...we carry shovels with us, you know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tennis Happy Hour 2-01-13

We invited the tennis group to a Happy Hour @ our house on Friday...thought it would be a small affair, but 30 people showed up.  Most are Canadians...

The sign over the window reads "Girls just want to drink wine"...

(a present from Carol)...and that we did!

 

Good thing we have a big back yard...

 

 

Allan fixed BBQ pork sliders...here I'm serving them up...with slaw and hot sauce...made the Southern way.  Most had never had BBQ that way.  But...everyone brought something to share.

 

Folks were sitting everywhere...even had the fire pit going. 

 

Was such a beautiful evening.

 

Lots of wine, beer and champagne served...

yes...these tennis players like to party.  They all asked..."when will you have the next one?"

Maybe next year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The end of January -- more things happening!

Another outdoor concert (1-22) @ Pete Carlson's..."Heatwave"...the Boy's & Girl's Club Jazz Band of the Coachella Valley.  We're Heatwave groupies, you know!

 

Was a cool evening, but we were prepared...had my Tahoe blanket just in case.

Pete had his $5 rack of tennis ware...only had smalls & XL's though. 

 Bought a few things for my skinny Tahoe gals.

 

Volunteered at the Southwest Art Festival on Friday, 1-25...held at the Empire Polo Grounds. Was one of the coolest and rainiest week-ends we have had.  But we endured.  Was an Ambassador...which meant doing anything that was needed...got to chat with many of the artists.  And bought a few items, as well.

 

Sunday Sounds on 1-27 at the Palm Desert Community Center was a hoot. 

Rob Watkins, a ventriloquist, was the entertainer.  So funny...and he was FREE.  Saw later in the paper that he was playing at another venue and the ticket was $45 pp...what a deal we got!

 

More tennis, boot camp & aquasize this week...my body is not adjusting well to all of this exercise.

Am looking forward to boot camp ending...our instructor thinks we're all 20 year olds. 

Last hour session, she had us doing 50 reps for each exercise...ugh! 

Doesn't she know that I cannot do 50 push-ups?

 

 

Signed up for the flower planting class at the Indio Senior Center on 1-30.  The Indio Mayor directs it...provides everyone with a container, dirt, flowers and suggests various ways to plant the flowers.  His business takes care of the gardens at the LaQuinta Resort...I think he knows what he's talking about.

Always a fun time.  (Of course, I already know about planting flowers, right?) 

Here's my desert version.

 

On Thursday, 1-31, I gave up tennis to go hiking with two friends, Carolyn & Karen (she volunteers there) @ the Living Desert.    Neither had been on this hike before and asked me to be the leader.

Carol and I did this one last year when she was down visiting us.

 

Can still see snow on San Jacinto in the distance...

 

Great vistas from on top...did the Eisenhower Loop...a 1,000 foot elevation gain and a 5-miler.

 

Here we're up on top...

 

The big horn sheep were out...

 

...and had to stop by and see the giraffes...my favorite...when we were leaving the Living Desert.

Another great day in the desert.