A New Year...it's 2014 now!

More hikes in store...and to a new location...out to the Mecca Hills again to the second cave system

in the Box Canyons.

 

THE GROTTOS 2

An 8-miler...strenuous hike (1-08) with an 800 foot elevation gain.

Dreading it!

 

Once up on top, you have a spectacular view of the Salton Sea.

 

Quite an adventurous hike, physically demanding with steep uphill and downhill rock scrambles

and vertical drops down into deep canyons.

This section I just scooted down on my butt.

 

And, ended up at the bottom...finally.  A very steep downhill.

 

Were trying to get to the canyon floor.

 

And the rock formations were incredible...here's turtle head.

 

...and cat rock.

 

We finally ended up at our destination...the Grottos.

Had to crawl through some tight passages to get where we needed to go.

 

That's me...going in.

 

...and made it through.

 

And...it was worth it.

 

Yes, it was definitely adventuresome...some climbing involved.

 

And, Allan even made it, too.

 

Can you believe that this group of Seniors tackled this?

Neither can I.  But loved it!

 

Then there was the Humana Golf Challenge, which

hosted a 5 mile walk (1-11). 

Here are some of my buddies with whom I walked.

 

And, then there was the actual Humana Golf Tournament, (1-16)

formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic.

 Oh my gosh...is that Bob Hope?

 

 

Another hiking day (1-17) with our Tahoe friend, Ken, who was visiting in the desert.

We hiked up to the cross in Palm Desert...

 

...another up, up, up.  Looking down onto the Coachella Valley.

 

And another tennis picnic (1-18) at our house...

 

Just hot dogs and beer...no matter what we fix...they come!

 

Another hike (1-22) with the Seniors to...

THE ART SMITH TRAIL to the 2nd OASIS

 

A 5-miler with a 1,000 foot elevation gain...not one of our favorites.

Too much up, up and then down, down.

But great views of the valley below.

 

But we all made it down.

 

Many concerts from an Eagles tribute to bluegrass to a Four Seasons tribute to swing...we enjoyed them all.  Then polo started and our Sundays were filled with horses.

Tennis, water aerobics and the Southwest Arts Festival this month...the days flew by.

 

But Allan ended the month with lots of kisses....

(which was the result

of being called up on stage at a concert recently.)

He didn't seem to mind.

 

To the Living Desert on 1-29 for their newest exhibit

"Birds of the Australian Outback"

 

They were all over us!

 

And the cats were relaxin'.

 

Nothing like a sunset in the desert sky while sippin' our cocktail out on the patio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Girls in Nashville - 12-12 to 12-16

What has been the annual

trek to Bonne & Gary's

for their Cookie Painting Party just became this year

the "Girls in Nashville" trip.

With no frosting to make or cookies to hang, it was

just us girls getting together again.

And lots of tours provided by B & G...

Here we are outside Belmont Mansion getting ready for the tour. 

 

Mark, the curator, gave us a personal tour of the mansion...of which Bonne is a major part. 

 She helped restore Adelicia's bedroom to its original era.  

 "Us girls" couldn't wait to see it...and now will be known as

Bonne's legacy to Nashville.

 

Then we're off to the Nashville ballet for the Nutcracker.

Had to sip some champagne first though.

 

It was home to change for some foot stompin' bar hoppin' down on Broadway.

And, we were treated to dinner here of fried bologna sandwiches...yum, yum. 

 

Yes, it was cold in Nashville, but we continued on.

Leaving Tootsie's (famous bar of the country stars).

 

And, Elvis is alive (sort of)...

 

And...lots of beer was drunk.  Those WV girls really know how to party!

Linda, Betsey & Ellen at it again.

 

Ellen preparing her world famous Eggplant Parmesan for the girls.

But, first there is a little sippin' to be had.

 

And, there were even tours of the stars from Deacon's house on Nashville...

 

...to Dolly's estate.  We saw it all!

 

Thanks, Bonne & Gary, for another fun trip to Nashville.

It will be hard to top this one!

 

And, while Janet was in Nashville, Allan was partying with the girls in Indio.

They're waiting for the Christmas Golf Cart procession to go by.

Must have been a little cold in Indio, too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Hikes in December, 2013

LADDER HIKE (12-4)

 

Our favorite hike...out in the Mecca Hills...

heading up to start the hike.  A little difficult at first.

 

A little chilly that day...here's Carolyn and me getting into the canyon.

 

I guess you can tell why we call it the Ladder Hike.

It's the only way up.

 

Allan scrambling up to the next slot canyon...no ladder to get him here.

 

...and a little scrambling for Janet, too.

 

Our group on top...



 

And the end to another Ladder Hike.

Here's Allan coming out of the canyon...a new technique...forward down.

 

COVE to LAKE CAHUILLA HIKE (12-11)

 

Started at the La Quinta Cove and ended at Lake Cahuilla....about a 3 miler.

Some "downs" as we're hiking in.

 

One never knows what to expect when hiking in the desert...

nothing like a beautifully groomed golf course right in the midst of it all.

 

Some of us took the upper path to the wild horse statue...

while others walked along the wash.

 

But we all ended at the same spot...Lake Cahuilla.

 

Where Allan grilled out...

 

...and we had our Christmas picnic....

 

...and Allan entertained with the poem, "The Cremation of Sam McGee".

 

Another great hike was enjoyed by all!

 

 

PIPES CANYON to STONE HOUSE (12-19)

 

Headed up to Yucca Valley for this hike to the Pioneer town Mountains Preserve....

just west of Palm Springs.

Here's Allan hiking in...not much up or down on this one. 

This is the hiking he likes.

 

Our destination was the Stone House...the remains from an earlier settler.

We had a guide who gave us all the history of the Stone House and its owner.

Life was tough back then.

 

What a desert scape!

 

Then we headed to Pioneer Town for lunch.

Guess we couldn't go in the side door.

 

Quite an interesting establishment...lots of ambiance.

A real cowboy bar and restaurant.

 

A busy month of hiking!