Palm Springs with Snow!

Here are some pictures taken in the last couple of days. Some frost this morning but burned off quickly. Still better than home right now. We were thinking of naming the new lake in front of our unit!

Unseasonable weather in Palm Springs

Lots to report on since last Thursday!
Friday we had dinner with the Holmes, Dundas & McMurrays and after played Court Whist, a game we haven't played for about three decades! I had Top Lady score and won a potted plant! Saturday we left DHS and moved to Cathedral Palms RV resort in Cathedral City. It's much closer to everything and also right on the bike path. Sunday & Monday the weather turned nasty. Clouds, heavy rain and wind. And cold!! We decided to rent a car yesterday because Alan wants to play some handball this week in Palm Desert and it will be much easier to get around in a car.
This morning we were up at 6:30 and the skies are clear again. However, It is below freezing and the rental car was totally glazed with ice! It took Alan some time to chip all the ice off so we could get over to the athletic club for 8am. What's next? Who knows! It is an adventure and it is OK!

Painted Canyon in the Mecca Hills

Today, we went on another hike with the hiking club and our leader, Roger. We left the park at 8:00am and drove east along Hwy. 10 & then 86 to the Mecca Hills. It wasn't too hot and there was a nice breeze. We were twelve hikers in three vehicles and many of the same folks from last week. We hiked 6 miles and in the slot canyons we climbed 20 foot ladders, five in all.
Well, it was a wonderful experience and Alan & I were so glad we went. The pictures really say it all.
On the way back, we stopped at the Oasis Date Farm for date shakes...delicious! It became quite windy and then started to rain shortly after we returned.....good for the desert plants to flower.
Alan played Texas Hold-em Poker tonight and lost his shirt....$10.00!

Janet 's first golf game in the new millenium!

Sunday was Superbowl and we watched the game from the lounge at the park. I got up to fetch more snacks and there were our friends the Walshes from Swift Current, SK! Neither of us knew the other were anywhere nearby. What a coincidence! They have been to several GMC rallies with us and were with us (and a big help) when we lost a front bearing on the way to Amana in 2007. They will be here at the Sands for a month.
Today was a great day! Mary & George Nagle came to the Sands for a golf game and dinner after. I played golf for the first time in over ten years!! I was very nervous as I hit a bucket of balls a couple of days ago and I was terrible! My very first shot, I pulled a muscle in my groin....too tense I guess...but I perservered and overall had a pretty good game. Dinner was steak, potato salad & broccoli, followed by ice cream back in old Kingsley. It was another perfect day in the valley topped off with a swim and into the hot tub before turning in. It just goes to show you....golf is like riding a bicycle...once you learn, you never forget!

Saturday Handball at the Courts and a hike to the street market at the College of the Desert

We left our little place in DHS @ 8:15 am for the Handball courts in Palm Desert. I decided to walk to the College of the Desert and the weekly Street Fair while Alan was playing his games. It didn't look too far so off I went. Well, it was about four miles but, because I wasn't familiar with the terrain, I went a little out of my way but, got there within about an hour. After having a latte and a lot of water I set off to return to Kingsley & Alan. By now it was mid-day and quite hot. I made it but it wasn't all that much fun! The good news is that I walked 6 1/2 miles so, the fitness program is on course! Stay tuned!!
We went to Costco for food, wine and gas. Gotta love that Costco!!!!

Hiking in the High Desert south of PS

Thursday morning we left at 8:00am headed south for an hour to the Santa Rosa mountains for an 8 1/2 mile hike. It was really cold when we started out and windy but got warmer as the day progressed. There were 33 of us from the resort and we had an experienced leader. Here are some of the pictures from the day.

Sands RV & Golf Resort, Desert Hot Springs

Here are the four of us having our VGH mini-reunion at Mary & George Nagle's place in PS. Mary, Shirley, Janet & Glenda....Class of '59
We moved to Desert Hot Springs after three days at Thousand Trails in Palm Desert and plan on staying at this place for nine days. We are on a 9 hole golf course and there is a lovely large pool and two jacuzzis. Also a fitness room for Alan to do some workouts. Thursday we are going on a guided hike in the mountains around PS...not sure where! We are very comfortable and looking forward to staying put for a while and playing some golf. It's good to take life easy!