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Published: August 4th 2014
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WILL THEY EVER LEAVE AND GIVE US SOMETHING INTERESTING TO READ? Indeed, we will. Tomorrow morning. Staycation has ended, middle of our vacation begins. Onto bigger and better places, new roads, new scenery, new excitement, new memories, new blogs, new food.
Alaska Airlines rocks! I love this airline, they are always so accommodating, got me onto an earlier flight and I was in LA three hours earlier than predicted. And the blankets are free! An inflight nap was what I needed after a frenetic week at home. But talk about contrasting weeks for Ian and me. Ian: sit by pool, ride around golf course in air conditioned cart, drink beer, swim, go to Tarcchhhhhjjjjjjaaaayyyyyyyy (Target). Helen: sit at a desk, drive around city and island in air conditioned car, drink water, run to next client, go to Save-On. No comparison. So I've had almost two days now to unwind once again and am feeling ready to get back in the saddle and discover new callings.
Palm Springs is a great place to visit. We will be bringing the girls here later this year, but will likely stay in Palm Desert up the street where there is a little
more to do and fewer shops boarded up, as in downtown PS. We did discover the two BEST restaurants in PS - Texmex "Cantina", where the joke of the evening was the waiter having to bring me training wheels for my too strong margarita (I know, don't even say it), and then the best breakfast place "Ricks", where one can order (Ian) a chicken fried steak, two eggs, hash, mushroom gravy and toast (yes, one menu item), and one can also order oatmeal, a 6 egg white spinach and mushroom omelette and fresh fruit that consists of way more than just cantaloupe and melon (Helen). Ian, gotta give him credit because I simply don't know where he puts it all, ate his entire meal. We still haven't figured out how to share at breakfast time. That is one area where we are never in sync. I want sweet, he wants savoury, or vice versa. Today, the thought of chicken or steak or catfish (which is on the menu ALOT here) for breakfast turns my stomach.
We have another little gift for the first person who can guess (WITHOUT looking it up on the internet) how many wind turbines there
are in the Coachella Valley wind farm alongside the San Gorgonio Pass (see photos). No cheating now! Ian has guessed 2,000. I said 1,850, but of course now I know how many there really are. I think they are so pretty, when looking at them from the car. Coming around the corner and seeing that many on the bike causes slight panic. A lot of wind on the bike (whoa, that came out wrong, and that also came out wrong!!) is not a pleasant experience on our particular bikes.
Today we witnessed the most incredible violent thunder and lightning storm, and flash floods as a result. I don't know if any of it hit the news in Victoria. A quick snapshot; at 3:30, we were sitting on the deck in dry heat and calm weather. At 3:40, the wind suddenly picked up. At 3:45, Ian couldn't get in the car because there was too much water. By 4:00, there were reports of roads being washed out. By the time Ian got home at 6:00, the roads were dry. As a result, there were flash flood warnings issued throughout the day, with 5" of rain falling in less than two
hours. The prolonged thunder was so intense and abrupt and that it shook the house and rattled the glasses and dishwares in the cupboards. Twenty minutes into it, we looked outside where Ian's bike was parked, and couldn't believe our eyes - a major river with major current running the length of the street, the paths already submersed. It really was terrible timing, as Ian had to take the rental car back and said he would just catch the LC back to the condo. He couldn't even get in the driver side of the car, having to climb through the passenger side where the water level was shallower. I guess he should have taken his wellies, because several times, he was unable to cross the street by foot because the water was over 8 inches deep. He got home soaked to the bone, and feet and shoes completely waterlogged! So much for the new runners staying new for a while! We heard sirens throughout the rest of the day. There were reports of missing hikers, many mudslides, many homes being flooded in the area. Fortunately the hikers were found.
We did a little shopping at the Desert Hills fashion
outlet stores - I had managed to make some room in my bags when I flew home, taking with me my heavy textile jacket and waterproof boots, as well as both our kevlar jeans which are just too hot and uncomfortable in this heat. Coming back down, I didn't have any checked luggage, only my disposable bag holding my light textile jacket. The immigrations officer asked how long I was going to be in the US. I told him a month, and I instantly got, no kidding, the raised eyebrow, a discerning look down at my plastic Thrifty's shopping back (happy to have that out of the house), and then both eyes back to me with an intimidating "care to explain that to me?". Three minutes into my spiel, he waved me through.
PS Carolyn - you win the first prize. For asking where Ian got his golf clubs from! A golfing buddy of his at Cedar Hill has a place down here, and told Ian to help himself! Nice guy!
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D MJ Binkley
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