Daisy's Travel Log 2008-2009

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Sunday, February 22, 2009

This week we went to a few different in-
teresting events.One was a car show & auction in Palm Springs.Some great old cars were available.
Your looking at my favorite right here.A 60's vintage Porsche.I don't normally have an interest in any Porsche's, however, this was the finest restoration I've ever seen.It looked factory new inside & out.Lindy liked it, but was more attracted to early Benz 280's.We passed on a bid!
Oh well you can't tow either of them!

Another event we visited was the Riverside County Fair & Date festival.If you didn't know it, the coachella valley is the date capital of america.Dates are fruit unlike the dates you get on E-Harmony!There were all sorts of carnival rides and foods available.If your into "health" food, they were deep frying everything from chicken to snickers bars.I'm not kidding about the snickers bars!We had a fun time.Daisy had to stay home and watch Fox news.Only for a few hours.She's very informed on the news.

The pictures your now seeing were taken with the new Nikon and telephoto lens.I have a long way to go on learning the use and capabilities of the equipment.We took a few of these shots today at the Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area.I can take shots of Daisy without being near her which of course distracts her.The area was a nice state park around a small lake.There was an area designated for camping without services(electric/water) where folks had trailers, pop-ups and maybe a tent or two.Another area was available for motorhome/trailer parking with electrical and water hook-ups available at the sites.Very nice and not real expensive.We always collect information on these parks for future use and to pass along to other RV friends.This week we will finally get to the living desert museum.Hope to get those great animal shots.Hard to believe our two months here at Indio is coming to an end.Next Sunday, we'll make the 275 mile trip to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas.Located about 8 miles from the strip, we 're looking forward to the change of scenery.

We hope you guys noticed Daisy's extensive wardrobe.Those "Puppia" style harnesses are made by a local women (She's from Columbia, her husband worked on the alaskan pipeline, very interesting folks).She had a booth at the College of the Desert street fair.The harnesses are really great and it seems Daisy likes them.The leash hook is on top so she doesn't get "neck pull" when the leash is taught.By the way she had a good time walking around the car show meeting other doggies.That is until some old truck made two very loud backfires that probably caused some ex-GI's to hit the deck.Well Daisy made a taught leash B-line back to the safety of the Toyota.Thankfully, we had seen everything available in the hour and a half or so we had been there.Her little heart was beating fast 'til we got inside the truck and distracted her with some treats.Anyhow, we talked with friends in Wolfeboro today.They confirmed what my computer weather check detailed.Another large dump of snow was in progress.Another tough winter for the folks at home.I hope there's an early end to winter and the cold weather.'Til the next time..................over and out.

Long shot of The Lake Cahuilla Recreation Area

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Sunday February 15th, 2009

This was a fairly lay back week.We didn't go to the living desert as planned.We thought we'd wait 'til Amazon delivered a new 55-200mm telephoto lens I ordered.Maybe I can get some great animal shots.Stay tuned.Lindy got to visit an old college friend living in Palm Springs. They hadn't seen each other since the early seventies after college in Pa.I stayed home with Daisy and practiced some old Buddy Hollie on my guitar.OK, so Daisy slept while I played.Later I took a 4 mile walk (Lindy had my truck)to get something to eat and get a dozen roses for Lindy for Valentine's day.OK all together now-Awwwww.

We took a ride south to El Centro one day to visit the naval air station.About a ninety mile ride.We wanted to check out the RV park, BX & commissary for future possibilities.When we entered the main gate, I had forgotten El Centro is winter home for the Blue Angels.There were a couple of different aircraft types the team has flown over the years mounted atop pedestals.What a treat.We quickly located the commissary/BX and parked.Daisy was happy to get out for a nice walk before she had to go back in the truck.As Lindy and I approached the front of the commissary we heard a loud roar.Looking to the right (flight line area), we saw the blues in diamond formation at about 500 feet go by in a steeply banked turn.Yahoo........I stayed outside to watch.They were overhead about an hour plus. After the team landed, the two solo airplanes continued the "practice" flight.I've seen the blues perform a couple dozen times over the past 40 years.I never tire of watching them.

Yesterday, my cousin Rich & Beverly drove over from Santa Anna to visit.We had a great time.lindy and Bev visited the college of the desert flea market to exercise their credit cards some.Rich and I watched a video of his parents in florida I shot 25 years ago.We joined the girls later at a cafe for excellent coffee and the obligatory pastry.Later we had a terrific meal at a local mexican restaurant.Two mexican guys provided live music on guitar and harp.Yes I said harp.When is the last time you saw a mexican play a harp?I fully expect to see fish riding bicycle's this week after that!Pig's fly?Elephant's recite poetry?I mean really, I can't get over mexican music played on a harp.Then again, look at the mess going on everywhere.The world is in flux.By the way have you applied for your bailout loot yet?

Well in two more weeks we'll be moving on to Vegas.We're beginning to feel the desire to change scenery.Lindy and I have come to the conclusion that we should plan on staying in a spot for about 4 to maybe 6 weeks - tops.A month is about enough to explore a whole area.I think next year we will plan accordingly.So we bid you goodbye ................................in the words of Roy & Dale..............Happy Trails to You "Til we Blog Again

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Home Sweet Home (Daisy on Euro Chair)

Sunday February 8,2009

This week found us visiting two areas of interest.The Salton Sea and Coachella Valley Preserve.Salton sea is a large body of water aproximately 36 miles by 16 miles.With a depth of some 56 feet.It was created by a flood overrun of the colorado river.The "salt" content has killed off fish.You can google it if your interested.The Coachella Preserve was interesting since we were

able to hike along a trail and observe the upheaval of earth created along the san andreas fault.We didn't see any wildlife known to live there.When you leave the "hut" where the info center is located, the path is thru dense vegetation of high palm tress with large "skirts" around the trunk up to the top.It was reminisant of the scenery in the origonal jungle shots of the origonal 1933 movie King Kong.I almost expected to bump into Robert Armstrong and Faye Ray!

As you might have see, circuit city is the latest casualty of the current financial mess we're experiencing.Their loss was our gain.We had been trying to decide on a new digital camera for some time.With the prices as low as they were we got a new Nikon DSLR.So hopefully our pictures will gradually improve in quality as we learn the D60's operational capabilities.Don't get your hopes to high, I'm a slow learner!

Another amazing thing happened a few nights.After five weeks of dry weather- it rained.Thru most of the night.It cleared up in the morning and went back to sunny and a little cooler than before.Daisy has been going on the three and a half mile walks we do every other

morning now.We' ll increase to four miles soon.Daisy stays amazingly fit compared to some other doxies we have met.She maintains her 12 pound figure rather well. We did succumb to giving her some Ice cream shake.Bad idea she was up in the middle of the night for a couple of walks and couldn't settle.That's it.We won't fall for that cute little face trick again.No more people food.That's her at the car window before the ice cream lick trick.

The other thing we did is to go to a weekly street fair in Palm Springs.Now that was cool.Lots of foods and pastries.Very interesting artist and craft products.A couple of good musicians were scattered throughout.Their music sounded like the sound track from spaghetti westerns.Soft mexican style guitar and wood flutes.I really enjoyed it.They played contemporary tunes in that style.talented guys. We spent a few hours there and came away with a bag of goodies.Daisy walked a while then went back to the truck for some rest.Of course we put the goodies in the back of the truck so Daisy wouldn't get "curious" and run up another national debt style vet bill. This coming week we plan to visit the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens.Hopefully we will get some good pictures for you.Amost forgot to mention stopping at at a small airport in thermal.Named after famed aviatrix Jackie Cochran.

Some memorbilia from Jackie's many accomplishments were on display.For those who don't know her history, suffice it to say she was not more well known because she didn't get lost!She makes "Amelia" look like an amatuer.What a lady, what a pilot.Anyhow, my other point is I was able to "stumble" out on the ramp.Not usually easy in this day of security.There was the most pristine restored flying boat I've ever seen.It was converted to turbo prop power with a couple of Pratt & Whitney PT-6's.I'll post a picture or two for my aviator types.Stay well............