California Dreaming

This week I had to travel to California for business.  Business, well actually to play golf.   Our company was sponsoring a golf event with a partner and the team member who was supposed to go was unable to do so.  I was fortunate to be able to attend in his place.

The event was scheduled for Thursday, so I took Friday off and flew Candy out with me.  We left on Wednesday and stayed at the resort where the golf was being played.  We had three of our customers join us and sadly this was the first time I had met them.  

We had a blast, all three of them were pretty cool to hang out with, none of us were ace golfers, but all had a decent game.  I even played decently for someone who doesn't play all that much.  I had some great shots.  I birdied a par 3 with a nice shot next to the hole. That made me pretty happy.

It started at 7 am and we finished up with the lunch and awards by 2:30 pm.   We didn't bring home the gold, but we did end up coming in fourth out of about twelve teams.  

Once done Candy and I headed over to Palm Springs.   This was our second time going and we both really like this area.  We arrived about 6:30 pm on Thursday, checked into the hotel and then headed out to the street fair.   We had Thai food for dinner and then walked up and down several blocks checking out the various vendors.   Then we headed over to the Casino and dropped twenty dollars.  That went quick, so we just headed back to the hotel.

The next morning we were up early and off to Tahquitz Canyon to do some hiking up to the falls.  We had out swimming suites with us so we could jump in and cool off. 

Tahquitz Canyon

The water is really cold, but it is so much fun to get back behind the rock and under the falling water.  We hung out for a while getting in and out.

When we finished up we were ready to head back down the trail and we came across a rattlesnake.  After seeing this one, we had our eyes open on the way down.

Tahquitz Canyon

Tahquitz Canyon

Tahquitz Canyon

We saw lots of other wildlife including lizards, hummingbirds, butterflies.

Water is definitely life. You are surrounded by desert and where there is water you will find a variety of flora growing and wildlife is all about if you are looking for it.

Tahquitz Canyon

On Saturday we drove out to the Indian Canyons and hiked on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation.  We did Murray canyon and found another great waterfall to play in. 

Seven Sisters

This hike is a little longer than Tahquitz but well worth it.  Part of the trail is desert and the rest follows the water.  There are large palms all along the water that you go through.   You have to cross the water several times and balance on the rocks.

Murray Canyon

Murray Canyon

Murray Canyon

Murray Canyon

Palm Canyon

Catching Up - Palm Springs - The End

On our last day we went back to Tahquitz Canyon but this time we took our swimming suits.   I was ready to get in and I did.  The water was freezing cold but it was great to hang out below a waterfall.

We spent a couple of hours there enjoying the cold water and the warm air.  Then we headed back downtown and had lunch.  Afterward Candy did some shopping and I went to the casino and played some three card poker.

I ended up winning a couple hundred dollars so that made my time worthwhile.  We headed back to the hotel and then went out for dinner.   It was a great trip and if you are a golfer it is the place to be.  I read that they have over 100 courses.   We didn't play any golf as I would rather be hiking.

Catching Up - Palm Springs - Part Duex

On Saturday we headed out again, this time to hike in the Coachella Valley Preserve.  This place was pretty cool.  It is the lowest point in the area and in the San Andrea's fault.  Once again in the middle of nowhere you find thousand year old palm trees with a natural spring.  We hiked through the area and snapped some pictures.  This was a very cool place and I would go back again.

Then we headed up to make the drive through Joshua Tree National Park.   We came across some very cool cactus, some great hiking and rock climbing and just a great time being together.

We got back to the hotel around six in the evening, cleaned up and headed out for a nice dinner together.

 

Catching Up - Palm Springs

As I mentioned we were lucky enough to be able to meet up and spend the weekend in Palm Springs.   Our goal was to get some desert hiking in and we did.  I have to say that Palm Springs is one of the prettiest towns I have seen.   Everything was very well maintained and looked new.  We stayed at the Hyatt and our room over looked the golf course.  At work we have a travel agent we work with and she hooked me up with free breakfast and $100.00 voucher towards any charges.

I drove up from San Diego and Candy flew into Palm Springs.   I got into town around 2 PM and checked in and then headed to the airport to pick her up.

We looked online and found that they have an open market every Thursday night in downtown.   After picking up Candy we headed that way.  Found parking and walked up and down checking out the vendors.

Had a great time and had some dinner and cocktails.  Then we headed to the store to get a few items to stock the fridge.

Coachella Valley - Palm Springs

The next morning we had breakfast and then headed out to the Tahquitz Canyon.  We hiked in the steps of the Agua Caliente Indians.   This is not a long hike but it follows a stream that dead ends at a waterfall.   Hard to believe you would find this in the middle of the desert.  We did this hike on Friday and we waded out in the water but didn't have our suits.  It was cold but we definitely wanted to come back and do some swimming.

We kept and eye out for rattle snakes but only found some lizards, birds and dragon flies.  I did grab a few good pictures and it was so nice to be hiking in some new terrain.   The weather was great, in the high seventies low eighties.  After we finished up the hike we headed back to the hotel where I had scheduled spa time for both of us.  We each got a message and then took advantage of the suana and shower before heading to the pool for cocktails and a snack.  The sun felt great!