Desert Hot Springs California

 March 14, 2021

We needed an overnight to get from Kanab, Utah to Desert Hot Springs, CA so we stopped in Las Vegas.  Aah no more snow, sweet sunshine and 60 degree temperatures.  Here are some shots from the drive.

The snow sparkled in the sun.

So much snow on these mountains.

The road twist and turned through these mammoth rocks.

Impressive formidable walls of nature.  It is amazing there is a road here.

We overnighted in Las Vegas, but do to CoVid we did not go down to the strip, we would rather stay healthy.  So just chilled at the campsite.

March 15, 2021

Today we hit the road for Desert Hot Springs, California.   It was easy to wake up this morning.

The blue dot is our campground and just NE is Nellis Air Force Base.

Yes, it is an active base.  We had 20 flyovers, oh they were loud.

We hit the road and noted a wind warning in effect.

Well, that could get interesting, but it looks like once we get to Barstow it should get better.  Jim did well handling the wind as we drove.

Once we had the wind handled, mother nature sent some rain.  Hey doesn't the song say it doesn't rain in California?  We survived the rain and the limited visibility.

Mother nature kept it interesting, the wind warning followed us all the way here and apparently will blow until 3 am tomorrow.  Two miles away from the resort and the wind got crazy.  Again Jim got us here safely.

Here is a video of us outside the Caliente Springs clubhouse while we wait in line to register.

Besides the office for check-in the club house has swimming pools, hot springs, locker rooms, mineral showers, sauna, billiards & ping pong, fitness room, shuffleboard, laundry and library.  Located elsewhere on the property is pickleball, bocce ball, tennis courts and a dog park.  This is more a community than a campground with homes, motorhomes, and RVs, some people live here year round.

Our site has a palm tree, level gravel, a square of artificial turf and a concrete patio.

You can see the wind ruffling the palm tree.

I will set out our chairs when the wind warning is done with.  There is even a fence behind us so you don't feel the guys behind you.

Well surprise, surprise when I went into the RV to open it up after the drive here, I noted some spaghetti on the floor, then on the buffet counter, in my wine glass with the lid still on . . .

Here is the source, an opened box of spaghetti fell from the top shelf, stayed behind the glass door but sprinkled strands of pasta out the bottom of the cabinet door.  Hysterical.

March 16, 2021

Success!  I now have a key to the truck.  It only took trips to 3 dealers to get it accomplished.

The skies cleared and hey we have a mountain view.

I took a walk around the community, its large, a path on most of the streets was 3 miles.  Here is my favorite landscaping done on the tiny homes here.

After my walk Jim and I went to the clubhouse to try out the hot spring pool.  We met 2 different couples and a woman while we soaked.  I forgot to take pictures I was so relaxed.  We will be back and I will take photos then.

Here is how the springs work here. Pretty fancy.

And at night everyone has a light on their palm tree, pretty.

March 17, 2021

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Today Jim & I went to Joshua Tree National Park and hiked 3 trails.

The first trail was Ryan Mountain Trail.

The steep, 3.0-mile round-trip trail climbs 1,050 feet to the summit, providing hikers a panoramic view of the park landscape."  This could have been called a stairway instead of a trail, but all the stairs replaced switchbacks which was okay.

Joshua Tree has stacked boulders everywhere.  They began underground as a result of volcanic activity.  Monzogranite rose up, cooled and cracked horizontally and vertically and theses piles of rocks are the result.

The views from this trail are great even before we get to the top.

Once at the top you can even see 10,831-foot Mt. San Jacinto in the distance.

Here Jim sits atop Ryan Mountain with his spirit animal the Raven.

Everytime we climb (starting at Arches) one of these birds is there to greet Jim, so I have dubbed it as his spirit animal.

The foothills are the little San Bernardino mountains.

Cactus and other scrub shrubs are here atop Ryan Mountain.

On the way back down Jim and I talk a photo with this simple Joshua tree.

Here on the trail some rangers are fixing the trail.  (On the way up they were eating lunch on the hillside.)  Of course, I thanked them for making the trail for us.

The Coachella Valley red barrel cactus.

More rock formations.

The last rock formation between us and the parking lot.

We were thankful for the 55 degree temperatures here today, I can't imagine climbing this in the hot sun.

Our second hike is on the Barker Dam Trail.

"In the late 1800s and early 1900s, cattle ranching was an important business here. An average of 10 inches of annual rain fell upon the desert then (compared to 2-5 inches now), and grass ranges were lush and abundant.  Securing rights to reliable water sources wells, tanks, and springs-was critical, pitting rancher against rancher, rancher against miner, and miner against miner. To that end, the Barker & Shay Cattle Company built the dam in this natural basin. Rancher Bill Keys made later improvements to the dam."

Here is the back wall of the dam.

And the signature in the cement placed there when the dam wall was heightened in 1949

Today the reservoir is dry.

Here is a horse trough used by the ranch.

The views on this trail are also nice.

Here is a nice full size Joshua Tree.  There are so many Joshua trees here that it is easy to see how this park got its name.  That being said I don't think the Joshua tree looks like Joshua as the Mormon's did.

Okay this rock has a unique shape, I can see why ancient people would use it as a bulletin board.

The petroglyphs are real, however the have been painted which is not genuine.

The Barker Dam Trail is riddled with rock formations.

Here is a video from the Barker Dam Trail.

Trail number 3 today is the Hidden Valley Trail.

"A narrow gap in the rocks ahead funnels into a legendary valley where rustlers supposedly hid their illicit herds. The 1-mile loop trail, accented by interpretive markers, skirts the 55-acre Hidden Valley, ending in a box canyon ideal for a concealed corral."

Most rocks here are rounded, these are linear and vertically moshed together.

Climbers love this area.  We spied this woman winding up her rope.

More climbers were working their way to the top.

And finally this climber was all packed up and headed to his car.

This is the Giant Burrito.  I am not sure why its called that.

"Rock climbers call the monolith in front of you the Great Burrito. While Joshua Tree National Park is viewed as a world-class rock climbing spot, some associated problems have arisen. People have created a network of trails to and from formations, trampling vegetation in the more popular areas. Nesting birds are disturbed. Archeological sites can be damaged. Climber groups are working with park staff to find a balance between climbing and resource protection."

I find myself naming the rock formations like naming cloud shapes.

And finally more stairs to get us back to the trailhead.  

Stairs began and ended our day hiking in Joshua Tree today.

It was another good day.

March 18, 2021

Today we entered Joshua Tree through the Cottonwood Entrance on the south side of the park.

It is very different.  It is the Colorado Desert and this low desert has Creosote bushes instead of Joshua trees.  The Turkey Flats spread out before Pinto Mountain 3,127ft

"The Colorado Desert, a subdivision of the Sonoran Desert, extends west of the southern Colorado River into the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs, then tapers south through Baja California, Mexico."

Shortly down the road, Cholla fill the landscape. 

Teddy Bear Cholla look deceptively soft and cuddly.

Mining was prevalent here before it was a National Park.

"On the slopes to the south you can see the remains o the Silver Bell Mine, with its tipples still standing. These ore bins held and fed rock to a stamp battery that crushed the ore into a sandy-watery pulp and pushed it onto an amalgamation table where the precious metals were extracted. Though the mine operated some 40 years, ownership and details about the mine's riches are sketchy. Nevertheless, it was a versatile mine: gold in the 1930s, lead in the 1940s, and copper in the 1950s."

Next we headed out to see Arch Rock.  Our App told us the trail started in the Campground at site #9.  When we turned into the campground, it said no parking, hmm.  So we drove down the road and spotted a parking lot for Arch Rock and some back country trails.  We set off to go to Arch Rock and ended up on the back country trail instead.  Upon realizing our mistake we back tracked until we got on the Arch Trail.  Hey these desert trails look just like the rest of the desert.

Trail or not trail, I am not sure even now.

We found the arch.

The granite arch had 2 rocks right near it, did they fall of the top of the arch or the inside?  Who knows?

Here is a photo of the arch from underneath it.

"Geological processes have created this beautiful arch over time. But we must realize that in a geological framework, its existence is only for a moment and it is not a final product. Erosion or wearing away will continue."

It is a big arch.

Even Jim looks small under it.

There area around the arch is a jumble of rocks which were fun to climb on.

We had a good time on the Arch Trail.

Further up the road we turn into Split Rock picnic area.  

All the tables are occupied so we sit ourselves on the truck tailgate for our lunch.

Lots of rocks on this trail

As well as the name sake, Split Rock.  But looking around, there are other rocks that are split.

Once again, we are trying to stay on a trail that looks like the surrounding area.

The views are endless.

The 10 year old in me had to sit in this rock.

I named this the Flame, Jim named it Sacred Heart, and the woman behind us called it the Phoenix from Harry Potter.  We struck up a conversation with her when we were not certain if we were still on the trail.  We usually have no issues staying on the trail, I don't know what is going on today.  But to be fair we were on the trail just weren't sure of it.

The juniper bushes were full of berries today.

While hiking I thought this looked like a rabbit, do you see it?

Jim finishes up the Split Rock Trail.

Next stop the Ryan Ranch Trail.

Not much is left of the ranch.

"Hidden from clear view by this forest of Joshua trees are the remains of Ryan Ranch, a homestead established in 1896. Hike the 2-mile dirt road to the site, where you'll find the decaying adobe brick walls of the ranch house and bunkhouse."

I can imagine that the views from the house were wonderful.

"Jepp and Tom Ryan homesteaded this site to secure the natural spring once located here. The water was essential to the Lost Horse Mine, which they owned with their brother Matt and local prospector Johnny Lang. The ranch supported the mining operation: pumping water 3.5 miles to the mine, processing ore, and serving as a mining office and home. The cattle raised here helped feed the family and workers; some 60 people lived at the ranch and mine during the gold boom."

"The technique used in making the adobe walls (above) combined desert clay with sand, water, and Lost Horse Mine tailings. Jepp Ryan, in the 1930s, discovered that the old mine tailings contained gold, which meant so did the bricks-leading to dubbing the Ryan home “the gold brick house."

Another great view from the ranch.

Our last stop in Joshua Tree National Park was Keys View, Joshua Tree's highest viewpoint, offering panoramic views of mesas, mountains & Coachella Valley.

San Jacinto mountain in the distance.

 "The Salton Sea, 35 miles distant, lies 235 feet below sea level."

"The Salton Sea is a shallow, landlocked body of water that has a high concentration of salts in Riverside and Imperial counties, on the San Andreas Fault at the southern end of the U.S. state of California."

Here in the desert trees just stay where they died.

Coachella Valley, looks hazy down there.

"Haze comes from such sources as water vapor, dust, and air pollution. Air pollution can come from locations many miles away. Southern California industrial plants, power plants, wood stoves, and automobiles belch soot, dust, and smoke into the atmosphere." 

Cap Rock and the Gram Parsons legend

https://www.desertusa.com/dusablog/the-strange-tale-of-gram-parsons-funeral-in-joshua-tree.html

And that concludes our visit to Joshua Tree National Park.

Between the south and north section we enjoyed the northern Mojave Desert portion best, so if you come to Joshua Tree come in thru the town of Joshua Tree.

Time to take a post hike dip

Here's Jim having a soak in one of the four mineral hot springs here at the resort.

Followed by a float in the pool.

The complex has a clubhouse (all indoor activities are closed due to CoVid) but the hot spring pools are open and we enjoyed them.

Another good day.

March 19, 2021

Rest and relax day today.

Beautiful sunny day to read a book outside.  Once it got a little to hot in the sun we headed over to the pools for the afternoon.  (Book read Dumplin' by Julie Murphy, thanks for the rec Liz B)

Here is a flowering cactus at the cactus garden by the dumpster.

A little bit of red in the cactus garden.

And on my evening stroll, a lovely  sunset.

March 20, 2021

Today we head to Palm Springs, CA to see some Midcentury Modern Homes on a self-guided tour. (Thanks for the great idea Dani ;) )

We drive in from North Palm Springs past lots of windmills.

"Indigenous Alaskan artist Nicholas Galanin placed his project "Never Forget" at the entrance to Palm Springs -- a playground getaway long favored by movie stars -- as a reminder of Hollywood's role in whitewashing US culture.  The 45-foot-high structure is identical in scale and material to the Los Angeles landmark, which originally spelled "Hollywoodland" and was a 1923 "real-estate advertisement for white-only communities. . ."

Palm Springs Visitor Center, originally the Tramway Gas Station built in 1965.  The roof is a hyperbolic parabloid of steel I-beams and corrugated metal roofing.

While we were there demonstrators who walked to bring awareness to veteran suicide rates.

"Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison’s Steel Houses of the early 1960s were constructed mostly from steel and glass parts made for school classrooms, which they creatively applied to these middle-class homes. The project was sponsored by U.S. Steel. Located in Racquet Club Estates at North Sunny View

“Butterfly” Alexander homes, named for their unmistakable rooflines, were built by the George Alexander Construction Co. and designed by the architectural firm Palmer & Krisel in the late ’50s. 

"Tucked in Little Tuscany Estates, the stone-walled Edris House, designed by E. Stewart Williams in 1953 for Marjorie and William Edris, appears to rise organically from the rocky landscape. Located on West Cielo Drive, Palm Springs." It sold for $3million in 2018

Here is the view across the street from the Edris home.

A cactus garden in front and mountains in the back, not bad.

View towards town for the Edris house.

Californians love to wall in their property.  In this nice neighborhood it's a one story wall with floral bushes growing over it as well.

Kaufmann House

"In 1946 Edgar Kaufmann commissioned Richard Neutra to design a winter vacation home in Palms Springs California. Just a decade earlier, Kaufmann hired Frank Lloyd Wright to design his renowned Fallingwater house. "

Professional photo of the Kaufmann House

This house would cost you $25 million

Roadrunner at the Kaufmann house.

Charles Dubois’ 1959 chalet-style Swiss Miss House — one of 15 built in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood — features an exaggerated A-frame roof and tropical flavor of a Polynesian hut. Located on West Crescent Drive at North Rose Avenue.

Complete with Tiki sculpture at the front entry.

Once again the view down the street, location, location, location.

This is what realtors call curb appeal.

While I was taking pictures a Bentley drove by, ah Palm Springs.

A simpler Swiss Miss style home, complete with a Seussical tree.

We drove thru downtown Palm Springs

Nice shops lots of masked people walking around.  We drove thru, staying socially distant.

"Originally the Coachella Valley Savings and Loan, E. Stewart Williams’ 1960 landmark structure inspired confidence and optimism with its regal facade and dramatic inverted arches. Currently a Chase Bank, it is located on the corner of Ramon Road and South Palm Canyon Drive."

"Many homes in El Rancho Vista Estates, designed by Donald Wexler and Richard Harrison in the late 1950s, remain in their original form and are terrific examples of houses of this era. Located at the southwest corner of East Vista Chino and North Gene Autry Trail (Highway 111)."

This home added some color in the surrounding walls and planters.

I hope you enjoyed seeing some Midcentury Modern homes in Palm Springs.

That concludes our time here in Caliente Springs RV Resort in Desert Hot Springs, CA