Water in the Desert

There are places that people just shouldn't go.  If you need special equipment to hang out, or have to struggle, just to get there, you might want to think twice about putting your home there.  I mean, really, to be in the ocean, you need scuba equipment and a boat, and if you want to stay there for a month, you need a way to replenish your supplies.

For humans to live there, the desert needs water.  That's it.  Tons and tons of water. Fortunately there is an aquifer under Palm Springs.  Wells and pumps pull water to the surface to build the oasis.  Unfortunately, not all of the water comes from the natural aquifer.  Much of it comes from Lake Mead in Nevada, pulled off the Colorado River. 

Before the dam was built, there was a smaller dam break that sent water to what is now the Salton Sea.  Water was there, and people came.  Now, driving around this accidental lake, you see the tail end of that cycle, boom to bust.  Abandoned lots and businesses.  People who love the desert still live there, but not much in the way of water skiing or fishing going on.

Then there is the date farming.  Dates are delicious and hard to grow.  We saw a movie at Shields Date Farm showing the hand work necessary to cultivate each date.  They need the dry desert air, but they also need the roots to be flooded for them to grow fat and sweet.  Every week, the orchard is flooded from water coming off Lake Mead or pumped from Northern California.  The valley produces most of the American grown dates.  Important, but difficult to sustain.  Water issues are complex when you consider people making a living, economic issues, the health of the environment.  But you know, the dates taste good.  YUMMM, and we had a Date Shake.  Probably the sweetest milkshake I've ever had.  Dad, Emily and I split one, and didn't finish it.

Off to the La Quinta Art Show.  No water issues here.  Just art.  Beautiful art.  I don't think I've ever been to such a large art show that had so many true pieces of art.  There wasn't a craft booth in the bunch.  Of course that meant very high price points, but it was good to see pieces being purchased.  I love to see artists getting paid for their work.

Back to my Dad's house and for a ride on the golf cart.  I would love one of those things.  They don't go fast.  They don't go far, but they get you around.  Definitely beats walking.

Another nice dinner with Dad and Nancy.  Great to sit around and talk.  Dad and Nancy and Emily have all been to such exotic places.  China, Russia, Switzerland.  I loved hearing the stories.

Now to set the alarm for 1:30 am to begin the Vegas leg of the trip.

The Wild Animal ... oops, I mean The San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Off to new adventures in Palm Springs with my Dad!

I felt badly not leaving a tip at the hotel.  I intended to leave one every day, and in fact actually did, but came back each day only to find a clean room and the money sitting on the dresser.  On the day we went to Mexico, we met the housekeeper, and she asked me if the money was a tip for her. 

"Of course it is."

"Oh, thank you!  But, don't leave it any more."

Huh?  That was a first for me, and I still didn't quite get why, but I honored her request, and left our hotel tip-less our last day.

Breakfast at The Mission again and off to La Quinta in the Coachella Valley by way of The San Diego Zoo Safari Park.  I keep catching myself referring to it as the Wild Animal Park, but I am a big girl and I can change.  I will all it by it's right name.  I will.

This place is even cooler than the zoo.  The enclosures are huge and designed for herds and families of animals.  They breed animals in the park in hopes of reintroducing them to the wild.  The condor's home is here, and some rhino species as well as some other spectacular animals.  My favorites were the gorillas and the giraffes.  The giraffes were running in herds.  I don't think I've ever seen that before in my life.

We left the park and took a scenic route to La Quinta.  We drove through the rural towns of Ramona and Julian and through the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  As we were approaching the park, I told Emily about the last time I had visited the park and we hit a sand storm.  Hum, imagine that.  There is a sand storm today, out in the distance.  We're driving away from it, so there should be no problem.  Humm, it seems to be coming toward the road we're on, but not to worry, it's still a long way away.  Wow, it seems to be speeding up.  We'd better hurry so we can stay ahead of it.  Oh My!  We are not going fast enough.  It's going to hit the road as we do!  Foot to the Gas!  Whew!  We just cleared it.  I felt like those people who film themselves getting caught in a tornado.  I always assumed they were foolish to be there in the path of danger.  I guess I can add myself to that fools list.

About 10 miles more lunar desert landscape in the wind and turn a corner.  Oops.  There's our friend the sand storm again.  Only this time he was living on the road, and we had no choice but to dive right into it and through it for about 2 miles.  It was  eerie, but fortunately there was a car on the road ahead of us, lead dogging for us.  A little nerve wracking, but passable.

Sand storms behind us, we headed for La Quinta.  We would occasionally pass prospectors in double wides and dive bars, but ended up cozy in a golf course oasis.  Dinner, visiting and jammies.  What to do tomorrow?