a river runs through it (the desert, that is)

Remember how I posted about the Whitewater River, tucked up in that lovely reserve, all those flowers?  The river isn't just in the foothills, however.  It runs to the Salton Sea, though as I understand it, all too often any waters that make it as far as, oh, Palm Springs sink into the porous soil of the valley and end of flowing through the ground or just soaking in spot.

The generous snows atop the mountains this year have had an impressive effect, however.  The river is flowing and flowing, and so it is that it is sliding through the arroyo just blocks from the Rancho Mirage house.

Conrad and I took Olive down walking that way this morning and climbed down close to the river.  Conrad even dipped his hand in it, but I kept the little girl away so as not to muddy her paws.  The arroyo is normally the domain of private golf courses and driving ranges, but not these days.

I caught a few photos because I don't know when we'll see something like this again.  Oh, we've seen water down there on occasion as the outflow from a particularly good rain, but this?  No, not this.  In the one shot, looking toward the mountains, the near mountain (San Jacinto) contributes, but it's the far and taller mountain (San Gorgonio) that is the source of the stream waters. 

More snow up there still despite the recent heat, and so I expect and hope to see this river flowing again when I come back next weekend for a last few days in the house before the sale closes.

date shake

I mean, jeepers, look at the temperatures we arrived to in the desert. 

Spoiler alert - it will climb into the low 100s next week.  After a long, cool (even cold), and wet winter, the heat has been turned on.

So it was with utter delight that I capitulated to a suggestion from Conrad on the drive out, and we stopped for date shakes at Hadley Fruit Orchards.  Ahhhhhhhh....

Olive goes for a car ride

Just another little Olive adoration post.  I am sure you don't mind.

The first showing of Van's Rancho Mirage home happened late yesterday afternoon.  We'll hold out hope that there are quickly additional showings not to mention many offers.  Fingers crossed.  Goodness knows that we worked hard on buffing up the place for the showing.  Many steps back and forth through the house as we whipped it even further into shape.

And then the showing, which meant getting out of the house for a while.  We had no idea how long, and we needed to have Olive with us.  On a very warm Saturday, having her out on foot would not have been kind to her, so we hopped in the car and headed down to Palm Desert.  There's snow up there in the mountain, and we wondered if we might encounter it heading up the 74.  A twisting road, some fine vistas.  We stopped once to grab a photo,

and continued up past 4000 feet in elevation.  And then we got the all-clear call, so back home with us.

Olive enjoyed the ride, the window rolled down, the breeze ruffling her fur, catching the scents on the air.  I sat in back with her, snapping some shots, showing her some affection.  A nice, simple expedition with our girl on a Saturday afternoon.

Whitewater Preserve

On Wednesday we hit some prime weather here in the desert.  The winds from Monday had died out, the desert was warming up.  At midweek, it was not yet super warm, though.  Sunny and mild.  It felt like spring.

I had done a morning of work at home, and we decided to get out not just for sandwiches in Palm Springs, but for a hike, or at least a walk in nature.  One place that we'd been wanting to get to was up along the Whitewater River.  Hopping in the car after lunch, we headed out to the 10 and then west, toward the one end of the Coachella Valley.  Near the pass, we turned off and drove up toward San Gorgonio Mountain and its wilderness area. 

A few twists and turns in the road, and we were out of sight of windmills and much other signs of modern life (save for the telephone poles lining the road).

We parked near the ranger's station

in the Whitewater Preserve and wandered from there.  Not too many people around, happily - I can only imagine a weekend up that way!  We didn't go too far afield - the trail usually involves crossing the river, and right now, it's running too fast and high.

I cannot overstate how cool it is to find this river actually running in the desert.  I admit, living in California, I have become a bit obsessed with water.  Rivers are a rarity, or rather, running rivers are.  Plenty of river beds and arroyos, and they come alive with some good rain, but much of the year they are dry beds at the surface.  As I understand it, the Whitewater River actually can reach all the way to the Salton Sea, but the flow usually sinks below ground as it flows into and through the Coachella Valley.  Indeed, if I understand correctly, the nearby arroyo that the Rancho Mirage Public Library overlooks is the river channel.  I'm always checking when we drive the 10 in and out of the Valley whether there is water in the river.  I'm always excited when there is.

Our cool and wet winter has meant not just rain, but lots and lots of snow to feed the river.  As such, it's flowing healthily these days. 

Van and I walked down along it fording some slight channels, heading to the main stream.  What a great feeling, just being there.  And so welcome, sharing it with Van.

A river in the desert wasn't the only compelling part of the adventure, though.  The weather we've had has meant a desert that is far far greener than ever I can recall.  Wild flowers are in abundance, and we stopped along the drive in to the Preserve to take some photos,

then took more photos of the flowers while there. 

How glorious.  Not all the flowers are all that showy, but cumulatively, they are a beautiful sight spread over the ground.

I am sorry Conrad wasn't with us.  I know he would have loved seeing spring just as we did.  I hope that when we are back in the desert in a few weeks, we might be able to see it again.  I fear, however, that this was a rare treat, a happy coincidence of schedule and weather that won't happen again, not for a long while.  I'm grateful I got to enjoy it.

three yahoos out hiking

And when I say hiking, I don't mean anything particularly rigourous.  Truth is, none of are in as good of shape as we should be.  So I won't pat us on the back for getting out on a hike per se, but I am happy that we didn't simply sit around the house while in the desert.

Conrad picked the hike, but I requested something not too far a drive and perhaps down in the direction of Palm Desert instead of heading up into Palm Springs.  He opted for a moderate trail starting from Homme-Adams Park.  Some climbing, nothing too severe. 

It was a nice little loop on a mild day.  Heck, Van even had a trio of younger gays say "Hey Daddy" to him (but I mean, hands-off, he's taken!).  Not the most scenic in terms of the trail itself, but some good views over the city of Palm Desert and the valley beyond.

But otherwise, just three yahoos out hiking in the desert, enjoying a long weekend down there.