Car Show and Coachella Valley Preserve

Saturday, we drove East on I-10 to the Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Pass.  We looked over the cars and then had coffee on the shaded patio at the little cafe and people watched. On our way back down the pass, we went to Coachella Valley Preserve for a 2 mile walk.

"The Coachella Valley Preserve is located 10 miles east of Palm Springs near 1000 Palms. It is a 17,000 acre site that is home to the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, which is found nowhere else in the world. It is also home of the spectacular Thousand Palm Oasis which is fed by water seeping out of the San Andreas Fault. There are also several other Palm Oases, including the Willis, Hidden Horseshoe, and Indian Palms. Located in the center is the Paul Wilhelm Grove that is also the location of the Preserve’s visitor’s center. The preserve has several hiking trails including the McCallum, Hidden Palms, Moon Country, Pushawalla Palms, and Willis Palms trails"

We took the McCallum Pond trail.
Some parts in the shade but more in 
the sun.

Palm reflections at McCallum  Pond.

Old fronds made great hiding places for animals.

Clear waters of McCallum Pond. There were a 
few fish swimming around.

Palm grove and Visitor's Center where we 
had our picnic lunch.

Headed west on I-10 from the car show looking 
into the Coachella Valley.

Sonny is checking out the cars at
General Patton Museum.

We had coffee in the garden at Chiriaco Summit.
This old saguaro looked dead but was being held up 
with cables so maybe it still had some life or was
providing homes for birds.

Below these rooftops, there was a shrine 
in the garden with fresh roses that smelled sweet.

There were several feral kitties in the patio garden. 
 This friendly one had one blue eye and one green one. 

This kitty blends in with the gourd it's resting in.

The "Geriatric Chariot" was parked in the lot. People watching is always fun.   (Not meaning to be biased, but) this couple looked to be in their late 70s.  One had a cane and one had crutches. They had lunch and then she lit up a cigarette.  They visited with some other customers  and then packed up the cane and crutches, strapped a dog into a milk crate, put on their helmets and rode off on a dirt road.  They may have been "geriatric" but they had spunk and obviously spent quite a bit of time in the desert on a quad.  There are 2 extra gas cans flags and a cooler strapped on.

Several of these palms have lot their heads!  
At the preserve, I heard a docent say that some years ago, movie produces who were night filming in the oasis, actually hung lanterns from the palms till they caught the fronds on fire and burned the tops. Does make a perch for the birds.

Saturday night, the Resort hosted a concert by a former member of  "The New Christy Minstrels", William Florian.  His long time friend, Woody, joined him on the bass. They performed old favorites of the 60s including tunes from Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver, Pete Seeger and others.  He had funny stories to tell about how he became a musician and a member of TNCM. It was a sing along format so the audience was involved, too. Afterwards, we jumped into the hot tub as our time at the spa was winding down.

Easter Sunday, we went  to Desert Springs Church for the 9:30 AM service which was packed.  It was the second of 3 services.  They even had parking attendants to manage the traffic.  The praise team provided new age music and the choir sang a version of Amazing Grace. We had attended a service there on Good Friday where communion was served.  They used oyster crackers for bread which was a new experience.  The rest of the day was spent getting ready to head north on Monday.