Death Valley 2

This shot was taken from Badwater Basin, which is 282 feet below sea level (the lowest point in the United States, and looking west to Telescope Peak which is 11,049 feet above sea level. The peak still has some snow from the winter storms. I was told that when the air temperature gets to 120+ degrees, the salt beds can reach over 200 degrees. They become too hot to walk on in the summer. I didn't see very many wild flowers yesterday since the desert didn't very much rain this winter. Warmest regards, Gus

Death Valley, California

Yesterday, I spent the day in Death Valley. The temperature got up to the upper 80s, but I would hate to think what it was like years ago when the men had to load these wagons with borax and have the 20 mule-teams (actually 18 mules and two horses) pull the wagons over 100 miles to the railroad. These wagons in the picture are at the Harmony Borax Processing Facility near Furnace Creek. Warmest regards, Gus

Sami in the Colorado River

Today my friend Sami went swimming in the Colorado River near Parker, AZ. When she was swimming out to retrieve her toy duck, she spotted some real ducks on the river and couldn't decide which one she wanted to retrieve. Luckily she finally decided she wanted her toy duck and left the real ones alone. She might still be swimming after them, since they teased her by staying just out of reach.
The weather has been nice here, after a nice rain shower on Sunday night. Last week the temperatures were up into the 90s but have been in the 70s the last two days.
I have been told we are leaving the area on Friday (3/25) and going to Pahrump, NV, for a couple of weeks.
Warmest regards, Gus

Sami and her friend Holly

The last evening before we left the Palm Springs area, Sami and her Friend Holly went for a run in the desert and then came back to the motor home to have an "ice cream" treat. After the treat, it was time to play again. Since we left there, Sami has been in a funk, looking for Holly each afternoon so they can go for a run.
We are now at Emerald Cove, near Parker, AZ, on the Colorado River. The weather has been very nice--in the low 80s.
I got some good news today from my friend Kaori Fujimoto who lives in Yokohama, Japan. She and her family are safe, although they are still feeling the after-shocks of the earthquake. Kaori came to visit me in 2007.
Warmest regards, Gus

BNP Paribus Tennis Tournament

Last week while I was still in the Palm Springs area, I went to see some of the qualifying matches at the BNP Paribus tennis tournament in Indian Wells. The complex is a great facility and the Corona "beer tent" is a new addition this year. It may become the busiest place on the grounds this week. I am looking forward to following the matches on T.V. this week.
Warmest regards, Gus

Wine Tasting

Saturday was a great day--I made some new friends who live in the Temecula, CA area. We met at Wiens Family Winery in Temucula. The wine was good, but it was so much fun to talk with such nice people. They just made me feel right at home. I guess this is why I enjoy traveling so much--there are always new friends to be made.
Tomorrow I am leaving the Temecula /Menifee area and going back to Palm Springs/Indio for several weeks.
Hope to see you down the road.
Warmest regards, Gus

FMCA Rally Parade

I don't have any new photos, so I decided to post this one from the FMCA Western Region Rally in Indio, CA, last month. Some of the chapters get real serious about the parade.
Currently, I am at Thousand Trails (Wilderness Lake) in Menifee, CA. I did go to Wiens Family Cellars for wine tasting several times and plan to go back this weekend.
Next week I will be going back to Indio/Palm Springs for several weeks before going to the Parker, AZ, area.
The weather has been real nice here, but we are getting some rain today. Jim and Pat have played some pickle ball and Sami has done lots of running in an adjoining field. Of course we all have made some new friends.
Not much other news from here in Southern California.
Warmest regards, Gus