Who really needs this kind of outlet?

Once through the pass we made a turn into a large outlet mall. I had it on good authority that the Coldwater Creek Outlet store was worth a stop. Once off the highway we found out where everyone was! The enormous, mile-long parking lot was full! Bill dropped me off and went looking for a spot. By the time he found one and came to meet me, I had checked out the whole store, a few more, and was ready to leave. What a cheap date I am! Outlet stores have changed since the day we found the Esprit outlet more than 20 years ago. No longer bins of real bargains with women grabbing a pile and throwing their clothes off right there to try them on (remember Christie?), the shops are now rows of neat "bargains" straight off the boat with every size available and prices higher than the "real" store on El Paseo. Let me out of there!

26 miles and 6000 feet later....

We left the highway to start the drive to Idyllwild. It turns out that while the road is only 26 miles long, it winds up 6000 feet! So we were soon in the clouds and passing snow on the side of the road. The little town is a pretty mountain village and is just coming awake again after the winter trade has gone. It must be a wonderful relief for people to come up here from the desert in the summer. There are lots of cabins available and trails for hiking. We found a cozy coffee house and had fresh white chocolate-raspberry scones and steaming coffee. It was lightly snowing as we drove back down through the clouds but by 3000 feet we were pealing off layers and preparing for the desert. The weather is predicted to go back up to the mid-80's again tomorrow.

Day off

We decided to slow our pace and spend the day here relaxing. It is cooler today - high 70's and was nice outside all day although still hot in the direct sun. This afternoon, we sat and roasted 20 minutes a side beside the pool. Bill did a few laps and otherwise we read our books and visited with neighbours.

Good morning in fifty languages...

This lovely little mocking bird says good night and good morning in as many bird languages as he can muster every day. He usually sits in a palm tree outside our unit and sings from sunrise to sunset. You'd think you had a choir of soloists until you look closely and find out it is all coming from him.

Chuckwalla and vistas of 49 Palms Hike

This fat chuckwalla was waiting for us to pass so he could go to other side of the path - yellow flowers, his favourite -waited for him over there. He is a strict vegetarian but seems to be thriving on that diet.

Rocky hillside typical of this part of the park. Red barrel cactus sticks out part way up the slope.

Looking north to the largest air/ground combat centre in the world. A few clouds formed this day - first we've seen since we arrived.

Palm Oasis peaking out of the deep rocky canyon. There have been fires in the oasis since the 40's so the palm trees don't have the full frond "skirts" anymore. But the palms apparently become healthier and more productive because smaller plants killed in the fire no longer compete with them for water.

Are you sure you can see the top??

Where's my stroller when I need it?

Out the door at 9:00 to head back up to Joshua Tree National Park to explore the top end more closely. A ranger suggested the best hike right now is the 49 Palms Oasis - most wildflowers in evidence and fabulous views. All this was right but the hike involved climbing up, up, up to the top of a rise, winding around several craggy hills then down, down, down to the Oasis. Now anyone who hikes knows that down, down, down means up, up, up later on! The amazing thing is that we followed a big family who decided to take their toddler in a stroller! The climb involved foot-high and higher steps carved in the rock, with winding, rocky pathways and many narrow spots. We found the stroller abandoned on the side of a hill about 1/3 of the way up - amazed it took that long to make the decision!
I took 100 pictures on the way to the Oasis so that allowed me to catch my breath. I really hate hills but the view was stunning - first to the north as the cars in the parking lot became matchbox toys and the world's largest air-ground combat base - a white blotch on the horizon. The hills were covered with blooming wild flowers and spots of cactus showing off their stunning pink blossoms or bright red thorns.
After an hour or more we could see the dark green patch of palm trees poking up from a valley. This was the oasis - formed on the fault line when water was cut off below the surface. We were both thinking about this being a very unfortunate place to be if there were an earthquake - craggy hills hanging over us with many loose boulders..... We sat drinking water in the cool of the oasis along with the stroller family. They showed no interest in starting back up and I could hardly blame them. Bill offered to carry my backpack and camera which sped our return back - we did it in half the time but with double the complaining!