Catching up -- Saturday, 2/24/24

Jimmy and I returned home yesterday, the 23rd, from Louisiana; we were there ten days.  My sister, Nannie's, husband (William Scott Underwood, aka "Bubba") passed away from lymphoma on February 9th.  He didn't quite make it to his 80th birthday in April, but we like to think he lived a good, long life.  His memorial service took place on Saturday, the 17th and, boy howdy, a lot of people attended.  A lot.

Their friends from Denmark, Heidi Holm and Soren Nielsen, flew all the way across the pond just for Bubba's service, a most kind and touching thing to do.  Pictured above, L-R:  Heidi, Jimmy, Soren, and Nannie.

Along with flower arrangements and plants, Nannie put together a slide show of their lives, a loop that everyone in the funeral home could watch during the service.  They were married 47 years.  The memorial service was emotional, but lovely.

After the service, half the crowd returned to Nannie's home for refreshments, most provided by the Live Oak Community Church.  I carried my camera around all day, yet took very few pics and only these few were worthy of posting.

Of course, you see the mob gathered in the kitchen.  Isn't that the way people behave?  Stand around in the kitchen, though most of the food had been placed in the dining room.  Underwoods have lived in this area for generations, so plenty of Bubba's relatives were in attendance, as well as many dear friends.

Their grandson, Joe, and his wife, Catherine, and their two youngsters were here.  Joe flew here before his grandpa passed, spending quality time with him and helping Nannie immensely.  Above is great-granddaughter, Amelia, a "firecracker" in Joe's words.  All the kids were having fun while the adults visited.  That's what kids do.  Blake's the little guy with the bucket on his head and watching him walk around like that was a riot.

 Naturally, some lighthearted nonsense is in order.  😊

When it's over,

it's definitely time to put your feet up!

The flowers were gorgeous.  This arrangement was from our sister-in-law, Anne, who lost her husband of over 50 years last month.  Been a helluva year so far.

Son, Matt, flew in from Sacramento to be with his aunt.  It was only right and fitting that he and I be with her and honor Bubba, since Matt and I lived next door to them for ten years.  I moved from SoCal to Louisiana in 1989, when Matt was nine, so we'd be near family as we had none in SoCal.

Jimmy and I were blamed for ushering in a cold front the day after we arrived, and it truly was cold!  The burial of Bubba's urn was postponed till Monday the 19th because it was too chilly outside.  Thank goodness the sun was shining this day.  Bubba's only sibling, Jim, helped inter his brother.  Nannie, Jim and Matt above.

Jim, Jimmy, and Matt above.

We are not a gloomy lot.  Nannie will mourn her Bubba forever, but life goes on for the living.  We still eat, laugh, and joke.  For dinner one night, after the donated food was gone or we were tired of eating it, we four went to Don's Seafood for a blow-out seafood dinner, and let me tell you, the food was delicious.  Matt and Nannie, above.

Matt left the next day, unfortunately sick, flu-like but not COVID, and he became sicker when he got home.  Soren and Heidi left the day after the memorial service, both ill with a nasty tummy bug.  No fun having to travel when you're feeling bad.  Nevertheless, thanks to them for being there for Nannie.

Yummy crab claws was our appetizer at Don's.  Have you ever tried fried alligator?  How about blackened alligator?  Maybe boudin balls?  No?  Me, neither.

For Bubba's obituary -- click here.

Now begins a new chapter in Nannie's life as she joins the ranks of widowhood.  Indeed, for Jimmy and me, too, since we're used to being a foursome whenever we'd go someplace.  My sister will be all right.  She has relatives all over the country to visit if she's of a mind, friends, too.  And she knows she's always welcome at our house, anytime.

West Side Loop, Saturday, 2/3/24

 

Joshua Tree National Park is a fascinating place.  Jimmy and I have seen but a portion, just scratched the surface of it, and are keen to return for more.  It's so different from any other park we've been to, a crazy, mixed-up jumble of desert and rock and unique flora.  JTNP is almost directly north and above Desert Hot Springs, where we're staying; that is, "above" by about 3000 feet.

Our goal for today, Saturday, was to explore the West Side Loop Trail off Black Rock Canyon in JTNP.  Rain is forecast for tomorrow, so play outside today is our motto!  Armed with lots of water, we coaxed Smartie up that big hill again, and hit the trail.  We picked this one because it's tucked away in the park's northwest corner, so less hikers, and it looked to be the most scenic.

But first, as we like to say, first, we wanted to show you another stellar scene out our front window from yesterday morning.  Clouds pretty much obscured Gorgonio's face, but gave us a rainbow instead!  Art in the sky!

Of course, it being the weekend, vehicles were parked everywhere, but very few at the West Side Loop.  When we left Tergel, the temp was 58°.  At the trailhead, the temp was 49°.  Not so much location, location, but elevation, elevation (over 4000' at the trailhead)!  We were dressed in layers for the lower temps.  Leaning on his walking stick, Jimmy is gazing at the incredible panorama before him.

Cholla looks bright, kinda fuzzy, and benign.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  That sucker would wound you big time if you got close enough.  Those needles!  Look how it glows in the sunshine.

The views from West Side Loop Trail are jaw-dropping, really and truly, with layers atop layers of hills and mountains. It's probably one of the better, if longer, hikes in JTNP.  It's rated moderate, a 4.7-mile loop hike -- it meanders through stands of large Joshua trees and a pinyon-juniper woodland, and ascends 785 feet of vertical gain, not too bad.  Throw in stunning views of San Gorgonio for good measure, the tallest peak in So Cal.

Signage was spot-on, which we appreciated, because other trails (not seen on the brochure) intersected our loop.

A warning about the trail being washed out ahead.  Rains create havoc on sandy slopes, but we weren't bothered much, tho the uphill we'd be facing would make us huff 'n puff. 

Half-way up this particular hill (ridge) we stopped to breathe and get this pic.  Our trail is visible and wraps around the big hill behind Jimmy.

The park embraces parts of two distinct deserts—the Mojave and Sonoran.  Compared to the lower Sonoran (or Colorado desert) the Mojave is loftier, wetter, and more vegetated, aka "high desert," and it's what we see here.  Lots of Joshua trees, Yuccas, and Creosote.

Not 100% sure, but that might be the City of Yucca Valley way down below (top, above).  This trail is comprised of various terrain types -- deep sand, hard packed dirt, and uneven rocky surfaces, and there were lots of ups and downs, some steep.

Here's an interesting Joshua tree that looks as though it got tired and laid down ... at which point lots of little arms sprouted along its trunk and pointed skyward.  This was at the crown of a ridge, where Piñon pines, Scrub oaks and Junipers joined the flora.  Plenty of birds up here, noisy Scrub Jays, Mountain Chickadees, etc., and even a Phainopepla closer to the car.

Unlike much of JTNP, the rocks on West Side Loop are not monzogranite, those wacky jumbled boulders seen further east in the park.  If you look closely, you can spot bunches of hedgehog cacti.  The only critter we saw was a lizard.

Coming down from the ridges and back into thick Joshua tree territory, we were tiring and hoping to see Smartie, but she was still a mile away, oh well.  We could do it.  (insert smiley face)  

At last, with Smartie in view, we stumbled across this child's soft parka hanging on a stump, obviously hoping the owner's folks would come and claim it.  I thought it might be better off at the nature center (visitor center) in case of rain, so we carried it to the car and turned it over to a ranger.

Happy were we to see Smartie!  Hungry were we, too, so we stopped at a burger joint (just okay), and came back down the hill.  I couldn't wait to hit the pool and, you know me -- like a marshmallow in hot chocolate -- I'd simply melt into the deliciously warm water.  Then into the hot pool to ease the tired muscles.  What a great day.

Well.  Now.  Today we had to cancel the rest of our month's stay at Catalina RV Resort, and our added Anza-Borrego days.  But we have a family emergency, and need to return home, make airline reservations and fly to Baton Rouge to be with my sister and our very ill brother-in-law.  We're grateful to have had two glorious weeks in the desert.  We'll be back again next year.

 

Mission Creek Preserve, Tues 1/30/24

 

Looking on the Internet for new trails near Desert Hot Springs, Mission Creek Preserve popped up close, just a hop across Hwy 62 (the big hill), so we packed plenty of water and pointed Smartie west.  The temp was a moderate 75, not overwhelmingly hot.  We had a two-mile drive on a rocky gravel road to get to the gate, following frisky Mission Creek all the way, with snow-capped San Gorgonio looming in the background.  Picture-perfect!

We parked Smartie here and entered by a slot in the gate (no fee).  A hundred feet or so in were four stone buildings (below), remnants of a guest ranch from the last century.  I found a great site (click here) with a wealth of info about it, including old postcards showing how it looked back in the day.

Naturally, we walked up to them and inside and beyond, to the stone fireplace (below) -- just to poke around.  Twin palms behind have been there a long time.  Notice the day is very bright, no clouds, abundant sunshine.  (We learned there'd be no shade for our hike, either).  The rockwork is fantastic!

This massive stone fireplace was the centerpiece of the guest ranch dining hall.  Picture it, if you can, with tables and chairs for people dressed in dinner finery or for breakfast guests in cute nighties.  A devastating fire in 1960 burned everything to the ground, leaving only the stones.

Even a swimming pool, of sorts.  Not very big, nor deep, but I bet it felt good to dip your toes in on a hot day!  You see the stone chimney in the background.

Today, inside each stone building is a sturdy picnic table, with a well-made slated roof to provide a little shade.  I thought this photo might make your eyes crazy!  I enjoyed reading the history and seeing their pics on the site I mentioned, above.  You will too.

We continued on, most of the time adjacent to the creek and the wide, wide wash.  Springtime flooding waters come ripping down the hills and peaks into the canyon wash, overflowing any banks that might exist and throwing huge logs next to and beyond the trail (which is actually a gravel road) and turning the creek into a raging river.

On the other side of the trail are painted hills.

Located in a transition zone between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, the 4,760-acre Mission Creek Preserve has a rich species composition with flora and fauna representing both deserts. In 2016, President Obama authorized the creation of the Sand to Snow Nat'l Monument, which encompasses Mission Creek Preserve, thrilling conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts who had long fought for the beloved landscapes be protected from development. The Sand to Snow National Monument stretches from the desert floor near Palm Springs to the peak of San Gorgonio, comprising 154,000 acres.  Yay!

Always in view:  snow-covered San Gorgonio!

In full sun, we hoofed it 1.6 miles to this former dude ranch Stone House.  Surprisingly to us, both front and back doors were unlocked, an invitation to come in and enjoy the shade, check out the maps on the walls.  Two working bathrooms with potable sink water were out back.  What a treat.  We refilled our water bottles!  Several clean picnic tables were placed out front beneath dormant sycamore trees and we took advantage of one, resting for a few minutes.  The ranch land was once a Mission Creek Indian Reservation.

We kept to the trail after leaving the Stone House, edging toward the fast-moving creek, as we're wont to do, and which is holding Jimmy mesmerized, above.

All the boulders/rocks looked white-washed.

The big 'un by me was striped.

Sure, Mission Creek is narrow now, but after the rains ....

Yes, the water is cold.

I was tempted, but resisted, though the log bridge didn't move.

This looks suspiciously like Scotch broom.

We quit at this point, a half mile +/- from the Stone House.  The trail/road had been washed away by last year's hurricane.  We'd had enough by this time, anyway, especially delighting in our time by the creek.  At the Stone House Jimmy refilled our bottles with more water and we hoofed it back to the car. Not quite five miles, lotsa steps, and ... should I say it again?  Okay.  Yep, we went straight to the pool, and aaaaaaaaahhh, heaven on earth.

A day in the life, Mon, 1/29/24

 

After a fairly strenuous workout one day, we try to keep the next day's activities down to a dull roar, if you know what I mean.  As in, don't be too wild and crazy day after day.  That being said, neither do we want to "waste" these sunny, warm daylight hours, 'cause rain in the desert is forecast for later this week.  We like to be outside and we like to explore, so off we went up the hill to Big Morongo Preserve, hoping this time we could get in.

The Marsh trail suited us to a T, meandering on a boardwalk for less than a mile.  Another day we'll check out one of the longer trails that go into the canyons.  This desert oasis is one of the 10 largest cottonwood and willow riparian habitats in California. Water draining from the surrounding mountains flows into a river through the canyon, and ground water rises up along the Morongo fault to form the marsh habitat.  The cottonwood trees here, including the big ol' stump (or snag) beside Jimmy, are huge -- look at the specimen below!

Most of these cottonwoods are just thinking about budding out.  I hope to return in a couple of weeks to see the change.  The greenery in this tree looks to be largely desert mistletoe.

Green, soon!

This ol' dude has been long gone, but is an art piece itself!

Like sitting in an outdoor private sitting room, that will soon be "repainted!"  While it may not look like much, this was a fun walk, especially knowing the whole landscape will be different very shortly!

Bird feeders at the nature center attract many species. The Preserve is an internationally-recognized birding site.  Not sure which hummingbird this is.  Probably Anna's.  Next time I'll have my binocs with me!

From their website:  At 31,000 acres with elevations ranging from 600' on the canyon floor to 3000' at the top of the ridge, this diverse landscape is an important part of the Morongo Basin’s natural and cultural history, and in 2016 was incorporated into the Sand to Snow National Monument.  How nice that no fee is charged for parking or to walk their trails.

Last summer's hurricane (!!) really hurt this preserve.  Thanks to the volunteers who put much of it back together for our enjoyment.

* * *

We wondered about Pioneertown, what was it, and, since we were close, we decided it was worth the short drive to look into it.  Always curious. 😊

This is pretty much it:  Pioneertown.  Not much to it that we could see.  Looked like a movie set, and I believe movies or TV shows can use or have used Pioneertown for its "old-timey-Western-town-feel."

A few of the buildings are cutsey, to make you feel like you've been transported to the Wild West, say Wyoming or Nevada, in 1869.  The sign above the door sez:  Town Hall 😂.

Some of the wooden buildings are occupied by vendors selling soaps or pottery.  Since it was Monday, certain shops that might be open on the weekend weren't open today.  Regardless, we weren't interested in buying or even looking inside.

Haha, the sign over the barrel says:  Warning! Baby Rattlers.  The top was screened to "keep the rattlers confined."  Even I peeked in!  Couldn't see a thing.

Back at the ranch, so to speak, I love watching the clouds when I'm swimming in the afternoon. Most of the time they're airy or fleecy or just plain fanciful. Contrails gone awry.

Sometimes I see sun dogs while in the pool.

We see awesome sunrises and sunsets here at Catalina Spa!  How about this gorgeous sunset?  Maybe Jimmy and I appreciate them all the more because our tall trees at home prevent us seeing either.  No matter.  We can enjoy these beauties here!