Patio view from our rental. Today’s cooler, cloudier weather made for a more dramatic sunset. Third time renting this spot. And yes, it’s Sausage Saturday with sausage and cabbage for dinner, then a movie with a break for ice cream (actually frozen cashew milk). Yum.
Category: Living
Hiking the North Lykken Trail
Lyft to North Lykken trailhead, then walked one-way: steep ascent, less steep descent, valley floor walk, steep ascent, steepest descent to downtown Palm Springs. Lunch at Blackbook, dishevelled walk home along city streets past other tourists carrying little shopping bags. In 1915, Carl Lykken, from Grand Forks, ND, installed the first telephone in Palm Springs. Apparently he also liked to hike.
Fresh California produce
During my cycle ride, I popped into Albertsons Supermarket for fruit and saw a lot of fresh California produce. It’ll be two or three months before Minnesota field-grown options start showing up in Minneapolis.
The road less-traveled from an off-airport Avis dropoff
Walked back from an off-airport Avis location after returning our car, a significant savings over terminal pickup and dropoff. We liked the car (a Kia Niro EV) and would happily own a smaller version of it if we didn’t have many years left on our 2017 Honda Fit. For the next few weeks we’re walking and cycling, and using city buses, Lyft, and a cable car.
Prison inmates and fire mitigation
On our final Indian Canyons hike before we give up the car (and easy access to the trailheads) we spotted a line of prison inmates carrying rakes, soon to perform fire mitigation. The training may ease their reintegration into society, possibly including joining a fire department. Meanwhile, we hope they’re receiving fair compensation.
Goodbye Norma Jean
On my cycle ride, stopped to watch workers preparing to move the 17-ton blonde bombshell less than 100 feet. The combined legal and moving fees are reportedly around $1 million. I was only three years old when ‘The Seven Year Itch’ first pushed back on the conservative mores of 1950s America.
Palm trees thriving where tectonic plates collide
Drove across the Coachella Valley to a ridge trail with lovely 360° views looking across the valley. Initially, we hiked directly on the San Andreas Fault. Here, we’re looking down at a line of native California fan palms owing their existence to groundwater pushed up by the collision of the tectonic plates.
An evening with Dianne Reeves
Walked over to the Annenberg Theater in downtown Palm Springs for a concert with jazz singer, Dianne Reeves. We first saw her in Minneapolis at Orchestra Hall, maybe 15 years ago, and we often play her music at home. She has evolved well over the years: more innovative, more energy, and more of an edge, including a political message to hold onto our humanity.
Indian Canyons hike redux
We hiked the exact same loop we did a couple days ago. We love this loop, over the years we’ve hiked it several times. It seemed less strenuous than a couple days ago, as our bodies acclimate. Here, we’re close to the finish line at Palm Canyon, an oft-photographed spot.
Rest day on a bicycle
Dwight went for a jog, I went for a bicycle meander, stopping for coffee and picking up groceries along the way. After yesterday’s somewhat arduous hilly hike, this felt like a rest day.