Salton Sea

Destination Salton Sea:  a vast inland lake, in fact, the largest lake in California measuring in at 380 sq. miles (versus Tahoe at on 193!)  But the Salton Sea faces incredible challenges.

It is a bird lover's paradise and more than 400 species have been spotted here, including about 100 that are breeding species.  It is a key stop on the Pacific Flyway.  There is one predominant fish:  the tilapia that supports the birds.

The Sea is salty.  Really salty.  And getting saltier every year.  The Sea has no water rights of its own (and water rights are everything in this part of the world)!  So a bit of runoff enters and a whole lot of water evaporates...and the Sea gets saltier and saltier.  At some point the fish and birds will not tolerate the salty water....and then it will become an inland, dead sea.

We camped on the beach and did a bit of birding.  Listened to the trains rumbling along the tracks.

And left for Yuma!

Sunset View from Bessie

Sunnylands Center and Garden

Sunnylands Center & Gardens is the public access point to discover and experience the legacy of Walter and Leonore Annenberg.    Walter (1908-2002) was a communications entrepreneur, diplomat, and philanthropist.  And we assume, dedicated to all causes Republican!  Leonore (1918-2009) was the consummate hostess and together they welcomed world leaders and entertainment icons to their winter home:  Sunnylands.

Both were generous philanthropists and this legacy continues at Sunnylands.  The Sunnylands Center has been restored and renovated and is now a high-level retreat center.  The center is used to advance world peace and facilitate international agreement.  Recent example:  The June 2013 summit between President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping occurred at Sunnylands.

The Gardens are open to the public (free) and one can wander the Center and the Gardens.  While we wandered, a free public yoga class was held on the Great Lawn.  Photos on the wall included famous politicians, golfers, and royalty.   The remodeled home (now the retreat center), golf course, and guest areas can be toured...if you plan WELL IN ADVANCE.  So...next time.

Lovely gardens--not much in bloom now.  Apx 70 species of native and arid adapted plants are displayed.

Icon of Sunnylands.  From the back of the "copy" of the redwood bench given by Barack Obama to Xi Jinping.

Lovely view of the San Jacinto Mountains from the Garden.

Coachella Valley Preserve

Nestled south of the peaks of Joshua Tree National Park is the Coachella Valley Preserve dedicated to protecting over 500 species of native plants, 200 species of birds, and 30 species of mammals in this desert valley.  We stumbled on the Preserve while driving from Sam's Family Spa to the towns of the Palm Desert area.

The Preserve includes one of the largest groves of desert fan palms in California.  While a few are reported to be 150 years old -- most are younger.  Again, we walked through a relatively dry and unwelcoming environment -- and then, suddenly:  the McCallum Oasis.  This time the trail was level; some in deep sand, and paralleled one of the faults of the San Andreas faults.  It is one of the only places along the San Andreas fault that the fault is visible.  All was quiet during our visit!

After strolling through a desert wash:  McCallum Oasis with standing water and enormous palm trees.

Looking up through the grove of the palm trees.

Hello to the San Andreas Fault.

Joshua Tree National Park, Day 2

The Park is enormous...stretching for miles and miles of desolate, rock and shrub strewn miles.  We opted to spend Day 2 hiking into the Fortynine Palms Oasis and then driving the park road through to the Cholla Cactus Garden.  Both destinations were amazing!

Fortynine Palms Oasis is on the north side of the Park and require a moderately strenuous hike (up and over a ridge) to descend to a hidden oasis.  It is really a thrill to hike through dry, rocky, and brush filled terrain and then suddenly a beacon of palm trees is spotted in the distance.  This oasis still has a bit of standing water and is used heavily by wildlife in the Park.

The ride across the park took us up and over the Pinto Mountains and then long open vistas to the east and the Coxcomb Mountains.  A whole lot of nothing...I can not understand how the early ranchers and miners thought this was a good place for much of anything.  But one stretch of the road is perfect of Cholla (choy-ya) Cactus.  The perfect soil, altitude, rain (less than 4 inches a year) and drainage that at least a cholla could love.  Don't even think of touching this plant -- even the brochure says:  Be on guard that you do not walk too close to the cholla cactus.  At the slightest touch, the spines will penetrate your flesh and are extracted only with difficulty and pain.  Not too many folks wandered off this trail!

Up, over, down, and around....miles to see those palm trees?  

Busy bees in the desert

The trees are such a contrast to the rocky, dry, hot, steep mountain terrain

A Cholla Cactus Garden with view across the Pinto Basin

Stay Away!

Dead cholla trunk -- peak through to more chollas

Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is our first National Park of the new year -- and, a NEW National Park for us.  The Park straddles the transition zone between the Mojave and the Colorado deserts with a wealth of biological diversity.  The Park protects many species characteristic of each desert ecosystem.  We did not see many birds or reptiles and many of the plants were dormant (well, they looked dead to me).


BUT we saw the fabulous Joshua trees in all sizes.  We hiked a bit and gazed at the enormous boulder fields.  We will go back a second day to explore the eastern half of the park and find some of the hidden oasises.

View along the Hidden Valley Trail -- famous for the horse thieves hiding out in the rocks!

Joshua Trees can grow to 40 feet -- quite a feat at an inch or two a year!

Surprised to see the oak family represented.

View from Key's Point at 5,000+ feet.  The jumble below is the San Andreas fault running through the Coachella Valley.  Palm Springs in background and to left.

Bouldering is a favorite past time in the National Park.