Welcome to the Desert

1. 
   We arrived at Desert Pools RV Resort on 1 November with the plan being to remain mostly in and around this area until we return home at the beginning of May. Last year we purchased a membership at Catalina Spa and RV Resort which is located just a couple of miles from Desert Pools with the idea of staying-put in mind. Our winters away from home, you see, are not so much about travel as they are about avoiding the cold, wet winters at home.
   
   Since here we’ve gotten together twice with Bob and Cheryl (other Mexico train trip refugees) and taken the $5 tour of their brand new motorhome. It’s very pretty and big, with all of the bells and whistles one could want. It has two huge slide-out-rooms, one on each side, that seem to give it the floor space of a luxury condo.
   
   
   
   
   
   We’ve made reservations to go with them to see “The Follies”, a long-running show in downtown Palm Springs. This holiday season their show is titled “Tin-pan Alley”. For all of the years we’ve come down to this area we’ve heard “You’ve just got to go to the Follies, it’s wonderful.” Well, this year we’ll do it but it will cause a hit on our pocket book. Tickets for the show range from $66 –90/per seat! Well, we haven’t been to a big time stage production in years but that seems a bit stiff. How do you feel about it? I sure hope all those folks who told us “You’ve just got to go…” weren’t just more of the “Misery Loves Company Crowd.” The age of the performers in this production ranges from 60 to 80. Yeah, 60 to 80 and I’m told they are voluptuous and gorgeous. The poster reads, "They sing, they dance, they're ancient, and they play to sell out crowds." Bob asked, “Why are we spending that much money to go see a bunch of old broads?” Good question, Bob.
   
   There are daily activities here in the park in which one can participate should one choose to. The morning starts with
   
   
   
   
   poolercize or water aerobics in the warm mineral waters of the pool. Maybe you’d prefer a hot soak in one of the three hot
   
   mineral pools. There are also walking groups if you just want to walk.
   
   A tension filled game of mini-golf might be on tap if the grandkids are visiting or how about a rousing game of pickle ball
   
   
   (sort of like tennis). There are horseshoe groups, and shuffle
   
   board too so there’s little or no reason to just veg unless that’s your thing.
   
   Indoor classroom sessions take place almost every day and cover a wide variety of subjects from computers and the internet to quilting and cloth weaving. They are all conducted by other campers, who feel they have the expertise, and are free.
   
   Meals can be purchased in the dining room several times a week and you wouldn't want to miss out on the Ice Cream Social on Sunday afternoon.
   
   If none of that turns you on, there’s the whole Desert Southwest just outside the gate. The world-famous Palm Springs Tram will
   
   
   
   whisk you from the valley floor to over 8,000’ near the summit for a spectacular view of the entire Coachella Valley, clear down to the Salton Sea. We’re about ½ hour from Joshua Tree National Park, there are Indian Casinos all over the place with their games, restaurants, buffets, entertainment rooms, and hotels. The premium outlet stores are about ½ hour away also. The very interesting Salton Sea is only an hour away. There are theaters where visiting big-name stars do mainly one-night-stands, museums, zoos. There are wonderful restaurants enough to satisfy every pallet. In other words, there’s a heck of a lot more to do here than at home in Grass Valley.
   
   Above all, there’s the wonderful sunny weather. The area boasts up to 360 sunny days a year and now, through April (the tourist season) finds the best temperatures of the year with most days in the 70’s and nights in the 50’s.
   
   
   
   
   

   
   Our RV site faces Mt. San Jacinto, (at right in the photo below). This is the view out of the windshield of our motorhome.. At sunrise the mountain is the first place to receive its rays.