2019 – 2020 Snowbird Season…
After a whirlwind year of traveling and events we were looking forward to relaxing some for a few months in the Palm Springs, CA area. Last year our Holidays were spent in Florida with Joanne’s parents & family so this year we thought it fitting to spend them with Mike’s family in California.
We again planned to stay at Desert Shadows RV Resort (DSRV) in Cathedral City, CA and immediately picked-up where we left off with greeting friends, socializing, volunteering, hiking, & just relaxing in the beautiful Coachella Valley.
Last time we stayed here Mike was unable to participate in much, given he was rehabbing/recuperating from his knee replacement surgery. This year we immediately volunteered to help with Potato Bash, Pancake Breakfast, St Patricks Day dinner, Games in the park, in addition to several others functions.
DSRV is a 55+ RV Resort Property located in Cathedral City, CA at the corner of Rancho Mirage, CA and just down the the street from either Palm Springs (left out of the park) or Palm Desert (right out of the park ) – A very convenient location. In fact although anything you need is only a few minutes drive in either direction, if you prefer, you can easily ride a bike on the sidewalk/bike path right to the local grocery store…
The culture of this park is so special and unique. With the incredible amount of activities, diversified/friendly group of lot owners/renters, (location, location, location), and beautiful landscaping, DSRV is really a little secret gem in the Coachella Valley.
Being here for the Holidays for the first time we were so looking forward to experiencing so much more than our previous stay…
A few of our experiences while here this year included: The Palm Springs Thursday Night Street Fairs, The weekend College of the Desert Swap meets, Palm Desert Golf Cart parade, Veterans Day Celebration, DSRV Holiday Golf Cart Parade, Joshua Tree National Park, A visit to the President Nixon Library (Yorba Linda, CA) and the Hiking…(Lot’s of great hiking…). In addition, this area is incredible for just taking scenic day drives (especially in our Mini-Convertible). Some drives we took included: The Salton Sea, Slab City, Salvation Mountain, Idlywyld, CA, Big BEAR, CA, Borrego Springs, Temecula, CA, & Oceaside, CA…
The Eclectic El Paseo, Palm Desert Golf Cart Parade:
Palm Desert, CA Golf Cart Parade on El Paseo…
Palm Desert, CA Golf Cart Parade on El Paseo…
The drive on the Palms to Pines highway up Route 74 and then Idyllwind, CA:
Idyllwind, CA…
San Bernardino National Forest Route 74…
Views along Route 74….
The Palm Spring Thursday Night Street Fair: (This was the day we got back to the desert on Halloween…):
Palm Springs Thursday Night Street Festival…
Bumping into Fellow Full-Time RVers (“RV Love” )in Palm Springs – A few weeks later we hosted them at our DSRV site and spent a great evening sharing stories and becoming friends – THANKS Marc & Julie (FYI- They are the authors of the book “Living the RV Life” – and gave us a signed copy.)
RV Love in costume…
Visiting with new friends… Marc & Julie of “RV Love”
We have talked about taking a drive to Big BEAR, CA for some time. We can see it from our lot and while we sit in 80 plus degree weather here, the constant view of the snow capped peaks of Big BEAR always brings a great feeling to us. Maybe that’s why we like it here so much. Great weather and snow still at every turn/view. (all the benefits of snow and none of the cold, ice, precipitation…?) Our drive to BIG BEAR, CA:
Big BEAR, CA
Big BEAR, CA
Big BEAR, CA
The Veterans Day Celebration in the park was very well done and was attended by both Canadians & Americans. My friend Dennys (from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) presentation of “In Flanders Field” was especially moving…:
Veteran’s Day 2019… (DSRV)
We have driven many times on I-10 or Route 86 looking at the famous Salton Sea in the distant though hadn’t actually spent any time there. Deciding to drive the loop around around the very large Salton Sea was an adventure we are so glad we took. Even though it is a dead body of water and nothing lives in it any longer, and it is slowly shrinking: it is still a unique and beautiful landscape. On the eastern side we took a detour that day and visited the famous “Slab City” & man-made shrine “Salvation Mountain”. An eclectic day for sure though the weather was terrific and the sightseeing was even better…:
Salton Sea…
Salton Sea with those mountain views…
Slab City…
Salvation Mountain…
One of next drives took us to Borrego Springs, CA and the Anza Borrego State Park/Recreation areas. The drive to this rather remote area takes you through a section that reminded us instantly of the “Badlands National Park” – Crazy scenery change… Borrego Springs is out there… and seems to be like a little Oasis at the base of the San Bernadino Mountains. We had a picnic lunch on their center green followed by a drive around town and then on to their famous sculptures in the middle of the desert. This is some eclectic art in the middle of the desert. Departing this area we continued on a loop that took us through Julian, Ca (famous for their pies…), Temecula, CA(famous for their wines…) , and then back through Anza Valley and route 74 into Palm springs, It was a long day that we loved!
Borrego Springs, CA…
Anza – Borrego Desert – Sate Park
Some Borrego springs artwork…
Some more Borrego springs artwork…
Joshua Tree National Park we stopped by last year though it was so cold and windy with snow flurries so we only drove through the park. This year we took the famous “Key’s Ranch Homestead Tour” followed by a day of hiking and taking in the views/vistas of the park. FYI… you need to make reservations in advance for Keys Ranch and it was well worth the history lesson to really understand the early years in this area before it became a National Park.
Key’s Ranch – Joshua Tree National Park…
Joshua Tree National Park…
A drive that has been recommended several times by friends (whenever Joanne mentions that this area has everything except a beach) is a drive to Oceanside, CA on the Pacific Ocean just North of San Diego, CA… Joanne loves the beach, again Joanne LOVES the beach. So when she mentions one evening she was missing the beach I said so lets go to the beach tomorrow ) Oceanside, CA… The drive again up Pines to Palms Highway then turning for Anza Valley and Temecula was as beautiful as the past and then we headed the final 50 miles to Oceanside. One way is about 2 hours. after arriving we spent the day walking the beach, strolling the docks, and having a late lunch by the pier/harbor. A perfect day for sure. We will definitely take a drive here again the next time Joanne proclaims “I miss the beach…”:
Oceanside , CA Harbor…
Oceanside , CA Harbor…
Oceanside, CA … Joanne’s Happy Place – The Beach
Last year when we visited the Ronald Regan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA we bought a 1 year membership allowing access to any presidential Library in the country. Since we have really enjoyed visiting other libraries on the East Coast and hoped to visit several others next year while traveling across the country, we thought it was a good investment and we also planned on going to the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum while snowbirding in the desert this year. We knew it was day trip form DSRV so on a sunny day we headed to Yorba Linda, CA to learn about the 37th President of the United States.
Arriving at the Nixon Library early, as we were instructed to, it was still incredibly crowded and we had to park on the street. Compared to other prudential libraries Nixon’s is in the middle of the city so parking is a premium. Approaching the ticket booth we presented our pass which they responded “You don’t need it today as admission is free because it is his 107th birthday celebration”. (Who knew?) We immediately head to his place of rest for the honor guard presentation and speeches by political dignitaries. We really lucked out visiting this day. You couldn’t help to feel proud to be an American given the pop & circumstance surrounding the tributes to this past president. We then spent nearly 5 hours touring the grounds and museum. Although Richard Nixon’s career will be forever blemished with the memories of the “Watergate Scandal”, we both left that day really appreciative for all the great leadership actions, legislation, and policies he passed that have significantly impacted our life. The decision to get out of the Vietnam War, ending the draft, OSHA Legislation, Department of Environmental Protection, Title IX, and international relations (especially with China) – each had a profound impact on our starting young adult lives and continue to this day… The Nixon Library is definitely worth a visit to help understand the life of this very tragic and interesting American figure…
The Richard Nixon Presidential Library…
Celebrating his 107th Birthday…
While visiting friends in the park at DSRV we had heard from many that the first annual DSRV Golf Cart parade was so much fun last year and so we had to participate this year. Well since we don’t have a golf cart (and really don’t have interest in getting one), we volunteered to be part of the reindeer entourage that lead the parade on bikes. Apparently Rudolph from last year wasn’t available and Joanne quickly volunteered to stand-in… What was she getting us into now?
Well our park is’t large, though the parade actually took over 2 hours to complete before arriving at the SJ Recreation building for an after- parade celebration… The residents in the park each had their own set-up of Holiday cheer & snacks along the route and before we were done all had been sufficiently over served … A good time – A REAL good time- had been had by all participants. Mike laughs he started the parade as a “CIT” – (according to his friends form our northern border) though after the parade he was no longer just a “Canadian In Training”…
Joanne getting ready to lead like the new Rudolph…
Joanne& 1 getting ready to lead like the new Rudolph’s…
The last stop along the parade…
One of the best things we discovered this year is the sport of Pickle Ball… I know what you’re thinking… though let me tell you we both love playing the game and it is a huge social sport here in the park. Organized play is Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday with sometimes more than 40 people playing between 8-11:30. Joanne & I often went up in the afternoons by ourselves to practice as well. It’s a good way to get some exercise, it’s very addictive, and you really have to be careful not to get injured… Unfortunately Mike tore his calf muscle early on and Joanne wretched her back though we both recovered after a few weeks and finished out the season as vastly improved players…
Our daily routine in the park usually consists of the gym (Mike 7:30- 9:00), Joanne 5 mile walk (7:30-9:00), followed by Pickle ball in the days above, and then Water Volleyball (Mike ) Noon -2:00 (Tues, Thursday, & Sat.). Hiking club is every Wednesday from 7:30- noon, with us doing some additional hikes or exploring maybe 1 other day a week…
Desert Shadows RV Resort has a First Class Hiking Club and our Leader Daryl does a fantastic job….
One of our biggest group hikes of the year…
And of course the biggest sport here is socializing from 3:30 -6 almost every day at somebody’s site. The culture of the park is dominated by about a 50/50 of US & Canadian snowbirds. The Canadians love it here and they are some of our best friends, plus many from the states of Oregon & Washington…
Having family in the Palm Desert area has been so great as well, Mike’s sisters and Mom all have homes here and it has been especially great getting to visit them while we snowbird. We have never lived this close to family in the past so getting to spend Thanksgiving together and celebrating the Christmas Holiday has been so special….
Mike’s younger sister Amy has 4 kids who are all gifted musicians and it has been so great getting to see them in their high school bands. The Palm Desert HS Holiday Concert was a treat as was Mike winning the lottery to conduct the band; so much fun… I don’t think the family or Joanne ever laughed so hard…
Thanksgiving 2019 in Palm Desert, CA …
So there you have it. Snow Birding in the Southern California Coachella Vally at Desert Shadows RV Resort. To say we definitely were able to add to this incredible “Revolutionary Journey” this 2019-2020 snow bird season is an understatement. Again we remind ourselves how fortunate we are for friends, family, health, and this incredible adventure…
Happy New Year 2020…
