Moorten's Botanical Garden 10-31-10

 Clark Moorten, son of Chester "Cactus Slim" and Patricia Moorten of Palm Springs, CA http://www.moortengarden.com/

 The Moorten's beautiful home, part of the Moorten Botanical Garden

Looking down one of the pathways in the Moorten Botanical Garden.  There are over 3,000 species of cacti and succulents from all over the world.  I had the luck to work for Cactus Slim and his wife Patricia, 1971 - 1972, when I first moved to the desert.  They were two unique individuals and I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to know them both.  Cactus Slim is the only man I have ever met who could say, "Phooey!" and have it sound like a dirty word.  I can tell Cactus Slim stories for hours because my year with him was so amazing.

Tipton Rd. RR Crossing 10-29-10

Today's ride: 33 miles out and back to the Whitewater Preserve.  Beautiful morning, with little to no wind and light clouds.  Got another flat tire... two flats for the last three rides.  I did much better this time with my repairing the tire on the road and I didn't need to call for a ride home this time.  It turns out the flat was caused by the same small piece of wire that got me last time.  I thought I had dug all the wire out of the tire, but it turns out I missed a piece and it got me again.  All in all, a good ride.

Dillon Rd. looking west from 1,000 Palms Canyon Rd. 10-23-10

I've been getting some nice rides in lately, but have been waiting for the summer heat to end before taking on the Sky Valley Loop. Yesterday the weather was cool enough, but there was a stronger wind than I would like, but I figured how bad could it be? I'd do the largely downhill portion into the wind. Bad call! The wind was fierce, the uphill portions were brutal and even downhill was tough. After battling the wind for about 17 miles I turned toward home with a bit of a tailwind and all was good until my rear tire went flat. I pulled the tire, changed the tube, inflated it with air with my CO2 inflator and found out I had the tube pinched between the rim and the tire. Pow! After 35 miles I finished with a $20 cab ride home, though it was one heck of a workout.

Rain Clouds over Tahquitz Canyon, 10-20-10

Beautiful Autumn day ride out to Hermit's Bench and back.  Rain and wet streets with a mud stripe up my back and muddy water dripping from my bike... doesn't get much better than that.

Rancho Mirage Mushrooms, 10-18-10

Today's ride: 37 mile loop... Vista Chino, Bob Hope, Country Club to Indian Canyons.  Cooler temperatures with some clouds brought multiple mushroom rings up all over the golf course in the wash off of Country Club near Highway 111.

Hole in the Wall Spider

Indian Ave & I-10, North Palm Springs

Mt. San Gorgonio from Indian Ave. north of Palm Springs, 10-14-10

Today's ride: 37 miles.  Indian Ave., Dillon, Mountain View, Varner, Bob Hope, Country Club, home.  Morning clouds created some beautiful light this morning

Train on Siding, Ramon Rd. Crossing, 10-12-10

Today's ride: 40 1/2 miles.  Vista Chino, Varner, Ramon, Washington, Varner, Ramon... another hot morning, but virtually windless.  Note construction of new on and off ramps in background.  Something about a train in the desert that captivates me.... must be something leftover from my childhood?

Trout, Whitewater Preserve, 10-09-10

Today's ride: 33 miles out and back to the Whitewater Preserve north of Palm Springs.  The preserve used to be a privately owned trout farm.  Today it is a protected preserve and a beautiful little park and the trout are not fished.  They have got to be some happy fish.  The preserve sits atop the Pacfic Crest Trail between two 10,000+ foot mountains.

Split Rock, Indian Canyons, Palm Springs, CA

Near the end of the best two miles of road in the local desert just before arriving at Hermit's Bench.

Cal State University SB, Palm Desert Campus 10-03-10

Today's ride: 30 mile loop, Varner, Cook, Frank Sinatra.

It appears that summer may finally be over... nice morning and it isn't supposed to be over 100 for the up coming week!