Dos Coyotes, Palm Dr where it crosses the San Andreas Earthquake Faultline 11-16-10

Today's ride: 28 mile loop to Desert Hot Springs.  Both these once beautiful animals' lives came to an end where Palm Dr. crosses the San Andreas Fault.  There is a chain link fence that parallels the road on the east side of Palm Dr.  The fence may have contributed to why both of these coyotes lost their lives so close together and at obviously different times?  Theresa and Keith, these photos are dedicated to you.

Palm Springs Indian Canyons 11-14-10

A Redtailed Hawk circling overhead.  It was one of  a pair, but I couldn't get both in my viewfinder at the same time before they disappeared onto the other side of the ridgeline.

Today's ride: 26 miles, never left the City of Palm Springs.  This photo is looking down into Palm Canyon from the Trading Post at the end of the road at Hermit's Bench.

County Dump, 11-12-10

Today's ride: 35 miles.  Hill climb with great vistas and the pungent aroma of rotting garbage to the county dump, approximately 500 feet elevation gain over the 1.7 miles up Edom Hill, then out to the Indian Canyons.  Seems like there were headwinds in every direction that I rode.  My bike went into a speedwobble on the downhill from the dump, scared the heck out of me.

Patriot Park's Healing Field, Cathedral City 11-08-10

A flag honoring each of the Americans "Killed in Action" (KIA) in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. 

As of today: 4,427 KIAs from Iraq and 1,371 KIAs from Afghanistan.

Today's Sunrise from the Whitewater Wash at Vista Chino 11-08-10

Today's ride: 31 1/2 miles.  DaVall loop and out to the Indian Canyons.  A beautiful cool, clear  morning with clouds streaming across the mountains.

Tim & Jan at the College of the Desert Street Fair 11-06-10

I was on my way to stop by my friends' house, Tim & Jan, unannounced, when we had a chance meet-up on the road as they were on their way to the COD Street Fair.  Normally they would be riding the southern California surf, but today they are spending some time in the desert.  See you later Tim and Jan....

The Living Desert 11-06-10

Today's ride: 43 1/2 miles.  To the Living Desert in Palm Desert and then out to Bermuda Dunes and home.

Cabot's Lodge, a.k.a The Cabot Museum, Desert Hot Springs, 11-04-10

Today's ride: 28 mile loop.  Indian to Pearson to Cabot's Lodge to Mountain View, 30th to Palm Dr. and home.

Western Grebe, Cathedral City, 11-02-10

This bird's life came to an end on Dinah Shore Dr. in Cathedral City between DaVall and Date Palm Dr.

This is Date, one of the hardest working men in the Coachella Valley, 11-02-10

Today's ride: 28 mile loop, Vista Chino, Monterey, Country Club, home.  Photo is of Date who can be seen on Monterey Ave on the I-10 overpass in the hot summer sun, in the rain and in the the cold of winter working his sign energetically and with smiling enthusiasm.  Way to go Date....

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.