I can’t believe the time here at Emerald Desert RV Park has gone by so quickly. We have promised ourselves a month long visit next winter. I promised photos so will add them here and keep this post short because selfishly, I have a good novel to read, a rig to get ready for departure, and a dinner in Palm Springs tonight. It is the last night of the reunion so we will reluctantly say goodby to some old/new friends. Then after a good night sleep we will be on the road, again.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

Another day in the RV and the morning started with my taking the dogs on a long walk around the park. There must have been a special on RV washing and detailing because there sure were a lot of rigs being professionally taken care of by young men in red shirts with the name of their company

After the walk and feeding the birds and dogs, Bob and I sat out and had a leisurely cup of coffee and some fresh fruit. Then it was clean-up time both for the RV and for us.

I cleaned up the RV while Bob showered. Then we reversed spots and I bathed while he straightened up his computer and camera gear.

We took the little car for a drive and then had lunch at an Applebee’s. I love their menu and keep hoping that someday, Ridgecrest will be large and cosmopolitan enough to support one.

The dogs were elated at our return and we rewarded them with a fun time in the Doggie Park. They ran back and forth until too tired to play any longer and we headed back to the RV for a little rest time.

I wanted to add some photos to this blog, so grabbed my camera and headed off to the clubhouse and pool area. Then back here for a little cropping and pasting with Publisher.

With our tickets in hand, we headed out for Palm Springs to see the Follies. The Palm Spring Follies are always a treat to see. They are world-renowned veterans of stage and theatre aging from the youngest at 56 to the oldest at 86. All of whom prove beyond a doubt, if I might quote Billie Burke’s (a.k.a. Mrs. Florenz Ziegfeld and a star in her own right) famous quote, “Age doesn’t matter unless you’re a cheese.” For a short glimpse of these talented stars check it out below.

Soon it was time to head home, walk the dogs, and finish this post. Tomorrow I promise you those photos I took this afternoon. Right now I am just too tired and contented to work on them, however, I am anxious to share with you the beauty of Emerald Desert RV Park so come back tomorrow for photos, please.

When three dogs share your bed, there is not much moving around. Lucky prefer the area just below my toes, Sammi curls up behind my legs, and LuAnn insist on sleeping just below my chin. Sometimes, I think we move in unison. If I turn over, so do they. Then Luann is tucked in behind my shoulders, Sammi changes to the other side of my legs, and Lucky, well I am not certain, but I am sure he makes some kind of adjustment down there by my toes.

This morning when I woke up, I made a whispering noise in LuAnn’s ear and was rewarded with a leap and bound on Lucky’s part to reach my face for a first light of dawn kiss. Even Sammi seemed anxious to get the day started. So after a quick trip outside for the three of them, we came back inside and Bob had coffee ready.

Our morning consisted of a leisurely breakfast with fresh bananas, sliced strawberries, and home-made muffins.
Then we fed the dogs and took them for a run in the doggie park. After which, the birds went outside in their cages to enjoy a little early morning sunlight and I did a little housekeeping.

In the early afternoon, we caught up with the reunion group and toured the Palm Springs Air Museum which houses one of the nation’s largest collection of World War II flying aircraft displayed in modern, well lighted, air-conditioned and clean hangars. The docents were well-versed in both the history of WWII and flying the planes of the time and our docent had seen action in the Pacific during the war. He was a walking history book for the times.

Then it was back home to our RV and our menagerie before heading back to Palm Springs in the early evening for dinner. We enjoyed new friends, laughter, old stories, and some excellent salmon. The traffic was light and we made good time on the road. Interestingly enough, we discover that RVers all seem go to bed early. Even at our 9:30 PM return to the park, everyone seemed to be inside their rigs and tucked away for the night.

Tomorrow we have the entire day free to just relax and enjoy time together. Tomorrow night we will rejoin the group for the Palm Springs Follies.

Weather as beautiful as it was today, should be reserved for May and June. Palm Springs certainly lived up to its reputation of the place to be in the winter months.

We walked the dogs to the dog run. Took off their leashes and let them run in the fenced-in area. Bob stood at the far end and called the puppies to him. He gave them a treat and then I called them back to me. I was of course waving a treat in my hand. After a few times, Lucky was taking the treat from me, turning quickly, and heading back to Bob for the next treat. What a delightful way to wear out two lively little Maltese.

Sammi figured it was easier just to sit by me and wait for a treat when Lucky and LuAnn came running back than to join in the romp. Of course she received a treat each time the pups returned. Age does have its privileges or so I believe now that I am of a certain advanced one.

This afternoon, we drove the little red Smart car into the City of Palm Springs to register for the reunion and picked up our tickets for the Follies and the Air Museum. The drive to the hotel where the reunion is being held, was surprisingly longer than we had anticipated and Palm Springs surprisingly crowded, but then it is the week-end.

We have had the usual friendly people drop by to talk to the birds and pet the dogs. RV Parks remind me of small town America of years ago when everyone strolled out and visited with each other. First day, and I already know that Nancy in the Winnebago across the road from us is from Bend, Oregon and has spent every winter here for the past nine years. I know that Betty and her husband are members of an Elks RV group that has an annual meeting here every year. Jane is from Santa Barbara, loves animals, and travels with a Shitzu.
And all of this comes from sitting outside while sipping a glass of pre-dinner wine.

Dinner over, the night is winding down. I am sitting on the couch posting from my laptop. On each side of me is a small white dog and Sammi is curled up sleeping nearby. Bob is working on his computer at the table and bedtime is right around the corner.

Tomorrow is the Air Museum and dinner with the reunion group.

We left at 11 in the morning, took old highways rather than the freeway and arrived here at Emerald Desert RV Park a little before 4:00 this afternoon with plenty of time to set up, have a glass of wine, and walk the dogs before dinner.

Our drive took us from high desert through Apple Valley, Lucerne Valley, Yucca Valley and finally down hills onto Highway 10 and into Palm Desert. We had desert winds with gusts to 50 mph almost the entire way and it looks like it is going to be a very windy first night.

Josephine surprised us by opening her cage and crawling out. The cages are fairly new and we didn’t think she had figured it out yet. Fortunately she did this while we were stopped roadside for a quick lunch of Rye-Krisp and cheese. We put her back in the cage and clipped the door shut. Josephine is amazing at escape and keeps us on our toes at all times.

The real surprise though came much later when Tweetie who has never figured out how to open a cage door managed an escape of her own. It was shortly after the birds cages were secured in the shower. This is their quiet night place. The shower curtain was pulled shut to keep out the RV lights and we thought the birds were sound asleep. So when I went into the bathroom to get ready for bed, I was startled to find her little grey head appearing around the edge of the curtain. We wonder if she watched Josephine, and stored the information in her little bird brain. Then when it was quiet , she worked on her cage door. Bob put her back in her cage and secured it with a large clip. From now on, both bird cages will be clipped shut.

The young Maltese were pretty rambunctious when we arrived, but a long walk calmed them down and they only needed a few reminders of doggie RV good manners. Sammi is an old hand at camping and is happiest with a short walk and the privilege of curling up on the drivers seat. . . her favorite “get-away” place.

Dinner tonight was fresh mixed vegetables, Spanish rice, and a delightful meatloaf. Thank heavens for microwaves and some of the newer already prepared foods, which really do taste like home-made.

So now it is off to sleep. The wind is gently rocking the RV and rather than turn on the heat, we will use sleeping bags tonight. The weather is to turn quite warm for the rest of our trip and we are looking forward to the pleasant 80 degree days.