Day 2 Tuesday June 21

Another bright and beautiful day dawns in Temecula.  Nana Joyce took us outside to watch hot air balloons floating down the valley in the cool morning air.  After a lovely breakfast we left about 8:20.  Today’s drive is through the desert.  Right now we are driving through the Cahuilla Indian Reservation and on to Palm Desert by of the Palms to Pines Highway.  It is very rugged territory out here-dry sage brush and creosote bushes and huge boulders standing on end.

We pulled up to 3000 feet and dropped into a beautiful valley.  From there we will climb up to Pine trees (probably 5000 feet) and then drop down into Palm Desert. 

It is warm!!! with a slight breeze.  Our first day in shorts.  My body is beginning to remember this feeling of being warm without being covered up.  (No Yvonne was wearing cloths)

We just stopped for gas in the town of Anza- a mostly Native American enclave, a couple of gas stations, a community hall, and a market.  A little further down the road a casino.  We have passed through the pines now nestled against giant boulders and mesquite.  We stopped at an overlook which had a self guided trail with plaques which explained about the plants, animals, and the Cahuilla Indian culture and history.  It is amazing the tenacity of the people to prosper for centuries in this inhospitable environment.

Down the mountain side we rushed with the trailer pushing us all the way into Palm Desert.  It is no longer the sleepy desert town that Yvonne knew.  More shopping centers, housing developments, gated communities, golf courses, and hotels – too many.  Miles of grass and water features, ponds and fountains (soo wasteful).  What a contrast between the Cahuilla Indians and this town.

Our next stop was at the Mayflower County park, right beside the Colorado river.  IT WAS HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Yvonne felt a little wobbly after walking across the park to look at the river and the folks with the water toys. (Later we found that it was 111 degrees. )

We headed out across the hot desert.  Yvonne drove for a while and when she was not driving she tried taking pictures out of the window of tamarisk trees, dry washes, and odd signs.  Many are unsuccessful but it kept her occupied (thank god for digital cameras).

After a long drive we entered Phoenix around 4:00.  Lots of traffic.  We had a little shopping to do so we pulled off and let the traffic clear.  We arrived at our KOA in Apache Junction, an eastern suburb of Phoenix.  The campground is a tipical with a pool, store, water and elect at each site.  Our AIRCONDITIONING WORKS.  When we set up we looked at the thermometer in the drawer it was 99 degrees.  At 8:15 it is 81 in the trailer and 88 outside.  It is too hot to eat so we are having a glass of cold pinot grigio and a sandwich and then to bed.  Tomorrow to El Paso.  It was 113 there today.