The Season Winds Down

As our winter escape winds down, we have been busy with many season ending activities, and final rides of the season.  Over the last couple of years, we have been able to put together two cycling groups.  On Monday mornings, our Ladies’ Ride group meets for an easy ride that may involve pedaling up La Quinta Cove hill, finding a Geocache, going on a short mid-ride hike, or checking out the produce fields, but always involves coffee and a muffin. We also ride with Ed, BC Jim, and Electric Jim, once or twice a week, for rides of longer distances and harder efforts, but also usually finding a coffee shop. This Monday morning was our final ride of the season and we look forward to riding with our groups again in the fall.

Bike babes

Our last hike of the season was up at the San Bernadino National Park, 6000 feet above sea level compared to our below sea level altitude at Trilogy.  It was a perfect day to hike the Ernie Maxwell Trail on the mountain as it was only 65F there compared to 95F in La Quinta. It was good to be out of the desert heat and in amongst pine trees again.  

The view along the trail

Sandy and Kate on the trail

Sandy keeps the trail clear

The hike was along a very well travelled path, with lots of other hikers enjoying its views. Because of that, other than birds and a few squirrels, we didn’t see too much wild life.  As one can see from the photo, there had been some pretty busy woodpeckers about.

A well drilled tree

In addition to the beautiful views, we finally found some wildlife when this creature crossed our path.

Snake, about two feet long

Rockie has been very busy patrolling our yard for the creatures on her watch list. She accidentally dug another hole in the backyard while in pursuit of one of them. I am not sure if it was a gecko or a bug she was after, but you could have almost parked our van in her excavation by the time I caught her in the act! Fortunately, our gardener came the next day and he repaired the damage. We are much happier when she just keeps watching the fence for activity.

Rockie lizard hunting

Spider Rockie found on an evening walk

With all the season ending get togethers, I have been busy baking up a storm. I have managed to get through the last of our lemons. We gave some to our neighbours, Ron and Joanne, have a few to bring home, and the last made their way into another lemon pound cake.

Lemon pound cake

For one event, I took a batch of my special Rice Krispie squares, a recipe I have modified over the years by adding all sorts of things, including raisins, rolled oats, coconut, sunflower seeds, and cocoa Rice Krispies. Pretty good, if I say so myself. I don’t make them often cuz if I don’t have anyone to share them with, I can make the whole pan disappear in an embarrassingly short period of time!

Kate’s deluxe Rice Krispie squares

Sandy feels she has been pretty much neglected this winter, as I seemed to have made almost everything except the scones she loves so much. When I finally got around to it, I forgot to add in the raisins we both like, so I quickly made a second batch … that had a short, but much appreciated life.

Cream scones, with raisins

But truth be known, as much as I like cake, muffins, scones, and the other things I bake, the real reason I love to bake so much?  Cleaning the bowl and licking the spatula afterwards!

Why I bake!

When Linda was here, our friend, Holly (also one of our cyclists) took Linda, me, and Pat (another cycle buddy) bird watching at Whitewater Preserve.  

 Serious birders

Another birder gave us info on how to find a screech owl sleeping in a hollowed out section of a tree. After some searching and intense gazing through branches, we were delighted to spot the owl in question.That was our best find of the day, along with a California thrasher. Pat took some excellent photos; here are two she shared with us. 

Screech owl

One strange bird!

On one of the bird watching trips I was on, spotting a burrowing owl was a main objective. When taking Rockie for a short walk before one of her classes at Dream Dogs, we spotted this burrowing owl by the parking lot. These little owls look so serious with their long legs, the best equipment with which to dig their burrows, I guess.

Burrowing owl at Rockie's school

You may recall that we went on a trip to the coast in January where it rained for two days. While we were away, it only rained half a day in La Quinta. In March, it rained quite heavily in the west part of the valley, from Palm Springs to Palm Desert; again we were dry in La Quinta. When I walked the dogs that day, however, we saw a beautiful rainbow arching over the street. 

Rainbow:  a rare sight in the desert

With that, I’ll sign off and start putting some thoughts together for our next post.