2006 RV Trip Diaries - Palm Springs - Christmas Time 2006
December 14 - Thursday
Today we took a trip up the mountain outside of Coachella Valley to the town of Idyllwild located at over 5,000 feet in the Jacinto Mountains. As we drove above Palm Springs the flora changed from desert cactus country through pinion pines to the higher altitude ponderosa pines. Idyllwild is a scenic town with lots of gift shops and of course there were Christmas sales at all of the shops. We browsed through them and enjoyed the cool mountain air. Had scones and coffee/tea at a small specialty shop.
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The road down the other side of he mountain to Banning, CA is very steep with lots of tight switchbacks. In October there was a big forest fire there. Five firefighters died in the fire and 34 homes were destroyed. Widespread damage is still visible from the road.
December 15 - Friday
| We put up some Christmas decorations today. The tripod brace under the trailer kingpin is wound with garland and white lights. The small, tacky fake tree with multicolored fiber optic beams is set up on the dining table. |
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December 16 - Saturday
| Cold weather is in the forecast for the next week. Tonight there's a chance of rain with snow in the mountains. Highs are expected to be in the high 50's to low 60's. The storm that hit Seattle hard is sending remnants down to us. Here's a photo of the storm clouds rolling in over the San Jacinto mountains at sunset. |
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December 17 - Sunday
Garrey used the new slow cooker to make dinner for us and Jerry and Kay. We played a board game after dinner.
December 18 - Monday
It's cold again today by Palm Springs standards. The high was 60 and tonight the low is forecast at 37. It's nice and warm in the trailer with the electric space heater on though. We did some reading, laundry, Christmas card writing and pondering where to go in January. A relaxing way to spend a cool day.
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