Quiet Holiday

Indio, California:  It was pretty quiet around the old trailer park on Christmas. Most campers have flown home to be with family. The remaining people must have been snuggled up around their fireplaces this morning. It was cold. Well, cold is relative when you winter in the Coachella Valley. It has been getting down to 40 degrees overnight and only into the low 70s during the day.

I suppose this is cold:

Our house sitter sent this photo (via text massage) of Taylor Manor, once again covered in snow. The two-day dusting was nothing compared to the epic snowfall of last winter, but the house sure looks pretty covered in the white stuff. And, as usual, snow in Portland is never only snow. Snow is always accompanied with the dreaded freezing rain in Stumptown, making driving impossible. Pretty sure not everyone made it over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house for Christmas. It is a very rare occasion that Portland has a white Christmas - this is only the sixth time in recorded history. Sorry we missed it. NOT!

One other text-messaged photo arrived later from Lisa to show Leo had lost his second tooth.

Back to reality... Dave woke me this morning saying the canal in front of our campsite was absolutely magnificent and to grab my camera.

Our view is usually stunning, but this morning there wasn't a ripple in the water and the mountains of Joshua Tree National Park were perfectly reflected in the lake water.

Just a beautiful way to greet the day!

But then all heck broke loose. Cormorants began diving for fish. Egrets began harassing the cormorants. Geese flew in. A massive Grey Heron took watch from our neighbor's boat. A fat Green Heron fished from our boat dock. Hummingbirds buzzed. Two big ravens were squawking on our tall palm. Even a Roadrunner walked through our campsite. I was wondering if the Audubon Society were in town.

Not only was the morning gorgeous, we were treated to another colorful sunset this evening.

Not to brag, but this is just a normally-beautiful sunset. Every night, the sunset is amazing in this valley.

We do not observe Christmas, but we always celebrate the birth of someone on December 25th - Mr. Jimmy Buffett.

We have Cheeseburgers in Paradise. Except I forgot to put cheese on the burgers this year. (Which is easily explained-away by the pre-dinner Wasting Away in Margaritaville portion of the evening.) We also had "French fried potatoes" with our meal, prepared using the cold-oil technique.

Happy 71st Birthday, Jimmy!

Until my next update, I remain, your cheese-less correspondent.

RV PARK:  The Motorcoach Country Club

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