AHHHHHHHHHH Life in the desert!

Well another week has come and gone and we are getting back into a routine, a busy one, but still a routine. Monday and Thursdays are hike days. Sunday Kelly and his friend Al play texas holdem, and the ladies watch movies and discuss the short comings of their husbands. Monday night is Photo Club for Kelly. Tuesday night is crib night for both of us. Wednesday is Happy Hour from 4 to 5:30. Even numbered days are set aside for Pickleball in the morning and for odd numbered days it's Pickelball after 2pm. We only have one court here and we share it with the tennis people. Yes we are very busy and having a real good time!
Last Mondays hike was the Side Ladder Canyon.

Hope those guys can't see up my shorts

Water break in the canyon

View from the top

I hope that guy in the front knows where he is going

June's turn to hold up the rock cliff.

We did this same hike last February and is still one of my favourites. You have to climb 5 ladders and 2 dead waterfalls to get to the top, but with the "we're all in this together" attitude we get there.

Tuesday was Pickleball day and Palm/Christmas Tree decorating day. I must say it is a bit different decorating a Palm Tree.

Our first Palm/Christmas Tree

Thursdays hike was the South Lykken Trail. This was another "cardio" hike as it was straight up 2300 feet then across a ridge and then switch backs to the bottom.

View of the valley from the top. Where there is green there is irrigation

Junkel at the top!

The forecast for Friday was Rain. Some of the clouds came in early and we were treated to an amazing sunset on Thursday.

The sky was a deeper red than this.

These bands of cloud went across the valley.

Thursday night was also Hiking club potluck dinner night. We had a great time there yabbering with all of our fellow hikers. We took a block of the Maple Cream that Kelly's grandmother had got for us. Needless to say it was all gone and I am not to sure but I think some one licked the plate.

Friday was complete shut down day as we were bagged.

On sunday we sat out at the end of our street with our friends from Sidney and watch the Golf Cart Santa Parade. They also pickup donations for the local food bank. Apparently this is and annual event and one that we will have to take a more active role in, in the future!

Santa and the Mrs. leading the parade.

When we were here in October and November we struggled to keep our Non-air-conditioned RV cool, now it is the reverse. The nights have been dropping down to 5-7 degrees and what ever the temp is outside it is the same inside. This means we have had to have the heater on a bit, this is the part where all of you feel sorry for us. Michelle is flying in on Friday and the three of us are off to Disneyland for three days. Then it is off to Messa Arizona for Christmas with Linden, Reid and Natalie and her parents. The excitement never ends!

We hope to post one more blog before Christmas comes but if not Merry Christmas to all and we hope 2015 is all you want it to be.

Thank-you for reading this and Take care of one another.

Junkel

We must be having lots of FUN

There is an old adage that says " Time flies when you are having Fun". If this is correct then we must be having the time of our lives as it has been a month since I last wrote a blog and I don't know where the time went. It has been a jam packed month with a little of everything. On November 17th we went went on the single toughest hike for Kelly that we have ever done. It was 7.5 miles with a 2700 foot elevation change. We were either going up or down with very little flat terrain. When we got yo the top the view of the Valley was outstanding but we our knees paid for it.

June at the top of Murray Peak

On the 19th of November we flew home to Sidney for two weeks with family and as many friends as we could squeeze in. We spent as much time as possible with our grandson Linden!

Grampa K and Linden

Gramma J and Linden

Natalie and Reid welcomed us and we stayed for a total of 7 days. We even went across to Burnaby and brought June's mom Jean back to spend a couple of days with her grandson Reid and Great Grandson Linden. 

First Santa Picture.........Better luck next year

A "Selfie" with Linden

We were able to see quite a few of friends as we had lunch with the people Kelly use to work with and June got to go out with her ladies group. Unfortunately there just was not enough time to see everyone. 

When we started out on this years adventure I told June that if I had to wear jeans for more than 5 days in a row we would be moving on. Well this greeted us on day number 12.

This does not make us happy....

December 3rd came way to quickly and it was time to fly back to Palm Springs. It was also Michelle's 32nd birthday so we texted back and forth before we turned off our Canadian phone and hopped on Westjet back to the warmth. In our absence from Desert Hot Springs the weather had been cool and wet with abnormal amounts of rain. Most people tried to blame us but it was sunny when we left Sidney. We had to skip the Thursday hike as we were only about a week behind in our sleep, but the pickleball courts have been calling us regularly since we got back. 

On Saturday December 6th we went into Palm Springs to see the "Parade of Lights". It was billed as one of the top ten parades in the US. It was ok but not spectacular. The main difference between this parade and the Sidney Santa parade was the number of school bands and the helium BIG Balloons.

50 foot snowman.....you don't see that everyday

Well that brings us almost up to date. I am planning to set aside more time for this blog as so many people told me they actually read it! We are always amazed by this. We want to thank all of you who went out of their way to see us when were home. We are so lucky to have good friends. A special hello to the East coasters as we miss you all.

Thanks once again for reading this.

 Junkel