Flying High!

This has been a week of heights!!  We started the week back home and this year, for once, we didn’t have to endure the frigid temperatures as has been the case in years past.  While it was fairly cold for a day or so, it was certainly bearable.  BUT, we left in the nick of time – the next morning it was -30C without the windchill.

The flight home was on time which was nice.  Unfortunately, Gerry had the stomach flu the night before so his flight wasn’t quite as comfortable as mine was.  We arrived in Palm Springs, got groceries, drove for an hour back and by shortly after ten, that bed was so-o-o inviting!

We planned on a day of rest but we saw a large military plane circling around and soon we saw a group of paratroopers across the sky.  Off we go to watch them land – but where are they landing?  We drove around and soon found their landing spot.  Since this spot was quite a ways away, they had all landed and were packing up their chutes.  In chatting with them, they were from the United Kingdom and were here for two weeks on a training mission.  Hopefully we will be able to have a closer look this week.

The Landing spot

Then it was off to a sky sailing school to take a ride on a glider with our friends, Rick and Chris.  Our original plan was for each of us to go up separately which would allow us to actually fly the glider.  It turned out that by doing so, one of us would go up and then the same instructor (pilot) would take the other of us up.  Because that would have someone having to wait for us, we opted to both go in the same glider and just sit back and relax.  It was amazing to be able to see the Salton Sea out one side, and the Pacific Ocean out the other.  I am including a couple of photos taken from the camera attached to one wing.

Before the ride

Still being towed

Down - safe and sound

After the ride we went for a nice lunch at a gold club, and then took a road up into the mountains that we had seen from the air.  It was a marvelous road that led to a campground – unfortunately, the gate was locked before we actually got to the campground itself.  The scenery on the drive up was terrific.

An especially big rock

An unusual acorn!

Up in the mountains just behind us are some great hiking trails.  On one of them is a sort of fort built with a resting area (rock) where you can look over the valley below.  There is also an area where different things are made out of rock – specifically “The Snake”.  Around it are several other things made from different shapes and colours of rock – butterfly, turtle, flowers, etc.  It is quite a unique little area.  It’s about a two mile walk up the mountain.

Since we got back it has been pure sunshine.  While the temperatures have been pleasant, it hasn’t been hot.  Just keep the sunshine coming.  I hope you have a great week and will be back next week!