Friday, January 18, 2013, Las Vegas, NV

Last morning in Palm Springs.  We all got up early so we didn't have to rush to meet the 11 AM checkout time.  Even though Neva suffered form a nasty cold most of the week we had a relaxing time spent with family. Her cold is clearing up but not completely gone.
During the week we enjoyed weather a little warmer than in Las Vegas. I visited the Air Museum and found a few geocaches. Neva caught up on a lot of reading, Gerri spent some time on the computer doing her group's administrative duties.  There was enough sun on Thursday that Neva and Gerri sat by the pool for a couple of hours.

Neva at Kelso

Gerri at Kelso

We got such a late start last Friday on the way to Palm Spring so we traveled the long way, most of it on Interstate Highways.  For the return trip we took the shorter distance, but longer time, through 29 Palms, Amboy, Kelso and Cima.  We picked up I-15 just south of State-line   We did stop in Kelso and took pictures of the old Railway station.  This was an important stop on the Union Pacific line for water and brake checks.  There aren't many buildings left, the station, the Post Office and school are the most notable.  I spoke to a Park Service employee who said that the last of the old railroad houses were torn down a couple of years ago, all replaced by more modern houses.  Our friend Bob Rodreick lived here in one of the old houses when his father worked for the UP.  Bob, no more going home.  I tried to remember when we were there last, it has to be over 20 years ago,
It would be hard to describe how much sand is out there surrounded by forbiddingly rugged mountains,  The old Post Office brought back memories of walking to the Post Office in Riverview, WV with my Grandfather.  We didn't have home delivery.  That Post Office was what had been a carriage house next to the Post Mistresses home.  It was about 3/4 of a mile each way and a grand adventure for a young boy with his small hand holding his Grandfather's strong protective hand.  But, I digress.

Kelso Post Office

There used to be a building around these jail cells

I thought it was a pleasant drive.  Gerri said she would never go that way again.  Too many signal lights in the towns and too many dips and curves on the highway. It didn't seem bad from the back seat, but then I wasn't the one negotiating the stops, dips and turns.
We got home at about 3:30 PM and unloaded or transferred things to Neva's car.
Neva rested while I transferred pictures back and forth between our cameras.  She then drove home.  This trip was not exciting but was good for the three of us.
Our next planned trip is to San Clemente State Beach in San Clemente, CA

Thursday, January 17, 2013, Palm Springs, CA

After coffee today I went to the Palm Springs Air Museum.  Gerri and Neva stayed at the timeshare.
The Air Museum has a lot of WWII aircraft on display.  As soon as I tried to take pictures I realized I had left the SD Card in my computer after downloading yesterdays pictures.  I took several with my camera.  The aircraft are so close to each other.  All of the aircraft have signs about their origin and role in the war, many have film clips and simulations on a video system giving more details.
I did one cache on the way back to the timeshare.

Most of the Jets were outside

When I got there Gerri and Neva were by one of the pools enjoying the sunshine.

Neva Downtown Palm Springs

For supper we went to Las Casuelas downtown.  This being Thursday the street air was already set up.  We had to walk several blocks from parking to the restaurant.

On the way to to and from the restaurant we walked past this very large statue of Marilyn Monroe.

Back at the time share I called it a night early, Gerri and Neva stayed up longer

Wednesday, January 15, 2013, Palm Springs, CA

One of the two pools

Resort entrance

After coffee, computer and TV, we went outside and sat in the sun for awhile.  It was cool but the sun made it very pleasant.  From where we were sitting we can see the tops of the mountains to north and west.  After a while one of the grounds keepers warned us that the sprinklers were going to run where we were sitting.  We did get ourselves and the chairs off the lawn before the watering started.
Neva is still feeling some of the effects of her cold, but seems to be improving.
Gerri and I walked to the office and got a picking basket.  We then picked some more lemons and a few tangerines from trees on the property.
I worked through my prescribed exercises before supper time, I keep thinking they should get easier.  There is a TV channel here in Palm Springs that shows old TV shows.  A couple of episodes of the Rifleman helped me get through the exercises.

Free fruit, how good does it get?

For supper we planned a salad using the left over salmon from yesterday.  We did have that with some of the tangerinse in it.  Most of the tangerines had been on the tree too long and had dried up quite a bit.  Before our salad we had some grapefruit and cheese.  The grapefruit was excellent, it must ripen at a different time than the tangerines.

Picking Tangerines

After supper we did some more of what we have become good at, we relaxed some more.  TV, computer and reading topped off the evening.

I went to bed early last night, but it doesn't necessarily follow that I got up early today.
After coffee and checking e-mail and Facebook,I got out and did some geocaching.  I found seven and DNF'ed three.  While looking for a way to get to one of the caches I saw several police cars moving around the area.  When I found the street leading to the cache I turned on it.  The street was a dead end and four police cars were parked before the end.  I went to the end of the street and turned around, the cache was only 40' away.  I decided to give it a try.  One of the policemen came and ask me if I come here often.  I explained to him about geocaching.  Of course I showed him my Police ID.  He told me they were there looking for a day time burglar that had broken into an occupied house.  He went back to what he was doing and I made a cursory search for the cache, but no luck finding it.  At least he didn't stick around while I searched, my attention was divided and I didn't spend a lot of time looking.  Three of the officers were standing in the road as I left, I stopped to wish them luck catching the burglar.  One officer commented that I was driving a nice looking car and ask what kind of mileage I was getting.  I told her between 19 and 20 mpg. She repeated that it is a nice looking car.  When I told her I bought it for my wife as a Christmas present she asked if I had any brothers.  One of the other officers said I was lucky to get to drive it, as the only time he got to drive his wife's car was when it needed gas or washed.
Gerri and Neva stayed at the timeshare.  Gerri did take a walk around the property and spotted  lemon, orange and tangerine trees. Before it got dark I went and picked some lemons to go with the fish that Gerri planned for supper.
Before supper I did my assigned exercises including the dreaded leg extensions with a weight on my knee to get the joint to go beyond straight.   That is one of the longest 20 minutes you can imagine.  I did do a little better on the exercises that involve balance.

Last of the Christmas Cake

For supper we had salad, salmon, vegetable and some more focaccia bread.  After supper we had the last portions of the 2012 Christmas Cake.
We finished off the evening with TV, computer and reading.

Monday, January 14, 2013, Palm Springs, CA

Another cool day.  We had our coffee and checked e-mail and Facebook postings.  I finished reading an Alex Cross novel I started yesterday.  Our only plans for the day were to get gas and some groceries at Sam's Club.
I did my daily exercise earlier today than usual.  I was glad to get that out of the way.  I still have some pain when doing some of the exercises, especially the prone leg extensions.  My leg hurt the rest of the day.  I hope all this helps with full recovery.
By the time we started for Sam's it was after three and although Gerri offered to help me with a couple of caches, we just went straight to the Sam's gasoline station.  While I was filing the tank I noticed a chill wind blowing.  After we shopped and were returning to the car the wind was colder and had more bite to it.  It was about 9 miles back to the timeshare and it was dark by the time we got back.
Neva had stayed at the timeshare, still recuperating from her cold.
For supper we had rotisserie chicken from Sam's with vegetables and herb and garlic focaccia bread.  Followed by a slice of the 2012 Christmas Cake.
I went to bed early, Neva stayed up reading and Gerri was on the computer.

Sunday January 13, 2013, Palm Springs, CA

After a good nights sleep we got up and had coffee.  At least Gerri and I did.  Neva stayed in bed nursing her cold and catching up on her rest after a hectic week working at the CES.
We tuned into services at Oakey Blvd and worshiped with our home congregation.
In the afternoon I went out geocaching.  I found three and DNF'ed three, not a great day but pretty good.  I miss having a GPS unit in the car that I can enter coordinates and follow streets instead of the direction arrow on my handheld.  For the life of me I don't know why they make navigation systems in cars that are so hard to use.
We spent the rest of the afternoon reading and computer action.
Before supper I did my exercise routine and for supper we had Tony Roma ribs from Costco along with wild rice and corn.
The rest of the evening was spent reading, computering and watching TV.
I called it a night at about 10 PM and the ladies stayed up later as usual.

Saturday, January 12, 2013, Palm Springs, CA

Saturday, January 12, 2013, Palm Springs, CA

This was a typical Barker day.  Gerri doing her duties on egg hunting and me checking e-mail and some web sites I go to regularly.
Gerri did go to the office and formally check in and get us all keys.  There is a large grapefruit tree in front of the office and Gerri brought back three large grapefruit.

Free Grapefruit

I checked the car for my wallet again.  Not there.  I hope it is in my pocket at the house.  I found out that when I turned off the power to the computers at home I also turned of power to my router.  Now I can't get a connection to the security cameras in the house.
The afternoon was spent reading or just resting.  I did walk down to the office and checked out the workout room.  They had a few weights and machines but the room was up a flight of stairs.  I did my daily exercises.  I am concentrating on extending my right leg and balance.
I went to bed early, Gerri and Neva stayed up longer. Neva is still suffering from her cold and has had several coughing fits today.

Friday, January 11, 2013, Palm Springs, CA

Friday, January 11, 2013, Palm Springs, CA

This is our first trip for 2013.  We have a timeshare condo reserved at the Vista Mirage Resort in Palm Springs.

I had a therapy session at 1 PM and then gassed up Gerri's new car.  The 2013 Lincoln was meant to be a Christmas present but because of various delays she didn't get it until the 3rd of January.  It was also supposed to be a surprise but I had to tell her about the new car on New Years Eve when I gave her old one to our son Todd.

After therapy I also went to the post office to mail in the request to cash in my mother's savings bonds.  Except for the memorial service at Riverside National Cemetery on March 8th, this will pretty much take care of her estate.  I mailed the package Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested.  Despite assurances by the Treasury Department, I am still leery of sending the bonds through the mail.

Gerri's mother is traveling with us, so we hadn't planned on leaving Las Vegas until nearly 7 PM.  Neva was scheduled to work at the CES until 6.  She got off a little early and we were packed and on the road at 6:40.  The new Lincoln is considerably smaller than the old one, so packing things in had to be planned a little better.

One of the first things Gerri noticed was that there are a lot of things to learn about on the new car that are hard to learn driving down I-15 in the dark.  She did find the controls for the cruise control but not the part that sets the gap for the adaptive part of the cruise control.

Since we got a late start we decided to go the long way to Palm Springs via I-15, I-215 and I-10.  The other way is about 60 miles shorter but goes through a lot of dark lonely areas.  Even though the distance by Interstate was longer the drive time is a little less.  With only one short stop we arrived at the resort about one minute after the office closed at 11 PM.  The security guard checked us in and even helped us unload.  She also changed our room to a downstairs unit out of consideration of my recent knee operation.

During check in I discovered that I didn't have my wallet.  I must have left it home.  The lack of my wallet will further curtail any geocaching plans I may have entertained.  Neva had come down with a cold from work.  Between that and my limited mobility this will probably be a hang around the condo type of week.
After getting situated in our unit, I called it a night a little after 11.  Gerri and Neva stayed up a little longer to unwind.

BTW the new car performed very well.  It is powerful, quiet and responsive.  We just have to figure out all the features.