Tahquitz Canyon Legend

 

"Tahquitz was the first shaman created by Mukat, the creator of all things. Tahquitz had much power, and in the beginning he used his power for the good of all people. Tahquitz became the guardian spirit of all shamans and he gave them power to do good. 

But over time, Tahquitz began to use his power for selfish reasons. He began to use his power to harm the Cahuilla People. The people became angry, and they banished Tahquitz to this canyon that now bears his name. He made his home high in the San Jacinto Mountains in a secret cave below the towering rock known today as Tahquitz Peak. 

It is said that his spirit still lives in this canyon. He can sometimes be seen as a large green fireball streaking across the night sky. The strange rumblings heard deep within the San Jacinto Mountains, the shaking of the ground, and the crashing of boulders are all attributed to Tahquitz as he stomps about the canyon."

That's Tahquitz 101, from the Palm Springs Indian Canyons website.

Well, plenty of people stomp around the canyon with Tahquitz these days. The 2-mile RT canyon hike to the waterfall is so popular the gates close when the parking lot is full, usually about noon in high season. The Indians charge an entrance fee of $15 per person, but the parks are only a few minutes from Palm Springs, so the experience is pretty miraculous.

We hiked this trail for the first time in 2018, which frankly, seems like a lifetime ago. The trail is steep and rocky with many steps, so I was grateful we could still do it just fine. You walk through a canyon of stunning natural beauty, and at the end a magical waterfall. John was quick enough to can snap a photo that makes it look like we had the place to ourselves. 

I was ready with my ear plugs last night, but our neighbors in the adjoining villa must have been tired out from the previous party so it was a quiet, peaceful night. This is our last day in Palm Springs and I think we'll go to the downtown art museum, then Villagefest street fair tonight for the full California experience. There's no better place for colorful people watching. Back to dull, grey Seattle in the morning.

Postcards from Palm Springs

 

Peaceful early morning breakfast in our courtyard, then a walk through Moorten Botanical Garden yesterday. A little early (or late?) for cactus bloom, but the bougainvillea at its peak right now.

Not quite so peaceful last night. The nice thing about our room is we are next to the pool.  The bad thing about our room is that we are next to the pool. 

A group of women set up camp outside the door and partied on, even though they ask guests please keep the noise down after 8 pm. This is such a small intimate inn, sound really carries, and there's no staff on site here at night...oh well. Wherever you go, the world has become so darn loud.

Anyway, we're off on a quiet hike this morning. A poolside nap in order for afternoon.  Looks like a perfect blue sky day with temps in the 80's.

In the desert

 

A beautiful, cool early desert morning. It should get up to the mid-70's today and 80's tomorrow. Perfect. Stormy skies and a bumpy descent when we landed yesterday afternoon, but the rain (if you can call it that by Seattle standards) nothing but a warm light sprinkle when we walked to dinner last night. It came, it went in 20 minutes.

It's very quiet here in the morning because most people sleep later than us. I love sitting by the pool watching the wispy coastal clouds rise above the mountains and then disappear in the dry desert air. You can see them in this lovely view outside our room-- right up against the desert mountains, you would never guess we're in the middle of downtown Palm Springs and can walk everywhere.

We have lots of company, though. In the past, Monday through Thursday was the quiet time, but the airport was jammed yesterday and the streets last night full of people. Kind of a shock, actually. What pandemic? Everything is wide open and then some in California, for better or worse, enjoy the moment seems to be the rule. Why not?

The rental car lines at the airport yesterday. Renting a car is never fast, but we had “Thrifty “ and didn't have to wait long. 

Well, time to hit the pool while I have it all to myself.

And the theater goes dark

 

A few more pictures from the final performances of "The Fantastic Mr. Fox.” 

 Yes, that's really Nova as Mrs. Rabbit. No, she is not 21. The kid acting was great all around and thanks to dedicated adults coaching and helping the kids rehearsing for months. And the community, of course, selling out the shows. 

What's next for the Methow Valley children's theater? I overheard the girls talking about "Winnie the Pooh," and Maya saying she wants to audition along with her big sister next time. 

We are off to Palm Springs tomorrow morning, landing in the middle a rare desert rain event. Then it looks like pleasant weather for the remainder of the week. A short trip this time, but a welcome change of scene. I'll check in later from Hotel California.

Nuts

Today is Pecan Day, the only nut tree native to the United States. On March 25, 1775, George Washington planted a pecan tree at his Mount Vernon estate. Pecans are beautiful hardwoods that live up to 300 years. Although technically, pecans are classed as fruits, not nuts. 

I buy big bags of pecans at Costco and don't think much of it, but pecan nuts were once a rare treat. This frugal recipe from the 1950's has a cup of Karo syrup plus an entire cup of sugar, with just a sprinkling of nuts. As kids we would have gobbled it up. It makes my teeth hurt now just reading it.  

Remember good old Stuckey's and that blue roof along the highway? The chain started in the 1930's in a lean-to roadside shed in Eastman, Georgia. Ethel Stuckey made pecan rolls with the nuts from their family orchard.

Stuckey's was a popular stop for Florida-bound drivers on U.S. Route 23. At one time there were 350 stores scattered across the south and mid west.

A sad abandoned Stuckey's restaurant somewhere along a freeway. 

Not much news here, except looking forward to Monday when we're flying to Palm Springs for a short (and hopefully) warm break from the rain. 

Feed the birds

 

Dad and his springtime friends at Floyd Lamb Park in North Las Vegas. It reminds me of the song "Feed the Birds" from Mary Poppins.  We could use more of that old-fashioned sweetness these days.