Day 10

The bad weather peaked today. There are floods and road closures everywhere. The record rainfall, for one day, from 1948, was shattered. We got 1/2 of the years total average rainfall in one day today. The sun shines here on average 360 days a year. Since we got here we have had four solidly overcast days. Tonight as we sat in the hotub, we looked up and beheld a totally clear sky, stars shining, and no rain! The forecast for next week is very good. It will be good to be able to stop writing about the bad weather. 

So, what does one do on a rainy day in the desert. We spent the day in the Palm Springs Air Museum. Now that is worth every penny. It is dedicated to WW2 aircraft and battles in the Pacific theater as well as the battle over Europe. There are artifacts and aircraft everywhere, restored marvelously. One can spend days there and only scratch the surface. The best part is the army of volunteers who man the museum. You are standing there admiring the gull wing of a fighter plane when there comes, at your shoulder, an air force veteran, who explains to you why the gull wing was developed and the challenges that were presented and how those challenges were ingeniously overcome. We had a Vietnam Veteran fighter pilot who had flown 156 missions explain the intricacies of the WW2 B17 bombers. We walked through the bomber and took on a profound appreciation for what it was like to fly and fight in one of these. 

Later, Nathan was taught, by a fighter plane veteran, how to fly on a flight simulator. Chad found the library and was mesmerized by the thousands of books on planes. We watched a few vintage video presentations on PT boats and on Dolittle's raiders into Japanese territory shortly after the Pearl Harbour attack. It was time well spent appreciating just what the air battles were all about.

Then, home to a wonderful dinner and into the pool and hot tub. We can't wait for the sunshine tomorrow. We may still have to walk because getting around town has been a challenge with all the flooding. Even though we did get to the air museum today, we had to take a few detours. By evening the roads should be open and then we are planning to take in the street fair in Old Palm Springs like we did last week. I love the excellent street entertainers and I want some of that flavoured licorice.