Our fingers and toes finally thawed out and we braved the elements to get an early start on hiking the Indian Canyons. Due to much lower elevation and almost no wind, it turned out to be a pleasant day, cool air and very warm sun under perfectly clear blue skies.
The canyons are on Native land and are a real gem. Passing through a gate and paying an entrance fee gives one access to a myriad of trails, in, above, and around the canyons. The canyons are broad and shallow in places, and in other areas are narrow with steep rock walls, but everywhere beauty abounds with fresh spring water, Palm Trees, and other flora in a true oasis setting.
Rachel, Keith, Andrew, Nathan and I took in the hikes while the rest of the gang stayed home, gun shy about the elements after being traumatized by the cold the day before.
Contrasts abound here. Stark rattlesnake country only feet away from cool green grass and fan palms with the sounds of water, cascading over the rocks, always in the background.
These Palms are a type of Date Palm and are huge and healthy looking. They do not have 'rings' as do conventional trees so it is difficult to tell the age of one. The trunk is not wood as we know it, but a stack of vertical fibres that are as tough and strong as nails, yet flexible. When they are not groomed, they have a shaggy mane that comes right down to ground level, which is quite dry and flammable in the summer. We saw a section of the Palm Grove that had charred and blackened trunks, but were green and vibrant at the top. Nature's cleansing, perhaps.
Around every bend there was a new sight to behold. We did a loop in Andreas Canyon, then headed to Palm Canyon where there were so many people that there was human traffic congestion along the paths. Many of the trails loop over and above the stream beds and those were less travelled. Looking down into the gully was not as interesting as being in it.
In the afternoon, Keith and I stayed home with Liam while the rest of the gang went to see "Narnia 3D" at our local theater. After the movie the boys hit the pool. The plan was to go to "PF Chang's Chinese Bistro" for dinner, but after consideration of Liam's endurance tolerances for waiting in line-ups at restaurants, we opted for the on-line ordering 'for take out'. Good decision. There was a 90 minute wait for a table. When we went to pick up the food we absolutely could not find parking. Chang's is at the "River" which is the hot spot in all the valley for good restaurants, shopping, and theaters. I drove round and round the lot while Keith braved the crowds surrounding Chang's and we finally managed to get the food and head back home.
After a very good dinner, we put the little ones to bed and hot tubbed until midnight. It was COLD! This morning as I type, it is warming up but there was ice on everything. I just checked the lounge in the sun beside the pool and it is warm right there. The sun is intense under clear blue skies so it will be alright. A very different New Year's Eve but memorable because our little family was spending their last night with us.
Happy New Year to all of you !
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