Palm Springs – Day 6

Today’s highlight was taking the Palm Springs Arial Tramway.   Our day was mostly a day of driving so there was less of an adventurous spirit today.  We took our time leaving the hotel this morning and managed to find something to eat on the casino floor which we ate in the parking lot of the hotel.  Yes, very scenic indeed – but there wasn’t any place to sit as hoards of people were bustling along with their suitcases checking out.  The few spots open for business were packed so we grabbed something to go and ate before we began the long drive to Palm Springs.  We chose to take the shortest route which meant we drove through the Mojave National Preserve.  While the road was paved – given recent flash floods and nature’s elements there were large sections of gravel with extremely large rocks strewn about the road.  We had about 60 miles through this preserve and the beginning part was slow moving.  We were both a bit worried – me more so – about the car’s tires and their sustainability on such inconsistent roads.  I had a moment where I wished we had four wheel drive.   I tried to enjoy the scenery of thousands of small Joshua Trees.  Some sections showed signs again of fires – but for the most part the trees seemed to be thriving.  Facing the direction the wind blows their short arms on the long trunks with sturdy spikes made me wonder what and how the wood was harvested.  I did some reading and learned that the myth behind the name, derived from the Mormons who settled out west and called the tree “Josh” from the bible given his “outstretched arms.”  The trees, when grown in the right climate, flower – which is not as common.  The leaves can be used for baskets or sandal making by the native people who lived in these deserts, along with roasting the seeds and flower buds for food.  It was helped to learn a bit about the tree before visiting the park tomorrow.  Back to the drive…we made it through with about a quarter tank of gas left and pulled into the first station we saw.  This was an old station with pumps that needed to be unlocked, with no digital screens.  There were dials that turned to indicate how much gas we purchased – and we needed to pay inside (not at the pump).  It was nice to be transported back into time. 

So, upon reaching out hotel it was late in the afternoon – we settled in and made our way to the tramway.  This is a very special sight to see.  It is a two and a half mile climb with the tram, passing over five towers.  The towers we learned are American made and the cables were Swiss made.  The tram has a rotating floor base the only one of its kind in the US.  The ride takes about 15 minutes – given the extreme height you climb over 3.5 thousand feet in elevation – it is described as going from two totally different climate zones like Mexico to Alaska.  At the base of the tram the temperatures measured around 106 degrees, at the top it was 76 degrees.  Cool as a cucumber.  The tram releases you into what felt like a truly magical place, the San Jacinto State Park.  Given the appreciated shift in temperature and the tall Jeffrey Pines you forget the desert is below.  We ventured out to a lovely natural path trail that was just about a mile long for a look around the park.  Oh – how splendid it was.  The best part was being able to smell the delicious Jeffrey Pines that have a distinctive butterscotch smell.  My mouth started to water for a Werther’s butterscotch candy – the trees were delightful to engage with and I appreciated using my sense of smell to take in the environment.   I did not know what to expect at the top of the tram ride – so this nature’s paradise was a welcomed treat.  We eventually made our way back to the tram for a dynamic ride down – the conductor played music, songs like “Sweet Caroline.”  It seemed everyone knew the lyrics and so we were all (about 30 people) singing along and dancing as the tram descended back into the hot desert land below.  I was laughing – what a joyful celebration of strangers.  Obi and I drove into the downtown area for dinner and stumbled upon a street fair.  We decided to sample the options at the fair devouring a falafel salad, tamales and a dish similar to Arepas.  We clapped and cheered for a group of street performers who were showing us their break-dancing skills.    Well folks – we have one more day before we head home on Saturday from LA.  Tomorrow we plan to drive through Joshua Tree and not melt into the hot earth.