Palm Desert Storm Blues: Wednesday, February 11th!

Time engraves our faces with all the tears we have not shed. -Natalie Clifford Barney, Author (1876-1972) 

Hey Patrick, I’m following up on a message I left you – maybe when you get back to town we could get together to talk about the volunteer campaign?
We thought about possibly having the volunteer ‘sponsorship” be for the Sunday Brunch, as there are so many volunteers associated with that event.

I am around except between Feb 20 – March 8 (I’ll be in New Zealand!). I hope you are having an awesome time! Ann

[With a Spring that starts as early as January, Vancouver’s cycling season starts early. That means it’s getting to be time for tune ups, flats, and all the other fun surprises that come from manual-powered transportation. If you have a bit of bike repair knowledge, but no tools to back it up, fear not. Vancouver General Hospital, of all places, has your back. Located right on the 10th Ave bike path, between Laurel and Willow Streets, find the VGH Cycling Centre, featuring a bike stand and a handful of standard tools, plus an air pump. So if you suddenly notice you’re running low on air or need to tighten up a bolt, just swing by and give yourself a lift!]
 
Hi Ann! New Zealand! Fabulous indeed! I didn't hear your message before we departed, a week ago this past Monday, so not sure when you left it. Nevertheless, I'm more than happy to get together to chat about volunteer campaign. However, given our schedule and yours, looks like it will have to wait until after you return from the Antipodes!  Looking forward to some grand rides in Palm Desert. Again, have a wonderful holiday in NZ. Fondestos from Mme Coriandre to you and everyone at VWF. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hey Patrick! Wow, it sounds like you are having a fantastic time! I'm so jealous about all the art you are seeing. However, I'm super excited about my upcoming
trip (not so much about the long flight but that's okay). Thanks for the great photos too! I look forward to getting together in March and trading stories. All the best to you and Corinne from everyone here. Ann 


Hi Corrine and Patrick, Thank you for those financials, I will pass them along to this party. Please find the attached counter for your initials and signatures. I’ve indicated with arrows where both Patrick and yourself need to sign and initial. Please contact me if anything is unclear or needs discussion and I am more than happy to walk you two through it. Sorry that this is interrupting your trip, I wish I could be there with you guys soaking in the glorious rays of sunshine. All the best, Dave  See you soon Hi Dave,  Here’s the signed documents, my parents will call shortly J Ayn

We were planning to leave Tinsel Town some time between 9:00 am-10:00 am but we had an offer on our place the night before so we had to send along our counter-offer before heading to Palm Desert. To do this we had our agent send the necessary paperwork to Ayn's office and by the time we arrived at Hallmark, on Ventura, she had the pages printed and ready for us to sign. Once this was done she faxed them back to Vancouver. [A day or so later we learned that the couple decided not to make a counter-offer but our agent reported that they wanted to see the Islay Inn again!] 

Shortly thereafter we said goodbye to Ayn in the parking lot at Hallmark. Unfortunately, we missed Whitsett Ave, in spite of her clear directions, for same sort of reason we missed Laurel Canyon on LACMA visit, as this time we saw Laurel Terrace Drive on sign but not Whitsett. No never mind as we turned around shortly thereafter and were well on our way after that. Not really a lick of traffic trouble after that and we were sailing along 210 to San Bernadino and then I 10 at Redlands before we knew it. Fortunately, for me, had no difficult merges to make, (simply had to stay left at any critical junctures), as my less than trusty navigator's head was lolling for most of journey!

Again, no trouble finding our way in Palm Desert once we left freeway and just as we were pulling up to the house Shadow Lake Drive Lynne was walking out the door, en route to do a bit of grocery shopping. We greeted one another and then went inside to say hello to Anne and Gary, good friends who have been there for a week. Then Nana walked to local stores  a few blocks away, with Lynne, I unloaded car while A/G read by the pool. Shoppers returned by the time I had unpacked and then I suited up and went for a ride. Wanted to explore neighbourhood in order to get a better sense of where future rides might take me.

Not at all disappointed as I found streets to be much the same as those in Simi Valley, by way of comparison, main ones, divided, with dedicated bikes lanes, residential ones wide, smoothly surfaced, etc. Much of Palm Desert is nestled into the surrounding hills so the grades, where I was riding, were gradual but long, long, long, much like I experienced in many parts of Languedoc. Vegetation was otherwise, of course. Not called Palm Desert for nothing! Again, all of the homes, fenced estates, etc., were immaculately groomed and landscaped so it was a delight to drink in all the different cactii, palms and flowering shrubs. Vistas of the surrounding hills and mesas were wonderful as well.

I didn't leave until just after 4:00 pm so I knew I'd still be out once it was dark. Wasn't worried as I had my LED lights at the ready. As well, I suspected that traffic would be very light, given nature/demographic of communty/area where I was riding. In fact, the dedicated bike lanes are also dedicated gold cart lanes, for obvious reasons! Anyway, quite a hoot. Towards the end of my ride, just after 6:00 pm, my path took me near one of the local courses and as I was approaching a sharp corner two carts came out of the driveway of the golf course, the second cart without lights. I presume the driver had called a friend to come to escort her home as the streets are not really lit at all and so really pitch dark except for lights marking residences and some other estate entrance-ways. At any rate, I rode up to cart, running blind, and joked with two women aboard, telling them I'd lead them home if they invited me in for a drink! They chortled as I think they might well have been having a few at the 19th hole after their round. Stats for ride:

http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/695775495#.VNy9ngcVUX0.email

Anyway, home by 6:30 pm to find gang preparing dinner, lovely tacos but with hard corn as opposed to soft flour tortillas. Gary had concocted some delsih Margaritas so once I'd showered and changed I rejoined group and we sat down to a lovely meal. After dinner we repaired to the huge patio/pool area where we sat around the wonderful gas fire-pit, sipping more wine and visiting. Gary and I stayed there for half an hour or so, after The Sisterhood went inside to do the dishes. [Something wrong with dishwasher and maintenance company is suppose to come this morning to sort things out.] I would have been more than happy, as I'm sure you know, to do the dishes but The Goils were getting a bit chilly, and sleepy, so I think they wanted to warm themselves up. Fire was gorgeous but night was cool and one probably needed a sweater. I just toasted my toes and my face so I was fine!

Had a chance to get to to Gary as I really have never talked to him, at length, before. I didn't realize that he had studied plasma physics at UBC so he knew Ayn's Uncle Eric and The Great Balzarini. He didn't wish to become an academic, as business was his interest, and he eventually became the first person to create a successful spin-off company at UBC. Gather he has gone on to do rather well in other related entrepreneurial ventures. After we chatted for half an hour or so we came inside to pour ourselves a couple of drams of malt, (16 year old Lagavulin, 43% and The Bruichladdich Organic Scottish Barley, 50%), to continue getting to know one another. Around11:00 pm we bade one another goodnight and after I'd brushed and flossed I climbed into bed, throwing off the heavy duvet as I knew I'd be roasting before long. Didn't realize that there was a screen-door that I could have opened to allow the cool night air inside but will do so tonight.