Coachella Valley Preserve

Ok......after telling you we weren't doing anything exciting, we took a ride to find a geocache.


It was a simple one located near some sand dunes and only took a few minutes to find. So, we continued our ride along the road we were on to see what we could see.


We ran across the Coachella Valley Preserve and decided to stop. We knew that the area we are in is called Thousand Palms. But we had no idea why.


Until we saw these. It is like a modern day oasis in the desert. And there are several of these oases.


The visitor center was closed for the day, but we picked up a brochure and started following the McCallum Trail.


It was gorgeous! The trail wound through the palm trees.........


and across wet areas. We soon found out that this sits on the San Andreas fault and where the plates have shifted, water is forced to the surface. And these oases are formed.


Doug straddled the San Andreas fault for his photo op!


We walked a mile along the trail through the desert until we came to the McCallum Pond. This beautiful area sits in another oasis and reminded me of the lagoon on Gilligan's Island. (I know....I'm crazy) The pond is full of tiny fish that are on the endangered species list. They are found in only 2 rivers that empty into the Salton Sea. These two inch pupfish look almost translucent and were impossible to photograph.


It's hard to imagine how huge these trees are. Doug posed next to one so you could get an idea.


We took a short rest amongst some of the palms, then headed back to the car. The park gate closes at 5 pm and we didn't want to get locked in for the night.

As we arrived back at the parking lot, the attendant was getting ready to close the gate. We struck up a conversation and found out that he is a workamper there at the park. He and his wife volunteer 20 hours a week and receive a site for their motorhome and full hookups in exchange. They work in the visitor center, perform minor maintenance and occasionally lead tours on the various trails. Since this is something we have considered doing, we picked his brain and had a fascinating (to us) conversation.


We drove out of the gate just as the sun was setting. (Obligatory sunset picture!)

So ends another not so boring day! And best of all......it was free!