Hampton Inn & Suites Palm Desert, Ca

... also very very expensive!). Once at the top there is a limited amount of stuff to do as it is somewhere between summer and winter activities. No matter though the view down to the Coachella valley below – all the way to the Salton Sea was incredible.

I went for a gentle wander along the valley behind the tram station which was 5 inches deep in snow and delightfully crisp and calm. Had I been up early ...

... instructions like "keep right and then keep left" invariably mean “just go straight and for goodness sake don’t turn off”!

The journey out of LA was mile after mile of soulless freeway which then merged into an equally soulless town/county called Riverside. I did not stop so can’t really comment but it looked like a terrible place to live – a bit like a Littlehampton. After this I drove through ...

... to Hawaii. Going to sleep pretty early every night after a couple homemade cocktails! Trader joes is by far the best store in the world. Wonderful salads, pizzas, wine and snacks for all under $5. Bringing back lots of wine,sake, curry sauces and snacks for my new place in palolo with my bf! Thanksgiving at yayas house was to die for! Wonderful turkey, ham, homemade cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes! Yum ...

... Peak at 10,834 feet. The sunrise has no sign of coming and the waning quarter moon is casting its silver light upon a slope of granite boulders. Mars is on the horizon adding an celestial element to the desert's potent stillness.
-So far this morning we shared the trail with three women hikers who started out ahead of us. We passed them (of course) because they were slow chatty ladies, but they passed us because we were men and got lost by taking a wrong ...

... The added feature of the whole Hallowed-Fest experience was the first ever all acoustic set. Needless to say the music was amazing.

The promoters built this giant castle-snake-overlook in the middle of the firelds. You could walk all the way around and be at a rotunda at the top and look out to see the whole venue. A very cool feature. Highlight was the glowstick battles on either side with the people on top ...

... fitness center, games room and internet access. It is great for people with their massive modern mobile homes, which are like studio flats on wheels.

We will be moving on to Grand Canyon today and will be camping in a more primitive campground, with no electric hookups. I am sure it will provide us with a whole new experience.

... point of showing our gratitude by shoveling as much as possible in our faces before we were cut off and planning out what other delicious concoctions we could make with the cheese sauce for dinner, still 12 hours away.  Eventually we managed to pull ourselves together (think afternoon) and geared up for a day of adventure, but not before we met up with Sarah, Kirby's longtime friend crazy friend from the desert. We met her at Wal-Mart, after searching for some Tecnu to ...

After touring San Diego, our last stop was
Palm Springs, CA. This city is in the middle of the desert surrounded
by mountains. As you drive through, there are high winds you can
encounter with sand blowing onto the road, so slow down and drive with
caution, especially at night watch out for nocturnal ...

... excited racing each other in go-carts that went over 40 mph. Although it was a lot of fun I lost control a few too many times and left the track... putting me in last place overall, hey but it was still fun! The next day was filled with fun and food as I spent my next thanksgiving at my girlfriends house eating and playing games. Then that ...

... Went out to dinner afterwards at a Mexican place. I didn't eat much though. Day 2 (Thur, Jun 10, 2004) We all had lunch at PF Chang's, which is always yummy. Walked around the mall there a little. Took SS shopping for some clothes. We all went to dinner at Sullivan's. I was feeling a lot better. Had a good meal here. Day 3 (Fri, Jun 11, 2004) Drove home.