Going Home

After a great winter it's time to head home. We've had a bit of wind lately and headed out in a good breeze but lucked in as it only lasted as far as Riverside. We lunched beside 2 travelers, one who'd been on 'Christian missions' down south and the other carrying his hot rod race car for the circuit.

 We stayed overnight at Lost Hills,  Rolling Hills the 2nd night and drove past Mt. Shasta Thur.

It was wonderful to see Lake Shasta, a water reservoir, filled higher than we've seen it for many many years. Our spring rain down south was really worth it.

 We saw this chapel for truckers at Peartree Truck Stop at Phoenix in ORE.

 We were shocked by the tents and shacks of homeless living under bridges and overpasses through Seattle.

   Stayed overnight at Tualalip Casino enjoying Prime Rib with my meager winnings from casinos this winter and arrived to our home park Sunday on Chris'  birthday, good to see all our friends.

Sunnylands Center & Gardens, Palm Desert, California

Opened in 2012, the Center is 17,000sq. ft., with glass walls, blurring inside and out,  clerestory windows, floating walls and lava stone the same as that in their  historic home.  

 Both Lenore and Walter Annenberg were Ambassadors of the United States and this was their winter home, now used by world leaders as a Retreat and called 'Camp David of the West'. An award winning film tells about the estate's history.

 The Great Room makes you feel you are one with the outside and display changing exhibitions from the extensive Sunnylands Collection. 

There are media stations providing in-depth information about the history, sustainability, art collections, architecture retreats and meetings, and health and wellness. The Interactive Gallery has changing displays.

The 9.5 acre Gardens have over 70 species of native and drought resistant pants arranged in single-specimen beds. They are layered to create visual interest through colour, texture and light with seasonal bloom cycles all year. There are paths to wander, a labyrinth to walk,

 a wildflower field attracting birds and wildlife, the US/China Friendship Bench,  reflecting pools and more.

 There is a quiet peaceful vibe throughout.

Guided Bird Walk at Sunnylands

Phyllis, Ida and I went to this 15 acre Visitors Center site situated on the 200 acres of Sunnylands.

From theCcenter, you look past the bronze sculpture,  Alberto Glacometti's Bust of Diego, out onto the 'great lawn' where yoga, tai chi and movies are held.

Our guide was very knowledgeable with about 30 badges on his jacket from different parks he'd been to for birding.

 He would locate and identify different birds, pull them up on his IPad, add their singing and attract the ones we saw closer to us.

                                He also carried a huge telescope.  It was very interesting.

Film; Eddie the Eagle at Mary Pickford Theater

Moved over to Desert Pools for our week out. It's was sold last year so we now have to pay $20/night but they've redone the pool, clubhouse roof and added an exercise room and sauna. Not that many people here this season.
We went down to the Mary Pickford theater which was very nice, with 2 iguanas out front.

                 There's a park across the street with statues and a fountain being refinished.

We saw Eddie the Eagle based on the true story of a Brit who came to Calgary in 1008 for the Olympics as a sky jumper"flyer" and it was very amusing. Enjoyed it.

Inspired by true events, Eddie the Eagle is a feel-good story about Michael “Eddie” Edwards (Taron Egerton), an unlikely but courageous British ski-jumper who never stopped believing in himself – even as an entire nation was counting him out. With the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach (played by Hugh Jackman), Eddie takes on the establishment and wins the hearts of sports fans around the world by making an improbable and historic showing at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Eddie the Eagle stars Taron Egerton as Eddie, the loveable underdog with a never say die attitude.