[January 9, our second day in the desert, awoke that morning and went out onto Beryl and Don’s backyard.  They have a view that’s not bad!]

[They have tall palm trees . . . ]

[Overlooking a golf course . . . ]

[Don wanders out to make sure my code of conduct is up to community standards . . . ]

[The backyard is artificial turf – NO MOWING!]

[The putting green is a nice touch (Beryl, you’re going to have to give me strokes!)]

[Don in his heyday?  Fore!!!!]

[My shadow’s in the lap pool.  Hope it can swim!]

[Plotting the day’s strategy over Beryl’s wonderful B&B breakfast.]

[They may be in Palm Desert now, but their hearts are still at Lake L’Homme Dieu!]

[And the Twin Cities!]

[Despite warning lights and chairs blocking the exit, I still stumbled on the step coming out of the sunken living room and almost had a head-on collision with a rather sizeable mirror.]

[Of course, I was planning to say this was just the sitting room off our bedroom . . .]

[Which is right here (sweet suite).]

[We had initially thought a trip to Borrego Springs for lunch, but it’s a long trip and we went there on our last visit.  So, Beryl thought a day in Palm Springs would be fun – and we agreed, because we had never really spent any time there before.]

[So, first we had to get up close and personal with Ms. Monroe.]

[A woman to whom you only come up to shin level is intimidating.]

[But I didn’t mind.]

[OK, I’m overplaying my hand here . . .]

[But . . .]

[BTW, Beryl, to her everlasting credit, thought I should have stood between Marilyn’s legs and looked straight up for a photo op! 😉  ]

[Lucy!]

[Yes, I’m probably getting a little too familiar here.]

[Beautiful downtown Palm Springs.  Once home to the rich and famous, now a little more avant-garde.]

[It is a spectacular setting.]

[The supervisor and Beryl check the theatre billboard . . . ]

[It’s the last year for the Plaza Theatre. All the performers, including on this poster, are our age – including Susan Anton! 🙂  ]

[The barker gave us the hard sell but we just didn’t have the time.]

[Sonny Bono, once mayor here.]

[At the tourist info center with the mountains in the background.]

[Lookin’ good, ladies! ]

[The mountains seem to be in the city’s backyard.]

[Heading into Beryl’s favorite Palm Springs restaurant for lunch . . .  ]

[Terrazza!]

[A driving tour took us here, at the edge of town . . . ]

[Home to Melvyn’s Restaurant . . .]

[Hidden away a bit from the teeming masses . . .]

[It’s where the famous entertainers escaped for dinner.  We were under surveillance as we drove through.  😉  ]

[Melvyn’s flora.]

[Bob Hope’s!]

[Yup, the real Bob Hope!]

[OK, had to make sure I got a good shot.] [We actually did drive around a bit to find the right angles.]

[It was time to leave the desert and go back to the beach. ]

[Adios, Palm Desert.]

[I have no idea who Roy Wilson is, but I thought I’d make him famous.]

[Instead of going back on the interstates, we went over the mountains.  Palm Desert in Coachella Valley below.]

[The road switchbacks all the way up.]

[If you miss your turn???]

[Not a good idea to be texting on this highway.]

[I wanna take you higher . . .  ]

[Welcome to the surface of Mars.]

[Where most of these photos were shot in the run, we obviously (based on my shadow) stopped at an overlook here.]

[The whole of Coachella Valley.]

[Just about to the top.]

[Now heading down the mountain on the ocean side, while still arid, wet enough for trees.]

[Neat, huh?]

[Hiyo, Silver!]

[And whatta way to . . . ]

[End this chapter!]

Old age is having a choice of two temptations and choosing the one that will get you home earlier.