A Final Full Day

On our last full day in southern California, we took a wonderfully scenic route from Escondido to Palm Springs. Most of it was one lane in each direction, such a change from the massive freeways we'd been on! The terrain was often hilly and the views fascinating, and we relished the backcountry scenes we passed by.

Once in Palm Springs, we headed for Balisage Bistro (see extra photos), a restaurant that my pre-trip research had made clear was perfect for us, given our predilection for Mediterranean-influenced food and its location very near the small Palm Springs airport. It exceeded my expectations and we enjoyed our lunch there immensely.

We next spent several hours at the Palm Spring Air Museum, a mere five-minute drive from our lunch location. I'd happened upon it in my pre-trip research and knew that Phil would enjoy it, but was surprised by how much I enjoyed it as well. The exhibits were engaging and well done, and I was particularly interested in a large display of U.S. Army Air Force B-17 airfields in the U.K. during World War II (see extra photos). One of my maternal uncles, Frederick M. Werth (see extras), was a pilot in the Army Airforce's 351st bomb group, flying B-17s out of Polebrook, southwest of Peterborough, to targets in Germany. He survived fighting in World War II and the Korean War, and died at age 80.

And then it was on to Desert Hot Springs, and our Airbnb in a 1974 Airstream trailer (last extra)! It was there that I took this stunning sunset, quite different in its setting of mountains, wind turbines, and desert plains from what we're used to here. 

We enjoyed exploring our iconic trailer, and relished the freshly-squeezed orange and grapefruit juice that Julie, our Airbnb host, left outside our door the next morning. Our 2.5 hour flight from Palm Springs to Bellingham was uneventful, and we've been catching up since then with mail, newspapers, garden, and the usual routines of life. I hope to be back into regular posting and commenting soon.

Blip 1496