Marc, Bev and our Australian Kelpie

Rain in S. California

Thursday brought some major rain storms with snow at levels of 3000 feet in S. California; traffic stopped on Interstate 80 - the main highway from Nevada to Northern California - amid whiteout conditions & a threat of avalanches in the Sierras.

Here in Hemet, we have had rain, mostly in the evenings, cool temperatures & cloud. No floods or snow (we are at about 1600 ft above sea level). Today - Sat Mar 26th we have about 57 F - or about 14C; last week was in the high 80s F - 30C).

This fun run area quickly has a shallow 'creek' running through it; just as quick, the water has disappeared into the sand and no puddles.
A reminder of the West Coast. Just SW of Hemet approx 40 mins away is Temecula. This golf course is surrounded by oak groves and sycamore trees .. quite new and it has a muriad of challenges in the form of sand, water, deep - mean - grass (Bermuda grass) and hills. Not uncommon to lose 15 balls on this 18 hole course!

CROSS CREEK GOLF COURSE, TEMECULA

Sycamore Creek

Someone I know,

not mentioning names,

lost just 10 balls on his first time at this course!

A Par 72 course & 6,853 yds from the championship tees, the very rough edged bunkers and fairways, plus the fast greens that slope away makes for a tricky course.

The 'mansions' around the golf course --- well, let's just say, we only see those on TV.

The longest hole is 540 (503 for yellows/410 for the ladies). Built to be "into the wind."

hole #12

From 88yds - 188 (depending on the tee you play from); this par 3 is difficult; bunkers so deep you can't see the flag and you could be putting uphill for sometime; if you go long - well, you might be reaching for another ball.

With spring showers - come the flowers.

A day trip from Hemet, up to Idyllwild (Hwy 243) into the San Jacinto Mtns (the mile-high town) and down to Palm Springs - about a one hour drive from Hemet.

On the winding road down to Palm Springs traffic came to a crawl . . . someone lost their front passenger side tire from their modified 4 x 4 truck. Fortunate women with baby on board - there is a cliff at every turn on the opposite side.

The College of the Desert Street Fair (every thurs-sunday) in Palm Springs, with 340 vendors with art, craft, food - you name it - it is there, with a little of something for everyone.

One of the hottest ticket items these days (In Arizona and California anyway) are the remote helicopters. At the Yuma market in Arizona, we saw several helicopters being "turbo charged" to fly quicker and sharper. Larger models than this are used for outdoors. . . prices range from about $50.00 to 200.00. And NOT just for kids (well, kids at heart, let's say --- right Hooper & Steve!?).