We had ridden the Palm Springs Aerial Tram 20 or more years ago, so once again we are going to try to go back.
It was another gorgeous day when we decided to ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tram from the desert floor to the top of the highest mountain surrounding the desert cities. From our motorhome, we could see the light at the top of the tram at night.
The desert floor below the tramway is cluttered with windmills….
Lots and lots of windmills. They add ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to the scenic views of the area.
The Tramway goes from the desert floor to the top of this mountain.
The car was pretty full when we rode up. It was all standing room only. No seating. A lady in front of me and very near the windows had her head buried in her husband’s shoulder the whole way. A man behind me stared solemnly at the floor the entire 10 minute trip to the top.
Oh, and did I mention that the car makes two 360 degree (slow) spins on the way up and again on the way down. I can tell you those two people did NOT get their money’s worth.
As we pulled out of the Desert Station and headed skyward, I remembered the days when I was where they were, except you would have never gotten me on that car in the first place…at least not quietly. In those days I would have been screaming all the way to the top!
As I looked down at the desert cities scattered across the landscape, I had great sympathy for those two people. They were braver than I would have been back in those days, just by getting on the tram car. Fear of heights is a horrible, painful and humiliating thing.
Passing the towers with HELICOPTER PADS on top of them as we ascended the world’s second steepest tram, I wondered who in their right minds would have been part of the crews who built this thing?!?!??? I can’t even imagine!!
We passed close to this monolith and at one point came with in a very few feet of the canyon wall.
Finally we docked at the Mountain Station. I’m sure those two people began to breathe a bit earlier but with dread knowing that would have to ride back down. I really felt for them because I knew exactly what they were going through. It took me many years to get beyond all of that.
At the top, Don and I watched a fascinating movie of the building of the tram and then had a lovely lunch while looking out from the top of the mountain down onto the desert.
Normally it is fairly chilly or even downright cold at the top of the mountain. On this day it was only a bit cool and I didn’t need the coat I had brought along. We couldn’t have picked a nicer day for this adventure.
On the way back down we passed a tram car making it’s way up the mountain.
The canyon with the parking lot below was a breath-taking view from up so high. It was a great trip.
The next day was a visit to Cabot’s Pueblo Museum in Desert Hot Springs, not far from our RV park.
This Pueblo Museum is a bit hard to describe but worth the time to visit and take the tour to see it and hear it’s story. There were signs around the grounds warning of rattlesnakes, meaning I was looking at the dirt…a lot!
Cabot Yerxa built the Pueblo from mostly found materials between 1941 and 1950. It was his home and personal museum until his death in 1965. He traveled world wide and collected artifacts from his many travels which fill the museum.
Being a “museum” I was AGAIN not allowed to photograph inside the buildings. I will never understand the prohibition of photography “to protect the items from flash” when there is no need for flash with today’s cameras. Oh well. As usual, my personal complaint gains me nothing, so back to the story...
Two small apartments with surrounding roof decks were available for visiting friends and family. Cabot encouraged artists to come and stay and work at the Pueblo. Upper levels provided spectacular views of the valley and San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains.
Cabot discovered the hot water springs that brought world travelers to soak in the hot mineral springs in the area as well as the award winning best tasting cold water.
The wood sculpture, Waokiye towers over the pueblo. It was carved on site by Peter Toth in 1978 as part of his “trail of the Whispering Giants,” and is intended to raise awareness of the spirit, culture and plight of Native Americans.
Toth created at least one monument in each state, two in Canada, and one in Hungary, his birthplace. Carved from a fallen sequoia with an incense cedar feather. It is 48 feet tall. In the Lakota Sioux language, Waokiye is said to mean “traditional helper.”
That evening we went back down to Palm Springs to meet two more of our Oregon/Washington Coaches for Christ group who are staying down here on the desert for a couple months.
We had dinner with Glen and Margie Campbell (back row) and Ron and Shar James (front row). After dinner we walked the entire Palm Springs Street Fair.
The Street Fair is huge and is a lot of walking! It doesn’t start till about 6pm so most of it is after dark and there are tons of people. Of course everything imaginable is for sale and people watching is a main activity.
This guy was a an amazing classical guitarist and we enjoyed listening. Notice the crowds jamming the street behind him. That was the way it was everywhere.
Margie said to me a couple times, “Have you seen Marilyn?” “Marilyn Who?” I had no idea…but I found out.
“Marilyn” was about 30 feet tall and made quite a statement. It was hard to catch a picture of her without groups of people under her getting their pictures taken. They only came as high as her knees. The city of Palm Springs now owns her.
Our next stop is in Quartzsite, Arizona for several days. We will be camping on the desert with hundreds and hundreds (if not thousands) of other RV’ers who come to Quartzsite every January. So watch for our tales of being “Desert Rats” for a little while.
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