Find a fault and you've got California Fan Palms

 It is a quiet start to our time here - New Year's Day means Tourist information is closed for a few days. We rely on their advice to get us started on adventures. So we looked up desert walks and made what turned out to be a return trip to Coachella Valley Preserve. It's 10 years since our last visit so we can be forgiven for forgetting about this wonderful oasis. Once there, we knew it immediately, The oasis sits on the San Andreas fault. Makes you kind of twitchy as you walk beneath giant California Fan Palms. 

Once again, staff shortages affects an organization. The nature house as well as the wonderful pond at the end of the hike is closed. We hope that as the weather warms up and the tourist numbers increase, some of the super tours might be available again. Ten years ago we went on a night tour looking at scorpions in the pathway using a black light. Bill brought his black light with him.

Oasis from a distance

Furry-looking California Fan Palms - the only variety of palms that keep their fronds. They can live 200 years but are suffering from a fungus that is threatening them. 

Fallen fronds are a perfect home for rattlesnakes. 

Roadrunner nest - outside the nature house.