Scenic Roads

The wind was blowing strong today so we decided to take a driving tour of cities in the area and travel two scenic roads. The wind was blowing strong last night so we put in one of our slides before we went to bed as the awning over that slide was bucking like a bronco, the wind didn’t let up and we were awakened at 3:30AM when our bedroom slide awning was bucking and rattling; we then put the third slide in for good measure but the mothership was still rocking in the wind this morning.

Today we took a quick tour through Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. We didn’t spend much time in any one place and drove only primary streets that were congested, it was the first time John ever uttered the phrase “I can’t move over a lane, there’s a Rolls Royce next to us”.

We took the Palms to Pines Highway (Hwy 74), out of Palm Desert and up into the San Bernardino National Forest and the Santa Rosa Mountains. Hwy 74 twisted and turned it’s way up out of the desert and into the forest; the road was busy and we pulled aside for a few people who were in a hurry. After 38 miles on 74 we turned onto Hwy 243 at Mountain Center; 243 was narrower, curvier and more scenic than 74.

 

Looking down on Palm Desert from Hwy 74.

 

 

Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage.

 

Hwy 74 snaking up the canyon.

 

Hwy 74.

 

Hwy 243 took us through the small city of Idyllwild which seems to be another enclave for craftsman and artists. After Idyllwild we continued on to Pine Cove and after 25 miles of scenic driving 243 took us down out of the mountains into Banning  where we turned onto I-10 and drove back to North Palm Springs.

 

After Mountain  Center the tall pines where plentiful.

 

The trees were frosted in Pine Cove.

 

Hwy 243 was the more scenic drive.

 

Heading down towards Banning.

 

The wind farm near us here in North Palm Springs.

We are still rocking in the wind tonight, it’s predicted to let up by about 9:00PM; we will see.