By Don Quilci
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A Woodpecker also looking for lunch. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
A Cottontail Rabbit cautiously eyes the photographer. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
A Roadrunner on a golf course. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
A White Pelican looking for lunch. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
A Canada Goose taking life easy on a golf course pond. Photo By Elaine Quilici -
A giant lemon freshly picked from a tree. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
A gated community in Southern California. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Another mix of flowers, water and palm trees. Photo by Elaine Quilici -
Flowers in the desert in February. Photo by Elaine Quilici
For the last few years, Elaine and I have left Carson City for a short period of time during the month of February to temporarily escape our Western Nevada normally long and cold winter weather.
In those past years, it was a welcomed change from the ice, snow and cold of this general area to the warmth and lushness of the desert southwest.
This year our prolonged, seemingly, endless drought and sad lack of winter snow could have altered our plans, but we still opted for the trip to the south.
Three destinations:
This year’s February vacation included staying in La Quinta and Indio, California (both near Palm Springs), plus staying for the first time in Goodyear, Arizona (near Phoenix). The three stays were all at very comfortable homes located along golf courses inside gated communities. One was a condo that we rented and the other two were homes owned by relatives, who have winter homes in the south and asked us to join them.
Things that we experienced:
If you have never visited those areas, the heat, fruit, traffic and other things at those locations in February are very different from our Carson City area. Someday, perhaps, you too, might also want to visit those areas, so I would like to share some of the things that we experienced on our trip:
Weather:
In one word, the weather in the desert southwest was Fabulous! The daytime temps went all the way up to 90 degrees (in February!). Even wearing shorts, short sleeve shirts and tennis shoes, it got too hot for me out in the afternoon sun, and I retreated to the cooler shade of trees.
Fruit Trees:
The trees were loaded with oranges, grapefruit, lemons and tangelos, with the fruit just waiting to be picked, which I gleefully did, more than once. At many locations, the size of lemons and grapefruits was mind-boggling!
Flowers:
The many flowers at all three locations were spectacular and a welcomed change from our winter-looking landscapes here in Western Nevada. The varieties and colors of the flowers were awesome to see and to enjoy.
Birds:
There were all kinds of birds on the various golf courses including: Lot of coots (AKA mud hens), cranes, assorted ducks, many Canada geese, hummingbirds, robins and even roadrunners.
Wildlife:
The biggest surprise of the trip was the morning when we were sitting on the patio in La Quinta, drinking coffee and we watched a full grown coyote casually lope down the middle of the fairway.
Traffic:
To sum it up: Traffic is mind-boggling! For example, on Jefferson Street in La Quinta, there are three lanes of heavy traffic in each direction with a speed limit of 55 MPH (on a city street!).
Drivers:
People drive like maniacs: Speeding way over the speed limit, closely tail gating, cutting in and out of traffic lanes without signaling, running traffic lights and ignoring stop signs. Geez, it is even worse than in Carson City.
Traffic accidents:
While in La Quinta, we saw two accidents on city streets, one involving a semi-truck and trailer that jackknifed when it had to stop too fast and the other involving a car that ran a red light and got t-boned by another vehicle.
Patio Activities:
Our breakfasts, lunches, cocktail parties and dinners were all enjoyed, while wearing shorts out on the patios from early morning hours to late evenings.
Try that in Carson City in February. I dare you!
Golfers:
At La Quinta, Indio and Goodyear, we saw some tremendous drives, some pitiful drives, some God-awful slices that hit trees or homes. We saw happy golfers, angry golfers, good golfers and bad golfers, both men and women.
Finally:
It is nice to visit the desert southwest in the month of February, but in doing so, it makes you appreciate living in Carson City, especially the next time you are complaining about “heavy” traffic in this area.
Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon that he can’t tell you what I enjoyed the most about our 2.5 week visit to the desert.
If he grins and says, “It was when we drove up to our home at the end of the trip and we were finally home safe and sound,” he could be someone who we told about our 2015 adventures in Southern California and Arizona.
— Don Quilici is the Outdoor editor for Carson Now. Don’s wife, Elaine, is the Outdoor photographer. They live in Carson City and can be reached at donquilici@hotmail.com
