It’s been about a month and a half since my last desert update. Yes, I’m still in Palm Springs and loving it. It’s hot as Hades so any outdoor activity is a morning venture. I’ve trekked over 600 miles on the hiking trails so far but every once in awhile, I’ve been walking the neighborhood instead. Temperatures are over ninety at first light so over-taxing myself makes little sense. Unfortunately, the aerial tramway has been closed or I’d be opting for the cool mountain trails. Two players in Toledo opted to push a trolley instead of hiring a caddie. Both finished in the top ten. One of them h ..read more

LPGA caddie Jim Gilmore, passed away last night at a nursing home in upstate New York. Covid-19 took another soul. Jim was a good caddie and a friend to many. He will be missed. Here’s Jim and Greg Sheridan in Jamaica during the golden years of the LPGA. They are now together once more, walking the fairways up high ..read more

Mark Scott received an invite from Chuck Parisi to come hiking with him. He’s in Vegas and it was a perfect time for both of us to get out of town and see some new trails. The plan was to leave at 5am Thursday morning and as I approached the security gate to Mark’s mobile home park, I was greeted by a guy yelling, “Are you following me? Are you following me?” Luckily, the car behind opened the gate before I had to punch in the code, or there might have been a confrontation. I decided to take an unfamiliar route to Vegas through the Mojave National Preserve. After passing through Twenty Nine Pa ..read more

Many more miles in the bank since my last post. Our most interesting hike found these Bighorns along the trail. The Symetra Tour is considering going caddie-free for the remainder of the season. I have a feeling that’s the way it will be. Of course, there will be testing every week. A positive result sends you home for two weeks ..read more

Another hike with Mark Scott. This time we walked the asphalt road going to the Aerial Tramway. It’s closed to autos but there is also a paved walkway adjacent to the road. Didn’t go all the way. Only a round trip of five miles this time. There were many folks doing the same as us. The majority were Latino women packed with extra booty. At least a 10:1 ratio to men. We couldn’t figure that one out. I arrived in Palm Springs on March 4th and have logged over two hundred miles on the trails. Many more to go, I hope. The revised LPGA and Symetra schedules are out. Two northern states are hosting ..read more

Hiked the South Lykken Trail with “The Anchor” yesterday morning. Not too many vistas better than this. On our way down, a guy coming up waived us through. Hiking etiquette states that up-hillers have the right of way but as I passed, I could see why he did it. It was ninety degrees, he was dressed in all black, had no hat or water and his breathing was labored. More proof, you can’t fix stupid. Also, his mask was around his neck all the while he was huffing and puffing. DOH!. Horses are permitted on some of the trails and as Mark and I descended the Garstin last week, three riders were comin ..read more

Eight more hikes since my last post. Three of them with Mark Scott who I’ve nicknamed “The Anchor”. He’s a tad short of wind, so I have to let him catch up, but he’s still able to break it. On the Berns Trail today, I came across a rattle snake hidden in a bush. Didn’t see it, but didn’t have to. The warning of its distinctive rattle had me almost soil myself. Going to reach 100° or more the next ten days. That’s about 15° above normal. May have to start hiking when the sun comes up. My DIY haircut came out pretty good. No more going to the barber for me. One more cut and the clippers have mo ..read more

Hiked the Garstin Trail this morning with my buddy Mark Scott. He’s a bit out of shape, so only a wee walk was in order. Word is, all the Legend’s events have been canceled. Bummer. My home county of Hillsboro has instituted a curfew starting yesterday. Apparently, social distancing has not been taken seriously. Also, I hear only a few people are wearing masks. Out here in Palm Springs, almost everyone is masked-up except the street people and the self-important. This just in. Palm Springs issues face-covering order, plans Tuesday meeting on coronavirus issues ..read more

The hiking trails are now open with some social distancing restrictions. According to this article, the inadvertent closure was the result of “miscommunication,” by the city staff. Imagine that. Added another nine miles to my total this morning.  As I was starting, I passed a family of four heading down and it was a sight to see. They were all clad in heavy-duty face masks and bunny ears! Would have made a great family photo. FYI, “Volunteer Dave” talked to “Country Club Mike” and he is doing well. Mike is living in Virginia now. There have been couple rattlesnake sightings. Guess it’s g ..read more

They closed all the hiking trails in the area. Guess I’ll have to improvise. Waiting for some supplies to arrive before I tackle the DIY haircut. Watching YouTube on how I should proceed in the meantime. I have another “self-taught project” in the works. What else do I have to do ..read more