Los Angeles
to Palm Springs – 190 miles
After an early breakfast we were taken to the tour company
HQ and allocated our bikes for the trip.
Mine was a lovely white (but with sparkly metallic paint effect)
Heritage Soft-tail model which looked cool.
Eventually after the seemingly unavoidable faffing around we
were on the road escaping Los Angeles on the busy freeway. After an hour of this we exited onto an A
road cutting cross country over the coastal hills. I had to pull over and await the support
vehicle due to an engine warning light.
This appeared to be a sensor malfunction and so continued on and caught
up with the pack of 18 at a BBQ diner for lunch.
After lunch we pushed on and began to climb a mountain range
mainly marked out as the Idyllwild Park.
Many miles of wiggly waggly roads (a technical term) took us
to the summit of a pass at 6,000 feet altitude with an equally w-w descent.
From the fresh cool air at 6,000 feet the temperature increased on the way down
and pleasant coniferous forests made way to arid desert terrain on the approach
to Palm Springs, our ‘caravanserai’ for the night.
We parked up outside the hotel and enjoyed a cold beer
before collecting our luggage from the support van and going to our rooms. There was time for a dip in the pool before
congregating for evening meal at a local Italian restaurant where the food was
great but reconciliation of individual bills appeared to present existential problems.
And so early to bed for a 7.45 start tomorrow.
Mood Music:
…. And some
background on Palm Springs:
For thousands of years, the Palm Springs area was home to
the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. During the winter months, they
established their village around the natural hot mineral springs (current site
of the Spa Resort Casino). In summer, to escape the extreme temperatures of the
desert floor, the small band moved to the canyons where it was more comfortable
because of the higher elevation. In 1877, the Southern Pacific Railroad
completed its line through the desert to the Pacific Ocean. A Congressional
policy established that every odd section of land for 10 miles on either side
of the track became the property of the railroad (a section was defined as one
square mile). The even-numbered sections remained the property of the federal
government.
Throughout the 19th century, various explorers, colonizers,
and soldiers came through the desert, but it was not until 1853 that the United
States Topographical Engineers mentioned the oasis of palm trees and springs
which they called "Palm Springs." The name did not stick at that
time, however. After California became a state in 1850, various stage routes
crossed the desert, and "Big Bill Bradshaw's" freight line began to
stop at what Bradshaw called "Agua Caliente." The place was known by
that name or variations of "Palm Valley" until 1890 when Harry
McCallum referred in a letter to his post office address in "Palm
Springs."
In 1909, Dr. Harry and Nellie Coffman started their
sanitorium, The Desert Inn, which was originally a place for those afflicted
with tuberculosis. The Inn later became a world-renowned resort hotel catering
to the very wealthy, which included captains of industry and well-known
millionaires such as the Vanderbilt and Hearst families.
World War II brought rapid growth to Palm Springs with many
new housing developments and businesses. The Desert Museum opened its doors in
1938, a public library was established in 1939 and the Desert Hospital opened
in 1951.
Hollywood discovered Palm Springs as early as about 1919.
The desert was considered a choice filming spot for many silents, and stars
such as Rudolph Valentino, Ernest Torrence, and Theda Bara could be easily
spotted in town. Since then, Palm Springs has become known as "The
Playground of the Stars." Many have had homes in the City or have stayed
at famous places such as the El Mirador Hotel and Charles Farrell's Racquet
Club.
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