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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Views expressed in this post are my own. I would like to thank Rogers Communications for organizing the trip to use Roam Like Home. With Roam Like Home, Rogers customers can use their Share Everything plans (data and unlimited talk and text) in the U.S. for just $5/day. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
John and I recently had the opportunity to get away, thanks to Rogers Communications, and the Palm Desert was calling our name. Resort spas, cocktails, brunch, and shopping were all on our list of things to enjoy but at the very top was a nature walk (or two). The first was Joshua Tree and the second was to the San Andreas Fault Coachella Valley Preserve and the Thousand Palms Oasis.
San Andreas Fault at Coachella Valley Preserve
Staying at the Westin Mission Hills Resort, it only took 12 minutes to drive over to the Coachella Valley Preserve, which I found on a list of nature walks in Palm Springs.
Surrounded by dry, rocky valley peaks and pale desert sand, this pocket of wetland was a true desert oasis with lush, towering palms and Desert Pupfish swimming in the Salton Sea tributary fed by underground springs.
From the USGS: “The Coachella Valley Preserve is located on the trace of the San Andreas Fault between the towns of Palm Springs and Indio, California. The main groves of the preserve are called the Thousand Palms Oasis. A visitor center is located in the Paul Wilhelm Grove along Thousand Palms Canyon Road. Springs rising along the Mission Canyon Fault and Banning Fault (parallel strands of the San Andreas Fault System) are the water source for Desert Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) (Howard, 1994).
The preserve began with the purchase of 1,920 acres of the proposed site by the California Nature Conservancy. It was expanded with the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The preserve now encompasses 17,000 acres, protecting three separate desert dune fields and six palm forests (over 1,500 palms). It is part of a 20,000 acres dedicated to protect the habitat of the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard and other species. The preserve covers a large portion of the Indio Hills in the valley west of Joshua Tree National Park (Coachella Valley Preserve, 2009).”
We pulled up and parked, passing a park map and donation box along a sandy path before reaching a small visitor centre filled with pioneer artifacts and old photographs. We set out along the McCallum Trail boardwalk first, ducking under palm branches then following another loose sand path to the visitor centre.
We looped back around as we both wanted to get above the oasis, having previously spotted some hikers on a ridge as we drove in.
Curious about the geology of the West Coast, particularly when it comes to earthquakes, we both wanted to pinpoint the location of the San Andreas Fault. This continental transform fault extends roughly 810 miles (1,300 km) through California and forms the tectonic boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate.
We found a winding path on a mound that rose above the oasis on the south end of the park and made our way up to where we could spot the highway on which we drove in, surrounding mountains, and a lovely early sunset.
I called up an interactive Google Map of the San Andreas Fault on my phone and our blue location beacon overlapped with the red line of the fault. We were standing directly along the fault line.
Living in Vancouver I’m constantly in awe of our coastal rainforests, islands and ocean shores and it was so interesting to explore a totally different and unique geographic and geological area. The walk along the McCallum Trail was about 30 minutes there and back with a mix of boardwalks and soft paths in the desert gravel.
The hike up the mound, where we stood atop the lookout, was very steep but there were small children who managed to get up and down right before us. Always check the weather when hiking in Palm Springs (it could be scorching or very breezy in the winter) and bring water with you all the time.
On the way out we also dropped a few bills in the donation box as there was no park fee and we felt we definitely got a lot of value out of this true oasis.
Upon entering Stanley Park, either by turning east off Georgia Street from Vancouver or from the Coal Harbour Seawall, the first statue you will come across is that of Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns.
According to the Vancouver Archives: “In February 1924, inspired by a recently published critical analysis of Burns’ work, the Vancouver Burns Fellowship was formed to encourage the study of Burns’ life and works and the singing of his songs. The group also hoped to erect a statue of Burns in Stanley Park.”
Archives# CVA 1184-2705. Photographer: Jack Lindsay.
“The unveiling ceremony was August 25, 1928 and was followed by dinner at the Aztec Room of the Hotel Georgia. The Honourable Ramsay MacDonald, ex-Prime Minister of Britain, arrived by train that day with his three daughters. It has been reported that a large crowd welcomed him in spite of his arrival time of 7:30am. He was, coincidentally, in Canada on vacation and agreed to unveil the monument.”
The inscription on the monument’s front plaque reads:
1759-1796. Robert Burns’s sincere desire or friendship and brotherhood among all peoples is clearly shown in his many poems and songs. His poetry and letters, both serious and humorous are worthy of study by those who value liberty and freedom.
On the side plaque is an excerpt from To a Mountain Daisy (1786):
On turning one down with his plough
Wee, modest, crimson-tipped flow’r,
thou’s met me in an evil hour;….
to spare thee now is past my pow’r
thou bonie gem.
Robbert Burns Day (January 25th) is widely celebrated and in Vancouver several organizations, businesses and groups keep the tradition alive by hosting a supper, as the Centre for Scottish Studies will do on Friday, January 23, 2015. One of the most unique events in honour of The Bard is Gung Haggis Fat Choy (February 8th) which blends the Chinese New Year with a Burns Supper.
The RunGo app, a running app with turn-by-turn instructions for popular running routes in cities like Vancouver, London, New York, and Seattle, is hosting the Dash for Dogs in February. This is a guided 10km, 5km or 2km run or walk through Stanley Park with 100% of proceeds going to BC & Alberta Guide Dogs.
Where Stanley Park trails, starting and ending at Brockton Point When Saturday, February 21, 2015 Registration Register online for the 2km Walk (optional donation); 5km Run (minimum $20 donation); or 10km Run (minimum $20 donation).
This is a fun, non-competitive race so start times are anytime between 9:00am and 11:00am. There will be no route markers as participants will be encouraged to use the RunGo app to make their way around the course. Participants are asked to please leave their dogs at home as there will be guide dogs working.
Download the RunGo app for Android or Apple devices.
BC & Alberta Guide Dogs makes a profound difference to blind/ visually impaired people by partnering them with a certified guide dog at no cost. These guide dogs provide tangible and immediate help; making a significant difference in their partner’s safety, independence, sense of well being and belonging.
The Vancouver Motorcycle Show rolls into Abbotsford’s Tradex from January 23rd until January 25th, highlighting the motorcycling industry’s loudest engines, coolest exhibitions and latest trends, along with death-defying riders to watch and terrific contests to enter.
Vancouver Motorcycle Show Highlights
Deeley Harley-Davidson Project LiveWire™ Experience Tour, an exhibition of the very first Harley-Davidson with an electric engine. This exhibit offers Harley fans a chance to test ride this one-of-a-kind bike as well as an opportunity to check out their Jumpstart™ Demo riding simulator for one weekend only.
Back by popular demand is SHE Rides Night, celebrating women who ride and those who want to take up the sport. Between 5:00pm and 8:30pm on Friday, January 23rd, admission for all female attendees is half price, and women (18+) are encouraged to enter the ladies-only draw, where one lucky rider will take home a brand new 2015 Kawasaki EX300, courtesy of Canadian Kawasaki and your local Kawasaki dealers. In addition to the contest, all Show attendees that night will have a chance to meet Valerie Thompson – America’s Queen of Speed and 5-time motorcycle land speed record holder, presented by BMW Motorrad Canada.
For young visitors, the Show is bringing back the always-popular Yamaha Riding Academy for Kids, a fun and interactive course designed for children aged 6-12, who will learn how to ride a Yamaha TTR or PW in a safe and monitored off-road environment.
The always thrilling, fan-favourite Team Empire, are also returning to this year’s Show, presented by Parts Canada. Nick “Apex” Brocha and Ernie “Edub” Vigil are professional motorcycle freestyler stunt riders, constantly pulling off daring feats that push the limits of what a person can do on two wheels.
On four wheels, Bill Hitchon will be doing equally daring ATV stunts all weekend. In addition, the Canadian Pacific Trials Association will be performing at the Show, where riders will manoeuvre through a specially designed obstacle course, all without touching their feet to the ground. Take a break from the Show floor, grab some fresh air, and be captivated by the talent of each of these riders in their Shows running three times a day.
Hours are 10:00am to 9:00pm on Friday, 10:00am to 8:00pm on Saturday, and 10:00am to 5:00pm on Sunday.
Admission is $14 for adults (15 and over), $10 for seniors (65 and over), $10 juniors (ages 6 to 14), and free for children (5 and under, with paid adult). Family passes (2 adults and 2 juniors) are $38 and on Ladies Night, women pay 1/2 price admission after 5:00pm.
Win Tickets to the Vancouver Motorcycle Show
If you would like to check out the Vancouver Motorcycle Show I have a 4-pack of tickets to give away, here’s how you can enter to win:
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RT to enter to win tickets to #bikeshowYVR from @TheBikeShows + @Miss604 http://ow.ly/HIPQY
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00pm on Thursday, January 22, 2015.
Charlie Ross is living his childhood dream (and probably the dream of many other men and women) as he gets to be Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, and retell the Star Wars stories. In just 60 minutes Ross will take the audience to a galaxy far, far away as he performs the One Man Star Wars Trilogy in Vancouver this February.
One Man Star Wars Trilogy
Originally from farm just outside Prince George, Ross single-handedly plays all the characters, sings the music, flies the ships, fights the battles, and condenses the plots and his show has received rave reviews from SPIN Magazine, the BBC, the Chicago Sun Times, and more. He’s performed One Man Star Wars Trilogy off-Broadway, in Dubai’s resorts, London’s West End, at Star Wars conventions, and everywhere in between.
One Man Star Wars Trilogy is playing February 17th to February 19th at Performance Works on Granville Island. Tickets are available online now for 8:00pm showtimes on February 17th, February 18th, and February 19th.
Follow the Vancouver Fringe Festival on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
