Problem; Solution

The internet was back - have you tried turning it off and back on again? The cloud of yesterday was gone and the temperature rose but remained pleasant. A Chinese Restaurant had eluded me yesterday. Well, not actually eluded; it is just that there were too many cars parked in front. A Sunday morning would be a good time to return. It nearly eluded me again on a trip for which I left Greg resting at the resort. I could not remember exactly where it was and drove as far as Bob Hope before turning back. I knew it was not just outside Phoenix and with the price of gas....Anyway, it was right there in Cathedral City all the time and I allowed one car into the photograph. I boxed rather clumsily back to the airport and noted that a new control tower is under construction. I wanted to be on the north side and worked my way round with several stops for the different sections of apron (ramp). It was easier than last time with the sun a little better placed but it was not straightforward. A  crowded ramp does not lend itself to aircraft portraiture and the comings and goings of the rich but not necessarily famous were myriad. I even saw two poodles headed for one plane but I imagine it was their owner who had hired it unless they were Lotto winners in their own right. The Loft, 'open for breakfast and lunch' was, well, closed. So, almost by chance, I ended up at the Palm Springs Air Museum for perhaps my third visit. And, as it turned out, the most enjoyable.

Problem; what is one to do when one has paid for a helicopter ride but no-one else turns up to make the flight (minimum 4) viable? Solution; hire a family. I had cooled my heels taking photographs which I enjoyed very much because they had a delightful display of carrier airplanes outside and some magnificent classic cars inside interspersed with the aircraft exhibits. I used the bathroom twice and had lunch, a Middle East sandwich, not named as you might imagine after Israel, but a delightful combo of grilled chicken, houmous and peppers on pitta. I learned something today - the meaning of 'flak', now in common usage but once an abbreviation for 'Fliegerabwehrkanone', an anti-aircraft gun. Still no companions for the ride so it was time to innovate. I did not want to miss my flight as I love helicopters and I did not much want a refund. I picked on a family group, father and two sons and offered them the trip. They only needed to realise that I was English to cope with this offer out of left field and off we went for our ten minute circuit of Palm Springs with a slight tinge of Cathedral City. Why is it that, although I have a perfectly common fear of (open) heights, I have absolutely no concerns about flying even when, as in a Jet Ranger, you can see straight past your feet? I was relieved to get reasonable results from my aerial shots. I had been very disappointed with those I took from our flight to Rome but that was from about 35,000' and, I imagine, somewhat beyond the abilities of my camera. Every mistake made with the camera is a lesson learned and I think I am getting better.

An afternoon nap barely refreshed me but I was ready for our evening meal at The Falls, an excellent restaurant in Palm Canyon Drive. My filet was superb and Greg savoured his rib-eye after we had had starters of Cajun Shrimp and Almond Brie respectively. It is an expensive restaurant but I think I could call it value for money. The restaurants of Palm Springs were thriving this Sunday night. We'll be seeing them again in 2012 but for now we are hours away from three days in San Diego.