Today was our last full day in Desert Hot Springs and the Coachella Valley this spring and it seems we ran out of time to do all the things we wanted to. Last night it rained here and this morning the strong winds were back with a vengeance and though it was sunny, the temperature had dropped a couple of degrees.

Our friends Steve and Fran, who we met at the 1000 Palms Oasis on Saturday, recommended a trek into the Box Canyon and Painted Canyon in the Orocopia Mountains and today we wanted to check it out. Our intentions were good however in our efforts to find a better RV park to stay in this coming winter we made a side trip to the Catalina Spa and RV Resort on our way there. We learned right away that it was part of a network of RV parks known as Resort Parks International, RPI, a membership park and something we have been thinking about joining for a while. Long story short, we are now members of the RPI community and are looking forward to staying at the Catalina Resort this winter and in some of the many associate parks as we travel.

After we left there, we continued along the "rollercoaster-like" Dillon Road to the canyons but when we arrived at Painted Canyon, we were advised by a government worker not to drive in the road as we could get stuck in the sand. So instead, we proceeded on the paved road to Box Canyon where we parked to do some hiking and even though we didn't have a chance to view any of the slot canyons found in Painted Canyon, we enjoyed the rock formations and the blossoming desert plants. We finished our great day with a delicious meal at a local Mexican restaurant, El Sombrero, in Desert Hot Springs. We have really enjoyed it here and now I can say without a doubt, we will return again.