A Tale of Two Cities

[This is a month late, but it is worth it, I think. You may remember the Peter and Ellen were unable to attend our last event in Arizona due to a family wedding. Here is a report of what they did]

Ellen and I recently drove from Las Cruces to La Jolla, California for a family wedding. To break up the driving into reasonable pieces, we left on a Thursday and drove to Mira Vista RESORT in Tucson.

On Friday we drove to DESERT SUN RESORT in Palm Springs. Then, on Saturday we drove to La Jolla for the wedding. This is a report on the two nudist resorts, hence the heading, because each of these resorts is like a miniature, self-contained city.

First, on the northern edge of Tucson, Arizona, Mira Vista RESORT is fast becoming one of the best nudist resorts in the country. This was our third visit, and we had previously reported on the basic amenities. This visit we were particularly impressed with the desert landscaping which is very well done and maintained. But the very best part was the high quality of the food in their restaurant. The fresh greens in the house salad were as good as we have had anywhere. And the dinner special of broiled Sea Bass with a chipotle sauce, served with fresh vegetables and a small portion of pesto pasta was outstanding. As usual, the staff was competent, friendly, and helpful.

In contrast to Mira Vista’s unwalled property in the middle of the desert (though it is not far from downtown Mirana, Arizona) DESERT SUN RESORT consists of two walled-in blocks in the very middle of downtown Palm Springs, California. Desert Sun has been under new management for about a year, and though this was our first visit, we were impressed with what the new owners have accomplished. Originally developed as Desert Shadows, the resort has been through an initial impressive growth and integration into the economic and political life of Palm Springs. A major local political success was what is now called the Lee Baxendal pedestrian bridge. It connects the resort with the condominiums (yes, we did walk across the bridge, but couldn’t get into the condo area). The resort then underwent a bad spell, but has come alive again under the ownership of Elizabeth Young

We were particularly impressed with the meticulous landscaping and grounds care, and the quality of construction of all the buildings. Like most of Palm Springs, the landscaping is green and well shaded, although the heat is desert heat. (At both places the temperature was 100 degrees and above when we visited.)

At both places, the staff was helpful, professional and competent. The prices of lodging and food were higher at Desert Sun than at Mira Vista, but isn’t everything in California more expensive? The quality of the food, both dinner and breakfast, was very good, but not as good as Mira Vista. The hotel rooms were roomier than at Mira Vista, but the windows were sealed shut so we couldn’t let in the cool overnight air. Both places have more than one good swimming pool.

Less than a dozen people were at Mira Vista – only two couples ate in the excellent dining room. Desert Sun hosted at least 30 people (we didn’t actually count), and the dining room was over half full at breakfast time. Some of this difference is explained by the day – Thursday at Mira Vista, Friday at Desert Sun. We did hear that Mira Vista was sold out for the Memorial Day weekend. Mira Vista has not yet built condos, which are an important element of Desert Sun’s operation.

Our fourth of July event is still on. In last month’s update, I explained that the hosts for this event would be engaged throughout the month of June and requested that all who plan to participate to let them know in early June. That contact date is now past, so I will not repeat the contact information here.

If, for some reason, you find that your situation has changed and you can now attend, please contact SunTree as soon as possible (click Contact us) and I will attempt to contact the hosts to see if some additional participants can attend.

If you wish to celebrate the holiday that weekend, please make your plans with no fireworks involved. In spite of the recent unusual rains, there is and will be a severe fire danger in the canyon. Interpretive dancers might want to consider flags or pom-poms in lieu of sparklers.

That August Event with the Roadrunners 

Several SunTree members made attempts to get more information on the hiring of houseboats for that event and they found the same information that the Roadrunners had previously found.

It seems that the economic situation is such that the businesses that used to rent our houseboats feel that their income is so bad right now that they can only improve their income by cutting down on any business. As a result of this excellent marketing strategy, they are refusing all potential income possibilities until they are able to get on more stable financial footing.

For this reason, it looks as if we will not have a houseboat event in August.

There have been a number of suggestions from SunTree members for an August event. Unfortunately there has been no good (or bad, for that matter) news with respect to those that I can include in this month’s update. They will continue to be pursued and perhaps, by the time of the August update, we might have invented a mid to late event for that month. Keep your fingers crossed.

Jupiter to the East of Me, Saturn to the West of Me, Vega Above Me

Morning: Early in the month, Spaceship Earth reaches aphelion which means that it is moving into its annual position farthest from the Sun. There will not be much to see, but it will explain the cold weather that you have come to expect on 3 July.

I guess that I sort of skipped ahead a little bit because on the first day of the month, in the predawn eastern sky, Venus is just below Mars. The red Planet plans on rising higher in the sky above Venus as the month progresses.

Venus, in a desperate effort to attract attention will move over close to the waning crescent Moon on 19 July. Don’t confuse them. Venus it the bright spot to the right and the Moon is that crescent thingy to the left.

In the pre-dawn hours of late July (around 27 to 30 July), the Delta-Aquarid Meteor Shower will be putting on a performance. You can actually start watching for these meteors a week or maybe two prior to the predicted peak date (28 July) and it will continue for another week. The Moon will have set prior to the nightly performance, so it should be a good show even though this is not considered to be one of the spectacular shows of the year.

It is not a show-stopper shower, but it serves very nicely as a preview for the world famous Perseid Meteor Shower which SunTree has scheduled for the middle of August. Stay tuned.

Evening: In the more convenient evening hours, Jupiter will rise in the east just as Saturn is about to set in the west. Early in the month, this will happen around midnight or earlier, but by mid month, this will occur at around 10:30 PM.

The closest Moon of the year will occur on 21 July, but you will probably not see that because it is a new Moon.

Our own personal star (Sol to its friends) will have a lot on its plate on that same day because it will be the star attraction for a performance over India during monsoon season (what a bad scheduling problem), China and, at Shanghai leaping into the western Pacific Ocean sky. While the Moon’s close visit to us happens on 21 July, the Solar eclipse will be happening across the globe where the date will be 22 July.

This performance will be the longest solar eclipse of the century. It will last a whopping a 6.7 minute totality.