Fly like an eagle

Posted on | by Rudy

Alex and Max skyped — and we adjusted the toilet flusher in Alex’s bathroom via Skype. I got a call from JP saying that they would be at our place to pick me up at 10:00. And at 10am there was a knock at the door — Bonny was going to sit at the pool with Sue while I joined Jim and Bob Banman for an airplane ride around the area! So the three of us headed off to the Palm Springs International Airport. Bob waived his pass at the gate and we drove right in and parked in front of Bob’s hangar. It was all very neat and tidy in there. JP attached the little motorized airplane pusher to the front wheel of the plane and Bob maneuvered it out onto the tarmac. We got in, me in the back and Bob and JP in front. Bob showed me how his new Bose noise-cancelling headphones worked. They were remarkably effective — when I removed my set I realized how loud the roar of the engine was. And we each had an attached microphone that was voice activated, so we could communicate with each other. We listened to Bob talking to the tower and heard the tower approve us for takeoff. And then we roared down the runway and up into the air. Headed northeast, then turned south. Over our country club. Over La Quinta. Over acres and acres of farmland — orange orchards, strawberry fields — and half-finished resort developments. And then the Salton Sea, a saltwater lake that is 200 feet BELOW sea level.

Bob Banman's Cessna in his hangar at Palm Springs International Airport. The little red attachment at the front helped to push the plane in and out of the hangar.
Bob Banman’s Cessna in his hangar at Palm Springs International Airport. The little red attachment at the front helped to push the plane in and out of the hangar.
From my seat in the plane, here's the airport control tower.
From my seat in the plane, here’s the airport control tower.
Shortly after take-off, we turned westward and flew to the Salton Sea, southeast of Palm Springs. The windmills line the valley from here towards LA.
Shortly after take-off, we turned westward and flew to the Salton Sea, southwest of Palm Springs. The windmills line the valley from here towards LA.
This is Cathedral City, just west of Palm Springs. Way back, to the left of the Santa Rosa Mountains, is the Salton Sea. You can see Interstate #10 angling off towards Phoenix at the far left.
This is Cathedral City, just west of Palm Springs. Way back, to the left of the Santa Rosa Mountains, is the Salton Sea. You can see Interstate #10 angling off towards Phoenix at the far left.
That's our place at the Chaparral Country Club just about smack dab in the middle of the photo (great photography, Rudy!). The Mariott is in the bottom left,Chaparral is the square of red roofs above that.
That’s our place at the Chaparral Country Club just about smack dab in the middle of the photo (great photography, Rudy!). The Mariott is in the bottom left,Chaparral is the square of red roofs above that.
The ride was a little 'bumpy' because the the warm air rising up from the desert. We saw big fields of oranges and strawberries to the west of La Quinta. And in and among some of the beautiful lush green country clubs were big blocs of undeveloped land and desert.
The ride was a little ‘bumpy’ because the the warm air rising up from the desert. We saw big fields of oranges and strawberries to the west of La Quinta. And in and among some of the beautiful lush green country clubs were big blocs of undeveloped land and desert.
Back on the ground, safe and sound. Bob and JP in the front seats, wearing the new Bose noise-cancelling headphones. A very fun hour up in the air, but glad to be back on solid ground.
Back on the ground, safe and sound. Bob and JP in the front seats, wearing the new Bose noise-cancelling headphones. A very fun hour up in the air, but glad to be back on solid ground.

The warm air was making our flight a little bumpy. We headed back to the airport and after getting clearance landed. Parked the plane. Drove back to our house. It was a fun experience but I was glad we hadn’t had bacon and eggs for breakfast — I don’t know if my stomach would have handled it.
Sue and I had lunch. I looked online and found us a tee time at Rancho Mirage for 2:30. Booked it.
The course was backed up and busy but we were okay with that. We started off playing as a twosome, but about 4 holes in we invited the twosome behind us to join us. And we had fun finishing nine holes with them. We actually played 14 holes before the sunset forced us to call it a day. Played okay, not great, but had fun.
Supper at home. Watched our shows. Skyped with Ed and Val — it’s their last night in Gold Canyon. Watched the first 2 hours of that Eagles special on Showtime that we’d seen the last part of earlier. It was good. At around 10pm, after snacking on pistachios, it was time to call it a night — tomorrow is moving day. Plus, I still have to book us a hotel for tomorrow night.