WHETHER OR NOT

SUNDAY MARCH 18, 2012
INDIO CA.

THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND MAD MEN SOMETIMES HAVE TO CHANGE.
OUR PLAN WAS TO LEAVE INDIO TODAY, SUNDAY = BUT = THE WEATHER FORECAST FOR OUR TRIP HOME WAS NOT GOOD, BIG SNOW STORM IN FLAGSTAFF AND RAIN WITH WINDY CONDITIONS ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO ST LOUIS.
WITH A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE LIKE OUR COACH, THE WIND MAKES THE TRIP HARD WORK EVEN THO WE WEIGH 33,000 POUNDS
SO----
THE NEW PLAN IS TO STAY HERE AND LEAVE ON MONDAY OR TUESDAY.
PROBLEM #2 TODAY SANDY CAME DOWN WITH A FLU BUG THAT IS RUNNING AROUND THE VALLEY. SOME OF THE BIG TIME TENNIS PLAYERS THAT ARE HERE FOR AN INTERNATIONAL MATCH [WATCHING ROGER FEDERER AT THIS TIME] HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PLAY DUE TO THE BUG.

IN INDIO TODAY, IT IS COOLER THAN IN CHICAGO!!! I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SECOND OR THIRD DAY WITH A LITTLE RAIN AND OVER CAST.

IN THE SEARCH FOR A BAD RESTAURANT, WE HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL.
INSTEAD WE WE HAVE SELECTED OUR THREE FAVORITES:

JACALOPE RANCH IS #1 =
FANTASTIC STICK CALAMARI THAT IS AN APPETIZER TO DIE FOR. AN OUTDOOR PATIO THAT HAS THE MOST AMAZING WATERFALLS AND BEAUTIFUL GARDEN ART THAT WOULD BE HARD TO BEAT ANYWHERE.
SERVICE AND FOOD IS GREAT. BARBECUE AT IT'S BEST.

THE CLIFF HOUSE IS #2 =
AS THE NAME IMPLIES, THE RESTAURANT IS BUILT INTO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN WITH WATERFALLS RUNNING THROUGH THE LOBBY AND NEXT TO THE OUTDOOR PATIO.
MAYBE THE BEST HAPPY HOUR IN THE AREA AND ALL DAY ON SUNDAY.
THE FOOD AND SERVICE IS GREAT AND THE OWNERS RESPOND TO THE CUSTOMERS = HERE IS THAT STORY:
THE FIRST TIME WE WENT TO THE CLIFF HOUSE WE HAD DIRTY MARTINIS WITH BLUE CHEESE OLIVES, THE BARTENDER SAID THAT IT WOULD BE A MINUTE OR TWO FOR THE OLIVES BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE MADE IN THE KITCHEN = NO PROBLEM.
THE NEXT TIME WE WENT THERE WE WERE AT A TABLE AND ORDERED THE SAME AND THE WAITER SAID THEY DON'T HAVE BLUE CHEESE OLIVES AND THAT THEY COULD NOT MAKE THEM EITHER. AFTER SOME CONVERSATION THE WAITER BROUGHT SANDY AN OLIVE AND BLUE CHEESE "KIT" SO SHE COULD STUFF THE HERSELF.
ON THE WAY WE SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE OWNERS = GUESS WHAT = THERE ARE NOW B/C OLIVES AT THE BAR.

THE CRAB POT IS #3
THIS CUTE LITTLE RESTAURANT IS LOCATED IN OLD TOWN INDIO AND SERVES A CALAMARI STEAK WITH CAPERS = WOW!
A NICE HEATED PATIO ROUNDS OUT THE PLACE.

HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO LAMP POST PIZZA AND BREWERY
A GREAT SPOT FOR LUNCH AND WE WERE THERE SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS YESTERDAY FOR SOME GREEN BEER.

I NEED TO GET BACK TO THE WEATHER AND TRY TO SET OUR DEPARTURE TIME.

ART