If you are going to vacation in the desert it is only fitting that, to get a real feel for the terrain, you hike it. And hike it Jo and I did. With our cameras in hand we set out to experience Palm Canyon, one of three Indian Canyons located in the Palm Springs area. Palm Canyon is known for it's oasis. Largest native California Fan Palm oasis in the world. Being here in May put us at the beginning of dry season. Waters not flowing and soaring temperatures (100 plus degress) did not deter us. We began our six mile hike with enthusiam and ended it with a touch of heat stroke. Remember, life is an adventure.

We revelled in the first half mile of our trek. We were treated to the oasis where huge Fan Palm trees provided shade and colour. As we walked the oasis gave way to the starkness of the desert. The world around us became muted. Shades of brown enveloped the views. Our walking path became dusty. The landscape had been sucked dry. Still there was beauty. At least that is what Jo was telling me. Eventually I came around and did my best to see beauty and life in shades of brown. A cactus growing out of a crack in a rock caught my eye. With drops of sweat continuously running down my face I captured a shot of the cactus. The cactus appeared to not only to be surviving but flourishing in this harsh environment. The road runner, jack rabbit and multitude of lizards we saw were thriving too. They had made the desert their home.

Despite thinking we had walked many miles we trekked onto our Stone Pools destination (three miles in). Peering 30 feet down at the large dry stones embedded in parched sand we had to put our imagination caps on. Invisioning a waterfall's cascading water was the first of our challenges. The second being, seeing the swirling cool water at the waterfall's endpoint making it's way around the large eroded boulders. What a sight it would have been.

On our way back, Jo and I marvelled at the dichotomy of desert and oasis. Our elevated vantage point provided us a fantastic view of the contrasting environments. What a marvel. I thought of wanderers being elated when they crested the upteenth hill to the vision of row upon row of palm trees. I imagined the travelers questioning the authenticity as they ran forward to their heaven on earth. I know that Jo and I both appreciated being able to walk back into the shaded, much cooler oasis.

Today Jo and I gained a better appreciation of desert life. With our legs dirty with soot and our body's down at least a few litres of water we smiled at having spent our morning creating new memories.

Life is not just in blues and greens. Life comes in all colours.