California Is Expensive

Here's our power bill........"over baseline usage" @ .19 cents a kwh.  Ouch.  Guess that's why solar is so popular here.  We were paying .08 cents per kwh in Washington.  This is running a 1500kw electric heater for 30 min in the morning, electric fridge, electric water heater.  Next month we will switch back to propane to see a cost comparison.   Somewhere on the internet there is a cost comparison of propane vs. electricity per btu based on the per gallon price of propane, etc.  I'm thinking we are on the wrong end of the curve using electricity in California.

Some screen grabs of cost comparisons of electricity vs propane assuming 80% efficiency.  Propane at $3.50 gallon wins in California.

Family day in Indio

Flower season

Pacific moisture flowing in and getting stopped by San Jacinto, leaving Palm Springs in a state of perpetual sunshine.

Riding up that, through the mist, above the clouds, and into the flowers and sunshine.

Idyllwild with Grandma/Grandpa

Fire trucks and big rocks.

Foot Race

Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

Short stroll with blistered feet and tired legs from yesterday.

We took this pic, then saw a bobcat five minutes later.

There's an 8 mile trail we will come back for in a couple weeks if it's not too hot by then.

Better in person, but the contrast of the desert and snow capped San Gorgonio is pretty cool.

Black Mountain Hike

Solo foray up Black Mtn trying to get fitness for the Cactus to Clouds.  Ran into a guy hiking solo from Mexico to Canada via the Pacific Crest Trail.

San Jacinto

Devils Slide Hike

Alex is growing up.....he hiked the first mile at running pace, then threw a ridiculous fit, fell asleep in the pack, then was fine.

Suicide Rock

4 miles up to Suicide Rock with great views of Tahquitz.

Snow on San Gorgonio from the campground.