Episode 5 – Operation Desert Storm

Never was there a more fitting mode of transportation than a Hummer in the desert. Our stead serves us well! We watch the Fahrenheit soar as we progress further inland. We stop effortlessly half way to be mesmerized by the juxtaposition of desert sand, vivid flowers, thriving cacti and snow capped mountains. The terrain is other worldly. The view from the top of Coachella Valley National Park is breathtaking! The road winds invitingly from the top of the mountain into Palm Springs, it calls us into its arms – might I add these are some pretty impressive shoulders.

So why are we on our way to the desert? It is the weekend of the Coachella Music Festival. We watch the crowd surfing 50 year old rappers from Public Enemy in awe. This is topped by the disturbing make up and stiletto heels on the ageing Cure. Dancing in a cargo box discotheque land is entertaining, particularly while watching a giant metal snake emit flames and Tesla Coils going wild. This is an unusual Festival set to the dramatic backdrop of the Californian desert. This impressive event is followed by an even stranger Comedy of Errors on our return to the Motel.

Three rooms down from us a middle aged nude man is locked out of his room being interviewed by Police, we pass on by only to find that the latch on our door is caught and we are locked out. We spend an hour trying to break into our own room with the Police looking on. Eventually we are given the room next door to sleep in, all e have to wear are our sandy, sweaty festival clothes. We are woken first thing in the morning by profanity uttering, clumsy maintenance men breaking into our original room...S