Skyliners/C2cers: Beware Snakes and Parking Tix this Week

[cynthia23]

Hi Skylies, be aware if you use the Ramon Rd. trailhead that the parking has changed: you used to be able to park on the lower part of the street, but no more. The ultrarich people who live on the block, evidently finding six automobiles parked on the street unbearably aesthetically offensive, bid their lackeys on the city council to change the street parking rules, and with their usual keen attention to the wants, needs, and desires of multimillionaires, the city council, or whoever, changed the signs. Now the only place you can park without a ticket is off the road in the dirt parking area at the base of the trail. There are only about six spaces there so arrive early to beat the rush! Or, take the Desert Museum route. Second, as others have posted, there are definitely rattlers having the rattlesnake equivalent of a Spring Break on the trail--today on the Desert Museum trail, above the picnic tables but below the metal sign, I spotted two. One was lying curled under some bushes just next to the trail (the hiker who passed me never even noticed him.) The snake was quiet and unaggressive but definitely within striking range of anyone on the trail, had he gotten annoyed. When I went off trail to avoid him, I ran into snake number two, who slithered off to avoid me. I'm sure at the early hours the distance hikers leave, the snakes will be cold/somnolent, but later in the day as temps rise they will start their partying. Keep a keen eye out and leave them to their own devices. Let sleeping snakes lie?

[Perry]

Sounds like Palm Springs: pointless restrictive laws. That dirt area near the trailhead used to say parking for horse trailers only. Is that sign still up?

[AlanK]

Man! I no longer get to park next to that beautiful vacant lot? What's next?

[scottmac]

On Ramon, try to park head/tail in, not parallel, to create more space for others. Also, I am pretty sure the next street east, Camino Calidad has no such restrictions.

[scottmac]

On Ramon, try to park head/tail in, not parallel, to create more space for others. Also, I am pretty sure the next street east, Camino Calidad has no such restrictions.

[GDannyboy]

Okay, here's the deal. Let's just say I have some inside sources and here's what I learned about this incident.

Parking has always been restricted by the City on that street, but because of the popularity of the hiking trials the City did nothing to enforce the decades old zoning law, because hikers that parked on the street weren't causing any problems. Recently the gentleman that owns a house on the street complained to the City after missing his mail several times (Seems some hikers had been parking in front of his mailbox and the mail courier was to lazy to get out of his vehicle to deliver the mans mail. We've all been there I'm sure.) and, on a few occasions, was unable to back out of his driveway because of a car partially blocking his driveway.

I'm not overly fond of the rich, they're definitely a nice target to make fun of, but he does have a point; however, I know that he came into City Hall seeking approval to legally park on the street after everone had been ticketed. Seems his driveway and garage is not enough room for him, I guess. I thought that was going a bit too far when I heard it. He doesn't want us to park there, but feels he should have the right to do so? WTF?

[cynthia23]

OMgosh, GDan, this is very interesting and what I definitely call hot gossip. Thanks for the scoop. And welcome to the board, I don't think I've seen you posting before. Cool to have you and we look forward to more ....

[cynthia23]

Oops, my bad, GDAN, just noticed you actually have been around since Sept 07. But er, welcome anyway!

ScottMac is right that you should be sure to park head on in the dirt area so as to maximize parking spaces.