Barack, Michelle Obama depart Coachella Valley
After a rainy weekend in the Coachella Valley, Barack and Michelle Obama’s motorcade made its way to Palm Springs International Airport on Monday to conclude their first post-presidential vacation. The motorcade was spotted Monday morning departing from Rancho Mirage’s Thunderbird Heights gated community, where the couple stayed through the weekend during their low-profile visit to the desert.
The Obamas traveled to the Coachella Valley following Friday’s inauguration of Donald Trump and were greeted with some less-than-typical Southern California weather.
Heavy rain and fog Friday afternoon forced their plane to divert to March Air Reserve Base near Riverside more than two hours after they were scheduled to land in Palm Springs, while the stormy weather through the weekend likely kept the former president from golfing as much as originally planned.
When the rain let up Saturday, Obama was able to get some rounds in at Porcupine Creek, the 249-acre, private golf club of Oracle founder and billionaire Larry Ellison.
Obama’s entourage was tight-lipped prior to their visit as to how long they would be staying in the area, leading some to renew speculations about a potential permanent stay and refueling rumors that the former First Family would seek to purchase a home at Thunderbird Heights, known as the “Playground of the Presidents.”
However, during their westward flight Friday afternoon, Obama tweeted that the trip would just be a “quick vacation,” after which he and Michelle plan to “get back to work.”
