Yuma, Arizona in the Spring

We returned to the Yuma Lakes RV Park on April 5, 2012 for a two-week stay (used Coast 2 Coast).  You might recall that we were in this park in early December last year and really enjoyed the reasonably priced food made nightly in the activity center.  We were looking forward to more of the same during this trip, but were badly disappointed.  Apparently this park closes down on May 15, but begins dismantling their programs starting on April 1 (they charge the same amount without guilt).  It is a very different park without the activities.  It is a good ways outside of Yuma (about 10 miles) and a long drive to get to any of the attractions, stores, or restaurants.  All of the remaining patrons were shoved into a small bit of the park.  We eventually moved to another part of the park to get satellite TV and they quickly put the next five rigs right around us.  The logic for this placement still baffles us.   The temperatures in Yuma in April were in the mid to high 90s and the 30 amps available at this park would hardly handle the air conditioner.  We had to be careful to turn everything off to run the microwave or coffee pot.  We would still recommend the park in the winter, but will not return again in the spring. (So on the Moore scale of 1-10 we give it a 6 in the winter and a 2 in spring!)

The Yuma county fair was going on when we arrived so we took a day to attend.  Among the usual food venders, the midway, and rides we also found nice exhibitions of art, crafts, and animals.  Here are a few pictures.

Exotic wild Armadillo at the Fair

Exotic Turtle at the Fair

Part of the quilt exhibit at fair

One of the winning entries at the County Fair

There are two historic sites to see while in Yuma:  The Quartermaster Depot and the Yuma Territorial Prison.

The Quartermaster Depot dates back to the days when the Colorado River still ran wild, before the numerous dams that were placed along its length to control the erratic floods and draughts.   In those days supplies for the Arizona Territory could come up the River from Mexico by paddle wheeler and from Yuma could be distributed to the major outposts of the territory.  In the early 1900s the Depot was given to the Bureau of Reclamation who build a dam and worked on the American canal and a siphon the runs under the Colorado River bringing water to the farmlands in Yuma County.  Here are a few pictures of our trip to the Quartermaster Depot.

Diving suit used by divers during the building of the "Siphon" under the Colorado River

Passenger Train Car from the last century

Unloading cargo at the Quartermaster Depot

Wagon used to haul freight around the Arizona Territory during the late 1800s

One of the Depot's warehouses

The territorial prison was established in Yuma in the mid 1800s.  It was a grim place when seen through the lens of the present day, but was considered progressive in its day.  The prison housed both men and women (only 27 in its history) and prisoners were expected to work each day.

One of the cell blocks each door reveals an 8x6 room that housed 6 prisoners

Work wagon at the prison

Another cell block with the "dark room" & women's cells

Picture of a picture of the prison library ... very progressive!

The main guard tower at the prison

We took a couple of trips into Los Algodones, Mexico (which is still safe for Americans to visit).  We had lunch (not quite as good as some of the Mexican restaurants on the American side of the border) and margaritas (much better and cheaper than on the American side) …  At any rate Los Algodones is definitely worth a trip if you are in this area.  The best way to visit is to park your car on the American side and walk in.  There are no delays entering Mexico, but there is a line that can be up to two hours long on the return trip.  If you can find a bicycle taxi, they will shuffle you to the front of the car line for $5 each and cut your wait down considerably.  You can download the rules for what you can and cannot bring back at the US Customs web site.

A nice place for a Margarita

Plenty of shade

And a big outdoors porch

After two weeks we were more than ready to leave.  It was hot and uncomfortable (at least for us … our ideal temperature range is around 60 F – 80 F) and there were limited things to see and do.

Until next time ... keep doing what you love!