You won’t believe what we found hidden in the desert mountains north of the Yuma Proving Grounds!
Dave posing in front of this tank at the open-air museum.
But first, we stopped by the Yuma Open-air Museum near the Army base and proving grounds. This is where we keep hearing the booms coming from at all hours of the day and night.
Me in front of a different tank.
Now let’s get to the real surprise. It almost took my breath away when I saw the color of the water in this beautiful lake.
Look how clear the water is!
We stopped for a very windy selfie with the lake as a backdrop.
The color looks pretty but our photos didn’t capture how blue-green it really was.
I literally had to hold onto my hat as I walked out on the sides of the boat launch to take pictures. We had the dogs and the further out we went, the more unstable the platform was, so we turned back. We drove around the dam and took multiple pictures, but I can’t find the gallery block anymore, so that’s why I’m adding the pics separately. The wind blew dust so badly it made brown clouds in the sky. From the lake we drove up to the Senators Wash and the Quail hill BLM Camping Spot. It only costs $80 a month to stay here, and it’s actually right on the border of Yuma and California. Rocks covered every surface, and in the summer, there would be dangerous animals and insects to watch out for, but there’s a certain allure to camping in a spot like this. Freedom to roam wherever you please (and can access), picking up rocks as you please, traversing the rugged mountains and enjoying those beautiful blue-green waters of the nearby lakes, make this area one to consider for a month or so next year.
The lake surrounded by beautiful and rugged mountains.Ducks wading, sunlight glimmering on the clear water. There’s the platform we walked out on.Another RV park is lakeside.Palm trees, mountains, water, what’s not to like?The water is a deeper blue-green as you view it from the top of the hill.My phone finally captured the true color of the water in this pic. Dave took the other, more aqua looking photos.The mountains take on a different look out here, reds, rusts, and browns in layers and formations that look more like dunes in spots. A rock hound’s dream as far as the eyes can see. I needed an hour, just an hour, but another time. See all the campers on the horizon with the mountains in the background?Getting closer to the entrance of the camping spot as we return from exploring the area a little bit.
It would take days, maybe weeks to explore this entire area. There are plenty of hiking trails all through the mountains, and fun for people with side-by-sides and Jeeps to traverse the mountains, but rocky and steep in spots.
We let the dogs out for a drink and a quick walk around. Not too far though, there was some broken glass scattered among the rocks in a few places. Rude people! 😡Another surprise is to see the fields and fields of lettuce and celery growing farms just outside the rocky, arid place we just left. I’m not sure what other greens are grown here, but I’m sure we saw some cauliflower fields too. Believe it or not, these crops are still harvested by hand! There is a tractor that they follow behind, separating the lettuce and tossing it in to workers that load it into boxes.
We saw this in action and then the huge trucks packed with filled and wrapped boxes ready to ship to market. It’s all fascinating to me, as are the mountains, rocks, cactus and wildlife of the desert. I find it beautiful, but a man we talked to said this is nothing compared to what we will see in Sedona! I can’t wait to get there next month!
On the way back to Wellton, the windy day had resulted in skies so dusty you literally could not see the mountains in front of you! I snapped the picture too soon, had i waited, you’d have seen the proof. I think I still have dust in my mouth. Now I know why the cowboys of old wore those bandanas over their noses and mouths. Can I make it a month in this harsh environment? I guess you’ll have to stay tuned to see if we come back next year to camp in that rocky spot. ☺️
I really enjoyed finding the oasis in the desert. I hear there are many more, I hope we get to see them!
We made a second trip into Casa Grande today, so I snapped some more shots on the way there and back, but first, a few from around the resort.
The huge garden at the resort’s entrance.
We took a shower at the on-site shower room first thing this morning, then came back and gathered our computers and laptops to go back to the library and try to attend to some business, however, we still could not log on! Dave got frustrated and left, but I stayed with my iPad and did my blog, checked my emails, and played some games. I also caught up my Spanish lessons so I didn’t lose my streak!!
On the way back, since I was now walking home, I snapped some shots of the beautiful entrance and a few of the many cacti in the area. You now know about the saguaro, but there are lots more that the park features, but I don’t know the names of yet.
The other end of the same garden features palms, cacti, rocks, and a wagon.Also, the ever-present Palo Verde trees.
Eventually, I want to show all the facilities, but since I was at the entrance, I took a pic of the office, which has been closed since we got here due to the holiday.
Not sure if it’s real adobe, or just in that style.
As I walked through the rows of homes and RVs, I snapped more interesting cacti.
Not all the saguaros just have three, um, arms. 🤣 Some have many! Bent, twisted, droopy, all kinds!Not sure what the straight, single cacti are called, but I need to do more research on local cacti!
On the way back to my street, I turned and snapped a clearer pic of our view of the peak.
I just love looking at this view every day!Oops! I left out the sign at the entrance warning that there is no trespassing or peddling allowed here!
Now some pics from the road.
I have never seen as many pecan orchards as we have since traveling from New Mexico to our present location and beyond. These were on the way to Casa Grande, about twenty minutes away.
These pecan orchards stretch all the way from New Mexico to who knows where, on both sides of the highways! It’s too hard to catch the rows and rows from the road.
Coming back from the malls and stores, I snapped more view of rugged mountains to the left of us, as well as our peak’s range from the back side. This is home to Arizona State Park also called Picacho Peak State park. I need to check the regs again, but I believe as vets we should be able to get in there for free.
Rugged mountains on the left.Approaching our peak’s range, or the back side on the right. A closer view now, featuring sage that grows wild along the highway everywhere here. I wonder what the tiny peaks are in the middle?
There are people camping in and around the state park. They must be boondocking, because there’s no resort in there that I know of. I’d rather do it our way, with hookups to water and electricity thank you! Notice the inverted bumps at the sides of the highway designed to keep you awake if you start to drift off the road! Also note the small hill in front of the mountains, it appears to be purple, which doesn’t show up in this picture. My theory is that the greenery mixed with the red dirt makes them appear purple.
A slightly clearer pic of the range features the back view of the peak and those tiny little peaks in the middle.
And that concludes today’s pics from the road and around the “neighborhood” but stay tuned because I have yet to tour the entire resort! I still haven’t made my way to the “rally house” yet, as my man is slow to get out and socialize. But when we got back from the shopping trip, it was hot in our house, so I sat outside in my fabulous rocking camp chair to cool off, when who should stop by in her golf cart but Karen! She had her hubby, Dave, and her two giant dogs, a standard poodle, and a poodle mix of some sort. I wish I’d have taken their pictures, but we were soon joined by Glen and Glen and their three adorable tiny dogs…can’t remember their names, but they are a gorgeous breed. Glen and Glen are two pals that hit the road together because “big” Glen recently lost his wife, and they already had the trip planned, so his buddy Glen said he would go with if big Glen didn’t mind.
One more thing before I sign off for the evening. I am now blogging from the motor home thanks to David! The shopping trip was mainly to go to T-mobile and purchase home wi-fi, so now we are connected to the internet, thank the Lord! I’m more relaxed and not worried about how much time I’m spending at the library, doing what I used to not be able to do from home. Now, I can blog, play a game, read my emails in their entirety, or watch something on Hulu if I don’t care for what Dave is watching. Heaven I tell you! But still, I’m gonna get out and about as soon as things are running on a regular schedule. I like doing things, meeting new people, and I’m dying to get in the hot tub! So much to see and do, I can’t be sitting around in the motor home all the time!
Last note: we are the last site on our row, which is right next to the freeway, and the train tracks! Believe it or not, I never even notice! When I put my book down at night and turn off the light, I’m out in two minutes! 😂🤣
Good night all! I hope you are enjoying the new blog so far and enjoying the holiday weekend. ☺️🤗