Home Archives Links Français

January February March April May June July August September October November December

1 to 15 January 2014 16 to 31 January 2014

Thursday January 16, 2014

We are on the road to visit "Castle Dome Mines Museum".

All around Yuma, you have agricultural land, here is a field being watered.

We are getting closer and closer, only 10 miles of gravel road. At time, the road is in the wash. Good thing it is not raining.

Most of the houses were brought here because they were dispersed over a 10 km area.
The museum is a self-guided tour. In almost all the building you have a document that tells you all about the history of the building.

One of the building is dedicated to military personnel, active or retired. They want you to write on the walls your name and what branch you serve or served in. What a neat idea.

This toy and dolls are over 100 years old.

One of the many saloons. On the bar you have a sheet of paper telling us what may have been an incident 100 years ago.

Another bar, we took this photo because of the cactus with arms all dried up. Pretty neat.

The very "posh" hotel.

A store for the ladies. Nice hats!

We just finished the first part of the museum. Next we do the mine sites and a few more building.

The bunkhouse for the single miners.

A nice kitchen.

Sleeping quarters. Not much privacy here!

The bunkhouse was relatively luxurious for its time. A sink carved out in the wood.

They even had a bath and showers! WOW!

Of course, the prison and a dead outlaw.

Everything was built with what you had. No glass for the window, use empty bottles as a glass window.

The name Castle Dome comes from the mountain you see in the distance.

One of the many mines in the area. There depth varies between 10 and 300 feet deep.

We saw a couple of geckos. On the right, I dropped a little water on the rock and the gecko went right away to the water.

A really nice looking Suguaro. Not me, but the cactus.

This is a nice museum, worth the detour.

Friday January 17, 2014

WOW! Two visit in two days. This time it is the Peanut Patch. They have a guided visit today.
It is located only 30 minutes away from our RV park.

The two ladies are doing this presentation for the first time, Shoot! It turned out OK.
Peanuts are no longer grown around the Yuma area. Three years ago they had an infestation of whiteflies and it devastated the cropsharvers.
They now purchase peanut from other area in the US. The information was still very good, we learned a lot about the peanut and its many use.

On our way back, we stopped for some groceries. Chicken was on special so we bought some. I have to cook it all so we can freeze it and use it later. While cooking the chicken, my bike front tire exploded. It was in direct sun and no wind. It got to hot...
10 minutes later it is all repaired.

Another good day. Tomorrow is a day of rest.

Saturday January 18, 2014

What a good day! First I went for a bike ride and bought 4 books from a yard sale. I spent a big $1.50 for all four.
The rest of the day is spent reading. The sun is shining, hardly and wind, the wine is cool, what more can we ask?

Saturday is Bingo night, we purchased our cards for $17 and I win $28, This is not too bad, if only it would be like that every time...

Sunday January 19, 2014

More reading today, me with a book from Lee Child and the hero Jack Reacher and for Michele, a book from Harlan Coben.
All day outside on a chair and reading.

We are invited for a cocktail between 3:30 and 5:30 at Lucille and Alfred's place. We were 10, but a few had to leave because of prior engagements. There are just a few left, but we make up for it by having a good time. Vivianne is taking photos of the humming birds.

It is very rare that we have clouds here in Yuma, but tonight we have some clouds and it is giving us a nice sunset.

We are looking for a small airplane in the photo.

A great time, but a little too much wine...

Monday January 20, 2014

A quiet day for us today!

Tuesday January 21, 2014

We are up early (for us) to go to California to the University of California Farm Smart, Desert Research and Extension Center program.
A nice sunrise this morning.

As soon as we got in California, we have to stop at the Agricultural Inspection Station. They just make sure we do not bring fruit and produces from out of state to California, even if you buy tomatoes grown in California, but purchased in Arizona, you cannot move them back in California. This is to protect the crops in California from insects and diseases.

Driving by the Imperial Dunes.

Remember the cold war wall? Well this one is a lot longer and it is here in the USA, between Mexico and the US, but it is OK here!

Our destination.

The first part of the visit is a quick explanation of the day events.

Next we have a short demonstration on how to make humus.

We have a small sample and it does not taste so bad.

They also give us an explanation on the things we will see in the fields. They also gave us a very good presentation on the how, what and when they grow things in the area.

We even got to taste the honey from this area, different samples and it was all good!!!

The cost is $20 for the day. After the lectures, we have a nice lunch, one hell of a big, good Chef salad.

Me and our friends having lunch.

Did I mention it was a big salad? I was full until 6 pm.

After lunch, we left for the tour of the fields and some picking. Here is the path we will take.

Two of the 'hay rides" that we are using to get around.

They have some burrowing owls on the farm. Here are two of them. Boy are they small!

This is the main field where we stopped to some serious picking. Cabbage, broccoli, beets and other produces.

Heading back with our bounty. On the right is Bryan.

One of the hay-ride took a wrong turn! Nothing like elbow grease to put thing right.

Some fields are partially harvested and taken to the laboratory for evaluation and other tests.

This one is for future tour.

Do you want broccoli?

They also do some evaluation on different ways to deliver water to the fields. Water is a very hight commodity.

Here is one of the many ways to move water from a canal to the fields. A plain old siphon.

Not as easy as it looks!

The research center just started a new project with olives. The first results should be at around 2017-2019.

Back from the tour of the fields, we have many door prises waiting for us.

We got lucky, first a price for having mastered (OK! Tried) the siphon tube and we got a recipe book from the south-west.

With the visit over, we head west to the city of El Centro. We just stop at Walmart to check out the cost of a few item compare to Arizona. Surprise! The wine boxes we pay $11.99 in Arizona is only $8.99 in California. For some reason quite a few boxes of wine ended up in our trunk!
Notice the sea level mark on the reservoir!

Here is the harvest we had today, not too much, but we still had to give some away because our fridge is too small.

If you are ever in the Yuma area, take the time to visit the Farm Smart, it is worth every dollar you spend.

Wednesday January 22, 2014

Relax and not much done today, almost!
In the afternoon we play Bean Bags. Luck is with us, I win the 50/50, a nice $12.
Luck is not smiling so much for Michele, she ended up with me as a partner for the games. I am not good at all!
It did not take long we were out!
So, we spent the rest of the day reading, computer and pool!

Thursday January 23, 2014

Up somewhat early and on our way to Quartzsite for the RV show.
First, a quick stop at MacDonald for breakfast... Love this little truck back door.

The "Homeland Security" station is open, they are looking for drugs and illegal emigrant.
It was a breeze for us.

A little over an hour we are in Quartzsite.

This is half of the big tent. Lots of vendors, they sell just about everything you need and don't need.
It is very big.

So much food!!!

Of course, all this stuff is new. I did purchase an air filter for the motorhome. Now after the exchange rate, is it cheaper? Did I save money compare to Canada? I am not sure! I think, next I will buy it in Canada to keep money in Canada.
Next we are off to the local flea market. This is our kind of stuff!

On our way back we saw this balloon up in the sky. It is part of "Homeland Security" and it is looking for illegal immigrants.
Hummm! Remember this big wall to the south! Makes you wonder sometimes...

Overall a good day!

Friday January 24, 2014

Today, we are not going anywhere!
Two of our day/night shades have a broken string, time to change them. We have to do this before it gets too hot inside.
Here, I am hard at work... with Michele!

I am on a roll, I also clean the died up silicone stuff around the shower. It does not look too bad after all!

A good day!

Saturday January 25, 2014

While I am out on my morning bike ride, I see this beautiful peacock.

After that I continue towards the East wetlands of Yuma.
Rode along the Colorado river for a few kilometers then headed back home.

A nice 16 km ride this morning, love it!

Most of the afternoon is for some serious reading of one of Lee Child's book.

Sunday January 26, 2014

Today at the Yuma "Quartermaster Depot" museum they have a group of people that do a re-enactment of a battle during the civil war (1880).

A view of the "Union" camp (North).

While we waited for the battle to take place, we visit the "Depot". Very interesting place.

The wheel of one of the many ships that used to come to Yuma from the ocean.

These two photos are to show you an early road made of planks.

Some information about the Plank Road.

They also have information about all the dams on the Colorado river. This one is about the one closest to us.

After the visit, we had the chance to view a theatrical group from the late 1880's. It was fun.

The battle will start soon. A "Union General" is explaining what is about to happen, this gives us some background on the battle.

Let the battle begin!
Usually before the start of a battle, both sides, Union and Confederate generals would meet and talk it over before the actual battle.
Here are the "Confederate" army.

WOW! do they shoot a lot of blanks. The cannon are firing a lot too!
We can feel the shock wave hit us when the canons fire. Very impressive!

The Gatling in action.

The Confederate army.

It is very interesting to have a battle take place in front of you.
At the end of this battle, the Confederate Army won the battle.
The Confederate soldiers are giving us some information on how the fought and it was followed by a question and answer period.

If you ever have the chance to see a Civil War battle, don't miss it.

For lunch we have a nice Philly burger at Carl's Junior.

A very busy morning. A little shopping in the afternoon.

Monday January 27, 2014

Part of the city of Yuma is a little higher at 63 meters (206 feet) of elevation. The rest of Yuma is lower, our RV park is at 39 meters (127 feet). Here is a view from the top of the "hill".

Across the road from our RV park there is a field with lettuces growing. It is being harvested today.
The tractor is being pulled backward by another tractor under the blue tarp.

The "front" of the harvesting tractor has two "wings" with conveyor belt taking the lettuces to the center. The lettuce is bagged and then put in boxes for shipment.

It is quite a sight just to look at the lettuce being harvested so fast.

Tuesday January 28, 2014

Income taxes season is upon the US citizens, just like us in Canada.
Accountant have a neat way of attracting clients...

I went for a bike ride and ended up with a flat tire about 4.5 km from home. A nice walk back home!

Wednesday January 29, 2014

It is bean bag afternoon today. I am lucky again today, I won the 50/50, a nice $14.
Michele is also lucky, she got a very good partner and they won the tournament. She won $6.
One of the very good player helped me with some advice, on how to throw the bean bag. It really helped me and my game improves a lot in a short time. Thanks Martin.

Thursday January 30, 2014

We are off to visit the Imperial Dam. On our way we had to stop at the Imperial Date Garden for the famous "date shake". This is the second time we come here.

We always take the small date shakes because it is so thick and filling and SO GOOD!

Some of the date palms.

Two scary looking scarecrows to protect a field.

Another harvest going on, I think this is broccolis.

It turns out we could not visit the dam.

Friday January 31, 2014

Just an ordinary day for us. Sun, books, internet, the hard life!
I forgot! I went for a bike ride with Brian and I ended up with a flat tire, my 3rd one in the last week!!!
What is going on?

Until next time.

Life is good...