Mexico and The Valley of Names

While we were in Yuma,  we made three trips to  Algodones, Mexico.  First of all, being an electrician for most of my life, I have come to the conclusion that there are no electrical codes in Mexico.  Algodones is one big electrical hazard. 

Some of the sidewalks are covered and vendors have their wares displayed  wall to wall.  As you walk down the street, everyone is trying to get you to stop at their booths.  I probably heard "Hey, Cowboy" more times in the last six days than I've ever heard it.  There were T shirts, sweatshirts, leather goods with highly crafted handiwork, blankets, beautiful jewelry, pottery, and just about anything else you can think of and everything is negotiable.    There are 400 dentists and half that number of eye doctors in Algodones .  I had some dental work done and Vickie got new glasses.  Meds and liquor are both very reasonable although, you are limited as to what you can bring back into the states undeclared.   We had a delightful lunch at an outdoor cantina where a musician was playing.  We heard Mexican tunes, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Buffett and Elvis, all in a Spanish accent. 

On Tuesday, we took a drive with some friends to The Valley of Names. 

 

 

 

These are our friends, Dave and Linda with their name.  They added 2015 to their name. 

It was about 12 miles from where we were camped at the casino.  The last nine miles was a dusty washboard desert road.  There are a couple of miles of names as far as you could see laid out on the hills.  We were told that this was started in the 1930's.

 

Before we left, we practiced on our carpet  in the trailer with rocks we borrowed from the parking lot.

 

We left our name with the thousands of others.

 

 

 

And again, we had another spectacular  desert  sunset.

 

 

 

Today, we moved about 100 miles to a campground in Ehrenberg, Arizona.

On the way, we drove past the US Army Yuma Proving Grounds. 

 

 

The Colorado River RV Resort is a very nice campground. We'll be here for two nights and then move to the desert for eleven days.   

 

 

 

And another beautiful sunset.  That's California in the distance on the other side of the Colorado River.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

We've been In Yuma, Arizona for the last four days.  We're staying in the Quechan Paradise Casino parking lot.

Paradise Casino

 

 

 

This is the first time we've used our generators on his trip.

 

 

 

They have great breakfasts for $3.99 and their dinners are really good. 

 

 

The first day here, we visited the Yuma Territorial Prison. 

 

It's a fascinating place with a lot of history.

 

 

 

 

 

The Sally Port or entrance to the prison.

 

 

 

The prison cells.  Each cell was 6 by 8 feet and held six prisoners.

 

 

 

 

 

The next day, we took a short ride to a date orchard.  We had our first date shake and it was delicious. 

 

 

 

Besides dates, Yuma produces 90% of the nations winter leafy vegetables .  Their farms are very large and perfectly groomed.  They will grow a crop in a matter of weeks and immediately replant

 after harvest. 

 

 

In the store where we got our shakes, this was a sign in the restroom.  Where they want you to deposit it,  I'll leave to your imagination. 
 

 

 

An old truck in front of a private driveway in the middle of the farm fields. 

 

 

 

Some friends from my old hometown in northern California rented a house in Yuma for the holiday and we got together with them for New Years. 

 

 

We first went to dinner at a local restaurant .  We ate outside under a tent but despite the chilly evening, the heaters made it quite comfortable. 

 

 

 

Then we went back to their house. 

 

We had a jam session, reminisced,  told stories and laughed for hours until our first New Years celebration.

 

 

New Years #1 in Arizona. 

 

 

 

After New Years #1, we went to our RV at the Casino in California and celebrated New Years #2

 

 

On New Years Day, we took a short trip to the Town of Felicity

Population 2

 

 

 

It even has it's own Post Office

 

 

 

There we visited The Museum of History in Granite.

There are 416 granite panels. It is still a work in progress. 

 

 

 

We met the creator of this marvel, Jacques-Andre Istel.  He is 86 yeas old and an absolute delight. 

  

 

These are just a couple of end panels

 

 

 

 

Here are two of the 416 panels.

 

 

 

 

This is a section of the original spiral staircase from the Eifel Tower

 

 

 

The arm of Thor sundial

 

 

 

 Half size replica of the Liberty Bell

 

 

 

Inside of the pyramid is the official center of the earth.

 

 

 

The chapel sits on a hill at the rear of the monument. 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the day,  there is always happy hour

 

 

If it looks like we're cold, we are.  As soon as the sun goes down, it gets a bit nippy.  Normal Yuma temperatures are supposed to be returning by Monday.

 

 

When we got back to the parking lot,  this was our neighbor.  I wonder where he was heading. 

 

 

 

Another beautiful sunset!

 

 

We'll be going to Mexico tomorrow and then we'll move to a full hookup campground for a day so we can get some laundry done and get ready for Senator Wash.