WEST WETLANDS PARK, YUMA, AZ

Thursday, February 1 – We traveled West on I-8 this morning to Yuma, AZ. We are staying at Hidden Cove RV Park. It's nice to have unlimited electric, and the ability to take long hot showers again. We enjoy a few days dry camping (boondocking) but are always happy to reconnect to utilities! We will be in Yuma for about eight days.

Hidden Cove RV Park is a Passport America park. It has gravel streets and sites with full hook-ups. Each site has a small cement pad. The hook-ups are at the rear of the site making hooking up utilities a little bothersome. The sites are pretty tight, so we are very close to our neighbors. There isn't much room to park our vehicle. We even had to park up on the cement patio.

Site 40.

Looking right.

Looking left.

With all that said, the place isn't too bad, and we'll survive for a week. The Yuma Bike trail is very close so we hope to find time for a bike ride or two. Of course, Mexico is just around the corner and that is the main reason we are here.

The weather gods have finally decided to give their blessings and send wonderful weather to Yuma. Yuma is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the sunniest place on earth with 339 bright days a year and less than three inches of rain annually.

Since the Yuma West Wetland is just about a half mile up the road from the campground, we decided to do some exploring.  In 2000, the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, City of Yuma and the Quechan Tribe collaborated in restoring the local wetlands along the Colorado River by removing non-native plant species, trash dumps, and make-shift hobo camps. Approximately 350 acres have been restored to a mix of wetlands, cottonwood-willow, mesquite, and backwaters. It will take several years to complete the restoration of the entire 1,400 acres along the Lower Colorado River which will consist of the Yuma East and West Wetlands.

In 1846, the Mormon Battalion was given the task of finding a southern wagon route to California.  Its record-setting, 2,000-mile march passed through Yuma because this was the best place to cross the river. A bronze statue is erected in the West Wetland Park.

This is very interesting.

There is a well-maintained 5-mile bike/pedestrian path along the Yuma East and West Wetlands that took us along the lower Colorado River.

Colorado River.

There is a hummingbird garden.

There are several playgrounds for the children.

Community Fishing Water.

There is a Yuma West Wetlands Solar Garden, owned and operated by APS.

Yuma has done an excellent job with turning an eyesore into a lovely place for all age groups to enjoy.

Can’t get enough of the sunsets here in AZ.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day.

DWARF CAR MUSEUM

Tuesday, January 31 - We did have one outing together while in Maricopa, AZ. We went to the Dwarf Car Museum.

An amazing fellow by the name of Ernie Adams builds miniature replicas of cars in his shop out in the desert.

That is Ernie getting into one of his cars. You can see how small the cars are.

He is a real old-time American inventor. He uses scrap pieces from old refrigerators, old cars and tractors, and other junked items to build these unbelievable autos.

He then enters them in car shows or displays them in his museum/construction shop. This is a free museum, but he does accept donations.

A peek inside.

1934 Ford Sedan. The boat is real with a 12-horse Westbend motor.

The next few photos are of the strangest car we have ever seen. It actually had the first cell phone. And inside is a pot-belly stove.

First cell phone carrier.

All around the “shop” are the strangest items.

Monkey light.

We have never seen a soup vending machine.

Can you find the kitty? Yes, it is real.

We really enjoyed the museum and would recommend it to fellow travelers heading across Arizona on Interstate 8. It is only a short jump off the interstate and can be viewed in less than an hour.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!

BOONDOCKING IN THE BEAUTY OF THE DESERT

Wednesday, January 31 – We've spent the last four days boondocking in the desert in Maricopa, AZ. We were here to meet with long-time RV'er friends. We have been friends with this group since we first started RV traveling in 2009. Our first year together we met at Quartzsite, AZ, at the annual RV pilgrimage. The group has tried to get together in Quartzsite every year since, but we only have been able to attend twice. This year we decided to meet in Maricopa, AZ, because most of us were in the Phoenix/Tucson/Yuma area, and this was a nice central location for all of us.

Looing right.

Looking left.

Most of the time has been used relaxing and sharing time with friends. We really didn't do much sightseeing or other outings. We've had a covered dish dinner, snacks at happy hour, and Marsha managed to have only the women over for a morning get together. The short get together ran from 8:30-11. Geesh, how much do women have to talk about? The men poked around each others RV's and helped one of the guys install a new TV in his rig. Pretty low key stuff!

Bella loves the desert. Each day we took her for several walks. She loves all the smells and sounds in the middle of nowhere.

Each day we have two visitors. They don’t come real close to us but make their presents known. Thanks Doug for the photo.

We have a “fire” each evening in portable-gas fire rings. What a great time for telling stories, jokes and just enjoying each other’s company.

Everyday is an beautiful sunrise and gorgeous sunset! The desert just comes alive early and late each day.

Sunrise.

Sunset.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!