Yuma, Arizona and Los Algodones, Mexico

After four months volunteering at Sunshine Acres Children's Home which also included volunteering for Angels Spring Training, it was time to get moving.  We decided to head to Yuma, Arizona to visit some friends and cross the border into Mexico and get our teeth cleaned.   

With our new trailer we bought last year we got a free one year subscription to Thousand Trails.  It's a very basic package that includes one zone so we chose the North East since that's where we plan to visit this year.  Somehow it also included a park in Yuma, Arizona so we booked a week there. 

First they put us in a site all the way in the back on the end.  The park was mostly empty as all the Snow Birds have already left.  

The next day we requested a different site closer to some friends who were also staying at the same park.  

Next, it was off to the border crossing area.  We parked in the Quechan Tribe Border Parking Lot in Felicity, California.  Then we walked across the border so easily and then we were in Los Algodones, Mexico. 

We arrived earlier then our dental appointments so we had some time to get our hair cut.  First Al went and it cost $4.99 US so I decided to get my hair cut too for $9.99 US. 

This is the second time we are getting our teeth cleaned at Oasis Dental.  It cost $35 US for each of us to get a cleaning and x-rays. 

This year we didn't have to wait as we were seen very close to our appointment times.  After that was done, we walked to get some Mexican sweet breads that Al likes and found a place for lunch.

We were in line to go back across the border by noon and we waited one hour in line.  Due to Covid-19, the border closes at 2 PM so we wanted to give ourselves plenty of time to get back.  The line kept getting longer and longer so I wouldn't be surprised if some people had to spend the night!

We learned that a couple we met, Joanne and Gary, while doing a Habitat For Humanity build in Fredericksburg, Texas were going to be in Yuma.  Their stay was longer then expected so we met up one day for lunch to catch up.  

Al, Nancy, Joanne, and Gary

We learned that when they got new tires for their 5th-wheel, one of the technicians didn't tighten the bolts enough and one of their wheels came off completely and went across the median and continued across the lanes of the highway going the opposite direction.  Luckily no one was hit but so scary!

It was great to see Joanne and Gary.  Next time we'll have to play some pickle ball!

Another day we went to downtown Yuma to walk around.  It was a hot day as most are in Yuma.

Ocean-To-Ocean Highway Bridge

In 1913, after strong campaigning from the citizens of Yuma, Representative Carl Hayden secured funding for this bridge.  When completed, it was the only highway bridge across the Colorado River for 1,200 miles.  It was funded partially by the Office of Indian Affairs, with the State of Arizona and Imperial County, California each contributing $25,000.

Government engineers designed the bridge in Washington without knowledge of the site.  Because the engineers were unfamiliar with the unpredictable Colorado River, problems arose early in the construction.  While beautiful in design, the structure required falsework across the river for support during construction.  Sudden, violent flooding was common on the river at the time and washed out the falsework twice.  The contractor finally erected the truss on the south side of the river and floated it into position on barges.

In 1979, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It was an important link in the transcontinental highway and is an early and rare example of it’s structural type in Arizona. 

On the other side of the river was Saint Thomas Yuma Indian Mission.  It is a Catholic mission in Winterhaven, California.  It was dedicated in 1923, and its design replicated the Mission Puerto de Purisima Concepcion (The Mission Port of Purest Conception), which once stood on the site. 

Fray Hermengildo Francisco Garces

Daring explorer, zealous missionary and unfailing friend of the Yuma Indians.  Padre Garces founded the Yuma Indian Mission and nearby, gave his life for their souls. 

It was getting too hot so we went back across the bridge and back to downtown Yuma to the truck.  It was time to hit the pool!

But, the best part about being in Yuma was catching up with these guys.  These are friends we met since being on the road.  We spent three weeks in Quartzsite, Arizona with them in January 2019.  

Wes & Kelley have a house in Yuma and use that as their home base for winters.  Mike and Joie just bought a park model in a Resort in Yuma and will use that in the winters.  So happy for both couples.  

We had a little get together at Mike and Joie's new place as they showed us around their resort. 

Al, Nancy, Wes, Kelley, Mike, and Joie

Then we all played Bocce Ball, guys against the girls. 

Kelley in action

Mike's turn to throw

During the pandemic, Wes and Kelley took up a new hobbies.  She makes these beautiful tiles and showed me her process.  She makes custom tiles too!  Check them out at https://www.abstractarte.com/

Wes took up wood carving and showed us these beautiful canes he carved.  So intricate!

We had a good and productive week in Yuma.  We got our teeth cleaned, hair cut, caught up with Joanne & Gary, and spent time with Wes & Kelley, and Mike & Joie.  Now it's time to find some cooler temperatures!