Back to the desert. Hugging the mexican border we drove a few hours to Yuma. Camping in a BLM camping area near Fortuna. It is close to the city and nearby is a dump station and places where you can pay to fill up water jugs (50 cents for 5 gal.)
It is noisy !!-trains right beside us, crop dusters at night, and constant traffic on the highway which leads to quartside, but the price is right and location is good. Planned to stay a week, but it is too noisy and Yuma does not have a lot going on.
In Yuma we visited the Territorial Prison State Park. $8 per adult. It displays a great history of the old prison and the surrounding area.. Plaques and walking trails display history of the Colorado river and the Quechan Indian Tribe, and the first dam used to control the river floods. We felt the price is inflated considering very little of the original buildings and prison area still exist.
We played a round of golf at the Mesa do Sol golf course – 10 minute drive. A typical course built around a housing development. The course was in good shape – we were paired with a local guy and his cousin who were very easy going – invited us back for a beer after as his house backs onto the 18th. The homes are all modest adobe style with tiled roofs and fenced yards. Many have pools and hot tubs. Very nice area….