February 21 - 24, 2024 Emerald Cove and a Girls Day

February 21st, after closing down and hooking up, away we went to Earp, CA / Parker, AZ area.

Past the growing fields:

Checking out the watering systems:

A little tidbit about Yuma:

"Yuma’s reputation as a worldwide leader in agriculture is growing, and Visit Yuma wants visitors to know about what makes the farmers and farmland around Yuma so special. Abundant harvests of vegetables, citrus, and melons feed our nation—not necessarily the picture visitors might have of what it’s like in the desert around Yuma. Fertile land in the Colorado River lowland and water from the mighty river, as well as being around the Sunniest City in the World, Yuma, sets up Yuma-area farmers to raise two, and sometimes three, crop rotations on the same plot of land in a year. 

If you’re eating a salad during the winter, chances are that it was grown in Yuma. Agriculture is Yuma’s number one business; it’s a more than $4 billion industry each year. More than 91% of the leafy greens produced in the winter in North America now come from the farms around Yuma. In the winter, crops include 75 varieties of lettuce, baby greens, cauliflower, broccoli, herbs, root vegetables, and kales. Summer crops include hay, hard red wheat, Durum wheat, cotton, Medjool Dates, watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydew, alfalfa, and Bermuda grass seed. Lemons top the crops for citrus production among other citrus grown in the area.

More than just a booming industry, agriculture is an intrinsic part of the fabric of Yuma, from the early 1900s when the Colorado River was dammed and diverted to canals to water the fertile fields around Yuma. As waters etched and formed the Grand Canyon, what became the Colorado River carried silt and soils downriver. Before the river was dammed, annual floods deposited millions of tons of rich organic matter onto the floodplain area around Yuma. Learning to harness the river took innovation, resolve, and a “can-do” Western mindset that continues to this day in the spirit of Yuma’s people. The farm families that have shaped Yuma’s heritage are leaders in ag technology, conservation, and plant sciences."

It is fascinating to see the fields here.  When we stay for a few weeks, we witness planting to harvesting and then stating again.  Amazing.

The road to Quartzsite - the desert is really greening up:

Interesting roads - LOL:

This area has had a lot of rain over the past 6 weeks.  Awesome to see all the green.  Flowers should be appearing soon - can't wait!

Heading into Parker - Check out those clouds:

Much of the land here belongs to the Colorado River Indian Tribes.  A few years ago, we explored the areas - the land and farms are beautiful:

The Railroad Bridge crossing the Colorado River:

Into California:

We traveled Parker Dam Road where the rock formations are amazing:

Fun with stones:

The alien head - LOL!:

Colorado River Wetlands:

Lots of ATV Trails:

WOW!  What beauty:

We arrived at Emerald Cove and will be here for around 2 weeks.  This is one of our membership parks  - Colorado River Adventures.  A few years ago we upgraded and now, if we stay less than 60 days a year, we do not pay membership dues nor do we pay to stay here for full hook ups..  Good deal.

Our friends, Wendy and Vince, are here and when we finished setting up, we went to see them.  We have not seen them since 2016 so it was great to get caught up.  We all decided to go the the Tiki-Bar for supper.  What a great time and hopefully we will spend more time together over the next week or so.

On a side note.. We always liked the Tiki Bar here.  The drinks (especially during Happy Hour) were very reasonable and so was the food.  But their prices have really gone up.  We will try it again just to be sure.

Stats for today:

Miles Traveled:  130 Miles

Routes Traveled:

Arizona: East County 17th Street; Avenue 4E; East County 14th Street; AZ-195 (Araby Road); US-95

California:  CA-62; Parker Dam Road

February 22nd was just a hang out day and that is just what we did.

February 23rd, Wendy and I headed to Quartzsite.  When I was there a few weeks ago, I did not get the chance to go to Gem World or Desert Camel Beads.  Since it was only 30 miles away, I decided to check them out and was glad Wendy joined me.

Last year, I took a few classes at Desert Bead and they have a few interesting ones next week..  Hmmm.. still thinking about it - LOL!

We had a great lunch at Silly Al's, then headed back home.  Nice girls day and nice spending time with Wendy (too many years)!

Later that day, Andy and I headed to the local Legion at Big River.  We had a nice time chatting with the locals and enjoyed their fish fry.  Back home, we decided to try out the Tiki Bar again.  The one bartender remembered us from last year and we got talking about the prices.  Yep, they increased - some were doubled.  Bummer.. not my favorite place anymore. :-(

Today, February 24th is another sort of hang out day.  Having some computer problems that I am trying to sort out and fix.  (Fingers crossed!)

Tomorrow we are doing another excursion so stay tuned and enjoy today.